Abstract: A port assembly for use with a refillable storage container of a cleaning device includes a cap assembly having a sensor aperture and an outlet aperture. The cap assembly is configured to couple to a lip of the storage container. A sensor assembly extends through the sensor aperture and is coupled to the cap assembly, and an outlet assembly extends through the outlet aperture and is coupled to the cap assembly. The outlet assembly is coupled in fluid communication with a cleaning cavity of the cleaning device and the storage container.

Abstract: An ignition control system for an appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a gas burner, a user actuable valve for controlling a flow of fuel to the burner and an electrical resistance igniter for igniting fuel at the burner. The system includes a user actuable control interface having an off state and an on state, coupled to the valve operative to control the valve and provide a control signal indicative of the state of the control interface. The system also includes a controller having a timer circuit responsive to the control signal and a boost circuit coupled to the timer circuit. The timer circuit selectively activates the boost circuit for a predetermined period of time. A first DC power supply is selectively coupled to the igniter to provide power to the igniter through the boost circuit. A second DC power supply is coupled to the igniter and control interface.

Abstract: Energy efficiencies are achieved in a dryer or washer/dryer by selectively varying temperature ranges, time periods, heater power levels, and air flow rates. Efficiency improvements on the order of 16% were obtained over typical constant power, constant temperature, timed drying cycles by varying one or more of these parameters. Efficiencies can also be improved by drawing air from alternative warm sources such as an attic or warm external environment, or by heat recovery from dryer exhaust passages.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement having a working fluid and an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and an expansion device, cooperatively interconnected and containing the working fluid. The apparatus also includes a drum to receive clothes to be dried, a duct and fan arrangement configured to pass air over the condenser and through the drum, a sensor located to sense at least one parameter, and a controller coupled to the sensor and/or the compressor. The parameter(s) includes at least one of temperature of the working fluid, pressure of the working fluid, and power consumption of the compressor. The controller is operative to monitor, as a function of time, the parameter(s), determine whether the parameter(s) reaches a predetermined decision condition; and, if the parameter(s) reaches the predetermined decision condition, power down the mechanical refrigeration cycle at least by causing the compressor to shut off.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement having a working fluid and an evaporator, a condenser of adjustable surface area, a compressor, and an expansion device, cooperatively interconnected and containing the working fluid. The apparatus also includes a drum to receive clothes to be dried, a duct and fan arrangement configured to pass air over the condenser and through the drum, a sensor located to sense at least one parameter, and a controller coupled to the sensor, condenser and/or the compressor. The controller is operative to adjust the condenser to increase surface area during a steady state drying rate period of the cycle, and adjust the condenser to decrease surface area during a start transient period of the cycle, wherein adjusting the condenser to decrease surface area during a start transient period of the cycle accelerates the start transient period of the cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement having a working fluid and an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and an expansion device, cooperatively interconnected and containing the working fluid. The apparatus also includes a sensor located to sense at least one parameter, a controller coupled to said sensor and said compressor, a drum to receive clothes to be dried, wherein a rear portion of the drum is equipped with multiple perforations, and a perimeter portion of the drum is equipped with multiple perforations, and a duct and fan arrangement configured to pass air over said condenser and through said drum, wherein the duct and fan arrangement is configured to facilitate airflow through the perforations on the rear portion of the drum into the drum, and out of the drum through the perforations on the perimeter portion of the drum to enable an increased airflow without an increased power input.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement having a working fluid, an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and an expansion device, cooperatively interconnected and containing the working fluid. The apparatus also includes a drum to receive clothes, a duct and fan arrangement configured to pass air over the evaporator, condenser and through the drum, a sensor located to sense parameters, a working fluid accumulator, and a controller coupled to the sensor, accumulator and/or compressor. The controller is operative to control collection of refrigerant during a run cycle when pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold value, control retention of the collected refrigerant when the run cycle is completed, until a subsequent run cycle, control discharge of the retained refrigerant to an evaporator or condenser when the subsequent run cycle is started, and control use of discharged refrigerant to elevate the refrigeration cycle by modifying a start condition of the refrigeration cycle.

Abstract: A method of operating a heat pump clothes dryer operating on a mechanical refrigeration cycle is disclosed. The method includes partitioning all energy available in the heat pump clothes dryer into a first amount of energy and a second amount of energy; using the first amount of energy to attain a standard parameter performance for the heat pump clothes dryer; and using the second amount of energy to accelerate a dry cycle of the heat pump clothes dryer, wherein using the second amount of energy to accelerate a dry cycle of the heat pump clothes dryer comprises using the second amount of energy to energize an auxiliary heater during a start transient phase of the dry cycle to decrease the start transient phase.

Abstract: An appliance heat pump dryer is provided that has an accelerated refrigerant cycle for providing heat to the articles being dried. The heat source, such as an electrical heating element, provides heat to the evaporator so that the appliance can reach steady state operating conditions more rapidly and thereby reduce the overall cycle operating time. Options can be provided for the user to select whether the drying cycle will be accelerated.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement in turn including an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and an expansion device, cooperatively interconnected. A drum is provided to receive clothes to be dried. An auxiliary heater is included, as is a duct and fan arrangement configured to pass air over the condenser and the heater, and through the drum. A sensor is located to sense high side temperature and/or high side pressure of the mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement. A controller is coupled to the sensor and the auxiliary heater, and is operative to: activate the auxiliary heater during a startup transient of the mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement; monitor the high side temperature and/or high side pressure, during the startup transient; and de-activate the auxiliary heater in response to the high side temperature and/or high side pressure reaching a first predetermined value.

Abstract: Energy efficiencies are achieved in a dryer or washer/dryer by selectively varying temperature ranges, time periods, heater power levels, and air flow rates. Efficiency improvements on the order of 16% were obtained over typical constant power, constant temperature, timed drying cycles by varying one or more of these parameters. Efficiencies can also be improved by drawing air from alternative warm sources such as an attic or warm external environment, or by heat recovery from dryer exhaust passages.

Abstract: An appliance such as a dishwasher is configured to re-circulate air to reduce the amount of air with high moisture content that is expelled from the dishwasher. In one embodiment, the dishwasher comprises a wash zone in which objects are positioned to be washed and a door assembly, secured to the dishwasher in sealing engagement. Air from an upper region of the wash zone is drawn into a door cavity in the door assembly and re-circulated to a lower region of the wash zone. Inside of the door cavity is a thermal sink with a surface on which vapor in the air condenses, thereby lowering the relative humidity of the air that is ejected from the door assembly and into the lower region of the wash zone.

Abstract: A port assembly for use with a refillable storage container of a cleaning device includes a cap assembly having a sensor aperture and an outlet aperture. The cap assembly is configured to couple to a lip of the storage container. A sensor assembly extends through the sensor aperture and is coupled to the cap assembly, and an outlet assembly extends through the outlet aperture and is coupled to the cap assembly. The outlet assembly is coupled in fluid communication with a cleaning cavity of the cleaning device and the storage container.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement having a working fluid, an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and an expansion device, cooperatively interconnected and containing the working fluid. The apparatus also includes a drum to receive clothes, a duct and fan arrangement configured to pass air over the evaporator, condenser and through the drum, a sensor located to sense parameters, a working fluid accumulator, and a controller coupled to the sensor, accumulator and/or compressor. The controller is operative to control collection of refrigerant during a run cycle when pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold value, control retention of the collected refrigerant when the run cycle is completed, until a subsequent run cycle, control discharge of the retained refrigerant to an evaporator or condenser when the subsequent run cycle is started, and control use of discharged refrigerant to elevate the refrigeration cycle by modifying a start condition of the refrigeration cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement having a working fluid and an evaporator, a condenser of adjustable surface area, a compressor, and an expansion device, cooperatively interconnected and containing the working fluid. The apparatus also includes a drum to receive clothes to be dried, a duct and fan arrangement configured to pass air over the condenser and through the drum, a sensor located to sense at least one parameter, and a controller coupled to the sensor, condenser and/or the compressor. The controller is operative to adjust the condenser to increase surface area during a steady state drying rate period of the cycle, and adjust the condenser to decrease surface area during a start transient period of the cycle, wherein adjusting the condenser to decrease surface area during a start transient period of the cycle accelerates the start transient period of the cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement in turn including an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and an expansion device, cooperatively interconnected. A drum is provided to receive clothes to be dried. An auxiliary heater is included, as is a duct and fan arrangement configured to pass air over the condenser and the heater, and through the drum. A sensor is located to sense high side temperature and/or high side pressure of the mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement. A controller is coupled to the sensor and the auxiliary heater, and is operative to: activate the auxiliary heater during a startup transient of the mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement; monitor the high side temperature and/or high side pressure, during the startup transient; and de-activate the auxiliary heater in response to the high side temperature and/or high side pressure reaching a first predetermined value.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement having a working fluid and an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and an expansion device, cooperatively interconnected and containing the working fluid. The apparatus also includes a drum to receive clothes to be dried, a duct and fan arrangement configured to pass air over the condenser and through the drum, a sensor located to sense at least one parameter, and a controller coupled to the sensor and/or the compressor. The parameter(s) includes at least one of temperature of the working fluid, pressure of the working fluid, and power consumption of the compressor. The controller is operative to monitor, as a function of time, the parameter(s), determine whether the parameter(s) reaches a predetermined decision condition; and, if the parameter(s) reaches the predetermined decision condition, power down the mechanical refrigeration cycle at least by causing the compressor to shut off.

Abstract: A method of operating a heat pump clothes dryer operating on a mechanical refrigeration cycle is disclosed. The method includes partitioning all energy available in the heat pump clothes dryer into a first amount of energy and a second amount of energy; using the first amount of energy to attain a standard parameter performance for the heat pump clothes dryer; and using the second amount of energy to accelerate a dry cycle of the heat pump clothes dryer, wherein using the second amount of energy to accelerate a dry cycle of the heat pump clothes dryer comprises using the second amount of energy to energize an auxiliary heater during a start transient phase of the dry cycle to decrease the start transient phase.

Abstract: An ignition control system for an appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a gas burner, a user actuable valve for controlling a flow of fuel to the burner and an electrical resistance igniter for igniting fuel at the burner. The system includes a user actuable control interface having an off state and an on state, coupled to the valve operative to control the valve and provide a control signal indicative of the state of the control interface. The system also includes a controller having a timer circuit responsive to the control signal and a boost circuit coupled to the timer circuit. The timer circuit selectively activates the boost circuit for a predetermined period of time. A first DC power supply is selectively coupled to the igniter to provide power to the igniter through the boost circuit. A second DC power supply is coupled to the igniter and control interface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ignition device is provided. The method includes patterning a plurality of resistors on a membrane to form heating elements and thermally isolating the heating elements from an external environment via a cavity disposed adjacent to the heating elements.