Patents by Inventor Rodney M. Welch

Rodney M. Welch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10070769
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a washing chamber, a liquid spraying system, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a rotating filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jordan R. Fountain, Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 10064537
    Abstract: Dishwasher drain assemblies having overmolded volutes are disclosed. A disclosed example drain assembly for a dishwasher having a tub, a sump fluidly coupled to the tub, and a discharge outlet includes a drain pump having an impeller to pump fluid from the sump to the discharge outlet, and a resilient member overmolded onto at least a portion of the drain pump, the resilient member defining a volute for the drain pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney M. Welch
  • Publication number: 20180242814
    Abstract: A washing appliance includes a treating chamber, a sprayer emitting liquid into the treating chamber, and a recirculation circuit including a centrifugal separator and an electrocoagulation unit both fluidly coupled to the recirculation circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventor: RODNEY M. WELCH
  • Patent number: 10058227
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a liquid spraying system, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a rotatable filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid and a diverter overlying and spaced from at least a portion of the upstream surface to form a gap there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kristopher L. Delgado, Jordan R. Fountain, Jacquelyn R. Geda, Antony M. Rappette, Rodney M. Welch
  • Publication number: 20180184878
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a liquid spraying system, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a rotatable filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid and a diverter overlying and spaced from at least a portion of the upstream surface to form a gap there between.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Kristopher L. Delgado, Jordan R. Fountain, Jacquelyn R. Geda, Antony M. Rappette, Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 10004379
    Abstract: A multiple chamber dishwasher has a door with multiple parts that can be linked for cooperative movement in a first mode and unlinked for independent movement in a second mode. A mode selector operatively coupled to a transformation link that effects conversion of the door between the first and second modes allows user selection of the door mode and can be associated with a door handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney M. Welch, Anthony B. Welsh
  • Patent number: 9993131
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a liquid spraying system, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a rotating filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kristopher L. Delgado, Jordan R. Fountain, Jacquelyn R. Geda, Antony M. Rappette, Rodney M. Welch
  • Publication number: 20180132691
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub and a recirculation pump, which includes a housing defining a chamber and having an inlet fluidly coupled to the tub and an outlet fluidly coupled to the tub, an impeller rotatably mounted within the chamber and expelling liquid from the chamber through the outlet, and a filter fluidly disposed between the inlet and the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Jordan R. Fountain, Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 9931015
    Abstract: Hydraulically-driven dishwasher diverters are disclosed herein. An example hydraulically-driven dishwasher diverter includes a diverter housing having a plurality of wash zone openings defined therethrough corresponding to respective wash zones of a dishwasher, and a rotating cylindrical diverter valve including a valve outlet to fluidly couple a fluid flowing through the cylindrical diverter valve through one of the wash zone openings, a flexible portion adjacent the valve outlet to seal another one of the wash zone openings in response to fluid pressure in the cylindrical diverter valve while the valve outlet is fluidly flowing the fluid through the one of the wash zone openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Juan I. Luciano, Antony M. Rappette, Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 9918609
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub and a recirculation pump, which includes a housing defining a chamber and having an inlet fluidly coupled to the tub and an outlet fluidly coupled to the tub, an impeller rotatably mounted within the chamber and expelling liquid from the chamber through the outlet, and a filter fluidly disposed between the inlet and the outlet and operably coupled to the impeller for co-rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jordan R. Fountain, Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 9861251
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a liquid spraying system, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid and at least one artificial boundary to aid in cleaning the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Barry E. Tuller, Rodney M. Welch, Anthony B. Welsh
  • Publication number: 20170360273
    Abstract: A liquid filtering system for a dishwasher, having a housing defining a filter chamber and configured to be fluidly coupled to a recirculation flow path of the dishwasher, a filter located within the filter chamber and having a first end axially spaced from a second end and defining a filter there between that has a first surface and a second surface, the filter being positioned within the recirculation flow path to filter soils from liquid flowing through the recirculation flow path as the liquid passes through the filter and a flow diverter to aid in cleaning the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Barry E. Tuller, Rodney M. Welch, Anthony B. WELSH
  • Patent number: 9839342
    Abstract: A dishwasher for treating dishes includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, the tub having a bottom portion with a sump opening therein, a liquid spraying system supplying a spray of liquid to the treating chamber, and a liquid recirculation system recirculating the sprayed liquid from the treating chamber to the liquid spraying system to define a recirculation flow path. A sump is positioned in the sump opening of the bottom of the tub within the recirculation flow path, the sump having an outlet therein located adjacent the forward portion of the sump opening. A pump has an inlet fluidly interconnected with the outlet of the sump, the pump configured to receive fluid from the outlet of the sump and impel the fluid along the recirculation flow path toward the treating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 9833120
    Abstract: A dishwasher has a liquid supply system with a first conduit portion through which the liquid passes, and an air supply system with a second conduit portion through which the air passes. The first conduit portion at least partially forms the second conduit portion to define a thermal transfer interface. A heating system includes a heating element provided on the thermal transfer interface. Activation of the heating element provides heat to both the liquid supply system and the air supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alvaro Vallejo Noriega, Rodney M. Welch
  • Publication number: 20170296026
    Abstract: A liquid recirculation system having a pump for recirculating liquid and a liquid filtering system for filtering the recirculating liquid. The liquid filtering system includes a filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid and a flow diverter or flow diverter to aid in cleaning the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Barry E. Tuller, Rodney M. Welch
  • Publication number: 20170280963
    Abstract: A dishwasher for treating dishes according to at least one cycle of operation including a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving the dishes, at least one sprayer, a liquid recirculation system, a liquid filtering system including a housing defining and a filter located within the interior and a heater configured to heat liquid that has passed through the inlet opening of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Alvaro Vallejo Noriega, Rodney M. Welch
  • Publication number: 20170231462
    Abstract: A dishwasher for treating utensils in the dishwasher wherein the dishwasher has a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a liquid spray system, a liquid recirculation system fluidly coupling the treating chamber to the spray system to recirculate wash liquid from the treating chamber to the spray system, and filters capable of removing particles from the wash liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Jordan R. Fountain, Antony M. Rappette, Barry E. Tuller, Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 9713413
    Abstract: A dishwasher for treating dishes according to at least one cycle of operation including a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving the dishes, at least one sprayer, a liquid recirculation system, a liquid filtering system including a housing defining and a filter located within the interior and a heater configured to heat liquid that has passed through the inlet opening of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alvaro Vallejo Noriega, Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 9713414
    Abstract: A dishwasher has a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation. At least one wall of the tub has spaced outer and inner panels and a conduit framework extending between the outer and inner panels to define a plurality of conduits. The conduits can convey liquid, air, and/or electrical wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Beshears, Jr., John J. Burns, Elliott V. Stowe, Rodney M. Welch
  • Publication number: 20170202425
    Abstract: A dishwasher for treating utensils in the dishwasher wherein the dishwasher has a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a liquid spray system, a liquid recirculation system fluidly coupling the treating chamber to the spray system to recirculate wash liquid from the treating chamber to the spray system, and filters capable of removing particles from the wash liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Jordan R. Fountain, Antony M. Rappette, Barry E. Tuller, Rodney M. Welch