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).

  • Publication number: 20160143504
    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: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: RODNEY M. WELCH
  • Publication number: 20160113476
    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: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventor: RODNEY M. WELCH
  • Publication number: 20160100738
    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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: WALTER T. BLANCHARD, JACQUELYN R. GEDA, TODD M. JOZWIAK, JOHN A. MILLER, ANTONY M. RAPPETTE, RODNEY M. WELCH
  • Patent number: 9307885
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a washing chamber, a liquid spraying system supplying a spray of liquid to the washing chamber, 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: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 9297553
    Abstract: A pump assembly includes a motor and a pump, with the motor having an output shaft that extends into a volute chamber defined by a housing of the pump. An impeller may be mounted to the end of the output shaft. A heating element maybe located within a projection formed in an end of the housing and defines a heat transfer area confronting the volute chamber, wherein heat generated by the heating element may be conducted into the volute chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alvaro Vallejo Noriega, Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 9271628
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes an outer housing, a drawer having front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define a washing tub, a lid for selectively closing the washing tub and an operating mechanism that raises and lowers the lid as the drawer is shifted into and out of the outer housing. The operating mechanism includes a lifting slider slidably mounted in the outer housing operatively coupled to a lifting spring and a compression slider, also slidably mounted in the outer housing coupled to a compression spring. The lifting slider and compression slider are provided with corresponding lifting rollers and compression rollers that engage the lid. As the drawer is withdrawn from the outer housing, the lifting spring urges the lifting slider upward raising the lid and, as the drawer is inserted into the outer housing, the compression slider forces the lid downward onto the washing tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kory A. Gunnerson, Kristen K. Hedstrom, Mark E. Palm, Rodney M. Welch, Jeffrey N. Williams
  • Patent number: 9265401
    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: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jordan R. Fountain, Rodney M. Welch
  • Publication number: 20160015239
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Barry E. TULLER, Rodney M. WELCH
  • Patent number: 9237836
    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: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Walter T. Blanchard, Jacquelyn R. Geda, Todd M. Jozwiak, John A. Miller, Antony M. Rappette, Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 9211047
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a washing chamber, a liquid spraying system for spraying liquid within the washing chamber, 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: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jordan R. Fountain, Rodney M. Welch
  • Publication number: 20150342438
    Abstract: An automatic dishwasher having a tub defining a treating chamber and a housing physically separate from the tub and defining a sump to receive liquid sprayed into the tub, the housing having an inlet fluidly connected to a liquid outlet of the tub and an outlet fluidly coupled to a sprayer located within the tub to define a recirculation path for the sprayed liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: BARRY E. TULLER, RODNEY M. WELCH
  • Patent number: 9173542
    Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub having a front defining an outer periphery, a treating chamber defined by the tub and having an open face located at the front of the tub and within the outer periphery, and a cover selectively closing the open face. A usable space configured to receive a component of the dishwasher can be at least partially defined by the outer periphery of the tub. The cover is sized to overlie the usable space when the cover closes the open face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 9167950
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Barry E. Tuller, Rodney M. Welch
  • Publication number: 20150265129
    Abstract: An automatic dishwasher with a tub that at least partially defines a treating chamber, a liquid spraying system that supplies liquid to the treating chamber, and a pump assembly that fluidly couples the treating chamber to the liquid spraying system and where the pump assembly includes a housing having an inlet, a recirculation outlet, and a drain outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: RODNEY M. WELCH, JORDAN R. FOUNTAIN
  • Patent number: 9119515
    Abstract: An automatic dishwasher having a tub defining a treating chamber and a housing physically separate from the tub and defining a sump to receive liquid sprayed into the tub, the housing having an inlet fluidly connected to a liquid outlet of the tub and an outlet fluidly coupled to a sprayer located within the tub to define a recirculation path for the sprayed liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Barry E. Tuller, Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 9113766
    Abstract: A dishwasher with multiple, physically separate treating chambers includes a liquid supply system supplying liquid to the treating chambers, an air supply system supplying air to the treating chambers, and a common heating element for simultaneously heating the air and liquid. A method for operating a dishwasher including simultaneously heating the air and the liquid with a common heating element is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Barry E. Tuller, Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 9107559
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Barry E. Tuller, Rodney M. Welch
  • Publication number: 20150216389
    Abstract: An automatic dishwasher having a tub defining a treating chamber and a housing physically separate from the tub and defining a sump to receive liquid sprayed into the tub, the housing having an inlet fluidly connected to a liquid outlet of the tub and an outlet fluidly coupled to a sprayer located within the tub to define a recirculation path for the sprayed liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: BARRY E. TULLER, RODNEY M. WELCH
  • Publication number: 20150196187
    Abstract: An automatic dishwasher having a tub defining a treating chamber and a housing physically separate from the tub and defining a sump to receive liquid sprayed into the tub, the housing having an inlet fluidly connected to a liquid outlet of the tub and an outlet fluidly coupled to a sprayer located within the tub to define a recirculation path for the sprayed liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: BARRY E. TULLER, RODNEY M. WELCH
  • Publication number: 20150182097
    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: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: KRISTOPHER L. DELGADO, JORDAN R. FOUNTAIN, JACQUELYN R. GEDA, ANTONY M. RAPPETTE, RODNEY M. WELCH