Abstract: A combination washer/dryer machine has a rotatable drum inside a cabinet. The drum has an external surface. A tub is positioned inside the cabinet. The drum is rotatable in the tub. The tub has an inner surface. A seal extends between the exterior surface of the drum and the inner surface of the tub forming a desired gap during washing operations and the seal operates to minimize the bypass of drying air during drying operations.

Abstract: A laundry appliance including a cabinet, a tub, and a drum. The tub is positioned inside the cabinet. The tub includes a front tub wall having a front tub opening, a rear tub wall, and a tub sidewall that extends between the front tub wall and the rear tub wall. The drum is rotatably supported within the tub. The drum includes a front drum opening, a rear drum wall, a drum sidewall that extends between the front drum opening and the rear drum wall, and a laundry compartment positioned inside the drum that is accessible through the front drum opening. An air gap is positioned radially between the tub sidewall and the drum sidewall. At least one heating element is positioned on or in the tub sidewall to heat the tub sidewall and therefore air flowing through the air gap.

Abstract: The airflow exhaust system for a combination washer/dryer includes an exit duct portion to couple with an exit from a tub. A lint screen box portion is associated with the exit duct. A transition duct portion is associated with the lint screen box portion. A fan is associated with the transition duct. The fan includes an outlet to couple with an exhaust tube. A mounting assembly stationarily fastens the airflow exhaust system within a housing of the combination washer/dryer machine.

Abstract: A combination washer/dryer machine includes a rotatable drum inside a cabinet. The drum has an external surface. A tub is positioned inside the cabinet. The drum is rotatable in the tub. The tub has an inner surface. A seal contacts the exterior surface of the drum and the inner surface of the tub during drying operation to minimize the bypass of drying air.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a blower that directs process air through an airflow path. A rotating drum holds articles to be processed. A heat pump system has a condenser and an evaporator. The evaporator dehumidifies the process air that is delivered from the drum and the condenser heats the process air that is delivered from the evaporator. A phase change material retains heat from the condenser that is directed away from the process air, and the captured heat of the phase change material is utilized during a subsequent laundry cycle.

Abstract: A front-load laundry appliance including an in-door condensing system with an air-to-air condenser that forms an air cooling loop inside an in-door cavity. The air cooling loop is a tube that extends in a flat spiral to form multiple loops that gradually increase in radius. The in-door condensing system includes an in-door circulation fan and a heat exchanger fan. The in-door circulation is positioned in the in-door cavity and is arranged to pull moist air from inside the laundry compartment into the in-door cavity where it condenses. The heat exchanger fan is also positioned in the in-door cavity and is arranged to pull cooling air from outside the laundry appliance into the air cooling loop. The air cooling loop of the in-door condenser may alternatively receive a cooling air flow from a chiller located inside the laundry appliance.

Abstract: A door assembly for an appliance such as a washer, washer/dryer combo or the like has a door assembly to close off an opening into the housing unit. The door assembly includes an outer door and an inner door. The inner door seals the door assembly with a tub and drum assembly inside the housing unit. The inner door includes a mating contour associated with a corresponding contour of the tub and drum opening.

Abstract: The airflow exhaust system for a combination washer/dryer includes an exit duct portion to couple with an exit from a tub. A lint screen box portion is associated with the exit duct. A transition duct portion is associated with the lint screen box portion. A fan is associated with the transition duct. The fan includes an outlet to couple with an exhaust tube. A mounting assembly stationarily fastens the airflow exhaust system within a housing of the combination washer/dryer machine.

Abstract: A combination washer/dryer machine includes a rotatable drum inside a cabinet. The drum has an external surface. A tub is positioned inside the cabinet. The drum is rotatable in the tub. The tub has an inner surface. A seal contacts the exterior surface of the drum and the inner surface of the tub during drying operation to minimize the bypass of drying air.

Abstract: A locking mechanism system for a caster or similar wheeled device. The subject caster or the like is provided with a wheel containing a plurality of detents or grooves that is mounted to a fork having an aperture. The locking mechanism is mounted to the fork such that a retractable locking pin may move in and out of the aperture. A slidable lever, containing an internal cam moves the spring biased locking pin between an unlocked and locked position such that the locking pin engages the wheel detents in the locked position, thus preventing the wheel from rotating.