Patents by Inventor Stephen Edward Hettinger

Stephen Edward Hettinger 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: 20120023679
    Abstract: A washing machine including a wash tub, a basket rotatably coupled within the wash tub, an agitator coupled within the basket, and a controller is provided. The controller is configured to receive user defined settings for a wash cycle, send a signal to add, to the wash tub, a first quantity of water based on the user defined settings, send a signal to execute a wash agitation for a predefined period of time based on the user defined settings, send a signal to drain water from the wash tub, and initiate a rinse cycle by sending a signal to add, to the wash tub, a second predefined quantity of water that is less than the first predefined quantity of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen Edward HETTINGER, Gary L. Chastine
  • Publication number: 20090265863
    Abstract: This disclosure is related to a system and method which minimizes the period of time in which a drain pump is running in a washing machine unit. The method includes determining the amount of washer fluid used to fill a washing machine tub when the washing machine has entered the draining portion of the cycle, measuring the time it takes in order to trip a water level sensor. The method generally continues with calculating a predicted time to drain and operating a drain pump according to the predicted time to drain. Use of this method minimizes the opportunities for machine malfunctions while further minimizing the opportunity for the pump to run dry, creating noise and increasing the length of the entire washing cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Stephen Edward Hettinger, James Quentin Pollett
  • Patent number: 7180214
    Abstract: A dust shield for a refrigeration condenser fan motor includes a shroud having an opening for a motor output shaft, and a hub extending from the shroud. The shroud forms an enclosure to prevent contaminants from interfering with operation of the motor. The hub includes spring members that are displaced by the output shaft as the output shaft is inserted through the dust shield and applying a force to the shaft to hold the shield in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Stephen Edward Hettinger