Patents by Inventor Timothy Kopera

Timothy Kopera 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: 11259683
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a pump assembly for circulating wash fluid within a wash chamber and discharging wash fluid from a drain basin. The pump assembly includes a wash pump impeller coupled to a drive shaft and a drain pump impeller coupled to the drive shaft using a clutch, such as a centrifugal clutch. At speeds below a predetermined speed threshold, the clutch remains disengaged such that only the wash pump impeller rotates. When the speed of the drive shaft exceeds the predetermined speed threshold, the clutch engages causing the drain pump impeller to rotate and discharge wash fluid from the drain basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Kopera
  • Patent number: 11202553
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. An inlet is defined in the tub and provides air flow into the wash chamber. A fan selectively urges air through the inlet in at least two different directions, including a first direction and a second direction. A diverter disk is proximate the inlet downstream of the fan and upstream of the wash chamber. The diverter disk defines an axial direction. The diverter disk is movable along the axial direction between a first position and a second position. The fan urges the diverter disk to move from the second position to the first position when the fan urges air through the inlet in the first direction, and the fan urges the diverter disk to move from the first position to the second position when the fan urges air through the inlet in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Thiyagarajan Sankaran Veerabhagu, Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Kyle Edward Durham, Timothy Kopera
  • Patent number: 11122959
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a pump, a spray assembly, a fluid recirculation duct, and a cold water line. The tub may be housed within the cabinet and define a wash chamber. The fluid recirculation duct may extend from a path inlet to a path outlet to recirculate air within the wash chamber. The path inlet may be defined in fluid communication between the wash chamber and the path outlet. The path outlet may be defined in fluid communication between the path inlet and the wash chamber downstream from the path inlet. The cold water line may extend through the fluid recirculation duct. The cold water line may define a cold water nozzle that is disposed within the fluid recirculation duct to provide a condensing, cold-water flow into the fluid recirculation duct between the path inlet and the path outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Kopera, Adam Christopher Hofmann, Ramasamy Thiyagarajan
  • Patent number: 11122960
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a water tank, a wet air duct, a dry air duct, a water supply conduit, a diverter valve, and a diverted branch. The tub may be housed within the cabinet and may define a wash chamber. The water tank may be mounted within the cabinet outside of the wash chamber. The wet air duct may extend from the wash chamber to the water tank. The dry air duct may extend from the water tank to the wash chamber. The water supply conduit may extend to the wash chamber. The diverter valve may be disposed along the water supply conduit upstream from the wash chamber. The diverted branch may extend from the diverter valve to the water tank to selectively guide water from the water supply conduit to the water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Christopher Hofmann, Timothy Kopera, Ramasamy Thiyagarajan
  • Publication number: 20210274993
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance and methods for operating the same may provide a cabinet, a tub, a door, a spray assembly, a heating element, and a controller. The door may be rotatably mounted to the cabinet to move between a fully-open position, a preset open-vent position, and a closed position. The preset open-vent position may be between the fully-open and closed positions. The spray assembly may be positioned within the wash chamber. The heating element may be mounted within the cabinet in thermal communication with the wash chamber. The controller may be configured to initiate a dry cycle. The dry cycle may include moving the door from the closed position, determining the door is in the preset open-vent position following moving the door from the closed position, and activating the heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber following moving the door from the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventor: Timothy Kopera
  • Patent number: 11109739
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. An inlet is defined in the tub and provides air flow into the wash chamber. A diverter disk is proximate the inlet and upstream of the wash chamber. The diverter disk is rotatable between a first position and a second position. The diverter disk permits air flow into the wash chamber via the inlet in a first direction when the diverter disk is in the first position and in a second direction when the diverter disk is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Thiyagarajan Sankaran Veerabhagu, Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Timothy Kopera, Adam Christopher Hofmann, Kyle Edward Durham
  • Publication number: 20210251466
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a water tank, a wet air duct, a dry air duct, a water supply conduit, a diverter valve, and a diverted branch. The tub may be housed within the cabinet and may define a wash chamber. The water tank may be mounted within the cabinet outside of the wash chamber. The wet air duct may extend from the wash chamber to the water tank. The dry air duct may extend from the water tank to the wash chamber. The water supply conduit may extend to the wash chamber. The diverter valve may be disposed along the water supply conduit upstream from the wash chamber. The diverted branch may extend from the diverter valve to the water tank to selectively guide water from the water supply conduit to the water tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Adam Christopher Hofmann, Timothy Kopera, Ramasamy Thiyagarajan
  • Publication number: 20210228057
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a pump assembly for circulating wash fluid within a wash chamber and discharging wash fluid from a drain basin. The pump assembly includes a wash pump impeller coupled to a drive shaft and a drain pump impeller coupled to the drive shaft using a clutch, such as a centrifugal clutch. At speeds below a predetermined speed threshold, the clutch remains disengaged such that only the wash pump impeller rotates. When the speed of the drive shaft exceeds the predetermined speed threshold, the clutch engages causing the drain pump impeller to rotate and discharge wash fluid from the drain basin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventor: Timothy Kopera
  • Publication number: 20210219814
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a pump, a spray assembly, a fluid recirculation duct, and a cold water line. The tub may be housed within the cabinet and define a wash chamber. The fluid recirculation duct may extend from a path inlet to a path outlet to recirculate air within the wash chamber. The path inlet may be defined in fluid communication between the wash chamber and the path outlet. The path outlet may be defined in fluid communication between the path inlet and the wash chamber downstream from the path inlet. The cold water line may extend through the fluid recirculation duct. The cold water line may define a cold water nozzle that is disposed within the fluid recirculation duct to provide a condensing, cold-water flow into the fluid recirculation duct between the path inlet and the path outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy Kopera, Adam Christopher Hofmann, Ramasamy Thiyagarajan
  • Patent number: 10939796
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance that includes features for condensation abatement on objects surrounding the dishwasher appliance during a drying cycle is provided. The dishwasher appliance is operable in a plurality of drying cycle modes. The mode in which the dishwasher appliance operates the dry cycle is determined based at least in part on a minimum cycle temperature indicative of the minimum temperature within or of a tub of the dishwasher appliance during an operation cycle. Moreover, methods for condensation abatement are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Kopera, Adam Christopher Hofmann
  • Patent number: 10912442
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. An inlet is defined in the tub and provides air flow into the wash chamber. An air handler selectively urges air through the inlet in one of a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction. The air flows from the inlet and through the wash chamber of the tub along a first defined path when the air handler urges air through the inlet in the first direction, and the air flows from the inlet and through the wash chamber of the tub along a second defined path when the air handler urges air through the inlet in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Thiyagarajan Sankaran Veerabhagu, Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Timothy Kopera
  • Patent number: 10827905
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a tub that defines a wash chamber. A door is mounted to the tub for selectively accessing the wash chamber of the tub. A vortex air dryer has four vents and a fan. The four vents are positioned and oriented for forming a vortex air flow in the wash chamber during operation of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Thiyagarajan Sankaran Veerabhagu, Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Timothy Kopera
  • Patent number: 10758108
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. The dishwashing appliance also includes an inlet defined in the tub and providing fluid communication into the wash chamber. A sump is positioned at a bottom of the wash chamber for receiving fluid from the wash chamber and a heater is in operative communication with the sump. The dishwashing appliance also includes a heat pipe heat exchanger having a condenser section and an evaporator section. The condenser section in operative communication with the wash chamber and the evaporator section is in operative communication with the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Adam Christopher Hofmann, Timothy Kopera
  • Publication number: 20200214537
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. An inlet is defined in the tub and provides air flow into the wash chamber. An air handler selectively urges air through the inlet in one of a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction. The air flows from the inlet and through the wash chamber of the tub along a first defined path when the air handler urges air through the inlet in the first direction, and the air flows from the inlet and through the wash chamber of the tub along a second defined path when the air handler urges air through the inlet in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Thiyagarajan Sankaran Veerabhagu, Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Timothy Kopera
  • Publication number: 20200100644
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance that includes a drying system is provided. In one exemplary aspect, the drying system includes an inlet duct having an inlet fan and a heating element disposed therein. The inlet fan is operable to draw ambient air into the inlet duct and move the air through the inlet duct into a tub of the dishwasher. The heating element heats the air passing through the inlet duct. The heated air facilitates drying of the articles within the wash chamber of the tub. The heated and pressurized air within the tub is forced into a vent duct positioned within a door of the dishwasher. An ambient fan draws ambient air into the vent duct to mix with the relatively hot and damp air forced out of the wash chamber by the inlet fan, e.g., to lower the dew point of the air exiting the dishwasher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Timothy Kopera
  • Publication number: 20200093348
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. An inlet is defined in the tub and provides air flow into the wash chamber. A fan selectively urges air through the inlet in at least two different directions, including a first direction and a second direction. A diverter disk is proximate the inlet downstream of the fan and upstream of the wash chamber. The diverter disk defines an axial direction. The diverter disk is movable along the axial direction between a first position and a second position. The fan urges the diverter disk to move from the second position to the first position when the fan urges air through the inlet in the first direction, and the fan urges the diverter disk to move from the first position to the second position when the fan urges air through the inlet in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Thiyagarajan Sankaran Veerabhagu, Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Kyle Edward Durham, Timothy Kopera
  • Publication number: 20200069147
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a tub that defines a wash chamber. A door is mounted to the tub for selectively accessing the wash chamber of the tub. A vortex air dryer has four vents and a fan. The four vents are positioned and oriented for forming a vortex air flow in the wash chamber during operation of the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Thiyagarajan Sankaran Veerabhagu, Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Timothy Kopera
  • Patent number: 10506912
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a vent duct that is positioned within a door. A tub channel is separate from an ambient channel within the vent duct. An insert is positioned within the vent duct. The insert and the vent duct collectively define an outlet of the tub channel and an outlet of the ambient channel. The insert is positioned between the outlet of the tub channel and the outlet of the ambient channel along a transverse direction. The outlet of the tub channel and the outlet of the ambient channel each have a width along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the transverse direction. The width of the outlet of the tub channel may be about equal to the width of the outlet of the ambient channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Kopera, Justin James Brolley
  • Publication number: 20190350433
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. An inlet is defined in the tub and provides air flow into the wash chamber. A diverter disk is proximate the inlet and upstream of the wash chamber. The diverter disk is rotatable between a first position and a second position. The diverter disk permits air flow into the wash chamber via the inlet in a first direction when the diverter disk is in the first position and in a second direction when the diverter disk is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Thiyagarajan Sankaran Veerabhagu, Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Timothy Kopera, Adam Christopher Hofmann, Kyle Edward Durham
  • Publication number: 20190350432
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a vent duct that is positioned within a door. A tub channel is separate from an ambient channel within the vent duct. An insert is positioned within the vent duct. The insert and the vent duct collectively define an outlet of the tub channel and an outlet of the ambient channel. The insert is positioned between the outlet of the tub channel and the outlet of the ambient channel along a transverse direction. The outlet of the tub channel and the outlet of the ambient channel each have a width along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the transverse direction. The width of the outlet of the tub channel may be about equal to the width of the outlet of the ambient channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy Kopera, Justin James Brolley