COMBINATION LAUNDRY APPLIANCE WITH IMPROVED DRYING

Abstract

A laundry appliance includes a cabinet and a tub mounted within an interior volume of the cabinet. A laundry basket is rotatably mounted within the tub. The laundry basket defines a chamber for the receipt of articles for treatment. The laundry appliance also includes a heating system coupled to the tub. The heating system is in thermal communication with the chamber such that heated air flows from the heating system to the chamber. The laundry appliance further includes a controller. The controller may be configured for, and methods of operating the appliance may include, providing a flow of a liquid into a tub of the laundry appliance, rotating a laundry basket within the tub after providing the flow of the liquid into the tub, and activating the heating system of the laundry appliance during at least a portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to laundry appliances, and more particularly to combination laundry appliances that perform both washing and drying operations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Combination laundry appliances, sometimes also referred to as washer/dryer appliances, provide both washing and drying functions in a single unit. Combination laundry appliances are therefore advantageous for added convenience and space saving.

However, some moisture from the washing operation remains in the unit after the washing operation, such as in the basket and/or tub of the unit, as well as in the laundered articles themselves. Thus, when a dry operation is performed following a washing operation in the same combination unit, portions of the unit itself are also dried along with the articles therein. As a result of this additional remaining moisture in the unit, such combination appliances generally require longer dry cycles as compared to a stand-alone dryer appliance.

Accordingly, a combination laundry appliance having improved features for reducing the time needed to dry laundry articles therein would be advantageous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of operating a laundry appliance is provided. The method includes providing a flow of a liquid into a tub of the laundry appliance. The method also includes rotating a laundry basket within the tub after providing the flow of the liquid into the tub and activating a heating system of the laundry appliance during at least a portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a laundry appliance is provided. The laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining an interior volume with a tub mounted within the interior volume of the cabinet. A laundry basket is rotatably mounted within the tub. The laundry basket defines a chamber for the receipt of articles for treatment. The laundry appliance also includes a heating system coupled to the tub. The heating system is in thermal communication with the chamber, and heated air flows from the heating system to the chamber as a result of such thermal communication. The laundry appliance further includes a controller. The controller is configured for providing a flow of a liquid into a tub of the laundry appliance. The controller is also configured for rotating a laundry basket within the tub after providing the flow of the liquid into the tub and activating the heating system of the laundry appliance during at least a portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a laundry appliance in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 provides a cross-section view of the example laundry appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 provides a schematic diagram of an exemplary laundry appliance according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 provides a graph of remaining moisture content over time during an exemplary drying operation in a laundry appliance.

FIG. 5 provides an exemplary cycle map for an exemplary laundry appliance.

FIG. 6 provides another exemplary cycle map for an exemplary laundry appliance.

FIG. 7 provides a flow chart illustrating a method for operating a laundry appliance in accordance with one or more additional exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

As used herein, terms of approximation, such as “substantially,” “generally,” or “about” include values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. When used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction. For example, “generally vertical” includes directions within ten degrees of vertical in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a laundry appliance 10 according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The laundry appliance 10 is a combination laundry appliance, and may also be referred to as a multifunction laundry appliance or washer/dryer combination appliance. FIG. 2 provides a section view of laundry appliance 10. The laundry appliance 10 generally defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T, each of which is mutually perpendicular, such that an orthogonal coordinate system is defined. While described in the context of a specific embodiment of laundry appliance 10, using the teachings disclosed herein, it will be understood that laundry appliance 10 is provided by way of example only. Other laundry appliances having different appearances and different features may also be utilized with the present subject matter as well.

As used herein, the terms “articles,” “clothing,” or “laundry” include but need not be limited to fabrics, textiles, garments, linens, papers, or other items which may be cleaned, dried, and/or otherwise treated in a laundry appliance. Furthermore, the term “load” or “laundry load” refers to the combination of clothing that may be washed together in a washing machine appliance or dried together in a dryer appliance (e.g., clothes dryer), including washed and dried together in a combination laundry appliance, and may include a mixture of different or similar articles of clothing of different or similar types and kinds of fabrics, textiles, garments and linens within a particular laundering process.

Cabinet 12 includes a front panel 14, a rear panel 16, a left side panels 18 and a right side panel 20 spaced apart from each other by front and rear panels 14 and 16, a bottom panel 22, and a top cover 24. As used herein, terms such as “left” and “right” or “front” and “back” refer to directions from the perspective of a user facing the laundry appliance 10 for accessing and/or operating the laundry appliance 10. For example, a user stands in front of the laundry appliance 10, e.g., at or near the front panel 14, to access door 33 and/or inputs 70 (the door 33 and inputs 70 are described in more detail below). Within cabinet 12, an interior volume 29 is defined. A drum or tub 26 is mounted within the interior volume 29. A laundry basket 130 is mounted within the tub 26. The laundry basket 130 defines a chamber 25 for receipt of articles of clothing for treatment, e.g., washing, rinsing, spinning, tumbling, and/or drying.

In some embodiments, one or more selector inputs 70, such as knobs, buttons, touchscreen interfaces, etc., may be provided or mounted on the cabinet 12, e.g., on a control panel 71 thereof and are in operable communication (e.g., electrically coupled or coupled through a wireless network band) with a processing device or controller 56. The control panel 71 may also include a display 64. Controller 56 may also be provided in operable communication with various components of the dryer appliance, such as the motor, blower, and/or heating system 80. In turn, signals generated in controller 56 direct operation of such components in response to the position of inputs 70. As used herein, “processing device” or “controller” may refer to one or more microprocessors, microcontroller, ASICS, or semiconductor devices and is not restricted necessarily to a single element. The controller 56 may be programmed to operate laundry appliance 10 by executing instructions stored in memory (e.g., non-transitory media). The controller 56 may include, or be associated with, one or more memory elements such as RAM, ROM, or electrically erasable, programmable read only memory (EEPROM). For example, the instructions may be software or any set of instructions that when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations. It should be noted that controllers as disclosed herein are capable of and may be operable to perform any methods and associated method steps as disclosed herein. For example, in some embodiments, methods disclosed herein may be embodied in programming instructions stored in the memory and executed by the controller.

Tub 26 extends between a front portion 37 and a back portion 38. Tub 26 is generally cylindrical in shape, having an outer cylindrical wall 28 and a front flange or wall 30 that defines an opening 32 of tub 26, e.g., at front portion 37 of tub 26, for loading and unloading of articles into and out of a chamber 25 defined by and within a laundry basket 130 inside of the tub 26. Tub 26 includes a rear wall 34 opposite the front flange 30. A door 33 provides for closing or accessing tub 26 through opening 32. A window 36 (FIG. 1) may be provided in door 33 for viewing of the chamber 25 and/or laundry articles therein, e.g., during operation of the laundry appliance 10.

Laundry basket 130 is rotatably mounted within tub 26 such that the laundry basket 130 is rotatable about an axis of rotation. According to the illustrated embodiment, the axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the transverse direction T. In this regard, laundry appliance 10 is generally referred to as a “horizontal axis” or “front load” laundry appliance 10. However, it should be appreciated that aspects of the present subject matter may be used within the context of a vertical axis or top load laundry appliance as well.

Laundry appliance 10 includes a motor assembly (not shown) that is in mechanical communication with laundry basket 130 to selectively rotate laundry basket 130. The motor assembly may be a pancake motor or any other suitable type, size, or configuration of motor may be used to rotate laundry basket 130 according to various embodiments.

Laundry basket 130 may define one or more agitator features that extend into chamber 25 to assist in agitation and cleaning of articles disposed within laundry chamber 25 during operation of laundry appliance 10. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of ribs 128 extends from laundry basket 130 into chamber 25. In this manner, for example, ribs 128 may lift articles disposed in laundry basket 130 during rotation of laundry basket 130, such as during an agitation or rinse portion of a wash operation of the laundry appliance 10. During a drying operation of the laundry appliance 10, the ribs 128 may also lift articles in the chamber 25 of the laundry basket 130 and then allow such articles to tumble back to a bottom of laundry basket 130 as laundry basket 130 rotates.

As illustrated for example in FIG. 2, laundry basket 130 may also include a plurality of perforations 140 extending therethrough in order to facilitate fluid communication between chamber 25 and tub 26, e.g., whereby wash liquid may flow between the tub 26 and the chamber 25 during a wash operation or cycle and/or heated air may flow into the chamber 25 and moisture-laden air may flow out of the chamber 25 during a drying operation or cycle. A sump 142 is defined by tub 26 outside of laundry basket 130 at a bottom of the tub 26 along the vertical direction V. Thus, sump 142 is configured for receipt of, and generally collects, wash liquid (the wash liquid may include, e.g., water, and may also includes additives such as detergents, etc.) during wash operations of laundry appliance 10. For example, during a wash operation of laundry appliance 10, wash liquid may be urged (e.g., by gravity) from the chamber 25 within the laundry basket 130 to sump 142 through the plurality of perforations 140. A pump assembly 40 is located beneath tub 26 for gravity assisted flow when draining tub 26 (e.g., via a drain 41). Pump assembly 40 is also configured for recirculating wash liquid within tub 26.

In some embodiments, laundry appliance 10 includes an additive dispenser or spout 150. For example, spout 150 may be in fluid communication with a water supply (not shown) in order to direct fluid (e.g., clean water) into tub 26. Spout 150 may also be in fluid communication with the sump 142. For example, pump assembly 40 may direct wash liquid disposed in sump 142 to spout 150 in order to circulate wash liquid in tub 26.

As illustrated, a detergent drawer 152 may be slidably mounted within front panel 14. Detergent drawer 152 receives an additive (e.g., detergent, fabric softener, bleach, or any other suitable liquid or powder) and directs the additive to chamber 25 during operation of laundry appliance 10. According to the illustrated embodiment, detergent drawer 152 may also be fluidly coupled to spout 150 to facilitate the complete and accurate dispensing of the additive.

In exemplary embodiments, during operation of laundry appliance 10, laundry items are loaded into laundry basket 130 through opening 32, and an operation is initiated through operator manipulation of input selectors 70. For example, a wash cycle may be initiated such that tub 26 is filled with water, detergent, or other fluid additives (e.g., via spout 150). One or more valves (not shown) can be controlled by laundry appliance 10 to provide for filling laundry basket 130 to the appropriate level for the amount of articles being washed or rinsed. By way of example, once laundry basket 130 is properly filled with fluid, the contents of laundry basket 130 can be agitated (e.g., with ribs 128) for an agitation phase of laundry items in laundry basket 130. During the agitation phase, the basket 130 may be motivated about the axis of rotation at a set speed (e.g., a tumble speed). As the basket 130 is rotated, articles within the basket 130 may be lifted and permitted to drop therein.

After the agitation phase of the washing operation is completed, tub 26 can be drained. Laundry articles can then be rinsed (e.g., through a rinse cycle) by again adding fluid to tub 26, depending on the particulars of the cleaning cycle selected by a user. Ribs 128 may again provide agitation within laundry basket 130. One or more spin cycles may also be used. In particular, a spin cycle may be applied after the wash cycle or after the rinse cycle in order to wring wash liquid from the articles being washed. During a spin cycle, basket 130 is rotated at relatively high speeds. For instance, basket 130 may be rotated at one set speed (e.g., a pre-plaster speed) before being rotated at another set speed (e.g., a plaster speed). As would be understood, the pre-plaster speed may be greater than the tumble speed and the plaster speed may be greater than the pre-plaster speed. Moreover, agitation or tumbling of articles may be reduced as basket 130 increases its rotational velocity such that the plaster speed maintains the articles at a generally fixed position relative to basket 130.

After the spin cycle, a drying operation may begin. A supply duct 82 may be mounted to tub 26 and may extend between tub 26 and a heating assembly or system 80, whereby the tub 26 is downstream of the heating assembly 80 along the supply duct 82 such that the heating assembly 80 supplies heated air that has been heated by the heating assembly 80 to the tub 26 via the supply duct 82. A return duct 84 may also be mounted to the tub 26 and may extend between tub 26 and the heating assembly 80 whereby the tub 26 is upstream of the heating assembly 80 along the return duct 84 such that the heating assembly 80 receives relatively moist, humid, air from the tub 26 via the return duct 84, e.g., air returns to the heating system 80 from the tub 26, e.g., after flowing over and around articles within the chamber 25, through the return duct 84. The supply duct 82 may be mounted to the tub 26, e.g., at the rear wall 34 thereof as in the illustrated example, or the supply duct 82 may be mounted to the cylindrical wall 28 of the tub 26, such as above the basket 130, similar to the return duct 84 in the illustrated example embodiment.

The heating system 80, may include, e.g., a resistance heating element, a gas burner, and/or a heat pump, such as the example heat pump embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 and described in more detail below. Moisture laden, heated air is drawn from tub 26 by an air handler, such as a blower fan, which generates a negative air pressure within the chamber 25. As the air passes from the blower fan, it enters return duct 84 and then is passed into heating system 80. Heated air (with a lower moisture content than was received from tub 26), exits heating system 80 and is supplied to tub 26 by supply duct 82. After the clothing articles have been dried, they are removed from the chamber 25 via opening 32.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a schematic view of selected components of one or more exemplary embodiments of laundry appliance 10 is provided. In particular, FIG. 3 illustrates components used during drying operations of the laundry appliance 10. It is understood that, except as otherwise indicated, laundry appliance 10 in FIG. 3 may include some or all of the features described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In operation, one or more laundry articles 1000 may be placed within the chamber 25 of laundry basket 130. Hot dry air 118 may be supplied to chamber 25 whereby moisture within laundry articles 1000 may be drawn from the laundry articles 1000 by evaporation, such that warm saturated air 120 may flow from chamber 25 to an evaporator 102 of the heating system 80, e.g., via the return duct 84 illustrated in FIG. 2. As air passes across evaporator 102, the temperature of the air is reduced through heat exchange with refrigerant that is vaporized within, for example, coils or tubing of evaporator 102. This vaporization process absorbs both the sensible and the latent heat from the moisture laden air-thereby reducing its temperature. As a result, moisture in the air is condensed and such condensate may be drained from heating assembly 40, as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

Air passing over evaporator 102 becomes drier and cooler than when it was received from tub 26 of laundry appliance 10. As shown, cool dry air 122 from evaporator 102 is subsequently caused to flow across a condenser 108 (e.g., across coils or tubing of the condenser 108), which condenses refrigerant therein. The refrigerant enters condenser 108 in a gaseous state at a relatively high temperature compared to the air 122 from evaporator 102. As a result, heat energy is transferred to the air at the condenser section 108, thereby elevating the temperature of the air and providing warm dry air 118 for supply to the tub 26 of dryer appliance 10, e.g., via the supply duct 82 illustrated in FIG. 2. The warm dry air 118 passes over and around laundry articles 1000 within the chamber 25 of the tub 26, such that warm saturated air 120 is generated, as mentioned above. For example, the warm dry air may circulate around and through the articles 1000 while the articles 1000 are tumbled within the chamber 25 such as by rotating the basket 130, and the tumbling may be promoted by ribs 128 as well. Because the air is recycled through tub 26 and heating system 80, laundry appliance 10 can have a much greater efficiency than traditional clothes dryers where warm, moisture laden air is exhausted to the environment.

As shown, some embodiments of heating system 80 include a compressor 104 that pressurizes refrigerant (i.e., increases the pressure of the refrigerant) supplied by suction line 110 and generally motivates refrigerant through the sealed refrigerant circuit of heating system 80. Compressor 104 may be in operable communication with controller 56 and is generally designed to pressurize a gas phase refrigerant. Accordingly, in order to avoid damage, refrigerant in suction line 110 is supplied to the compressor 104 in a gas phase from the evaporator section 102. The pressurization of the refrigerant with compressor 104 increases the temperature of the refrigerant (e.g., as directed by controller 56). The compressed refrigerant is fed from compressor 104 to condenser 108 through line 112. As relatively cool air 122 from the evaporator 102 is passed over the condenser 108, the refrigerant is cooled and its temperature is lowered as heat is transferred to the air for supply to tub 26.

Upon exiting condenser 108, the refrigerant is fed through line 114 to an expansion device 106. Although only one expansion device 106 is shown, such is by way of example only. It is understood that multiple such devices may be used. In the illustrated example, expansion device 106 is a thermal expansion valve. In additional embodiments, any other suitable expansion device, such as a capillary tube, may be used as well as or instead of the thermal expansion valve 106. Expansion device 106 lowers the pressure of the refrigerant and controls the amount of refrigerant that is allowed to enter the evaporator 102 via line 116. Importantly, the flow of liquid refrigerant into evaporator 102 is limited by expansion device 106 in order to keep the pressure low and allow expansion of the refrigerant back into the gas phase in the evaporator 102. The evaporation of the refrigerant in the evaporator 102 converts the refrigerant from its liquid-dominated phase to a gas phase while cooling and drying the air 120 from tub 26. The process is repeated as air is circulated through tub 26 and between evaporator 102 and condenser 108 while the refrigerant is cycled through the sealed refrigerant circuit, as described above.

FIG. 4 provides a graph of remaining moisture content in the clothing articles 1000 (FIG. 3), expressed as percentages along the Y axis over time, in minutes, along the X axis during an exemplary drying operation. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the remaining moisture content decreases relatively slowly during an initial start up period, followed by a period of steady state drying wherein the remaining moisture content in the articles 1000 decreases steadily and more rapidly than during the start up period. After the steady state drying period, as the remaining moisture content approaches zero, the rate of change in the remaining moisture content decreases, e.g., the drying slows, during a final diminished rate drying period.

FIG. 5 provides an exemplary cycle map for a laundry appliance, such as the exemplary laundry appliance illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3. FIG. 5 generally shows rotational speed in revolutions per minute (RPM) versus time, in minutes, during the illustrated operation, which may be a portion of a longer operation, for the laundry appliance. More specifically, the dashed line 200 with short dashes in FIG. 5 represents rotational speed of the washer motor which, as mentioned above, rotates a basket, e.g., laundry basket 130, within a tub of the laundry appliance, the solid line 202 in FIG. 5 represents the rotational speed of a blower, such as the blower described above which motivates air flow through the laundry appliance, e.g., between the chamber 25 and the heating system 80, and the dashed line 204 with long dashes in FIG. 5 represents rotational speed of a compressor of a heating system of the laundry appliance, such as the compressor 104 described above. The structure and function of blowers is generally understood by those of ordinary skill in the art and, as such, the blower of the laundry appliance is not specifically illustrated.

In the example cycle depicted in FIG. 5, the washer motor is rotated at a speed greater than zero, e.g., approximately 1100 RPM as illustrated in FIG. 5, during a spin cycle of the laundry appliance. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the spin cycle is generally performed at the end of a wash cycle or wash operation of a laundry appliance, and the wash cycle generally includes at least one fill, such as a wash fill followed by a drain stage and a rinse fill, where a flow of liquid, e.g., water and/or wash liquid (water plus one or more additives such as detergent), is provided into the tub of the laundry appliance. The spin cycle is thus performed after the at least one fill in order to wring liquid from articles within the basket. Also as shown in FIG. 5, the blower (line 202) is rotated during at least a portion of the spin cycle, such as throughout the spin cycle, at a first rotational speed of the blower, and the compressor (line 204), is rotated during at least a portion of the spin cycle, such as throughout the spin cycle, at a first rotational speed of the compressor. Further, when the washer motor speed returns to zero, e.g., at the end of the spin cycle, the blower may then rotate at a second rotational speed of the blower which is greater than the first rotational speed of the blower and the compressor may also rotate at a second rotational speed of the compressor which is greater than the first rotational speed of the compressor after the spin cycle is complete. Also as illustrated in FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the blower may then continue to rotate at the second rotational speed of the blower for the remainder of the operation of the laundry appliance, while the compressor may return to the first rotational speed of the compressor at some point after rotating at the second rotational speed of the compressor for a predetermined period of time. Thus, in some embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 5, the operation of the laundry appliance may include continuously activating the heating system, e.g., the blower and/or compressor thereof, during and after the rotation of the laundry basket, e.g., during and after the spin cycle.

FIG. 6 provides another exemplary cycle map for a laundry appliance, which is generally similar to the cycle map of FIG. 5, e.g., in that rotational speed versus time is illustrated, the line 200 with short dashes represents the washer motor speed, the solid line 202 represents the blower speed, and the line 204 with long dashes represents the rotational speed of the compressor, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 5. In some embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 6, the heating system may be at least partially operated at a reduced level or deactivated during a portion of the spin cycle. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the compressor may be deactivated during a portion of the spin cycle, such as activated during an initial portion of the spin cycle and deactivated for the remainder of the spin cycle after the initial portion. In some embodiments, the blower may still remain active during and throughout the entire spin cycle. In additional embodiments, the blower may also be deactivated or operated at a reduced speed after the initial portion of the spin cycle. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the heating system may be turned down or off when the rotational speed of the basket increases, such as when the basket is accelerated to a plaster speed or full plaster speed, during the spin cycle. The plaster speed is a rotational speed at and above which the articles within the chamber become fixed in place within the basket such that the articles do not move relative to the basket while the articles and the basket rotate together, e.g., the articles may become plastered against the wall or walls of the basket when the basket is rotated at or above the plaster speed. Embodiments where the heating system is slowed down or deactivated when the rotational speed of the washer motor (and hence the basket, as described above) increases may advantageously maintain the total power consumed by the laundry appliance at or below a desired level. For example, slowing down or deactivating the heating system during the plaster phase of the spin cycle may prevent or reduce overloading an electrical circuit which supplies power to the laundry appliance and/or tripping a circuit breaker electrically coupled thereto.

Turning now to FIG. 7, embodiments of the present disclosure may also include methods of operating a laundry appliance, such as the example method 300 illustrated in FIG. 7. Such methods may be used with any suitable laundry appliance, such as but not limited to the laundry appliance 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. For example, as mentioned above, the laundry appliance may include a controller and the controller may be operable for, e.g., configured for, performing some or all of the method steps. For example, one or more method steps may be embodied as an algorithm or program stored in a memory of the controller and executed by the controller in response to a user input such as a selection of a dry operation or wash and dry operation of the laundry appliance.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, in some embodiments, the method 300 may include a step 310 of providing a flow of a liquid into a tub of the laundry appliance. The flow of liquid into the tub may be controlled or regulated by a water supply valve, and the step of providing the flow may include opening the water supply valve. The liquid which flows into the tub may be water and/or wash liquid, where the term “wash liquid” includes water and one or more additives such as detergent. The water may be water from, e.g., a residential plumbing system connected to a water source such as a municipal or other water treatment system or a well, or other suitable domestic water source, such that the term “water” is not limited to pure water but may also include minerals, electrolytes, and other substances in the water. In some embodiments, providing the flow of liquid into the tub may be a part of a wash operation of the laundry appliance, such as a rinse cycle of the wash operation.

Also as illustrated in FIG. 7, the method 300 may include a step 320 of rotating a laundry basket within the tub after providing the flow of the liquid into the tub. For example, the step 320 of rotating the laundry basket within the tub after providing the flow of the liquid into the tub may comprise a spin cycle of the wash operation following the rinse cycle which is preformed in order to wring excess moisture from articles within the basket and prepare the articles for drying.

Method 300 may further include a step 330 of activating a heating system of the laundry appliance during at least a portion of the step 320 of rotating the laundry basket. Activating the heating system may constitute the beginning or initialization of a drying operation of the laundry appliance, such that the step 330 of activating the heating system of the laundry appliance during at least a portion of the rotating step 320 comprises overlapping the wash operation and the drying operation. Referring briefly back to FIG. 4, activating the heating system during at least the portion of the rotating step 320 may comprise at least a portion of the start up phase of the drying operation occurring during the rotating step 320, e.g., during the spin cycle of the wash operation.

As a result of such overlap, the total time for the washing and drying operations, e.g., the total time for a complete cycle of the laundry appliance, may advantageously be reduced as compared to washing and drying operations performed sequentially with no overlap.

In some embodiments, the heating system may be continuously activated the during and after the step 320 of rotating the laundry basket. For example, the heating system may be activated at a beginning of the rotating step 320, may remain activated throughout the entire duration of the rotating step 320, and may continue to be activated after the rotating step 320 is completed.

In other embodiments, the heating system may be activated during an initial portion of the step 320 of rotating the laundry basket, and then the heating system may be activated at a reduced level or not activated at all, e.g., deactivated, for a remainder of the step 320 of rotating the laundry basket after the initial portion of the step 320 of rotating the laundry basket. In such embodiments, the heating system may be reactivated or returned to the initial level after the step 320 of rotating the laundry basket is completed. For example, the rotating step 320 may include rotating the basket at multiple speeds and, as noted above, reducing or deactivating the heating system when the basket speed increases may advantageously keep the total power drawn by the laundry appliance below a certain limit. Thus, in some embodiments, the step 320 of rotating the laundry basket within the tub may include rotating the laundry basket at a first speed during the initial portion, e.g., throughout the entire initial portion, and step 320 may also include rotating the laundry basket at a second speed greater than the first speed during the remainder of the step 320 of rotating the laundry basket, e.g., throughout the entire duration of the remainder of step 320 from the end of the initial portion to the end of the rotating step 320. In other words, such embodiments may generally include inverse variations in the speed of the components of the laundry appliance, e.g., decreasing the rotational speed of the compressor when the speed of the washer motor (and basket) increases.

In various embodiments, the step 330 of activating the heating system may include activating one or more components of the heating system, such as a blower and/or, in embodiments where the heating system is a heat pump heating system, a compressor of the heating system. For example, the activating step 330 may include activating a blower of the heating system to motivate air through the laundry appliance. In some embodiments, the blower may be activated, e.g., rotated, at a first speed of the blower during all or part of the rotating step 320 and the blower may then be rotated at a second speed of the blower greater than the first speed of the blower after the step 320 of rotating the laundry basket. Rotating the blower at the first speed of the blower, which is greater than zero and less than the second speed of the blower, during the rotating step 320 advantageously permits the drying operation to begin while the washing operation, e.g., spin cycle thereof, is ongoing, while also limiting the total power drawn by the laundry appliance when the washer motor and the blower are both activated at the same time.

The activating step 330 may also or instead include activating a compressor of the heat pump heating system in some embodiments. In such embodiments, activating the compressor during at least the portion of the step 320 of rotating the laundry basket may include activating the compressor at a first rotational speed of the compressor during part or all of the rotating step 320 and activating the compressor at a second rotational speed of the compressor greater than the first rotational speed of the compressor after the step 320 of rotating the laundry basket. Similar to the blower speeds described above, rotating the compressor at the first rotational speed of the compressor, which is greater than zero and less than the second rotational speed of the compressor, during the rotating step 320 advantageously permits the washing and drying operations to overlap, while also limiting the total power drawn by the laundry appliance when the washer motor and the compressor are both activated at the same time.

In embodiments where the heating system is a heat pump heating system including the compressor, step 330 of activating the compressor during at least the portion of the step 320 of rotating the laundry basket may also include activating the compressor at a first rotational speed during an initial portion of the rotating step 320 and activating the compressor at a third rotational speed which is greater than zero and less than the first rotational speed for a remainder of the rotating step 320 after the initial portion of the step 320. In other embodiments, the compressor may be deactivated for the remainder of the rotating step 320 after the initial portion of the step 320. Such embodiments may further include activating the compressor at a second rotational speed greater than the first rotational speed after the step 320 of rotating the laundry basket.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of operating a laundry appliance, comprising:

providing a flow of a liquid into a tub of the laundry appliance;

rotating a laundry basket within the tub after providing the flow of the liquid into the tub; and

activating a heating system of the laundry appliance during at least a portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating the heating system comprises continuously activating the heating system during and after the step of rotating the laundry basket.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating the heating system during at least the portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket comprises activating the heating system during an initial portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket, wherein the method further comprises deactivating the heating system for a remainder of the step of rotating the laundry basket after the initial portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket and activating the heating system after the step of rotating the laundry basket is completed.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of rotating the laundry basket within the tub comprises rotating the laundry basket at a first speed during the initial portion and rotating the laundry basket at a second speed greater than the first speed during the remainder of the step of rotating the laundry basket.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating the heating system during at least the portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket comprises activating a blower to motivate air through the laundry appliance.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein activating the blower to motivate air through the laundry appliance during at least the portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket comprises rotating the blower at a first speed, further comprising rotating the blower at a second speed greater than the first speed after the step of rotating the laundry basket.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating system comprises a heat pump heating system and wherein the step of activating the heating system during at least a portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket comprises activating a compressor of the heat pump heating system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein activating the compressor during at least the portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket comprises activating the compressor at a first rotational speed, further comprising activating the compressor at a second rotational speed greater than the first rotational speed after the step of rotating the laundry basket.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein activating the compressor during at least the portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket comprises activating the compressor at a first rotational speed during an initial portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket and activating the compressor at a third rotational speed less than the first rotational speed for a remainder of the step of rotating the laundry basket after the initial portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket, further comprising activating the compressor at a second rotational speed greater than the first rotational speed after the step of rotating the laundry basket.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the third rotational speed is greater than zero.

11. A laundry appliance, comprising:

a cabinet defining an interior volume;

a tub mounted within the interior volume of the cabinet;

a laundry basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the laundry basket defining a chamber for the receipt of articles for treatment;

a heating system coupled to the tub, the heating system in thermal communication with the chamber whereby heated air flows from the heating system to the chamber; and

a controller, the controller configured for: providing a flow of a liquid into a tub of the laundry appliance; rotating a laundry basket within the tub after providing the flow of the liquid into the tub; and activating the heating system of the laundry appliance during at least a portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket.

12. The laundry appliance of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured for continuously activating the heating system during and after the step of rotating the laundry basket.

13. The laundry appliance of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured for activating the heating system during an initial portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket, and wherein the controller is further configured for deactivating the heating system for a remainder of the step of rotating the laundry basket after the initial portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket and activating the heating system after the step of rotating the laundry basket is completed.

14. The laundry appliance of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured for rotating the laundry basket at a first speed during the initial portion and rotating the laundry basket at a second speed greater than the first speed during the remainder of the step of rotating the laundry basket.

15. The laundry appliance of claim 11, wherein activating the heating system during at least the portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket comprises activating a blower to motivate air through the laundry appliance.

16. The laundry appliance of claim 15, wherein activating the blower to motivate air through the laundry appliance during at least the portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket comprises rotating the blower at a first speed, wherein the controller is further configured for rotating the blower at a second speed greater than the first speed after the step of rotating the laundry basket.

17. The laundry appliance of claim 11, wherein the heating system comprises a heat pump heating system and wherein activating the heating system during at least a portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket comprises activating a compressor of the heat pump heating system.

18. The laundry appliance of claim 17, wherein activating the compressor during at least the portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket comprises activating the compressor at a first rotational speed, the controller further configured for activating the compressor at a second rotational speed greater than the first rotational speed after rotating the laundry basket.

19. The laundry appliance of claim 17, wherein activating the compressor during at least the portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket comprises activating the compressor at a first rotational speed during an initial portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket and activating the compressor at a third rotational speed less than the first rotational speed for a remainder of the step of rotating the laundry basket after the initial portion of the step of rotating the laundry basket, the controller further configured for activating the compressor at a second rotational speed greater than the first rotational speed after the step of rotating the laundry basket.

20. The laundry appliance of claim 19, wherein the third rotational speed is greater than zero.