Vertical Axis Patents (Class 68/174)
  • Patent number: 11359322
    Abstract: The present disclosure belongs to the field of washing machines, in particular to a washing barrel and a washing machine having the washing barrel. The washing barrel is configured to accommodate washing water. The washing barrel comprises a barrel body and a drainage channel being arranged on a side wall of the barrel body and configured to discharge washing water in the barrel body out of the barrel body during dehydrating. The drainage channel is provided with a water inlet communicated with an inside of the barrel body; and the barrel body is provided with a guiding part used to guide washing water in the barrel body into the water inlet during dehydrating. The present disclosure has the following beneficial effects: through setting the guiding part, the washing water is guided to the drainage channel and discharged through the drainage channel to realize rapid dehydration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD., QINGDAO HAIER SMART TECHNOLOGY R&D CO., LTD., HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Di Wu, Xinghui Hao, Chunfeng Lao
  • Patent number: 10358758
    Abstract: An inner tub of a water-saving washing machine comprises a balance ring, a tub body and a tub bottom. An annular block groove which opens downward is arranged inside an upper end of the tub body, the annular block groove is provided with a plurality of drain holes for draining water outside of the inner tub. The balance ring is mounted on the upper end of the tub body and cooperates with the tub body to form the annular block groove. Or, the annular block groove is integrally formed inwardly from an edge of the tub body. Or, an annular bending piece is mounted on the upper end of the tub body, the annular bending piece and the tub body cooperate or the annular bending piece itself constitute the annular block groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peishi Lv, Lin Yang, Yun Tian, Gangjin Zhang, Feng Li, Chunxia Zhou
  • Patent number: 10240272
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric K. Farrington, Steven Fricke, Nicholas C. Fugal, Christine L. Strain, Philip R. Thompson, Robert C. Williams
  • Patent number: 9452021
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for resuspending and/or collecting blood or other types of cells from used surgical sponges and/or other types of surgical articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: All Cell Recovery LLC
    Inventor: Michael Christopher Cordisco
  • Patent number: 9328452
    Abstract: A laundry machine having a drying function for drying an object to be dried, especially clothes. The laundry machine according to one embodiment of the present invention may be a circulating drying machine that supplies the hot air to an object to be dried, so as to remove water, and then condenses the water from the hot air and heats the condensed water to supply the heat to the object to be dried. At this time, condensing may be carried out using natural convection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sang Wook Hong, Young Suk Kim, Hyun Seok Seo
  • Patent number: 8579162
    Abstract: An enclosure for use with a gravity fed fluid dispensing system includes a housing with a base member and a cover member that is movably connected with the base member. The base member and cover member define an interior chamber for receiving a bottle. An actuator is movably connected with the housing and arranged to rotate the bottle within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John J. Dyer, Arthur V. Lang
  • Publication number: 20040040346
    Abstract: A basket for a washing machine includes a body comprising an outer wall and at least one rib extending radially inward from said wall, said rib comprising at least a first portion having a first cross section and a second portion having a second cross section, said second cross section different from said first cross section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Larry Hawkins, Derek Lee Watkins, Ronald Miles Johnson
  • Publication number: 20030226382
    Abstract: A continuous treatment system of yarns with process fluids, particularly for mercerization, wherein a bundle of threads to be treated is put into the reaction with a Venturi nozzle activated with process fluid, which entrains the bundle of yarn with it, and with a swirl distributor in the J-shaped treatment reactor, having an inner saddle-shaped guide surface for the downward and upward movement of the yarn in the process fluid bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventors: Roberto Badiali, Mario Minuti
  • Publication number: 20030226381
    Abstract: Device for the continuous treatment of yarns with process fluids comprising a Venturi nozzle fed with process fluid as driving fluid to feed the yarn to the treatment, a distributor for distributing the yarn in the treatment reactor according to a layer of superimposed swirls, a tank reactor, internally equipped with a saddle-shaped guiding surface on which the threads arranged in a layer first descend for immersion and then rise emerging from the process fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventors: Roberto Badiali, Mario Minuti
  • Patent number: 6116061
    Abstract: A washing machine includes an outer tub, an inner tub, fluid nozzle configured to spray fluid into the inner tub, a fluid pump, and a controller. The washing machine may also include a pulsator located in the inner tub for applying a force to clothing in inner tub. During a first washing cycle, the controller causes the inner tub to rotate, and the nozzle to spray fluid onto clothing in the inner tub. During the first washing cycle, a fluid level in the outer tub may be controlled so that it is lower than the inner tub. During a second washing cycle, the inner tub is held stationary, and the pulsator applies a force to clothing in the inner tub, as occurs in conventional washing machines. Because the fluid level in the washing machine can be kept quite low during the first washing cycle, less water and less detergent is required. Also, because the level of the water is kept below the rotating inner tub during the first washing cycle, less force and thus less energy are required to rotate the inner tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Yeop Oh, Kyeong Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 5950459
    Abstract: An electric washing machine includes a washing machine body, a water tank fixed in the washing machine body and having an opening at the bottom, a double-cylindrical axis body formed of outer and inner rotary axes passing through the opening in the water tank, a washing tank in the water tank attached to the upper end of the outer rotary axis, with a large number of dehydration holes, a container type agitator attached to the upper end of the inner rotary axis, arranged at the bottom of the washing tank, and a planetary gear mechanism coupled to the lower end of the double-cylindrical axis body. The planetary gear mechanism includes an input axis, a planetary gear outer periphery portion fixed to the outer rotary axis, and a planetary gears coupled to the inner rotary axis and engaging with the outer periphery of the input axis and the inner surface of the planetary gear outer periphery portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Takagi, Akira Yoshida, Masafumi Satomura
  • Patent number: 5373715
    Abstract: An automatic washing machine having a imperforate stationery tub and further having a rotatable plastic wash basket, for receiving a clothes load, disposed within the stationary tub. The rotatable plastic wash basket further includes a cylindrical outer wall having an upper end open for receiving the clothes load. A base integral with the cylindrical outer wall is provided for forming a bottom of the rotatable basket. An annular core member is disposed within the base of the plastic wash basket such that the base encapsules and interlocks with the annular core member. In addition, a hub member is disposed centrally in the annular core member and is drivingly connectable with a drive shaft for drivingly rotating said rotatable wash basket. The annular core member has a substantially triangular radial cross-section such that the base is optimally configured to form a solid triangular radial cross-section for providing strength and rigidity to the wash basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Brenner M. Sharp, Eric K. Farrington, Jefrey A. Lynn
  • Patent number: 5297403
    Abstract: An automatic washing machine having a imperforate stationery tub and further having a rotatable plastic wash basket, for receiving a clothes load, disposed within the tub. The rotatable plastic wash basket includes a cylindrical outer wall defining a vertical axis and having an upper end open for receiving the clothes load. A base integral with the cylindrical outerwall is provided for forming a bottom of the rotatable basket. A hub member is positioned centrally in the base and is drivingly connectable with a drive shaft for rotating said rotatable wash basket. The base further includes an annular cavity, formed within the base, surrounding the hub member. The annular cavity has a substantially triangular radial cross-section such that the base comprises walls which define the annular cavity and form a triangular truss optimally configured for providing strength and rigidity to the wash basket base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric K. Farrington, Brenner M. Sharp
  • Patent number: 4910979
    Abstract: A counter-rotation wash system is provided in an automatic washer wherein the basket and agitator are reversely oscillated during a wash mode and the basket and agitator are co-rotated during a liquid extraction or spin mode. A reversing PSC motor is connected through a planetary drive to both the agitator and basket with the basket being free from restraint during the agitate mode. Reduced torque requirements and other advantages accrue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Burk, Douglas E. Wood
  • Patent number: 4835994
    Abstract: A washing machine having a washing tub including a fixed drum mounted on the upper side thereof, and a movable drum disposed under the fixed drum so as to rotate horizontally. The fixed drum has projection parts for providing clothes with a contact friction force on the inner wall thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Ishida, Fumio Torita, Yoshio Kohsaka
  • Patent number: 4711104
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a washing tub whose peripheral wall is constituted by an upper peripheral wall section and a lower peripheral wall section which is located below the upper peripheral wall section and which is driven to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise. The washing tub receives water and laundry therein. In the case of a small load of laundry, the laundry is caused to flow, and to be washed due mainly to the flow or water caused by the rotation of the lower peripheral wall section. In the case of a large amount of the load of laundry, the laundry can be due to the synergetic action of the frictional forces. In such a washing machine, the inner surface of the lower peripheral wall section is made gradually larger in diameter from its lower portion to its upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yoshio Ikeda
  • Patent number: 4711105
    Abstract: A washing machine including a washing tub and a bowl-shaped agitator which is rotatably disposed in the lower part of the washing tub. The washing tub includes a ring-shaped frame element, which covers the gap between the bowl-shaped agitator and the inner surface of the washing tub, whose internal diameter is the same as that of the bowl-shaped agitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Susumu Oida, Yoshikazu Munemoto, Masami Ueda, Michiaki Ito
  • Patent number: 4651542
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a washing tub whose peripheral wall is formed of an upper peripheral wall section and a lower peripheral wall section located thereunder and adapted to be rotated in two opposite directions. The washing tub receives laundry and water therein. In the washing mode, the lower peripheral wall section is rotated both clockwise and counterclockwise. Thus, the laundry is circulated by frictional contact with the lower peripheral wall section and is washed by the effect of multiplication of frictional forces produced by contact with the upper and lower peripheral wall sections. A projection protrudes upward from the inner bottom surface of the washing tub and is located inside the lower peripheral wall section to touch the laundry to increase the cleaning efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yoshio Kohsaka
  • Patent number: 4631934
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a washing tub whose peripheral wall is constituted by an upper peripheral wall section and a lower peripheral wall section which is located below the upper peripheral wall section and which is driven to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise. The washing tub receives water and laundry therein. In the case of a small load of laundry, the laundry is caused to flow, and to be washed due mainly to the flow or water caused by the rotation of the lower peripheral wall section. In the case of a large amount of the load of laundry, the laundry can be washed due to the synergetic action of the frictional forces. In such a washing machine, the inner surface of the upper peripheral wall section is made gradually smaller in diameter from its lower portion to its upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shoichi Imanishi, Yoshio Ikeda
  • Patent number: 4584732
    Abstract: A washer/dehydrater of the present invention comprises a washing tub and a vessel-like stirrer accommodated in a lower portion of the washing tub. The washing/dehydrating is performed through a washing step, a dehydrating step, a pre-rinsing step and a rinsing step. The washing and rinsing steps are performed by having the washing tub substantially stationary and rotating the stirrer forwards and backwards in a predetermined cycle period. The dehydrating step is performed by rotating the washing tub and stirrer in unison with each other in one direction at a high speed to thereby dehydrate the laundry. The pre-rinsing step is performed immediately before the rinsing step, which is performed after the dehydrating step, by rotating the stirrer forwards and backwards in a shorter cycle period than the aforesaid cycle period in the washing and rinsing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yoshio Kohsaka
  • Patent number: 4207760
    Abstract: A vane shape for producing optimum washing action in vertical axis clothes washing machines including vanes located in the bottom of the tub or basket and shaped with radially canted edges which cause the fabric articles to be pulled and slid outwardly as the edge is rotated into the articles to establish a toroidal circulation within the tub. In a preferred embodiment, an oscillated agitator is provided with a series of vane pairs joined at the lower side to form a V-shaped trough with either upper edge of the vane pairs inclined to produce a net outward movement of the washed articles by alternate engagement with a respective upper edge of either vane blades upon alternate rotation into the load. The vane shapes are either mounted to an oscillating agitator, a rotary impeller, or integrally formed in an oscillating basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Bochan