Patent Application
20230295865
The present subject matter relates generally to dryer appliances, or more specifically, to apparatuses and methods of operation for cleaning dryer appliances.
Dryer appliances generally include a cabinet with a drum rotatably mounted therein. During operation, a motor rotates the drum, e.g., to tumble articles located within a chamber defined by the drum. Dryer appliances also generally include a system for passing dry, heated air through the chamber in order to dry moisture-laden articles positioned therein. Typically, an air handler or blower is used to urge the flow of heated air through the chamber to dry the clothes.
Dryer appliances may occasionally develop undesired smells, odors, bacterial, microbial, or fungal growth. For instance, commercial dryer appliances may be used at such rates that permit dirty laundry chambers while being burdensome to the user or owner to clean and disinfect at intervals that may mitigate dirt, germ, or other undesired build-up or growth.
Certain dryer appliance configurations may include a steam function and other post-dry functions. Such systems may create or exasperate dirty laundry issues by allowing water or water vapor to enter or build up at surfaces of the dryer appliance. Unlike washing machine appliances, such surfaces at dryer appliances may not typically come into contact with a detergent or other cleaning solutions.
Accordingly, a dryer appliance with cleaning and disinfecting features is desired. More particularly, apparatuses and methods for cleaning and disinfecting a dryer appliance are desired.
Advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a dryer appliance. The dryer appliance includes a drum rotatably mounted within a cabinet. The drum defines a chamber for receipt of articles for drying. The dryer appliance includes a heater assembly in fluid communication with the chamber. The heater assembly includes a blower fan configured to flow air through the heater assembly. The heater assembly is configured to selectively generate heat and remove moisture from the air flowing through the heater assembly. A reservoir is configured to receive a fluid. The reservoir is in selective fluid communication with the chamber to provide the fluid to the chamber. A controller is configured to perform operations that, when executed by the controller, causes the dryer appliance to perform operations. The operations include flowing fluid to the chamber from the reservoir. The fluid is a cleaning solution, a disinfecting solution, or a perfume solution.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method for operating a dryer appliance. The method includes flowing a fluid from a reservoir at the dryer appliance to a chamber configured to receive laundry articles for drying. The fluid is a cleaning solution, a disinfecting solution, or a perfume solution. The method includes operating a blower fan to flow air through a heater assembly of the dryer appliance to the chamber.
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.
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.
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.
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, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. The terms “includes” and “including” are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Similarly, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). In addition, here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and/or interchanged. Such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise. For example, all ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The terms “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative flow direction with respect to fluid flow in a fluid pathway. For example, “upstream” refers to the flow direction from which the fluid flows, and “downstream” refers to the flow direction to which the fluid flows.
Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “generally,” “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value, or the precision of the methods or machines for constructing or manufacturing the components and/or systems. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a 10 percent margin, i.e., including values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. In this regard, for example, 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, e.g., “generally vertical” includes forming an angle of up to ten degrees in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise, with the vertical direction V.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” In addition, references to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “an embodiment” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Moreover, 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 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.
Referring now to the figures, an exemplary laundry appliance that may be used to implement aspects of the present subject matter will be described. Specifically,
As depicted in
Cabinet 12 includes a plurality of panels including a front panel 14, a rear panel 16, a pair of side panels 18 and 20 (e.g., a first side panel 18 and a second side panel 20) spaced apart from each other by front panel 14 and rear panel 16 along the lateral direction L, a bottom panel 22, and a top cover 24. Cabinet 12 defines an interior volume 29. A container or drum 26 is mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis within the interior volume 29 of cabinet 12. Drum 26 defines a chamber 25 for receipt of articles for tumbling and/or drying. As used herein, the terms “clothing” or “articles” includes but need not be limited to fabrics, textiles, garments, linens, papers, or other items from which the extraction of moisture is desirable. Drum 26 extends between a front portion 37 and a back portion 38, e.g., along the transverse direction T. Drum 26 also includes a back or rear wall 34, e.g., at back portion 38 of drum 26. For example, dryer appliance 10 may be configured as an electric dryer appliance with electrical heating elements or as a gas dryer appliance with gas heating elements (e.g., gas burners) for heating air. heater assembly 40
In some embodiments, a motor 31 is provided to rotate drum 26 about the horizontal axis, e.g., via a pulley and a belt (not pictured). Drum 26 is generally cylindrical in shape. Drum 26 has an outer cylindrical wall 28 and a front flange or wall 30 that defines an opening 32 of drum 26, e.g., at front portion 37 of drum 26, for loading and unloading of articles into and out of chamber 25 of drum 26. Drum 26 includes a plurality of lifters or baffles 27 that extend into chamber 25 to lift articles therein and then allow such articles to tumble back to a bottom of drum 26 as drum 26 rotates. Baffles 27 may be mounted to drum 26 such that baffles 27 rotate with drum 26 during operation of dryer appliance 10.
Rear wall 34 of drum 26 is rotatably supported within cabinet 12 by a suitable bearing. Rear wall 34 can be fixed or can be rotatable. Rear wall 34 may include, for instance, a plurality of holes 39 that receive hot air that has been heated by a heater assembly 40. The heater assembly 40 may include a heat pump or refrigerant-based heater assembly. Moisture laden, heated air is drawn from drum 26 by an air handler 42 that draws air through chamber 25 of drum 26 when motor 31 rotates a fan assembly 48. In particular, ambient air, shown schematically via arrow 51, enters heater assembly 40 due to air handler 42 urging relatively cool ambient air 51 into the heater assembly 40. Such cool air 51 is selectively heated through the heater assembly 40 and is provided as heated air, shown schematically via arrow 52 to chamber 25. In various embodiments further described herein, heater assembly 40 may be non-activated or deactivated such that air 52, 53 provided to the chamber 25 is substantially similar to ambient air 51 (i.e., unheated). Air handler 42 draws heated air 52 through a duct 41, such as a back duct or first duct, to drum 26. Heated air 52 enters through the plurality of holes 39 and flows through chamber 25, such as depicted schematically via arrow 53. Within chamber 25, heated air 53 can accumulate moisture (e.g., from damp articles disposed within chamber 25). In turn, air handler 42 draws the moisture laden heated air, depicted schematically via arrow 54. Moisture laden heated air 54 enters through a duct 44. Duct 44 may form a front duct or second duct including a lint filter 46 (e.g., a screen filter) configured to collect lint during drying. The moisture laden heated air 54 passes through duct 44 enclosing filter 46, which traps lint particles. More specifically, filter 46 may include a screen, mesh, other material to capture lint in the air flow. The location of lint filters in appliance 10 as shown in
A door 33 provides for closing or accessing drum 26 through opening 32. According to exemplary embodiments, a window (not shown) in door 33 permits viewing of chamber 25 when door 33 is in the closed position, e.g., during operation of dryer appliance 10. Door 33 also includes a handle that, e.g., a user may pull when opening and closing door 33. Further, although door 33 is illustrated as mounted to front panel 14, it should be appreciated that door 33 may be mounted to another side of cabinet 12 or any other suitable support according to alternative embodiments. Dryer appliance 10 may further include a latch assembly 36 (see
In some embodiments, one or more selector inputs 70, such as knobs, buttons, touchscreen interfaces, etc., may be provided or mounted on a cabinet 12 (e.g., on a user interface panel 71) and are communicatively coupled with (e.g., electrically coupled or coupled through a wireless network band) a processing device or controller 56. Controller 56 may also be communicatively coupled with various operational components of dryer appliance 10, such as motor 31, fan assembly 48, and/or components of heater assembly 40. In turn, signals generated in controller 56 direct operation of motor 31, fan assembly 48, or heater assembly 40 in response user inputs to selector 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 dryer 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 controller 56 as disclosed herein is capable of and may be operable to perform any methods or 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 56.
In various embodiments, the user interface panel 71 is positioned at the front panel 14. In particular embodiments, user interface panel 71 is positioned proximate to one of the pair of side panels and distal to another of the pair of side panels. In an embodiment, user interface panel 71 is positioned alongside second panel 20 and distal to first panel 18, e.g., distal along lateral direction L. Controller 56 is positioned proximate to one of the pair of side panels and distal to another of the pair of side panels. In such an embodiment, controller 56 is positioned alongside second panel 20 and distal to first panel 18, e.g., distal along lateral direction L.
Referring to
In particular embodiments, the reservoir 100 includes a handle 116 forming a portion 114 of the front panel 14 of the cabinet 12. The reservoir 100 may be positioned at the front panel 14 proximate to another of the pair of side panels and distal to the controller 56. In an embodiment such as described above in regard to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The dryer appliance 10 may include one or more post-dry systems 300 including embodiments of reservoir 100 configured to provide a fluid (e.g., cleaning solution, disinfecting solution, perfume solution, etc.) to the chamber 25. In certain embodiments, the fluid solution is generally appropriate for application to laundry articles after a drying cycle. In various embodiments, the post dry system 300 includes a pump 310 (
The flow control device 400 includes a valve, such as a check valve, a non-return valve, a reflux valve, a retention valve, a foot valve, or, generally, a one-way valve, such as any appropriate valve configured to allow flow in a first direction (i.e., from the inlet opening 410 toward the outlet opening 430) and inhibit flow in an opposing second direction.
Referring still to
The flow control device 400 includes outlet opening 430 in fluid communication with the chamber 25 via outlet conduit 432. The flow control device 400 may include a first inlet opening 410A configured to receive water or water vapor through the first inlet opening 410A and a second inlet opening 410B configured to receive the fluid from the reservoir 100 through the second inlet opening 410B. The flow control device 400 may be configured to selectively provide fluid communication from the first inlet opening 410A and the second inlet opening 410B to the chamber 25 through the outlet conduit 430 connecting the chamber 25.
Embodiments of the dryer appliance 10 such as schematically depicted in
Referring now to
Method 1000 includes at 1010 flowing fluid to a chamber (e.g., chamber 25 for laundry articles) from a reservoir (e.g., reservoir 100 configured to retain a fluid or solid cleaning, disinfecting, or perfume material or solution). As provided herein, fluid is a cleaning solution, a disinfecting solution, a perfume solution, or other appropriate solution or material such as described herein. Accordingly, method 1000 includes a method for cleaning and disinfecting components of a dryer appliance, such as a chamber, conduits, or valves.
In certain embodiments, method 1000 includes at 1030 flowing water vapor to the chamber. In various embodiments, flowing water vapor includes flowing water vapor from a water supply (e.g., water supply 64). In a particular embodiment, flowing water vapor to the chamber is in serial operation with flowing fluid from the reservoir (e.g., reservoir 100) to the chamber (e.g., chamber 25). In a still particular embodiment, flowing water vapor to the chamber in serial operation with flowing the fluid from the reservoir to the chamber includes flowing water vapor and the fluid through the outlet conduit to the chamber (e.g., outlet conduit 432 fluidly connecting flow control device 400 to chamber 25).
Serial operation may particularly refer to providing one or the other of fluid or water vapor in a first instance in time to or through the outlet conduit and providing the other of water vapor or fluid in a second instance in time to or through the outlet conduit. Controller 56 may be configured to command (i.e., provide one or more control signals) iterative flow, or allowing flow therethrough, of water vapor and fluid from flow control device 400 through outlet conduit 432 to chamber 25. Serial operation, or serial flow, of water vapor and fluid through outlet conduit 432 to chamber 25 may include allowing amounts of fluid to mix at flow control device 400 or outlet conduit 432 with amounts of water or water vapor. Accordingly, certain embodiments of method 1000 include at 1032 mixing fluid and water or water vapor and flowing the fluid-water mixture to the chamber. Such embodiments may allow for concentrated fluid (e.g., concentrated perfume solution, disinfectant solution, cleaning solution, antimicrobial solution, antibacterial solution, fungicidal solution, or combinations thereof, etc.) to be desirably diluted with water before providing the fluid to the chamber.
Embodiments of method 1000 may include at 1040 rotating a drum (e.g., drum 26) while flowing the fluid to the chamber. Rotating the drum may allow for fluid, or diluted fluid, to land at various surfaces at drum or within the chamber. Additionally, or alternatively, rotating the drum may move the laundry articles when laundry articles are present in the chamber. The fluid may be provided while laundry articles are in the chamber, such as to allow the fluid to contact various surfaces of the laundry articles.
In various embodiments, method 1000 includes at 1050 flowing air through the heater assembly (e.g., heater assembly 40) to the chamber. In a particular embodiment, the method 1000 at 1050 includes operating a blower fan (e.g., fan assembly 48, or providing/receiving signals via sensor 49 at fan assembly 48) to flow air to and through the chamber 25. In one embodiment, flowing air to the chamber is in serial operation with flowing fluid to the chamber. In another embodiment, flowing air to the chamber is in parallel operation with flowing fluid to the chamber. Flowing air to the chamber may further include flowing air through the chamber and through a drum outlet (e.g., drum outlet 54). The method 1000 may include at 1052 cycling an air-fluid mixture through the heater assembly. The method 1000 at 1052 may allow for the fluid to contact surfaces and components at the heater assembly, such as to allow for cleaning and disinfecting of the duct 44, drum 26, exhaust duct 50, or other components.
In particular embodiments, flowing air through the heater assembly includes flowing cool air through the heater assembly and providing cool air to the chamber. Stated differently, flowing air through the heater assembly may particularly include non-heated air, such as to allow for dispersing the fluid through the chamber to various surfaces of the drum.
In other embodiments, method 1000 includes at 1054 transferring heat energy to cool air flowing at the heater assembly to generate heated air, such as described above in regard to
Embodiments of the method may include flowing fluid to the chamber when the absence of laundry articles at the chamber is determined or when a user inputs a command (e.g., at user interface panel 71). In certain embodiments, particular fluids may correspond to whether the fluid may be applied to an empty chamber, a chamber with laundry articles, or both. For instance, referring back to
It should further be appreciated that the reservoir 100 may be configured to receive one or more appropriate fluids such as described herein. Controller 56 may be configured to receive a user input indicative of the fluid provided to the reservoir, or to particular compartments of the reservoir. In other embodiments, controller 56 may correspond particular compartments 122 at the reservoir 100 to particular fluids. Method 1000, when executed by controller 56, may select the appropriate fluid based on a desired cleaning, disinfecting, or perfuming cycle.
Embodiments of dryer appliance 10, controller 56, and method 1000 provided herein allow for cleaning, disinfecting, and perfuming at a dryer appliance. Embodiments may include predetermining intervals or cycles at which the fluid is provided to the chamber or other components such as described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, embodiments of the method 1000 provided herein may include a user input or response that causes the method 1000 to execute. Embodiments provided herein may overcome issues associated with cleaning and disinfecting dryer appliances, or allow for desired perfumes and scents to be added to laundry articles, or both.
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.
