DRYER APPLIANCES INCLUDING TRANSPARENT RESERVOIR

Abstract

A dryer appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The vertical, lateral, and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular. The dryer appliance includes a cabinet extending along the transverse direction from a rear panel to a front panel, along the lateral direction from a left side panel to a right side panel, and along the vertical direction from a bottom panel to a top cover. The cabinet defines an interior volume. A drum is rotatably mounted within the interior volume of the cabinet. The drum defines a chamber for the receipt of clothes for drying. A reservoir is mounted in the cabinet at the front panel of the cabinet. The reservoir is configured for receipt of an additive. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the chamber to provide the additive from the reservoir to the chamber.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to dryer appliances, and more particularly to dryer appliances that utilize a reservoir for providing additives to a load within the dryer appliances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional appliance for drying articles such as a clothes dryer (or laundry dryer) for drying clothing articles typically includes a cabinet having a rotating drum for tumbling clothes and laundry articles therein. One or more heating elements heat air prior to the air entering the drum, and the warm air is circulated through the drum as the clothes are tumbled to remove moisture from laundry articles in the drum. Gas or electric heating elements may be used to heat the air that is circulated through the drum.

In operation, ambient air from outside is drawn into the cabinet and passed through the heater before being fed to the drum. Moisture from the clothing is transferred to the air passing through the drum. Typically, this moisture laden air is then transported away from the dryer by, for example, a duct leading outside of the structure or room where the dryer is placed. The exhausted air removes moisture from the dryer and the clothes are dried as the process is continued by drawing in more ambient air.

In certain situations, it may be desirable to provide one or more additives to the clothes within the drum, e.g., additives may be provided to reduce wrinkling, to improve the scent of the clothes, and/or other fabric treatment additives such as fabric softener may be provided. For example, a user may prefer more fragrant clothes, or the laundry may have been sitting in the drying chamber for an extended period and may smell slightly stale or musty. Conventional means of providing additives include manually placing dryer sheets or other additives within the drying chamber prior to activation of the dryer. Alternatively, clothes may be washed and dried again, resulting in excessive energy and water usage.

Accordingly, a dryer appliance having improved features for storing an additive and selectively providing the additive to the interior of the drum would be advantageous. In particular, a dryer appliance that includes features for readily determining a fill status of an additive reservoir and/or replenishing the additive in the reservoir would be useful.

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 dryer appliance is provided. The dryer appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The vertical, lateral, and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular. The dryer appliance includes a cabinet extending along the transverse direction from a rear panel to a front panel, along the lateral direction from a left side panel to a right side panel, and along the vertical direction from a bottom panel to a top cover. The cabinet defines an interior volume. A drum is rotatably mounted within the interior volume of the cabinet. The drum defines a chamber for the receipt of clothes for drying. A reservoir is mounted in the cabinet at the front panel of the cabinet. The reservoir is configured for receipt of an additive. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the chamber to provide the additive from the reservoir to the chamber.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a dryer appliance is provided. The dryer appliance includes a cabinet. The cabinet defines an interior volume. A drum is rotatably mounted within the interior volume of the cabinet. The drum defines a chamber for the receipt of clothes for drying. A reservoir is mounted in the cabinet at the front panel of the cabinet. The reservoir is configured for receipt of an additive. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the chamber to provide the additive from the reservoir 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.

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 dryer appliance in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of the example dryer appliance of FIG. 1 with portions of a cabinet of the dryer appliance removed to reveal certain components of the dryer appliance.

FIG. 3 provides an enlarged view of a portion of a front panel of the dryer appliance according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of a cap for a dryer appliance according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of a reservoir for a dryer appliance according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 provides a perspective view of a frame for a dryer appliance according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 provides a perspective view of a portion of the dryer appliance of FIG. 1 with a side panel removed to show internal construction of the dryer appliance.

FIG. 8 provides a rear perspective view of the dryer appliance of FIG. 1 with the side panel removed.

FIG. 9 provides an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 8.

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 dryer appliance 10 according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 provides another perspective view of dryer appliance 10 with a portion of a cabinet or housing 12 of dryer appliance 10 removed in order to show certain components of dryer appliance 10. Dryer 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 dryer appliance 10, using the teachings disclosed herein, it will be understood that dryer appliance 10 is provided by way of example only. Other dryer appliances having different appearances and different features may also be utilized with the present subject matter as well.

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 from the perspective of a user facing the dryer appliance 10 for accessing and/or operating the dryer appliance 10. For example, a user stands in front of the dryer 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 container 26 mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis within the interior volume 29. Drum 26 defines a chamber 25 for receipt of articles of clothing for tumbling and/or drying. Drum 26 extends between a front portion 37 and a back portion 38. Drum 26 also includes a back or rear wall 34, e.g., at back portion 38 of drum 26. A supply duct 41 may be mounted to rear wall 34 and receives heated air that has been heated by a heating assembly or system 40.

As used herein, the terms “clothing” or “clothes” includes but need not be limited to fabrics, textiles, garments, linens, papers, or other items from which the extraction of moisture is desirable. Furthermore, the term “load” or “laundry load” refers to the combination of clothing that may be washed together in a washing machine or dried together in a dryer appliance 10 (e.g., clothes dryer) 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.

A motor 31 is provided in some embodiments 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, having 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. A plurality of lifters or baffles 27 are provided within chamber 25 of drum 26 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.

Drum 26 includes a rear wall 34 rotatably supported within main housing 12 by a suitable fixed bearing. Rear wall 34 can be fixed or can be rotatable. Rear wall 34 may include, for instance, a plurality of holes that receive hot air that has been heated by a heating system 40, which may include, e.g., a resistance heating element, a gas burner, and/or a heat pump. Moisture laden, heated air is drawn from drum 26 by an air handler, such as blower fan 48, which generates a negative air pressure within drum. The air passes through a duct 44 enclosing screen filter 46, which traps lint particles. As the air passes from blower fan 48, it enters a duct 50 and then is passed into heating system 40. Heated air (with a lower moisture content than was received from drum 26), exits heating system 40 and returns to drum 26 by duct 41. After the clothing articles have been dried, they are removed from the drum 26 via opening 32. A door 33 provides for closing or accessing drum 26 through opening 32.

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 backsplash 71) and are in operable communication (e.g., electrically coupled or coupled through a wireless network band) with a processing device or controller 56. Controller 56 may also be provided in operable communication with motor 31, blower 48, or heating system 40. In turn, signals generated in controller 56 direct operation of motor 31, blower 48, or heating system 40 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 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.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 9, a system for introducing an additive into drying chamber 25 (and thus the clothes drying therein) will be described according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. As shown in FIG. 3, in some exemplary embodiments, dryer appliance 10 may include a reservoir 100 mounted in a frame 102. The reservoir 100 may be configured to hold an additive, such as a liquid additive, and may be in fluid communication with, e.g., fluidly connected to, the chamber 25. For example, the reservoir 100 may be in fluid communication with one or more spray nozzles 146 (FIGS. 8 and 9) which are positioned and arranged to provide a spray of additive from the reservoir 100 into the chamber 25, such as onto clothing articles therein. Reservoir 100 may advantageously be visible and accessible from the front of the dryer appliance 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the frame 102 may be rotatably connected, e.g., with a hinged connection, to the cabinet 12, in particular to the front panel 14 of the cabinet. In some embodiments, the frame 102 may be hingedly mounted to the front panel 14 of the cabinet 12 below the door 33 along the vertical direction V. For example, the frame 102 may be positioned within an opening in the front panel 14 of the cabinet 12, and may be surrounded by a trim piece 106. In other embodiments, the trim piece 106 may be directly connected to the front panel 14.

The frame 102 may be rotatable, e.g., about the lateral direction L, between a closed position (FIG. 1) and an open position (FIG. 3). The reservoir 100 may be received within the frame 102 and may be fixed within the frame 102, whereby the reservoir 100 rotates with the frame 102 when the frame 102 rotates between the open and closed positions. As shown in FIG. 3, when the frame 102 is in the open position, the reservoir 100 is accessible. In particular, a cap 104 removably attached to the reservoir 100 may be accessible when the frame 102 is in the open position. Accordingly, a user may open the frame 102, e.g., by rotating the frame 102 about the lateral direction L outward and away from the front panel 14 of the cabinet 12 to access the reservoir 100, for example, to remove the cap 104 and place additive into the reservoir 100.

FIGS. 4 and 5 provide perspective views of the cap 104 and the reservoir 100 according to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the cap 104 may include a handle 108 and a plug 112 with a flange 110 positioned between the handle 108 and the plug 112. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the reservoir 100 may include an inlet 114. The cap 104 may be configured to removably attach to the reservoir 100, e.g., at the inlet 114, for selectively sealingly engaging with the inlet 114 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3) and permitting access to the inlet 114 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5). The cap 104 may be removably attached to the inlet 114 by any suitable mechanism, such as but not limited to, a press fit, a threaded connection, a bayonet-type connection, or any other suitable connection. The plug 112 of the cap104 may be sized and configured to fit within the inlet 114 of the reservoir 100, and the flange 110 may be larger than the plug 112 and the inlet 114, e.g., may have a greater diameter, whereby the plug 112 and the flange 110 cooperatively sealingly engage the inlet 114 of the reservoir 100 to promote retention of additives, such as liquid additive, within the reservoir 100 when the cap 104 is attached to the reservoir 100.

As shown for example in FIG. 5, the reservoir 100 may include an outlet or spout 116, and the reservoir 100 may provide additive to the chamber 25 via the spout 116. The reservoir 100 may advantageously include a transparent material. For example, in some embodiments, a front face 101 of the reservoir 100 may include the transparent material. Further, in at least some embodiments, the reservoir 100 may be entirely or substantially entirely composed of transparent material.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the frame 102 may include a front portion 118 extending generally along the vertical direction V and the lateral direction L and a bottom portion 120 extending generally along the transverse direction T and the lateral direction L, e.g., when the frame 102 is mounted to the cabinet 12 and is in the closed position. The front portion 118 of the frame 102 may be generally perpendicular to the bottom portion 120. The front portion 118 may include a handle 126, e.g., at a top center position on the front portion 118, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The handle 126 may provide a convenient location for a user to grasp the frame 102, e.g., in order to rotate the frame 102 between the open and closed positions.

The front portion 118 of the frame 102 may include a front wall 122 which is generally aligned with, e.g., generally parallel to and generally coplanar with, the front panel 14 of the cabinet 12 when the frame 102 is in the closed position. A window 124 may be defined in the front wall 122 of the frame 102. Accordingly, the front face 101 of the reservoir 100 may be at least partially visible through the window 124 when the reservoir is received within the frame 102, e.g., as shown in FIG. 1. In embodiments where the reservoir 100 includes a transparent material, such as at least in the front face 101 of the reservoir 100, the transparent material may be visible through the window 124 of the frame 102. As mentioned above, a user generally stands in front of the dryer appliance 10 to access and/or operate the dryer appliance 10. For example, the front panel 14 of the cabinet 12 may face the user when the user accesses and/or operates the dryer appliance 10. Thus, in embodiments where the reservoir 100 is transparent and the front wall 122 of the frame 102, along with the front face 101 of the reservoir 100 therein, is generally aligned with the front panel 14 when the frame 102 is in the closed position, a user may be able to readily perceive a fill level of the reservoir 100 while the user is accessing and/or operating the dryer appliance 10. Accordingly, the reservoir 100 may be positioned at the front panel 14 of the cabinet 12 such that the reservoir 100 is configured to provide a visual indication of a fill level of the reservoir 100 to a user through the transparent material of the reservoir 100, e.g., through the window 124 of the frame 102.

Still referring to FIG. 6, the bottom portion 120 of the frame 102 may include a first sidewall 128 extending generally along the vertical direction V and the transverse direction T, a rear wall 130 extending generally along the vertical direction V and the lateral direction L, and a second sidewall 132 extending generally parallel to the first sidewall 128. In various embodiments, such as the example illustrated in FIG. 6, one or more of the walls 128, 130, and 132 of the bottom portion 120 may include linear portions, curvilinear portion, or a combination of linear and curvilinear portions. In some embodiments, a single continuous wall may be provided around the bottom portion 120 of the frame 102. The walls 128, 130, and 132 of the bottom portion 120 define a trough 134 for receipt of the reservoir 100. Accordingly, the reservoir 100 may be mounted in the frame 102, and in some embodiments may be fixedly mounted in the frame 102. As such, references herein to the frame 102 rotating between the open position and the closed position generally include the reservoir 100 rotating with the frame 102 as well. The rear wall 130 may include a notch 136 through which the spout 116 (FIG. 5) of the reservoir 100 extends when the reservoir 100 is mounted in the frame 102.

The frame 102 may also include a hinge part 138, such as the detent 138 illustrated in FIG. 6. The hinge part 138 may engage with a corresponding part on either the front panel 14 or the trim piece 106. For example, the frame 102 may include the illustrated detent 138 and the front panel 14 or trim piece 106 may include a mating pin. In other embodiments, the hinged connection may be reversed, e.g., the hinge part 138 of the frame 102 may include the pin and the detent may be formed on the front panel 14 or trim piece 106.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 9, the reservoir 100 may be in fluid communication with the chamber 25 via one or more spray nozzles 146 (FIG. 9). For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the reservoir 100 may be connected to a pump 142 by a first conduit 140. In some embodiments, the first conduit 140 may be, e.g., a flexible hose to accommodate movement of the reservoir 100 relative to the pump 142 when the frame 102 (and the reservoir 100 mounted therein) moves from the closed position to the open position. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pump 142 may be connected to the spray nozzle 146 by a second conduit 144. Accordingly, as will be understood, the pump 142 may be operable to draw fluid, e.g. liquid additive, from the reservoir 100 and to urge the fluid from the pump 142 to the spray nozzle 146 through the second conduit 144. As may be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the spray nozzle 146 may be positioned proximate the opening 32 of the drum 26 and oriented to direct a spray of additive into the chamber 25 of the drum 26. For example, the spray nozzle 146 may include an aperture 148 (FIG. 9) oriented away from the opening 32 and into or towards the chamber 25. As will be understood, pressure provided to the additive by the pump 142 and the small size of the aperture 148, e.g., which may be relatively small in diameter and/or cross-sectional area as compared to the conduits 140 and 144 upstream of the spray nozzle 146, provide a spray of additive from the spray nozzle 146 into the chamber 25.

For example, the spray nozzle 146 may be positioned above the lint filter 46 (FIG. 2) along the vertical direction V and spaced apart from the lint filter 46 along the lateral direction L. The spray nozzle 146 may be spaced apart from the lint filter 46, e.g., along the vertical and lateral direction V and L, by a sufficient distance to avoid or minimize spray from the nozzle 146 being drawn into the duct 44 (FIG. 2) rather than reaching the chamber 25.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, in some embodiments, the dryer appliance 10 may also include a separate nozzle 150 for, e.g., providing steam to the chamber 25. In other embodiments, a single nozzle may be provided with a wye fitting to provide both steam and additive from the reservoir 100 through the single nozzle. The structure and function of wye fittings are generally understood in the art and, as such, are not shown or described in further detail herein.

In various embodiments, pump 142 may be activated only when a specific set of operating parameters exist, e.g., such as when heating system 40 is off and drum 26 is spinning. For example, activating the pump 142 when the heating system 40 is off may occur immediately after a drying cycle, or following a short delay, e.g., a few seconds, after a drying cycle. As such, clothes within the chamber 25 may still be warm, e.g., at an elevated temperature relative to room temperature, when the additive from the reservoir 100 is sprayed into the chamber 25, which may promote or enhance the effects of certain additives such as fragrances. Rotation of the drum 26 while spraying the additive may promote even distribution of the additive on clothes within the chamber 25, and in some cases may provide additional benefits. For example, when the additive includes a wrinkle releaser, agitation of the clothes due to rotation of the basket 26 may increase effectiveness of the wrinkle releaser. In some embodiments, the pump 142 may be activated when the basket 25 is not spinning and/or when the blower fan 48 is not operating, to reduce the additive from the spray nozzle 146 getting drawn into the duct 44. In some embodiments, the pump 142 may be activated in response to a user selection, which may be selected via one or more of the inputs 70. For example, a dedicated “refresh” cycle and/or “add scent” option for one or more standard dryer cycles may be provided.

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 dryer appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular, the dryer appliance comprising: a cabinet extending along the transverse direction from a rear panel to a front panel, along the lateral direction from a left side panel to a right side panel, and along the vertical direction from a bottom panel to a top cover, the cabinet defining an interior volume;a drum rotatably mounted within the interior volume of the cabinet, the drum defining a chamber for the receipt of clothes for drying; anda reservoir mounted in the cabinet at the front panel of the cabinet, the reservoir configured for receipt of an additive, wherein the reservoir is in fluid communication with the chamber to provide the additive from the reservoir to the chamber.

2. The dryer appliance of claim 1, wherein the reservoir comprises a transparent material, wherein the reservoir is positioned at the front panel of the cabinet and configured to provide a visual indication of a fill level of the reservoir through the transparent material.

3. The dryer appliance of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is mounted to the front panel of the cabinet via a frame.

4. The dryer appliance of claim 3, wherein the reservoir comprises a transparent material, the frame comprises a window, and the reservoir is mounted within the frame such that the transparent material of the reservoir is visible through the window, whereby the reservoir is configured to provide a visual indication of a fill level of the reservoir through the transparent material.

5. The dryer appliance of claim 3, wherein the frame is hingedly mounted to the front panel, whereby the frame and the reservoir are rotatable about the lateral direction between an open position and a closed position.

6. The dryer appliance of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is in fluid communication with the chamber via a spray nozzle.

7. The dryer appliance of claim 6, wherein the spray nozzle is positioned proximate an opening of the drum.

8. The dryer appliance of claim 6, wherein the reservoir is connected to the spray nozzle via a pump.

9. The dryer appliance of claim 1, further comprising an inlet defined in the reservoir and a cap configured to removably attach to the reservoir for selectively sealingly engaging with the inlet and permitting access to the inlet.

10. A dryer appliance comprising: a cabinet defining an interior volume;a drum rotatably mounted within the interior volume of the cabinet, the drum defining a chamber for the receipt of clothes for drying; anda reservoir mounted in the cabinet at a front panel of the cabinet, the reservoir configured for receipt of an additive, wherein the reservoir is in fluid communication with the chamber to provide the additive from the reservoir to the chamber.

11. The dryer appliance of claim 10, wherein the reservoir comprises a transparent material, wherein the reservoir is positioned at the front panel of the cabinet and configured to provide a visual indication of a fill level of the reservoir through the transparent material.

12. The dryer appliance of claim 10, wherein the reservoir is mounted to the front panel of the cabinet via a frame.

13. The dryer appliance of claim 12, wherein the reservoir comprises a transparent material, the frame comprises a window, and the reservoir is mounted within the frame such that the transparent material of the reservoir is visible through the window, whereby the reservoir is configured to provide a visual indication of a fill level of the reservoir through the transparent material.

14. The dryer appliance of claim 12, wherein the frame is hingedly mounted to the front panel.

15. The dryer appliance of claim 10, wherein the reservoir is in fluid communication with the chamber via a spray nozzle.

16. The dryer appliance of claiml5, wherein the spray nozzle is positioned proximate an opening of the drum.

17. The dryer appliance of claim 15, wherein the reservoir is connected to the spray nozzle via a pump.

18. The dryer appliance of claim 10, further comprising an inlet defined in the reservoir and a cap configured to removably attach to the reservoir for selectively sealingly engaging with the inlet and permitting access to the inlet.