Laundry treating appliances, such as washing machines, refreshers, and non-aqueous systems, can have a configuration based on a rotating drum that at least partially defines a treating chamber in which laundry items are placed for treating. The laundry treating appliance can have a controller that implements a number of user-selectable, pre-programmed cycles of operation having one or more operating parameters. Hot water, cold water, or a mixture thereof, along with various treating chemistries, can be supplied to the treating chamber in accordance with the cycle of operation. The laundry treating appliance can have an acoustic blanket provided about the drum to damp or suppress noises emanating from the drum.
In one aspect, illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure relate to a laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation, the laundry treating appliance including a cabinet defining a cabinet interior and a tub having a periphery and provided in the cabinet interior defining a tub interior. A self-supporting acoustic barrier extends around the periphery and is located within the cabinet. The acoustic barrier is held in spaced relation to the periphery of the tub.
In another aspect, illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure relate to a laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation, the laundry treating appliance including a cabinet defining a cabinet interior and a tub having a periphery and provided in the cabinet interior defining a tub interior. A self-supporting acoustic barrier extends around the periphery and is located within the cabinet. At least one mounting structure for mounting the self-supporting acoustic barrier about the periphery of the tub is integrally formed within the self-supporting acoustic barrier.
In the drawings:
Laundry treating appliances can be provided with acoustic barriers to damp sound that can emanate from the laundry treating appliance. Such acoustic barriers can be provided in the form of an acoustic blanket that can be provided partially or completely, circumferentially about the tub of the laundry treating appliance such that they contact the tub about its circumference. However, since the tub can experience movement during a cycle of operation, particularly in a horizontal axis laundry treating appliance, the acoustic blanket can be damaged by the movement of the tub, resulting in reduced acoustic damping performance.
The present disclosure sets forth an acoustic barrier that is formed of a compressed fiber layer that can be molded into a desired shape and having sufficient rigidity to be self-supporting, making it practical to maintain an air gap between the acoustic barrier and the tub by improving the ease of keeping the acoustic barrier spaced apart from the tub. This decreases the risk of contact between the acoustic barrier and the tub and also allows for improved acoustic damping performance. The space between the acoustic barrier and the tub can also be filled with a lofty fiber material to provide even further sound damping properties.
As used herein, the “horizontal axis” washing machine refers to a washing machine having a rotatable drum, perforated or imperforate, that holds laundry items and washes the laundry items. In some horizontal axis washing machines, the drum rotates about a horizontal axis generally parallel to a surface that supports the washing machine. However, the rotational axis need not be horizontal. The drum can rotate about an axis inclined or declined relative to the horizontal axis. Regardless of the axis of rotation, a washing machine can be top-loading or front-loading. In a top-loading washing machine, laundry items are placed into the drum through an access opening in the top of a cabinet, while in a front-loading washing machine laundry items are placed into the drum through an access opening in the front of a cabinet. If a washing machine is a top-loading horizontal axis washing machine or a front-loading vertical axis washing machine, an additional access opening is located on the drum.
The laundry treating appliance of
The laundry holding system comprises a tub 14 dynamically suspended within the structural support system of the cabinet 12 by a suitable suspension system 28 and a drum 16 provided within the tub 14, the drum 16 defining at least a portion of a laundry treating chamber 18. The drum 16 can include a plurality of perforations 20 such that liquid can flow between the tub 14 and the drum 16 through the perforations 20. A plurality of baffles 22 can be disposed on an inner surface of the drum 16 to lift the laundry load received in the treating chamber 18 while the drum 16 rotates. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure for the laundry holding system to comprise only one receptacle with the receptacle defining the laundry treating chamber for receiving the load to be treated.
The laundry holding system can further include a door 24 which can be movably mounted to the cabinet 12 to selectively close both the tub 14 and the drum 16. A bellows 26 can couple an open face of the tub 14 with the cabinet 12, with the door 24 sealing against the bellows 26 when the door 24 closes the tub 14.
The washing machine 10 can further include a liquid supply system for supplying water to the washing machine 10 for use in treating laundry during a cycle of operation. The liquid supply system can include a source of water, such as a household water supply 40, which can include separate valves 42 and 44 for controlling the flow of hot and cold water, respectively. Water can be supplied through an inlet conduit 46 directly to the tub 14 by controlling first and second diverter mechanisms 48 and 50, respectively. The diverter mechanisms 48, 50 can be a diverter valve having two outlets such that the diverter mechanisms 48, 50 can selectively direct a flow of liquid to one or both of two flow paths. Water from the household water supply 40 can flow through the inlet conduit 46 to the first diverter mechanism 48 which can direct the flow of liquid to a supply conduit 52. The second diverter mechanism 50 on the supply conduit 52 can direct the flow of liquid to a tub outlet conduit 54 which can be provided with a spray nozzle 56 configured to spray the flow of liquid into the tub 14. In this manner, water from the household water supply 40 can be supplied directly to the tub 14. While the valves 42, 44 and the conduit 46 are illustrated exteriorly of the cabinet 12, it will be understood that these components can be internal to the cabinet 12.
The washing machine 10 can also be provided with a dispensing system for dispensing treating chemistry to the treating chamber 18 for use in treating the laundry according to a cycle of operation. The dispensing system can include a treating chemistry dispenser 62 which can be a single dose dispenser, a bulk dispenser, or an integrated single dose and bulk dispenser and is fluidly coupled to the treating chamber 18. The treating chemistry dispenser 62 can be configured to dispense a treating chemistry directly to the tub 14 or mixed with water from the liquid supply system through a dispensing outlet conduit 64. The dispensing outlet conduit 64 can include a dispensing nozzle 66 configured to dispense the treating chemistry into the tub 14 in a desired pattern and under a desired amount of pressure. For example, the dispensing nozzle 66 can be configured to dispense a flow or stream of treating chemistry into the tub 14 by gravity, i.e. a non-pressurized stream. Water can be supplied to the treating chemistry dispenser 62 from the supply conduit 52 by directing the diverter mechanism 50 to direct the flow of water to a dispensing supply conduit 68.
Non-limiting examples of treating chemistries that can be dispensed by the dispensing system during a cycle of operation include one or more of the following: water, enzymes, fragrances, stiffness/sizing agents, wrinkle releasers/reducers, softeners, antistatic or electrostatic agents, stain repellants, water repellants, energy reduction/extraction aids, antibacterial agents, medicinal agents, vitamins, moisturizers, shrinkage inhibitors, and color fidelity agents, and combinations thereof.
The washing machine 10 can also include a recirculation and drain system for recirculating liquid within the laundry holding system and draining liquid from the washing machine 10. Liquid supplied to the tub 14 through tub outlet conduit 54 and/or the dispensing supply conduit 68 typically enters a space between the tub 14 and the drum 16 and can flow by gravity to a sump 70 formed in part by a lower portion of the tub 14. The sump 70 can also be formed by a sump conduit 72 that can fluidly couple the lower portion of the tub 14 to a pump 74. The pump 74 can direct liquid to a drain conduit 76, which can drain the liquid from the washing machine 10, or to a recirculation conduit 78, which can terminate at a recirculation inlet 80. The recirculation inlet 80 can direct the liquid from the recirculation conduit 78 into the drum 16. The recirculation inlet 80 can introduce the liquid into the drum 16 in any suitable manner, such as by spraying, dripping, or providing a steady flow of liquid. In this manner, liquid provided to the tub 14, with or without treating chemistry can be recirculated into the treating chamber 18 for treating the laundry within.
The liquid supply and/or recirculation and drain system can be provided with a heating system which can include one or more devices for heating laundry and/or liquid supplied to the tub 14, such as a steam generator 82 and/or a sump heater 84. Liquid from the household water supply 40 can be provided to the steam generator 82 through the inlet conduit 46 by controlling the first diverter mechanism 48 to direct the flow of liquid to a steam supply conduit 86. Steam generated by the steam generator 82 can be supplied to the tub 14 through a steam outlet conduit 87. The steam generator 82 can be any suitable type of steam generator such as a flow through steam generator or a tank-type steam generator. Alternatively, the sump heater 84 can be used to generate steam in place of or in addition to the steam generator 82. In addition or alternatively to generating steam, the steam generator 82 and/or sump heater 84 can be used to heat the laundry and/or liquid within the tub 14 as part of a cycle of operation.
It is noted that the illustrated suspension system, liquid supply system, recirculation and drain system, and dispensing system are shown for exemplary purposes only and are not limited to the systems shown in the drawings and described above. For example, the liquid supply, dispensing, and recirculation and pump systems can differ from the configuration shown in
The washing machine 10 also includes a drive system for rotating the drum 16 within the tub 14. The drive system can include a motor 88, which can be directly coupled with the drum 16 through a drive shaft 90 to rotate the drum 16 about a rotational axis during a cycle of operation. The motor 88 can be a brushless permanent magnet (BPM) motor having a stator 92 and a rotor 94. Alternately, the motor 88 can be coupled to the drum 16 through a belt and a drive shaft to rotate the drum 16, as is known in the art. Other motors, such as an induction motor or a permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor, can also be used. The motor 88 can rotate the drum 16 at various speeds in either rotational direction.
The washing machine 10 also includes a control system for controlling the operation of the washing machine 10 to implement one or more cycles of operation. The control system can include a controller 96 located within the cabinet 12 and a user interface 98 that is operably coupled with the controller 96. The user interface 98 can include one or more knobs, dials, switches, displays, touch screens and the like for communicating with the user, such as to receive input and provide output. The user can enter different types of information including, without limitation, cycle selection and cycle parameters, such as cycle options.
The controller 96 can include the machine controller and any additional controllers provided for controlling any of the components of the washing machine 10. For example, the controller 96 can include the machine controller and a motor controller. Many known types of controllers can be used for the controller 96. It is contemplated that the controller is a microprocessor-based controller that implements control software and sends/receives one or more electrical signals to/from each of the various working components to effect the control software. As an example, proportional control (P), proportional integral control (PI), and proportional derivative control (PD), or a combination thereof, a proportional integral derivative control (PID control), can be used to control the various components.
As illustrated in
The controller 96 can be operably coupled with one or more components of the washing machine 10 for communicating with and controlling the operation of the component to complete a cycle of operation. For example, the controller 96 can be operably coupled with the motor 88, the pump 74, the treating chemistry dispenser 62, the steam generator 82 and the sump heater 84 to control the operation of these and other components to implement one or more of the cycles of operation.
The controller 96 can also be coupled with one or more sensors 104 provided in one or more of the systems of the washing machine 10 to receive input from the sensors, which are known in the art and not shown for simplicity. Non-limiting examples of sensors 104 that can be communicably coupled with the controller 96 include: a treating chamber temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, a weight sensor, a chemical sensor, a position sensor and a motor torque sensor, which can be used to determine a variety of system and laundry characteristics, such as laundry load inertia or mass.
Referring now to
In an exemplary embodiment, the acoustic barrier 150 is provided in the form of a compressed fiber layer, which provides the acoustic barrier 150 with sufficient rigidity that it can be self-supporting and can be molded into any desired shape or profile. The level of compression of the acoustic barrier 150 can be any suitable level of compression such that the acoustic barrier 150 achieves a desired mass, density, or flow resistance in order to provide a desired level of sound damping capability and self-supporting rigidity. By way of non-limiting example, the acoustic barrier 150 can be compressed to such a mass and/or density that the flow resistance of the acoustic barrier 150 falls within the range of 500-3000 MKS Rayls. Such a range of flow resistance can provide desired sound damping within the audible range. While the example of quantifying the compression of the acoustic barrier 150 has been given in terms of flow resistance, it will be understood that the degree of compression of the acoustic barrier 150 can be quantified using any other suitable metric, including, by way of non-limiting example, the density of the acoustic barrier 150. Further, it is contemplated that the degree of compression of the acoustic barrier 150 can be quantified in terms of a desired rigidity of the material of the acoustic barrier 150 or in terms of the degree of sound damping from one side of the acoustic barrier 150 to the other side.
Referring now to
The acoustic barrier 150 can be formed from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, compressed foam or fiber materials, including natural or man-made fibers, or a combination thereof. By way of further example, cotton, polyester, polypropylene, jute, kenaf, etc. can be utilized to form a fiber layer. Further still, a blend of materials including foam and fiber material can be utilized. In an exemplary embodiment, the acoustic barrier 150 can be formed from a molded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polypropylene fiber layer, or from a mixture thereof, compressed to achieve a desired degree of rigidity. In addition, coatings or additives can be applied to the fibers for, by way of non-limiting example, fire resistance, water repellency, and/or mold resistance as desired.
Referring now to
Referring now to
It will also be understood that, rather than the mounting structures 180 of the acoustic barrier 150 attaching to one another, the mounting structures 180 can attach to corresponding second mounting structures 190 provided on the tub 14. As described above, the second mounting structures 190 can comprise, by way of non-limiting example, any suitable fastener, screw, pin, clip, or strap. It will also be understood that the mounting structures 180 on the acoustic barrier 150, as well as the second mounting structures 190 on the tub 14 can be configured to secure the acoustic barrier 150 about the tub 14, while also maintaining the spaced relationship between the tub 14 and the acoustic barrier 150. In this way, the acoustic barrier 150 can be attached about the tub 14 by wrapping the molded acoustic barrier 150 about the entirety of the circumference of the tub 14, and attaching the at least one mounting structure 180 integrally formed within the acoustic barrier 150 either to another mounting structure 180 formed within the acoustic barrier 150 or to a second mounting structure 190 provided on the tub 14. Such an attachment will allow the acoustic barrier 150 to be held in spaced relation to the tub to define an air gap 160 that can be selectively filled by the lofty layer 170 as desired.
The embodiments disclosed herein provide an acoustic barrier for a washing machine that can serve to damp sound within the washing machine. The acoustic barrier can be formed from a compressed fiber layer of sufficient rigidity that it can be molded to any desired shape or profile to circumferentially surround the tub of the washing machine. The rigidity of the molded compressed fiber acoustic barrier allows the acoustic barrier to the placed such that it is spaced apart from the tub, defining an air gap between the tub and the acoustic barrier. One advantage that can be realized in this way is that the air gap between the tub and the acoustic barrier provides improved sound damping capabilities within the washing machine. Another advantage that can be realized in the above embodiments is that the air gap between the tub and the acoustic barrier can be at least partially filled with an additional lofty layer for even further improved sound damping capability. By employing the embodiments disclosed herein, sound damping capability is improved, as well as improved flexibility to accommodate wash units of varying shapes and sizes to maximize the available space within the washing machine while optimizing sound damping capability.
To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various embodiments can be used in combination with each other as desired. That one feature may not be illustrated in all of the embodiments is not meant to be construed that it cannot be, but is done for brevity of description. Thus, the various features of the different embodiments can be mixed and matched as desired to form new embodiments, whether or not the new embodiments are expressly described.
While the present disclosure has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure which is defined in the appended claims.