Patent Application
20150007617
The subject matter of the present disclosure relates generally to an appliance washing machine having a tub equipped for fluid discharge along a direction tangential to the rotation of the wash basket.
Washing machine appliances commonly include a tub where articles to be washed are combined with a fluid such as e.g., water and additives like detergents, fabric softener, etc. as part of the washing process. A wash basket provides agitation to move the articles back and forth and promote cleaning. At various stages of the washing process, fluid is drained from the wash tub. For example, wash fluid may be drained and replaced with another fluid for rinsing. Fluid may be drained during a spin cycle when the articles are wrung in order to remove the fluid therefrom by rotating the wash basket at relatively high speed.
Conventionally, the tub of a washing machine appliance is provided with a drain outlet located at a bottom-most portion of the tub along its vertical centerline. Such drain outlet can be radially-oriented relative to the circular tub and gravity feeds into the outlet and e.g., into a hose for removal of fluid from the wash tub. A pump may be used to help remove the fluid.
Such vertically-centered drain outlet constructions can create certain problems in the design and construction of a washing machine appliance. While necessary for a gravity feed of fluid, a vertically-centered drain outlet also consumes a significant amount of valuable space within the cabinet that is needed for other features. For example, certain consumers may desire a washing machine having a large capacity tub and/or other features such as automatic detergent or fabric softener dispensers. These and other features require use of the already limited space available in the appliance cabinet, which must typically be maintained within certain overall dimensional standards.
Relocating and/or reorienting a drain outlet for the tub also has certain challenges. As stated, the vertically-centered outlet helps provide a flow of fluid under the effect of gravity from the bottom of the tub. This gravity flow is then typically fed to a pump. Frequently, such pumps are not able to draw a suction on the drain outlet and, therefore, may require the gravity feed provided locating the drain outlet at the bottom of the tub. Additionally, placement of an outlet at the bottom-most portion of the tub is necessary in order to empty the fluid in the tub by gravity feed alone.
Accordingly, a washing machine appliance having a tub and drain outlet configuration that can provide additional space for other appliance features would be useful. Such a tub and drain outlet configuration that can also facilitate removal of fluid from the tub using a pump that generates minimal or no inlet suction would also be very useful. Such a tub and drain outlet configuration that also facilitates emptying fluid from the bottom of the tub would also be beneficial.
The present invention provides a tub for a washing machine appliance that is configured to create a tangential discharge of fluid from the tub. A sump portion is configured so that fluid is ejected from a main portion of the wash tub along a direction tangential to the circular direction of rotation of the wash basket. A drain outlet is connected to the sump portion and can be positioned with an opening aligned with the tangential discharge so as to facilitate the movement of fluid into the drain outlet through use of pumping action from rotation of wash basket. Additional aspects and 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.
In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a washing machine appliance. The appliance includes a cylindrically-shaped wash basket configured for the receipt of articles for cleaning, the wash basket having an outer surface. A wash tub is provided that includes a cylindrically-shaped main portion into which the wash basket is rotatably received. A sump portion is positioned adjacent to the cylindrically-shaped main portion and is in fluid communication with the main portion through an opening to the sump portion. The opening is positioned between the sump portion and the main portion. The sump portion is located near a bottom of the main portion and defines a chamber for the receipt of fluid from the main portion through the opening. The sump portion has an outlet facing into the direction of rotation of the drum along a line tangent to the outer surface of the wash basket.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a washing machine appliance defining vertical, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to each other. The washing machine appliance includes a wash basket configured for rotational movement, the wash basket comprising a cylindrically-shaped drum having an outer surface, the drum configured for the receipt of articles for cleaning. A wash tub is provided into which the wash basket is rotatably received. The wash tub defines an outer cylindrically-shaped wall having an opening for the egress of fluid from the wash tub. A sump is positioned at the opening of the wash tub. The sump defines a chamber for the receipt of fluid from the wash tub. The sump has an outlet for the egress of fluid from the sump. The outlet faces the wash basket and is positioned along a tangent to the outer surface of the wash basket.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
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 following appended figures.
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 shown, appliance 100 includes a cabinet 104 containing a wash basket 102 and a wash tub 106. Wash basket 102 is rotatably mounted within wash tub 106. A motor 105 is connected with wash basket 102 and is configured to agitate, spin, and/or otherwise cause wash basket 102 to rotate about axis of rotation A-A. As shown, axis of rotation A-A is at a non-zero, acute angle a from transverse direction T such that axis of rotation A-A is slightly offset from the horizontal or transverse direction T. As such,
Ribs or sweeps 112 (
In this exemplary embodiment, wash tub 106 is constructed from a front part 114 and rear part 116 that are attached together at interface 130 by a plurality of fasteners 118 as shown in
A door 120 is rotatably attached to cabinet 104 and includes a window 122 through which a user may view articles being washed in a wash chamber 108 (
A user interface panel 124 has a plurality of selectors 126 whereby a user may operate appliance 100 and make various selections regarding the mode of operation. A display 128 provides information to the user regarding operation of appliance 100 and can be used to indicate e.g., selected features, a countdown timer, and/or other items of interest to appliance users.
Operation of washing machine appliance 100 is controlled by a controller or processing device (not shown) that is operatively coupled to user interface panel 124 for user manipulation and selection of washing machine cycles and features. In response to user manipulation of panel 124, the controller operates the various components of washing machine appliance 100 to execute selected machine cycles and features.
In an illustrative embodiment, laundry items are loaded into wash chamber 108 through opened door 120, and washing operation is initiated through operator manipulation of input selectors 126. Wash basket 102 is filled with water and detergent and/or other fluid additives from e.g., a dispenser (not shown) to form wash and rinse fluids. One or more valves (not shown) can be controlled by washing machine appliance 100 to provide for filling wash basket 102 to the appropriate level for the amount of articles being washed and/or rinsed. By way of example, for a wash mode, once wash basket 102 is properly filled with fluid, the contents of wash chamber 102 can be agitated (e.g., with ribs 112 as discussed previously) for washing of laundry items in wash basket 102.
After the agitation phase of the wash cycle is completed, wash basket 102 can be drained. Laundry articles can then be rinsed by again adding fluid to wash tub 106 depending on the particulars of the cleaning cycle selected by a user. The basket 102 may again provide agitation within wash chamber 108. One or more spin cycles may also be used. In particular, a spin cycle may be applied after the wash cycle and/or after the rinse cycle in order to wring wash fluid from the articles being washed. During a spin cycle, wash basket 102 is rotated at relatively high speeds. A balance ring 152 (
Referring now to
Sump portion 134 is positioned adjacent to main portion 132 and is in fluid communication with main portion 132 through opening 136 (
Sump portion 134 also includes a fluid outlet 148 that, as shown in
Along with a substantial part of sump portion 134, outlet 148 is also offset or positioned away from a vertical centerline C/L of the appliance 100 as shown in
As a result, during rotation of wash basket 102 in the direction of arrow R, particularly at high speeds such a during a spin cycle, fluid wrung from articles in basket 102 is caused to travel through opening 136 and into sump portion 134. More specifically, due to a velocity component added to the fluid by such rotation and that is substantially along or parallel to the tangential direction T-T, the fluid is urged substantially along line T-T by rotation R so as to cause flow into outlet 148. Thus, this tangential velocity component provides fluid into outlet 148 with more pressure and/or velocity than would be available under the force of gravity alone, which can assist pump 164. At the same time, the configuration and location of sump portion 134 and outlet 148 spares valuable space within cabinet 104 that may be used for other features or components.
Outlet 148 is connected by hose 160 to a filter 162 feeding pump 164. For this exemplary embodiment, pump 164 is a high-bypass type pump. As such, pump 164 operates more efficiently when fed with a fluid having more pressure and/or velocity than would be provided in appliance 100 by a gravity feed alone. However, other types of pumps may also be used with the invention. Cap 166 provides access to filter 162 for cleaning.
As stated above and best seen in
One or more heating elements 158 are located in sump portion 134 as shown in
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. cm What is claimed is:
