Laundry appliance having an ultrasonic drying mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10704189-B2
Application number	US-201816059671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2018
Priority date	Aug 25, 2017
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A laundry appliance includes a cabinet having a rotating drum operably positioned therein for processing fabric. At least one transducer is positioned proximate the drum that provides an ultrasonic resonance that is directed into an interior chamber of the drum. The ultrasonic resonance is adapted to be directed into damp fabric being treated within the interior chamber. The ultrasonic resonance serves to modify water trapped within the damp fabric into a substantially gaseous form.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A laundry appliance comprising:
a cabinet having a rotating drum operably positioned therein for processing fabric; and
at least one transducer positioned proximate the rotating drum that provides an ultrasonic resonance that is directed into an interior chamber of the rotating drum; wherein
the ultrasonic resonance is adapted to be directed into damp fabric being treated within the interior chamber; and
the ultrasonic resonance modifies water trapped within the damp fabric into a substantially gaseous form.

2. The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the at least one transducer is electrically connected to the laundry appliance.

3. The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the at least one transducer is disposed within a lifter coupled to the rotating drum.

4. The laundry appliance of claim 3 , wherein the lifter includes an ultrasonic drying module that includes a plurality of transducers.

5. The laundry appliance of claim 1 , further comprising:
an air handling system having at least one fan, wherein the at least one fan moves the water in the substantially gaseous form from the interior chamber and to an area outside of the rotating drum.

6. The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein each transducer of the at least one transducer receives power via an inductive coupling.

7. The laundry appliance of claim 6 , wherein the inductive coupling is defined by a ferromagnetic portion of the rotating drum and an electromagnetic inductive generator that is positioned outside of the rotating drum.

8. The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the at least one transducer includes a plurality of transducers, wherein the plurality of transducers are positioned on at least one of a back wall of the rotating drum and a door of the cabinet, wherein the door at least partially encloses the interior chamber.

9. The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the rotating drum includes at least one stationary portion, wherein the at least one transducer is positioned on the at least one stationary portion, and wherein the rotating drum is configured to direct the fabric toward the at least one stationary portion.

10. The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the rotating drum is rotationally operable between a continuous rotation and an oscillating partial rotation.

11. The laundry appliance of claim 5 , wherein a drain channel is positioned below the rotating drum, wherein the water in the substantially gaseous form collects within the drain channel.

12. The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic resonance is generated by a vibrating inner surface of the rotating drum.

13. A laundry appliance comprising:
a cabinet having a fabric treating chamber operably positioned therein for processing fabric;
transducers positioned proximate the fabric treating chamber that provide an ultrasonic resonance that is directed into the fabric treating chamber; and
an air handling system that operates cooperatively with the transducers to remove at least humidified air from the fabric treating chamber; wherein
the ultrasonic resonance is selectively adjustable between a plurality of operational frequencies that are directed into damp fabric being treated within the fabric treating chamber; and
the ultrasonic resonance modifies water trapped within the damp fabric into the humidified air.

14. The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the fabric treating chamber is defined within a rotating drum.

15. The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the fabric treating chamber is defined between opposing operable plates and the fabric treating chamber defines an adjustable interior volume.

16. The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein each operational frequency of the plurality of operational frequencies is defined by selective activation of a respective combination of the transducers.

17. The laundry appliance of claim 14 , wherein the transducers are positioned within lifters coupled to the rotating drum.

18. A laundry appliance comprising:
a cabinet having a drum operably positioned therein for processing fabric, the drum having a rotational portion and a stationary portion;
a plurality of transducers disposed proximate at least the stationary portion and that provides an ultrasonic resonance that is directed into a fabric treating chamber of the drum; and
an air handling system that operates cooperatively with the plurality of transducers and the rotational portion of the drum to remove at least humidified air from the fabric treating chamber; wherein
the ultrasonic resonance is adapted to be directed into damp fabric being treated within the fabric treating chamber; and
the ultrasonic resonance modifies water trapped within the damp fabric into the humidified air.

19. The laundry appliance of claim 18 , wherein the rotational portion of the drum is configured to direct the damp fabric toward the stationary portion, and wherein the stationary portion is sloped toward the rotational portion.

20. The laundry appliance of claim 18 , wherein the ultrasonic resonance is generated by a vibrating surface of the drum.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Christensen Mark J
• Erickson Donald
• Grider Jordan M
• Halbleib Alexander
• Hartnett Christopher A
• Jones Christopher A
• Mcallister K David
• Welch Rodney M
• Roberts Erica L

Classifications

• D06F25/00

  Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air  (control of washing or of washing and drying D06F33/00, D06F34/00; domestic laundry dryers D06F58/00) · CPC title

• D06F58/04 Primary

  Details  (controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00) · CPC title

• D06F37/06

  Ribs, lifters, or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle · CPC title

• D06F58/26 Primary

  Heating arrangements, e.g. gas heating equipment (D06F58/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• D06F58/30

  Drying processes  (controlling a series of operations in domestic laundry dryers D06F58/32) · CPC title