Laundry appliance having an ultrasonic drying mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11655582-B2
Application number	US-202117522283-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2021
Priority date	Aug 25, 2017
Publication date	May 23, 2023
Grant date	May 23, 2023

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 drying system for a laundry appliance, the laundry drying system comprising:
a drum that is rotationally operable within a tub, the drum defining an interior chamber for processing laundry, wherein the interior chamber is part of an airflow path;
an ultrasonic transducer positioned proximate a lower portion of the tub, the ultrasonic transducer providing an ultrasonic resonance that is directed into the interior chamber of the drum, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is positioned within a gap defined between the drum and the tub; and
an air handling system having at least one fan, wherein the at least one fan moves water in a substantially gaseous form from the interior chamber and to an area outside of the drum via the airflow path, wherein the ultrasonic resonance is adapted to be directed into damp fabric being treated within the interior chamber, and wherein the ultrasonic resonance modifies water trapped within the damp fabric into the substantially gaseous form.

2. The laundry drying system of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer includes a roller that selectively engages an outer surface of the drum, wherein the roller transfers the ultrasonic resonance through a wall of the drum and into the interior chamber.

3. The laundry drying system of claim 1 , wherein the gap includes a vibration conducting material that conducts the ultrasonic resonance from the tub and into the interior chamber of the drum via the vibration conducting material.

4. The laundry drying system of claim 3 , wherein the vibration conducting material is a viscous fluid that is disposed within the gap.

5. The laundry drying system of claim 3 , wherein the vibration conducting material is positioned within channels that extend around the drum.

6. The laundry drying system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a direct drive motor that is coupled with a drive shaft that is coupled with the drum, wherein the direct drive motor includes a rotor coupled with the drive shaft and a stator coupled with the tub.

7. The laundry drying system of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the drum defines a home position, wherein the ultrasonic resonance is transmitted into a portion of the interior chamber that is positioned adjacent to the home position of the tub.

8. The laundry drying system of claim 7 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer is selectively operable between an extended position that places the ultrasonic transducer partially within the drum and a retracted position that places the ultrasonic transducer outside of the drum.

9. The laundry drying system of claim 8 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer is attached to an electrical interface that operates within the gap between the extended and retracted positions.

10. The laundry drying system of claim 9 , wherein the electrical interface is coupled with a rotating interface of the drum, wherein rotation of the drum about a rotational axis moves the electrical interface to the retracted position, and wherein when the drum comes to a stop, the electrical interface is moved to the extended position.

11. The laundry drying system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electrical delivery system that delivers electrical current to the tub for operating the ultrasonic transducer relative to the gap between the tub and the drum.

12. A laundry appliance comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer positioned proximate a home position within a lower portion of a tub;
a drum that is rotationally operable within the tub, the drum defining an interior chamber, wherein the ultrasonic transducer provides an ultrasonic resonance that is directed to a portion of the interior chamber within the home position of the tub, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is positioned within a gap defined between the drum and the tub, and wherein the ultrasonic resonance is adapted to be directed into damp fabric being treated within the interior chamber, and wherein the ultrasonic resonance modifies water trapped within the damp fabric into a substantially gaseous form; and
an air handling system having at least one fan that moves air through an airflow path that includes the interior chamber, 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 drum via the airflow path.

13. The laundry appliance of claim 12 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer includes a roller that selectively engages an outer surface of the drum, wherein the roller transfers the ultrasonic resonance through a wall of the drum and into the interior chamber.

14. The laundry appliance of claim 12 , wherein the gap includes a vibration conducting material that conducts ultrasonic vibration from the tub and into the interior chamber of the drum via the vibration conducting material.

15. The laundry appliance of claim 14 , wherein the vibration conducting material is a viscous fluid that is disposed within the gap.

16. The laundry appliance of claim 14 , wherein the vibration conducting material is positioned within channels that extend around the drum.

17. The laundry appliance of claim 12 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer is selectively operable between an extended position that places the ultrasonic transducer is partially within the drum and a retracted position that places the ultrasonic transducer outside of the drum.

18. A laundry appliance comprising:
a drum that is rotationally operable within a tub, the drum defining an interior chamber for processing laundry, wherein the interior chamber is part of an airflow path;
an ultrasonic transducer positioned within a gap defined between the tub and the drum and proximate a lower portion of the tub, the ultrasonic transducer providing an ultrasonic resonance that is directed into the gap and that is transferred into the interior chamber via a vibration conducting material disposed within the gap, and wherein the ultrasonic resonance is adapted to be directed into damp fabric being treated within the interior chamber, and wherein the ultrasonic resonance modifies water trapped within the damp fabric into a substantially gaseous form of the drum; and
an air handling system having at least one fan, wherein the at least one fan moves water in the substantially gaseous form from the interior chamber and to an area outside of the drum via the airflow path, wherein the ultrasonic resonance is adapted to be directed into damp fabric being treated within the interior chamber, and wherein the ultrasonic resonance modifies water trapped within the damp fabric into the substantially gaseous form.

19. The laundry appliance of claim 18 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer includes a roller that is disposed within the vibration conducting material, and wherein the roller selectively engages an outer surface of the drum, wherein the roller and the vibration conducting material transfers the ultrasonic resonance through a wall of the drum and into the interior chamber.

20. The laundry appliance of claim 18 , wherein the vibration conducting material is positioned within channels that extend around 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