Under-cabinet seal to prevent exhaust recirculation for a condensing appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12188170-B2
Application number	US-202418401858-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 2, 2024
Priority date	Nov 23, 2020
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

A drying appliance includes a cabinet with a processing chamber operably disposed therein. A blower delivers process air through an airflow path. The airflow path includes the processing chamber. A condensing airflow path has an inlet positioned within a front panel of the cabinet and an outlet positioned within a bottom panel of the cabinet. A condensing blower moves condensing air from the inlet to the outlet. An airflow seal extends downward from a front edge of the cabinet. The airflow seal separates a low-pressure region proximate the inlet from a high-pressure region proximate the outlet to block convection between the outlet and the inlet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An airflow system for an appliance, the airflow system comprising:
a recirculating airflow path that is disposed within a cabinet and that extends through a heat exchange area;
an open-loop airflow path that directs secondary air from an inlet disposed within an exterior panel of the cabinet, through the heat exchange area, and to an outlet disposed within a bottom wall of the cabinet; and
an airflow seal extending downward from a lower edge of the cabinet, proximate the inlet, and to a position below supporting feet of the cabinet, the airflow seal defining a convection barrier that separates a high-pressure region proximate the outlet from a low-pressure region proximate the inlet.

2. The airflow system of claim 1 , wherein the airflow seal extends around the lower edge of the cabinet and defines an airflow outlet for directing a flow of the secondary air from the outlet to an area proximate a rear panel of the cabinet.

3. The airflow system of claim 1 , wherein the airflow seal is configured to engage a floor surface below the cabinet.

4. The airflow system of claim 1 , wherein the airflow seal extends along the lower edge of at least a front panel and one side panel of the cabinet.

5. The airflow system of claim 1 , wherein the airflow seal is an elastomeric flap.

6. The airflow system of claim 1 , wherein the airflow seal is a block that is attached to the bottom wall of the cabinet.

7. The airflow system of claim 1 , wherein the inlet is positioned within a front panel of the cabinet.

8. An appliance comprising:
a blower that delivers process air through a primary airflow path that is disposed within a cabinet;
an open-loop airflow path having an inlet positioned within an exterior panel of the cabinet and an outlet positioned within a bottom wall of the cabinet, wherein a secondary blower moves a secondary flow of air from the inlet, through the open-loop airflow path and to the outlet, the open-loop airflow path in thermal communication with the primary airflow path; and
an airflow seal extending downward from a lower edge of the exterior panel, below the inlet, the airflow seal separating a low-pressure region proximate the inlet from a high-pressure region proximate the outlet to block convection between the outlet and the inlet.

9. The appliance of claim 8 , wherein the open-loop airflow path is thermally coupled with the primary airflow path within a heat exchanger.

10. The appliance of claim 8 , wherein the airflow seal is configured to engage a floor surface below the cabinet.

11. The appliance of claim 8 , wherein the exterior panel includes at least one of a front panel and a side panel of the cabinet, and wherein the airflow seal extends along an entirety of the lower edge of the exterior panel.

12. The appliance of claim 8 , wherein the airflow seal is an elastomeric flap.

13. The appliance of claim 8 , wherein the airflow seal is a block that is attached to the bottom wall of the cabinet.

14. The appliance of claim 8 , wherein the airflow seal extends around the lower edge and defines an airflow outlet for directing the secondary flow of air from the outlet to an area proximate a rear panel of the cabinet.

15. The appliance of claim 8 , wherein the inlet is positioned within a front panel of the cabinet.

16. An airflow system for an appliance, the airflow system comprising:
an outer cabinet having a recirculating airflow path contained therein;
an open-loop airflow path in thermal communication with the recirculating airflow path and extending from an inlet proximate an exterior panel of the outer cabinet to an outlet disposed proximate a bottom wall of the outer cabinet, wherein the inlet defines a low-pressure region within an area proximate the exterior panel of the outer cabinet, and wherein the outlet defines a high-pressure region within an area beneath the bottom wall of the outer cabinet; and
a convection barrier that is attached to the outer cabinet along a portion of a lower edge proximate the inlet, the convection barrier blocking convection between the low-pressure region and the high-pressure region.

17. The airflow system of claim 16 , wherein the inlet is positioned within a front panel of the outer cabinet.

18. The airflow system of claim 16 , wherein the outlet is disposed within the bottom wall of the outer cabinet.

19. The airflow system of claim 16 , wherein the convection barrier extends along the lower edge below at least a front panel and one side panel of the outer cabinet.

20. The airflow system of claim 16 , wherein the convection barrier extends around the lower edge and defines an airflow outlet for directing a flow of air from the outlet to an area proximate a rear panel of the outer cabinet.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Borgerson Matthew E
• Nguyen Justin

Classifications

• D06F58/04

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

• D06F39/12

  Casings; Tubs · CPC title

• D06F58/24 Primary

  Condensing arrangements · CPC title

• D06F58/20 Primary

  General details of domestic laundry dryers  (D06F59/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• D06F58/02 Primary

  having dryer drums rotating about a horizontal axis · CPC title