Impeller housing for an appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016115637-A1
Application number	US-201414522621-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 24, 2014
Priority date	Oct 24, 2014
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A housing for receiving an impeller is provided. The housing includes a transition duct that extends between a volute of the housing and an exhaust exit of the housing. The transition duct defines a bend between the volute of the housing and the exhaust exit of the housing. Cross-sections of the transition duct upstream and downstream of the transition duct define a substantially rectilinear shape. A related dryer appliance is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A dryer appliance, comprising:
a cabinet defining a vent; a drum rotatably mounted within the cabinet, the drum defining a chamber for receipt of articles for drying; an exhaust duct; a motor; an impeller in mechanical communication with the motor, the impeller rotatable with the motor in order to urge a flow of air from the chamber of the drum to the vent of the cabinet; and a housing positioned within the cabinet, the housing including
a volute with the impeller positioned within the housing at the volute of the housing;
an exhaust exit, the exhaust duct extending between the exhaust exit of the housing and the vent of the cabinet; and
a transition duct extending between the volute and the exhaust exit, the transition duct defining a bend and having a first cross-section positioned upstream of the bend and a second cross-section positioned downstream of the bend, the first cross-section and the second cross-section each defining a substantially rectilinear shape.

2 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first cross-section and the second cross-section each define a plurality of interior corners, each of the interior corners defining a radius of curvature less than about one inch.

3 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , wherein the bend is an approximately ninety degree bend.

4 . The dryer appliance of claim 3 , wherein the transition duct defines a central axis, and wherein the central axis defines a radius at the bend greater than about one half of an inch and less than about six inches.

5 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first cross-section and the second cross-section each define a rectangular shape or a square shape.

6 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first cross-section and the second cross-section each define a trapezoidal shape.

7 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , wherein the transition duct defines a substantially constant cross-section between the first cross-section and the second cross-section.

8 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , the housing further includes a cover plate positioned over the volute of the housing.

9 . The dryer appliance of claim 8 , wherein the cover plate defines an entrance for receiving the flow of air into the volute of the housing.

10 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , wherein the impeller is configured for rotating on an axis of rotation, wherein the transition duct defines a central axis, and wherein the central axis of the transition duct at the exhaust exit is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation.

11 . A housing for an impeller of a dryer appliance, comprising:
a cylindrical portion configured for receiving the impeller, the cylindrical portion having a volute; a transition duct extending between the volute and an exhaust exit, the transition duct defining a bend and having a first cross-section and a second cross-section, the first cross-section positioned upstream of the bend and the second cross-section positioned downstream of the bend, the first cross-section and the second cross-section each defining a substantially rectilinear shape.

12 . The housing of claim 11 , wherein the first cross-section and the second cross-section each define a plurality of interior corners, each of the interior corners defining a radius of curvature less than about one inch.

13 . The housing of claim 11 , wherein the bend is an approximately ninety degree bend.

14 . The housing of claim 13 , wherein the transition duct defines a central axis, and wherein the central axis defines a radius at the bend greater than about one half of an inch and less than about six inches.

15 . The housing of claim 11 , wherein the first cross-section and the second cross-section each define a rectangular shape or a square shape.

16 . The housing of claim 11 , wherein the first cross-section and the second cross-section each define a trapezoidal shape.

17 . The housing of claim 11 , wherein the transition duct defines a substantially constant cross-section between the first cross-section and the second cross-section.

18 . The housing of claim 11 , further comprising a cover plate mounted to the cylindrical portion and positioned over the volute of the cylindrical portion and the inlet cross-section of the transition duct.

19 . The housing of claim 18 , wherein the cover plate defines an entrance for receiving the flow of air into the volute of the cylindrical portion.

20 . The housing of claim 11 , wherein the impeller is configured for rotating on an axis of rotation, wherein the transition duct defines a central axis, and wherein the central axis of the transition duct at the exhaust exit is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Yu Zhiquan
• Mclain Joseph Lee
• O'Malley Christopher Edward

Classifications

• D06F58/04 Primary

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

• D06F58/20 Primary

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