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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022162794-A1
Application number	US-202017101441-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 23, 2020
Priority date	Nov 23, 2020
Publication date	May 26, 2022
Grant date	—

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 . A drying appliance comprising:
a cabinet with a processing chamber operably disposed therein; a blower that delivers process air through an airflow path, the airflow path including the processing chamber; a condensing airflow path having an inlet positioned within a front panel of the cabinet and an outlet positioned within a bottom panel of the cabinet, wherein a condensing blower moves condensing air from the inlet to the outlet; and an airflow seal extending downward from a front edge of the cabinet, 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.

2 . The drying appliance of claim 1 , wherein the airflow seal is configured to engage a floor surface below the cabinet.

3 . The drying appliance of claim 2 , wherein the airflow seal extends along an entirety of the front edge of the front panel.

4 . The drying appliance of claim 3 , wherein the airflow seal is an elastomeric flap.

5 . The drying appliance of claim 3 , wherein the airflow seal is a block that is attached to a bottom panel of the cabinet.

6 . The drying appliance of claim 5 , wherein the airflow seal extends at least partially along lower side edges of the cabinet.

7 . The drying appliance of claim 6 , wherein the airflow seal extends around a lower edge of the cabinet and defines an airflow outlet for directing condensing air from the outlet to an area proximate a rear panel of the cabinet.

8 . A condensing dryer comprising:
a cabinet with a processing chamber operably disposed therein; a recirculating airflow path disposed within the cabinet and extending through the processing chamber and a dehumidification area; a condensing airflow path that directs condensing air from an inlet disposed within a front panel of the cabinet, through the dehumidification area and to an outlet disposed within a bottom panel of the cabinet; and an airflow seal extending downward from a front edge of the cabinet 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.

9 . The condensing dryer of claim 8 , wherein the airflow seal is configured to engage a floor surface below the cabinet.

10 . The condensing dryer of claim 8 , wherein the airflow seal extends along an entirety of the front edge of the front panel.

11 . The condensing dryer of claim 8 , wherein the airflow seal is an elastomeric flap.

12 . The condensing dryer of claim 8 , wherein the airflow seal is a block that is attached to a bottom wall of the cabinet and extends at least partially along lower side edges of the cabinet.

13 . The condensing dryer of claim 12 , wherein the airflow seal extends around a lower edge of the cabinet and defines an airflow outlet for directing condensing air from the outlet to an area proximate a rear panel of the cabinet.

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

15 . The airflow system of claim 14 , wherein the inlet is positioned within the front panel of the cabinet and the outlet is positioned within the bottom panel.

16 . The airflow system of claim 15 , wherein the convection barrier is an airflow seal is configured to engage a floor surface below the cabinet.

17 . The airflow system of claim 16 , wherein the airflow seal extends along an entirety of the front edge of the front panel.

18 . The airflow system of claim 17 , wherein the airflow seal is an elastomeric flap.

19 . The airflow system of claim 17 , wherein the airflow seal is a block that is attached to a bottom wall of the cabinet.

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

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Borgerson Matthew E
• Nguyen Justin

Classifications

• D06F58/02 Primary

  having dryer drums rotating about a horizontal axis · CPC title

• D06F58/24 Primary

  Condensing arrangements · CPC title

• D06F58/20 Primary

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

• D06F39/12

  Casings; Tubs · CPC title

• D06F58/04

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