Agitation element for a washing machine appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9803304-B2
Application number	US-201514738844-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2015
Priority date	Jun 13, 2015
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A single action agitation element for a washing machine appliance is provided. The agitation element includes a shaft, a first fin, and a second fin. The first fin and second fin each extend outwardly from the shaft and around the shaft. The first fin extends generally in a first fin plane defining an angle greater than zero with a reference plane of the shaft. By contrast, the second fin extends generally in a second fin plane defining an angle less than zero with the reference plane of the shaft. Such a configuration may more efficiently move clothes or other articles within a wash basket of the washing machine appliance downwardly along a vertical direction during certain washing machine operations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine appliance defining a vertical direction, the washing machine appliance comprising:
a tub;
a basket rotatably positioned within the tub;
a single-action agitation element positioned within the basket, the agitation element defining a reference plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, the agitation element including a shaft, a first fin, and a second fin, the shaft extending generally along the vertical direction, the first fin and second fin each extending outwardly from the shaft and around the shaft, the first fin defining an angle greater than zero with the reference plane and the second fin defining an angle less than zero with the reference plane; and
a first support plate extending outwardly from the shaft and generally along the vertical direction, wherein the first fin includes at least one end portion and a middle portion, and wherein the first support plate intersects the first fin at the middle portion.

2. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first fin and the second fin each extend less than 360 degrees around the shaft.

3. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the at least one end portion of the fin defines a radius that approaches zero as it terminates into the shaft, wherein the second fin also includes at least one end portion and a middle portion, and wherein the at least one end portion of the first fin defines a radius that also approaches zero as it terminates into the shaft.

4. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first support plate defines a plurality of pores to allow a flow of water therethrough.

5. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the washing machine appliance defines a radial direction, wherein the first support plate defines an outer end along the radial direction, and wherein the agitation element further includes a lip extending approximately perpendicularly from the first support plate at the outer end of the first support plate.

6. The washing machine appliance of claim 5 , wherein the lip defines a width of at least about three quarters of an inch.

7. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the agitation element further includes a top plate extending in a direction substantially parallel to the second fin.

8. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the shaft of the agitation element is formed integrally such that the shaft may only rotate about the vertical direction as a single unit.

9. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the washing machine appliance defines a radial direction, wherein the agitation element further includes a base, and wherein the base defines a plurality of ribs extending outwardly generally along the radial direction.

10. A single-action agitation element for a washing machine appliance defining a vertical direction, the agitation element comprising:
a shaft extending generally along the vertical direction and defining a reference plane perpendicular to the vertical direction;
a first fin extending outwardly from the shaft and around the shaft, the first fin extending generally in a first fin plane defining an angle greater than zero with the reference plane; and a second fin also extending outwardly from the shaft and around the shaft, the second fin extending generally in a second fin plane defining an angle less than zero with the reference plane such that the second fin plane intersects with the first fin plane; and
a first support plate extending outwardly from the shaft and generally along the vertical direction, wherein the first fin includes at least one end portion and a middle portion, and wherein the first support plate intersects the first fin at the middle portion.

11. The agitation element of claim 10 , wherein the first fin and the second fin each extend less than 360 degrees around the shaft.

12. The agitation element of claim 10 , wherein the at least one end portion of the fin defines a radius that approaches zero as it terminates into the shaft, wherein the second fin also includes at least one end portion and a middle portion, and wherein the at least one end portion of the first fin defines a radius that also approaches zero as it terminates into the shaft.

13. The agitation element of claim 12 , wherein the shaft defines a first side and an opposite second side, wherein the at least one end portion of the first fin and the middle portion of the second fin are each positioned proximate to the first side of the shaft, and wherein the at least one end portion of the second fin and the middle portion of the first fin are positioned proximate to the second side of the shaft.

14. The agitation element of claim 12 , wherein the at least one end portion of the first fin defines a beginning gap with the second fin along the vertical direction, wherein the at least one end portion of the second fin defines an ending gap with the first fin along the vertical direction, and wherein the beginning gap is larger than the ending gap.

15. The agitation element of claim 10 , wherein the first support plate defines a plurality of pores to allow a flow of water therethrough.

16. The agitation element of claim 10 , wherein the washing machine appliance defines a radial direction, wherein the first support plate defines an outer end along the radial direction, and wherein the agitation element further includes a lip extending approximately perpendicularly from the first support plate at the outer end of the first support plate.

17. The agitation element of claim 16 , wherein the lip defines a width of at least about one inch.

18. The agitation element of claim 10 , wherein the shaft of the agitation element is formed integrally such that the shaft may only rotate about the vertical direction as a single unit.

Assignees

• Gen Electric
• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Obregon Roberto
• Harris Bradley Kyle
• Calmeise Randall Winfield

Classifications

• D06F23/04

  and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis · CPC title

• D06F17/06

  by rotary impellers · CPC title

• D06F13/02 Primary

  wherein the agitator has an oscillatory rotary motion only · CPC title

• D06F17/10

  Impellers · CPC title

• D06F21/08

  within an enclosing receptacle · CPC title