公开(公告)号：US09890490B2

公开(公告)日：2018-02-13

申请号：US14945885

申请日：2015-11-19

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Brian P. Janke ,  Stephen L. Keres ,  Erol D. Sumer ,  Ran Zhao ,  Bradley D. Morrow ,  Nicholas C. Fugal

IPC: D06F35/00 ,  D06F37/20 ,  D06F33/02

CPC classification number: D06F37/203 ,  D06F33/02 ,  D06F2202/065 ,  D06F2202/10 ,  D06F2202/12 ,  D06F2204/065 ,  D06F2204/10 ,  D06F2220/00 ,  D06F2222/00

Abstract: A method of detecting high friction events in a laundry treating appliance includes rotating the drum, determining, during the rotation, a torque of the motor, an acceleration of the drum, a speed of the drum, and/or an angular position of the drum at each of multiple speeds, and repeatedly estimating with a parameter estimator, during the rotation, viscous friction, coulomb friction, and total friction based on the torque, acceleration, speed, and/or angular position of the drum. A high friction even is determined based on the estimated viscous friction, coulomb friction and/or total friction.

公开(公告)号：US09863080B2

公开(公告)日：2018-01-09

申请号：US14945891

申请日：2015-11-19

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Nicholas C. Fugal ,  Brian P. Janke ,  Bradley D. Morrow ,  Erol D. Sumer

IPC: D06F35/00 ,  D06F37/30

CPC classification number: D06F37/304 ,  D06F33/02 ,  D06F35/007 ,  D06F37/203 ,  D06F2202/06 ,  D06F2202/065 ,  D06F2202/10 ,  D06F2202/12 ,  D06F2204/065 ,  D06F2222/00

Abstract: A method of estimating a water extraction profile in a laundry treating appliance includes accelerating rotation of the drum during a water extraction cycle, determining, during the accelerating rotation, a torque of the motor, an acceleration of the drum, a speed of the drum, and/or an angular position of the drum, and estimating with a parameter estimator, at multiple times during the accelerating rotation, inertia of a laundry load, based on the torque, acceleration, speed, and/or angular position of the drum to establish multiple inertia values. A water extraction profile is then estimated based on the inertia values.

公开(公告)号：US10240272B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-26

申请号：US15154172

申请日：2016-05-13

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Eric K. Farrington ,  Steven Fricke ,  Nicholas C. Fugal ,  Christine L. Strain ,  Philip R. Thompson ,  Robert C. Williams

IPC: D06F37/20 ,  D06F37/30 ,  D06F37/40 ,  D06F37/24 ,  D06F33/02

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.

公开(公告)号：US10202719B2

公开(公告)日：2019-02-12

申请号：US15072962

申请日：2016-03-17

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Benjamin E. Alexander ,  Prakash S. Amte ,  Brent M. Burgess ,  Michael K. Cluskey ,  Nicholas C. Fugal ,  Christopher A. Jones ,  Dale Mueller ,  Michele A. Paustian ,  Brenner M. Sharp

IPC: B29C45/16 ,  D06F37/12 ,  D06F37/26

Abstract: A vertical axis laundry treating appliance including a chassis defining a chassis interior, a tub disposed within the chassis interior and defining a tub interior, and a perforated wash basket disposed for rotation within the tub interior, wherein the tub includes a lower tub portion, an upper tub portion, and a flexible intermediate portion.

公开(公告)号：US11668040B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-06

申请号：US17102775

申请日：2020-11-24

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Nicholas C. Fugal ,  Bradley D. Morrow ,  Joseph C. O'Connor ,  Prabhath KV ,  Jason S. Sabel ,  Christine L. Strain ,  Meredith A. Wagner ,  Robert C. Williams

IPC: D06F37/40 ,  D06F23/04 ,  D06F37/12 ,  D06F37/26

CPC classification number: D06F37/40 ,  D06F23/04 ,  D06F37/12 ,  D06F37/262 ,  D06F37/264

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum that receives laundry to be treated. A motor rotates a drive shaft about a vertical axis and engages the rotating drum at a base. A coupler is disposed within an upper portion of the base and that rests upon the drive shaft to transfer rotational forces from the drive shaft to the drum. A lower portion of the base engages an outer surface of the shaft to resist moment forces that are exerted against the drive shaft in an off-axis direction relative to the vertical axis.

公开(公告)号：US11053624B2

公开(公告)日：2021-07-06

申请号：US16269792

申请日：2019-02-07

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Eric K. Farrington ,  Steven Fricke ,  Nicholas C. Fugal ,  Christine L. Strain ,  Philip R. Thompson ,  Robert C. Williams

IPC: D06F37/20 ,  D06F37/24 ,  D06F37/40 ,  D06F37/30 ,  D06F33/00

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.

公开(公告)号：US20210079580A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-18

申请号：US17102775

申请日：2020-11-24

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Nicholas C. Fugal ,  Bradley D. Morrow ,  Joseph C. O'Connor ,  Prabhath KV ,  Jason S. Sabel ,  Christine L. Strain ,  Meredith A. Wagner ,  Robert C. Williams

IPC: D06F37/40 ,  D06F23/04 ,  D06F37/26

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum that receives laundry to be treated. A motor rotates a drive shaft about a vertical axis and engages the rotating drum at a base. A coupler is disposed within an upper portion of the base and that rests upon the drive shaft to transfer rotational forces from the drive shaft to the drum. A lower portion of the base engages an outer surface of the shaft to resist moment forces that are exerted against the drive shaft in an off-axis direction relative to the vertical axis.

公开(公告)号：US09988751B2

公开(公告)日：2018-06-05

申请号：US14812338

申请日：2015-07-29

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Nicholas C. Fugal ,  Brian P. Janke ,  Stephen L. Keres ,  Bradley D. Morrow ,  Erol D. Sumer ,  Ran Zhao

IPC: D06F33/02 ,  D06F37/30

CPC classification number: D06F37/304 ,  D06F33/02 ,  D06F2202/12 ,  D06F2204/065

Abstract: Methods of reducing a likelihood of contact between a rotating laundry-container, such as a basket or drum, located within a tub of a laundry treating appliance where the method includes accelerating a rotational speed of the rotating laundry-container during an extraction cycle speed ramp, monitoring the friction associated with the rotating laundry-container during the speed ramp and comparing to a threshold and altering the accelerating of the rotational speed of the rotating laundry-container when the comparing indicates the threshold is satisfied.

公开(公告)号：US20240287730A1

公开(公告)日：2024-08-29

申请号：US18113801

申请日：2023-02-24

Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation

Inventor： Bradley D. Morrow ,  Nicholas C. Fugal ,  Grace Fenech

IPC: D06F37/24 ,  D06F23/04 ,  D06F37/12

CPC classification number: D06F37/245 ,  D06F23/04 ,  D06F37/12 ,  B29C48/0021 ,  B29C48/0022 ,  B29C48/09 ,  B29L2031/762 ,  F16F2226/04 ,  F16F2228/008

Abstract: A washing machine includes a washing machine housing, a wash unit tub, a drum and a first fluid-filled balance ring. The washing machine housing has an opening. The wash unit tub is mounted within the washing machine housing. The drum is rotatable within the wash unit tub. The drum includes a laundry compartment with an open end that is bounded by a rim of the drum. The first fluid-filled balance ring is mounted to the rim of the drum and rotates with the drum to counteract an off-balance load in the laundry compartment of the drum. The first fluid-filled balance ring has a tubular, ring-like shape with a first annular chamber that is sealed and partially filled with a fluid. The fluid in the first annular chamber has a viscosity of at least 90 centipoise.

公开(公告)号：US20230212806A1

公开(公告)日：2023-07-06

申请号：US18088947

申请日：2022-12-27

Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation

Inventor： Derek R. Andreen ,  Bradley D. Morrow ,  Nicholas C. Fugal

IPC: D06F37/24 ,  D06F23/04 ,  D06F39/12 ,  D06F37/26 ,  D06F37/12

CPC classification number: D06F37/24 ,  D06F23/04 ,  D06F37/12 ,  D06F37/268 ,  D06F39/12

Abstract: A suspension mount assembly for a laundry appliance with a wash unit tub disposed inside an appliance housing and a drum that is rotatably supported within the wash unit tub. A laundry compartment is provided inside the drum and the drum is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis. The wash unit tub is hung from and supported by a plurality of suspension rods. A plurality of upper suspension mount assemblies pivotally couple the suspension rods to an upper frame of the laundry appliance and a plurality of lower suspension mount assemblies couple the suspension rods to the wash unit tub. Each of the upper and lower suspension mount assemblies includes a resilient bushing that permits relative movement between the suspension rods, the upper frame, and the wash unit tub while reducing / dampening the vibrations the suspension rods transmit from the wash unit tub to the upper frame.