# US 10,480,117 B2 · Self cleaning sump cover > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,117 B2 - Document ID: US10480117B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/830,540 - Filed: 2017-12-04 - Published: 2018-08-30 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-27 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Gianluca Bocchino; Roy E. Masters; Arun Rajendran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480117B2 ## CPC - D06F 34/14: Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters - B01D 5/0015: {Plates} - D06F 58/22: Lint collecting arrangements - B08B 3/02: Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays - B08B 2203/0223: Electric motor pumps - D06F 58/02: having dryer drums rotating about a horizontal axis - D06F 58/24: Condensing arrangements - D06F 58/30: Drying processes (controlling a series of operations in domestic laundry dryers D06F58/32) - D06F 58/45: Cleaning or disinfection of machine parts, e.g. of heat exchangers or filters - D06F 58/50: Responding to irregular working conditions, e.g. malfunctioning of blowers - D06F 2103/00: Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers - D06F 2103/42: related to filters or pumps - D06F 2103/58: related to condensation, e.g. condensate water level - D06F 2105/06: Recirculation of washing liquids, e.g. by pumps or diverting valves - D06F 2105/34: Filtering, e.g. control of lint removal devices - D06F 2105/36: Condensing arrangements, e.g. control of water injection therefor - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL ## Abstract A fluid flow system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path having a heat exchanger. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger and fluid spray from a spray nozzle for directing lint particles to the drain channel and on to a sump for collecting fluid, including the condensate. A pump seat and a fluid outlet are integrally formed in a sump cover. A pump directs the fluid from the sump to the fluid outlet. A fluid level sensor detects at least minimum and maximum capacities of the fluid in the sump. When the fluid is below the minimum capacity, the pump defines an idle state. When the fluid reaches the minimum capacity, the pump defines an active state. When the fluid exceeds the maximum capacity, the pump directs the fluid to the fluid outlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid flow system for a laundry appliance, the fluid flow system comprising: a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path; a heat exchanger for dehumidifying the process air and removing condensate therefrom; a drain channel that receives the condensate from the heat exchanger and fluid spray from a spray nozzle for directing lint particles to the drain channel; a sump that collects fluid from the drain channel, wherein the fluid at least partially includes the condensate; a sump cover that includes a pump seat and a fluid outlet that are integrally formed in the sump cover; a pump that directs the fluid from the sump and to the fluid outlet; and a fluid level sensor that detects at least a minimum capacity and a maximum capacity of the fluid in the sump, wherein: when the fluid is below the minimum capacity, the pump defines an idle state; when the fluid reaches the minimum capacity, the pump defines an active state; and when the fluid reaches the maximum capacity, the pump directs a flow of the fluid to the fluid outlet of the sump cover; wherein the pump is selectively operable to direct the fluid from the sump and through the fluid outlet to a fluid diverter valve, wherein the fluid diverter valve selectively and alternatively directs the fluid to a removable bottle and the spray nozzle; and wherein the fluid level sensor is coupled to a control that operates the pump, wherein the pump selectively operates according to an override that suspends operation of the fluid level sensor; wherein: the override activates the pump when a level of the fluid is below the minimum capacity at completion of a drying cycle; and the pump is deactivated when the fluid in the sump reaches the maximum capacity and the fluid in the removable bottle reaches a full capacity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid flow system of claim 1, wherein the fluid level sensor includes a multi-component sensor that includes a lower sensor and an upper sensor, wherein: the lower sensor detects when the fluid in the sump reaches the minimum capacity; and the upper sensor detects when the fluid in the fluid level sensor reaches the maximum capacity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fluid flow system of claim 1, further comprising: a lint filter that captures lint particles from the process air within an upstream surface of the lint filter, wherein the spray nozzle directs a spray of fluid from the sump to a surface of the lint filter to direct the lint particles from the upstream surface and toward the drain channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fluid flow system of claim 3, wherein the pump is selectively operated to deliver fluid from the sump to the spray nozzle, via the fluid diverter valve, during performance of a spray sequence, wherein the fluid from the spray nozzles is directed into the drain channel and is recirculated back to the sump to define recirculated sump fluid, wherein the pump directs the recirculated sump fluid to the spray nozzles via the fluid diverter valve until completion of the spray sequence. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fluid flow system of claim 4, wherein the recirculated sump fluid includes the condensate from the heat exchanger and lint particles from the upstream surface of the lint filter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fluid flow system of claim 1, wherein the sump cover includes an integral overflow port that is in communication with the removable bottle, wherein excess fluid from the removable bottle is directed into the sump via the overflow port. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fluid flow system of claim 1, wherein the sump cover includes a perimeter seal that engages a perimeter wall of the sump. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fluid flow system of claim 7, wherein the sump includes a cup portion that defines a fluid inlet and an impeller chamber, wherein the fluid inlet and the impeller chamber is in communication with the fluid outlet.