Double-rotor washing type drum washing machine
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsKrati Bhargava, Fang Deng, James B. Hull, Wang Jun, Dennis Kehl, Weitao Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laundry appliance includes a drum that is rotationally operable about a rotational axis within a tub. The rotational axis is oriented in a generally horizontal configuration. An impeller is rotationally operable within the drum about the rotational axis. A dual-rotor motor is coupled to the drum and the impeller for providing separate and independent rotation of the drum and impeller about the rotational axis. An inner rotor of the dual-rotor motor is coupled with the impeller and an outer rotor of the dual-rotor motor is coupled with the drum.
Claims13
A laundry appliance comprising:
- a drum that is rotationally operable about a rotational axis within a tub, wherein the rotational axis is oriented in a generally horizontal configuration;
- an impeller that is rotationally operable within the drum about the rotational axis;
- a dual-rotor motor that is coupled to the drum and the impeller for providing separate and independent rotation of the drum and the impeller about the rotational axis, wherein an inner rotor of the dual-rotor motor is coupled with the impeller and an outer rotor of the dual-rotor motor is coupled with the drum;
- a structural fastener that attaches the dual-rotor motor to the tub, the structural fastener having a plate positioned behind the dual-rotor motor and plate bosses that extend from the plate to the tub, wherein the dual-rotor motor operates between the plate and the tub;
- and
- a structural overmold, wherein the plate, the plate bosses and a stator of the dual-rotor motor are incorporated within the structural overmold.
A laundry appliance comprising:
- a drum that is rotationally operable about a rotational axis within a tub, wherein the rotational axis is oriented in a generally horizontal configuration;
- an impeller that is rotationally operable within the drum about the rotational axis;
- a dual-rotor motor that is coupled to the drum and the impeller for providing separate and independent rotation of the drum and the impeller about the rotational axis, the dual-rotor motor comprising:
- a stator having inner and outer poles that extend from a central core;
- inner windings disposed on the inner poles;
- outer windings disposed on the outer poles;
- an outer rotor in electromagnetic communication with the outer windings;
- an inner rotor in electromagnetic communication with the inner windings;
- an outer shaft that extends between the outer rotor and the drum;
- an inner shaft that is positioned within the outer shaft and extending between the inner rotor and the impeller;
- a structural fastener having a metallic plate and metallic plate bosses that attach the stator and the structural fastener to the tub, and wherein the structural fastener locates the stator between the tub and the metallic plate of the structural fastener;
- and
- a structural overmold that incorporates the stator, the metallic plate, and the metallic plate bosses of the structural fastener within the structural overmold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.