Under-cabinet seal to prevent exhaust recirculation for a condensing appliance
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsMatthew E. Borgerson, Justin Nguyen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
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.
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.
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 outer cabinet along a lower front edge, the convection barrier blocking convection between the low-pressure region and the high-pressure region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.