Speed control assembly for appliance
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsPeter I. Bilionis, Kapil Gupta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A speed control assembly for an appliance includes a bracket and a cam that is slidably coupled with the bracket and has an engagement edge. A lever is operably coupled with the cam and is configured to move the cam along the bracket. A slider is fixedly coupled with the bracket and a magnet is disposed adjacent the engagement edge. A ball bearing that is in magnetic communication with the magnet is configured to be selectively engaged with one of a plurality of retention spaces that are defined by the engagement edge of the cam. A sensor is configured to detect a position of the magnet.
Claims18
A speed control assembly for an appliance, comprising:
- a bracket;
- a cam slidably coupled with the bracket and having an engagement edge;
- a lever operably coupled with the cam and configured to move the cam along the bracket;
- a slider fixedly coupled with the bracket;
- a magnet disposed adjacent the engagement edge;
- a ball bearing in magnetic communication with the magnet, wherein the ball bearing is configured to be selectively engaged with one of a plurality of retention spaces defined by the engagement edge of the cam;
- and
- a sensor configured to detect a position of the magnet.
A speed control assembly for an appliance, comprising:
- a cam slidably coupled with a bracket positioned proximate a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the cam has a stepped engagement edge positioned opposite the bracket;
- a slider fixedly coupled with the bracket;
- a lever operably coupled with the cam, wherein the lever is configured to allow adjustment of the cam between the bracket and the slider;
- a magnet operably coupled with the slider;
- a ball bearing magnetically coupled with the magnet and configured to be selectively engaged with the stepped engagement edge of the cam, wherein the ball bearing is movable along steps of the stepped engagement edge;
- and
- a sensor configured to detect a position of the magnet.
A speed control assembly for an appliance, comprising:
- a printed circuit board (PCB);
- a motor assembly in electrical communication with the PCB;
- a bracket disposed proximate an edge of the PCB;
- a cam slidably coupled with the bracket, wherein the cam includes an engagement edge positioned on the bracket;
- a plurality of retention spaces defined by the engagement edge;
- a magnet supported by a housing and disposed adjacent to the engagement edge;
- a ball bearing magnetically coupled with the magnet and movable along the engagement edge of the cam;
- and
- a Hall-effect sensor configured to detect a position of the magnet, wherein adjustment of a lever moves the cam, which results in movement of the magnet and a magnetic field of the magnet, and wherein the Hall-effect sensor detects the changing magnetic field, which changes a speed of the motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.