Impeller and pump for combination washer and dryer laundry appliance
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsAlexander B. Leibman, Hannah Suter, Venkata Chakradhar Rangu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A discharge pump and a horizontal axis combination washer and dryer employing the discharge pump is provided. The discharge pump includes an impeller with a first portion having a plurality of closed vanes and a second portion having a plurality of open vanes, the impeller received within a shroud. In the horizontal axis combination washer and dryer, the discharge pump selectively discharges wash water to a drain and drying air to a vent.
Claims19
An impeller for a discharge pump, the impeller comprising:
- a first portion comprising:
- a lower disk having a top surface;
- an upper disk spaced apart from the lower disk, the upper disk having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an opening defining an axial passage;
- a plurality of closed vanes extending from the top surface of the lower disk to the bottom surface of the upper disk;
- and a
- a second portion comprising a plurality of open vanes supported on the top surface of the upper disk.
A discharge pump comprising:
- a top shroud;
- a bottom shroud;
- and
- an impeller, the impeller comprising:
- a first portion comprising:
- a lower disk having a top surface;
- an upper disk spaced apart from the lower disk, the upper disk having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an opening defining an axial passage;
- a plurality of closed vanes extending from the top surface of the lower disk to the bottom surface of the upper disk;
- and
- a second portion comprising a plurality of open vanes supported on the top surface of the upper disk, and
- wherein a portion of the top shroud engages a portion of the bottom shroud to form a shroud assembly, the shroud assembly adapted to receive the impeller.
A horizontal axis combination washer and dryer laundry appliance comprising:
- a cabinet having a front panel defining an opening;
- a tub mounted within the cabinet;
- a laundry basket mounted within the tub;
- a water supply to supply water to the tub;
- an air intake to supply ambient air to the tub;
- and
- a discharge pump fluidly coupled to the tub, the discharge pump comprising:
- a top shroud;
- a bottom shroud;
- and
- an impeller, the impeller comprising:
- a first portion comprising:
- a lower disk having a top surface;
- an upper disk spaced apart from the lower disk, the upper disk having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an opening defining an axial passage;
- a plurality of closed vanes extending from the top surface of the lower disk to the bottom surface of the upper disk;
- and
- a second portion comprising a plurality of open vanes supported on the top surface of the upper disk,
- wherein a portion of the top shroud engages a portion of the bottom shroud to form a shroud assembly, the shroud assembly adapted to receive the impeller, and
- wherein the discharge pump selectively discharges the water to a drain in a wash cycle and the ambient air to a vent during a dryer cycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.