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US 12,410,552 B2Granted
Three-dimensional steam generating system for performing a steam cycle within a laundry appliance
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsRyan R. Bellinger, Shannon Wynne, Mark J. Christensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air through an airflow path. A rotating drum defines a processing chamber. The processing chamber is part of the airflow path. A steam generating system disposes steam into the processing chamber. A plurality of fluid nozzles direct the steam into the processing chamber according to an operating pattern. The plurality of fluid nozzles include a first nozzle that is positioned within an upper portion of the processing chamber and a second nozzle that is positioned in a lower portion of the processing chamber.
Claims20
A laundry appliance comprising:
- a cabinet having an access aperture;
- a blower that delivers process air through an airflow path;
- a rotating drum positioned within the cabinet, the rotating drum defining a processing chamber, wherein the processing chamber is part of the airflow path, wherein the access aperture provides selective access to the processing chamber;
- a steam generating system that disposes steam into the processing chamber;
- and
- a plurality of fluid nozzles that direct the steam into the processing chamber according to an operating pattern, wherein the plurality of fluid nozzles includes a first nozzle that is positioned within an upper portion of the processing chamber and a second nozzle that is positioned in a lower portion of the processing chamber, wherein the first nozzle is positioned above the access aperture and is oriented to direct a first jet of fluid in a downward direction toward a rear panel of the processing chamber, and wherein the second nozzle is positioned within the rear panel and is oriented to direct a second jet of fluid in an upward direction toward the access aperture.
3 more elements
A laundry appliance comprising:
- a cabinet having an access aperture defined within a front panel of the cabinet;
- a drum that rotates within the cabinet, wherein the access aperture provides selective access to a processing chamber defined within the drum;
- a steam generating system that delivers steam to the processing chamber;
- a first nozzle that is coupled to the front panel and above the access aperture;
- and
- a second nozzle that is positioned within a rear panel of the processing chamber;
- wherein
- the first nozzle is positioned within an upper portion of the processing chamber and is oriented to direct a first jet of fluid in a downward direction toward a rear panel of the processing chamber;
- the second nozzle is positioned within a lower portion of the processing chamber and is oriented to direct the steam in an upward direction toward the access aperture;
- a steam generator delivers steam to the first nozzle and the second nozzle according to an operating pattern, wherein the operating pattern is determined by a plurality of sensors that are positioned in communication with the processing chamber;
- and
- the steam generator generates steam in the absence of a dedicated heating element.
9 more elements
A laundry appliance comprising:
- a cabinet having an access aperture;
- a drum that rotates within the cabinet to process a load of articles, wherein the access aperture provides selective access to a processing chamber defined within the drum;
- a steam generating system that delivers steam to the processing chamber;
- a first nozzle that is coupled to a front panel and above the access aperture;
- and
- a second nozzle that is positioned within a rear panel of the processing chamber;
- wherein
- the steam generating system delivers steam to the first nozzle and the second nozzle according to an operating pattern, wherein the operating pattern is determined by a plurality of sensors that are positioned in communication with the processing chamber;
- wherein the first nozzle is oriented to direct a first jet of fluid in a downward direction toward a rear panel of the processing chamber and the second nozzle is positioned within the rear panel and is oriented to direct a second jet of fluid in an upward direction toward the access aperture;
- and
- wherein the first and second jets of fluid define a three-dimensional pattern of steam that engages the load of articles from above and below, respectively.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.