Laundry appliance
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorSayer James Murphy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laundry appliance includes a cabinet that defines an opening, a drum accessible via the opening and configured for processing laundry, a blower that conveys process air along an airflow path, and a vortex lint filter coupled to the cabinet and at least selectively disposed within the airflow path. The vortex lint filter has a receptacle that includes an outer side wall that defines an inlet, a floor that extends inboard from the outer side wall, and a tower that extends upward from the floor and defines an outlet. The blower is configured to deliver process air into the receptacle via the inlet, along the outer side wall to create a process air vortex, and out of the receptacle via the outlet, such that particulate matter is separated from the process air and collects within the receptacle.
Claims20
A laundry appliance, comprising:
- a cabinet that defines an opening;
- a drum accessible via the opening and configured for processing laundry;
- a blower that conveys process air along an airflow path;
- and
- a vortex lint filter coupled to the cabinet and at least selectively disposed within the airflow path, the vortex lint filter having a receptacle that includes an outer side wall that defines an inlet, a floor that extends inboard from the outer side wall, and a tower that extends upward from the floor and defines an outlet, wherein the blower is configured to deliver process air into the receptacle via the inlet, along the outer side wall to create a process air vortex, and out of the receptacle via the outlet, such that particulate matter is separated from the process air and collects within the receptacle, wherein the vortex lint filter is removably coupled to the cabinet and operable between a lint-collection position, wherein the vortex lint filter is within the airflow path, and a maintenance position, wherein the vortex lint filter is removed from the airflow path.
A laundry appliance, comprising:
- a cabinet that defines an opening;
- a drum accessible via the opening and configured for processing laundry;
- a blower that conveys process air along an airflow path;
- and
- a vortex lint filter operable between a lint-collection position, wherein the vortex lint filter is in the airflow path such that a process air vortex occurs within a receptacle of the vortex lint filter and particulate matter is separated from the process air for collection within the receptacle, and a maintenance position, wherein the vortex lint filter is removed from the airflow path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.