Pump assembly for a washing machine appliance
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsPaul Douglas Mantle, Lawrence Thomas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pump assembly for a washing machine appliance is provided. The pump assembly includes a casing that receives a filter. The filter includes a labyrinth filter portion and a mesh filter portion. A drain pump is in fluid communication with the labyrinth filter portion, and a recirculation pump is in fluid communication with the mesh filter portion. Related washing machine appliances are also provided.
Claims18
An washing machine appliance comprising:
- a cabinet;
- a wash tub received in said cabinet and configured for containing a fluid used in a washing process;
- a wash basket mounted in said wash tub, said wash basket configured for the receipt of articles during the washing process and for rotation about an axis;
- a drain configured for directing fluid out of said cabinet;
- a pump assembly, said pump assembly comprising:
- a casing that defines a chamber, said chamber extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end, said casing defining an inlet positioned adjacent the first end of said chamber, the inlet configured for receipt of fluid from said wash tub, said casing also defining an opening positioned adjacent the second end of said chamber, the opening configured for permitting selective access to the chamber of said casing;
- a filter received within the chamber of said casing, said filter extending longitudinally between a labyrinth filter portion and a mesh filter portion;
- a drain pump in fluid communication with the chamber of said casing and said drain such that said drain pump selectively urges fluid disposed within the chamber to said drain, said drain pump positioned adjacent the labyrinth filter portion of said filter;
- and
- a recirculation pump in fluid communication with the chamber of said casing and said wash tub such that said recirculation pump selectively urges fluid disposed within the chamber to said wash tub, said recirculation pump positioned adjacent the mesh filter portion of said filter.
A pump assembly for an appliance, the appliance having a cabinet that defines a compartment for receipt of articles for washing and a drain for directing fluid out of the appliance, said pump assembly comprising:
- a casing that defines a chamber, the chamber extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end, the casing defining an inlet positioned adjacent the first end of the chamber, the inlet configured for receipt of fluid from the compartment of the cabinet, the casing also defining an opening positioned adjacent the second end of the chamber, the opening configured for permitting selective access the chamber of said casing;
- a filter received within the chamber of said casing, the filter extending longitudinally between a labyrinth filter portion and a mesh filter portion;
- a drain pump in fluid communication with the chamber of said casing, said drain pump configured for selectively urging fluid disposed within the chamber to the drain of the appliance, said drain pump receiving fluid from the labyrinth filter portion of said filter;
- and
- a recirculation pump in fluid communication with the chamber of said casing, said recirculation pump configured for selectively urging fluid disposed within the chamber to the compartment of the cabinet, said recirculation pump receiving fluid from the mesh filter portion of said filter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.