Impeller for a washing machine appliance
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsLucius Levon Cole, David Scott Dunn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An impeller for a washing machine appliance is provided. The impeller includes a stamped plate that is rotatable about an axis of rotation. The stamped plate also defines an opening at the axis of rotation. A mounting insert is received within the opening of the stamped plate in order to fix the mounting insert to the stamped plate.
Claims20
An impeller for a washing machine appliance, the impeller having an axis of rotation about which the impeller is rotatable, the impeller defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the impeller comprising:
- a stamped plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface positioned opposite the bottom surface, said stamped plate having a plurality of agitators that extend longitudinally along the radial direction and also project away from the top surface of said stamped plate along the axial direction, said stamped plate also defining an opening at the axis of rotation;
- and
- a mounting insert having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a sidewall that extends between the upper surface and the lower surface, the sidewall of said mounting insert received within the opening of said stamped plate in order to fix said mounting insert to said stamped plate, said mounting insert defining a cavity, said mounting insert also defining an inlet on the lower surface of said mounting insert that provides access to the cavity of said mounting insert.
A vertical axis washing machine appliance comprising:
- a cabinet,
- a wash tub received within said cabinet;
- a wash basket rotatably mounted within said wash tub, said wash basket extending between a top portion and a bottom portion;
- and
- an impeller mounted within said wash basket adjacent the bottom portion of said wash basket, said impeller rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to said wash tub and said wash basket, said impeller defining an axial direction and a radial direction, said impeller comprising:
- a stamped plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface positioned opposite the bottom surface, said stamped plate having a plurality of agitators that extend longitudinally along the radial direction and also project away from the top surface of said stamped plate along the axial direction, said stamped plate also defining an opening at the axis of rotation;
- and
- a mounting insert having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a sidewall that extends between the upper surface and the lower surface, the sidewall of said mounting insert received within the opening of said stamped plate in order to fix said mounting insert to said stamped plate, said mounting insert defining a cavity, said mounting insert also defining an inlet on the lower surface of said mounting insert that provides access to the cavity of said mounting insert.
The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 15, wherein the chamber of said stamped plate is at least partially filled with a sound damping material.
A method for manufacturing an impeller for a washing machine appliance, the method comprising of:
- providing a sheet of material;
- stamping the sheet of material in order to form a stamped plate;
- rolling edges of the stamped plate;
- punching an opening on the stamped plate;
- and
- fixing a mounting insert within the opening of the stamped plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.