Speed control assembly for appliance
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsPeter I. Bilionis, Kapil Gupta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A speed control assembly for an appliance includes a bracket and a cam that is slidably coupled with the bracket and has an engagement edge. A lever is operably coupled with the cam and is configured to move the cam along the bracket. A slider is fixedly coupled with the bracket and a magnet is disposed adjacent the engagement edge. A ball bearing that is in magnetic communication with the magnet is configured to be selectively engaged with one of a plurality of retention spaces that are defined by the engagement edge of the cam. A sensor is configured to detect a position of the magnet.
Claims19
A speed control assembly for an appliance, comprising:
- a bracket;
- a cam slidably coupled with the bracket and having an engagement edge;
- a lever operably coupled with the cam and configured to move the cam along the bracket;
- a slider fixedly coupled with the bracket;
- a magnet disposed adjacent the engagement edge;
- a ball bearing in magnetic communication with the magnet, wherein the ball bearing is configured to be selectively engaged with one of a plurality of retention spaces defined by the engagement edge of the cam;
- and
- a sensor configured to detect a position of the magnet.
A speed control assembly for an appliance, comprising:
- a cam slidably coupled with a bracket positioned proximate a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the cam has a stepped engagement edge positioned opposite the bracket;
- a slider fixedly coupled with the bracket;
- a lever operably coupled with the cam, wherein the lever is configured to allow adjustment of the cam between the bracket and the slider;
- a magnet operably coupled with the slider;
- a ball bearing magnetically coupled with the magnet and configured to be selectively engaged with the stepped engagement edge of the cam;
- and
- a sensor configured to detect a position of the magnet.
A speed control assembly for an appliance, comprising:
- a printed circuit board (PCB);
- a motor assembly in electrical communication with the PCB;
- a bracket disposed proximate an edge of the PCB;
- a cam slidably coupled with the bracket, wherein the cam includes an engagement edge positioned on the bracket;
- a plurality of retention spaces defined by the engagement edge;
- a magnet supported by a housing and disposed adjacent to the engagement edge;
- a ball bearing magnetically coupled with the magnet and movable along the engagement edge of the cam;
- and
- a Hall-effect sensor configured to detect a position of the magnet, wherein adjustment of a lever moves the cam, which results in movement of the magnet and a magnetic field of the magnet, and wherein the Hall-effect sensor detects the changing magnetic field, which changes a speed of the motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.