Basket assembly with fluid vanes for a steam-augmented washing machine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMichael Wuttikorn Ekbundit, David Scott Dunn, Alexander Boris Leibman, Jerrod Aaron Kappler
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Abstract
A steam-augmented washing machine includes a casing, a tub disposed within the casing, and a basket configured for receipt of articles to be washed. A steam generator is disposed within the casing and is in communication with the tub to introduce steam into the wash basket. A plurality of fluid vanes are circumferentially spaced around the side wall adjacent the top end of the wash basket. The fluid vanes have a radial aspect so as to extend radially from side wall, wherein upon rotation of the wash basket within the tub, the fluid vanes generate a circulating vertically oriented steam flow path through the wash basket.
Claims12
A steam-augmented washing machine appliance, comprising:
- a casing;
- a vertical axis tub disposed within said casing, the tub including a rotatable perforated wash basket configured for receipt of articles to be washed;
- said wash basket comprising a side wall and an open top end through which clothes articles are loaded into said wash basket;
- a steam generator disposed within said casing and in communication with said tub to introduce steam into said wash basket;
- and
- a plurality of fluid vanes mounted to said wash basket so as to rotate with said wash basket, said fluid vanes circumferentially spaced around said side wall adjacent said top end of said wash basket, said fluid vanes having a radial aspect so as to extend radially from said side wall, each fluid vane of said fluid vanes shaped and oriented such that said fluid vanes urge steam within the tub to circulate in a forced vertically oriented steam flow path through said wash basket during rotation of said wash basket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.