# US 9,752,307 B2 · Disposal assembly and method for operating same

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- Number: US 9,752,307 B2
- Document ID: US9752307B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/222,713
- Filed: 2014-03-24
- Published: 2015-09-24
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-03-24
- Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
- Applicants: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Wilbur Carl Bewley, Jr.; Hiram Dwayne Cornett
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752307B2

## CPC

- E03C 1/2665: {Disintegrating apparatus specially adapted for installation in waste pipes or outlets (disintegrating apparatus per se B02C)}
- B02C 18/0084: {specially adapted for disintegrating garbage, waste or sewage}
- B02C 18/0092: {for waste water or for garbage}
- B02C 18/12: with drive arranged below container {(B02C18/083 takes precedence)}
- B02C 25/00: Control arrangements specially adapted for crushing or disintegrating
- E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS
- B02C: CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN ({household tools and machines for pulverising foodstuffs, e.g. coffee and spice mills A47J42/00; pharmaceutical mortars A61J3/02; mechanical processing of refuse and garbage B03B9/06; dressing mould materials by grinding B22C5/04}; obtaining metallic powder by crushing, grinding or milling B22F9/04; {recovery of plastics by disintegrating B29B17/00; crushing raw materials in starch making C08B30/02; beaters for papermaking D21D1/02; crushing devices specially for transport in mines E21F13/002; slag crushing devices F23J1/00; fuel milling devices in combustion apparatus F23K1/00; household devices for crushing coal F24B15/02; ice disintegrating devices F25C5/02})

## Abstract

Disposal assemblies and methods for operating disposal assemblies are provided. A disposal assembly includes an inlet conduit defining an inlet passage, and a housing defining a chamber, the chamber in fluid communication with the inlet passage. The disposal assembly further includes a grinding mechanism disposed within the chamber, and a motor connected to the grinding mechanism and operable to drive the grinding mechanism. The disposal assembly further includes a controller in communication with the motor, the controller programmed for selectively and alternately operating the motor in a batch mode and a continuous mode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A disposal assembly, comprising:
an inlet conduit defining an inlet passage;
a housing defining a chamber, the chamber in fluid communication with the inlet passage;
a grinding mechanism disposed within the chamber;
a motor connected to the grinding mechanism and operable to drive the grinding mechanism;
a stopper, the stopper positionable within the inlet passage;
a batch actuation assembly, the batch actuation assembly comprising a first actuation component disposed in the inlet conduit and a second actuation component disposed in the stopper; and
a controller in communication with the motor, the controller comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium configured with a program to selectively and alternately operate the motor in a batch mode and a continuous mode, wherein the batch mode comprises operating the motor when a main actuation switch is actuated and the batch actuation assembly is actuated, and discontinuing operation of the motor if a predetermined motor time period is met, and wherein the continuous mode comprises operating the motor when the main actuation switch is actuated, and discontinuing operation of the motor when the main actuation switch is de-actuated.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The disposal assembly of claim 1, wherein the first actuation component is a reed switch and the second actuation component is a magnet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The disposal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a current sensor in communication with the controller and the motor, the current sensor operable to sense a current level in the motor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The disposal assembly of claim 1, wherein sequential actuation of the main actuation switch causes the controller to alternate between operating the motor in the batch mode and operating the motor in the continuous mode.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The disposal assembly of claim 1, wherein operation in the batch mode further comprises:
initiating a motor countdown timer for the predetermined motor time period when a current level of the motor is below a predetermined current level; and
discontinuing the motor countdown timer if the current level rises above the predetermined current level.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The disposal assembly of claim 1, wherein operation in the continuous mode further comprises:
operating the motor when the main actuation switch is actuated;
initiating a motor countdown timer for a predetermined motor time period when a current level of the motor is below a predetermined current level;
discontinuing operation of the motor if the predetermined motor time period is met; and
discontinuing the motor countdown timer if the current level rises above the predetermined current level.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The disposal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a faucet assembly, the faucet assembly comprising a faucet and a flow valve, the flow valve in communication with the controller.