Nebulizer system for a fabric treatment appliance

• US 20070151129A1
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Minkin, Alexander V., McAllister, Karl D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,921,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 38/3
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/60 related to auxiliary conditioning or finishing agents, e.g. filling level of perfume tanks
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/30 Blowers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/38 Conditioning or finishing, e.g. control of perfume injection
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/00 Washing machines, apparatus, or methods not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/04 Details controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/10 Drying cabinets or drying chambers having heating or ventilating means
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/203 Laundry conditioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/44 of conditioning or finishing, e.g. for smoothing or removing creases

Abstract

A nebulizer assembly for use in a fabrics revitalizing system having a fabric treatment chamber comprises a fluid reservoir configured to contain a fluid; an air flow channel in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; a mist generator configured to generate a mist in the fluid reservoir; and a fan in fluid communication with the air flow channel to draw air through the air flow channel and transport the mist to the interior of the fabric treatment chamber. The nebulizer assembly can include a transitional assembly that communicates the nebulizer assembly with the fabric treatment chamber.

Claims

1. A nebulizer assembly for use in a fabrics revitalizing system comprising a fabric treatment chamber having an interior for holding a fabric load;

a particulate removal and collection device in fluid communication with the interior of the fabric treatment chamber; and

a fluid removal system in fluid communication with the interior of the fabric treatment chamber, the nebulizer assembly being in fluid communication with the interior of the fabric treatment chamber so that the nebulizer assembly provides a mist to the fabric load during operation of the nebulizer assembly, the nebulizer assembly comprising;

a fluid reservoir configured to contain a fluid;

an air flow channel in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir;

a mist generator configured to generate a mist in the fluid reservoir; and

a fan in fluid communication with the air flow channel to draw air through the air flow channel and transport the mist to the interior of the fabric treatment chamber.

2. The nebulizer assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a pump, a sanitization means, and a temperature control.

3. The nebulizer assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fluid tank in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir to supply fluid to the fluid reservoir.

4. The nebulizer assembly of claim 3 wherein the fluid tank is removably mounted to the nebulizer assembly.

5. The nebulizer assembly of claim 3, further comprising a fluid level control that fluidly communicates the fluid tank with the fluid reservoir.

6. The nebulizer assembly of claim 3 wherein the fluid tank is hermetically sealed.

7. The nebulizer assembly of claim 3 wherein the air flow channel is formed by an interstitial space between the fluid tank and the fluid reservoir.

8. The nebulizer assembly of claim 3 wherein the fluid tank further comprises a vent.

9. The nebulizer assembly of claim 1 wherein the mist generator is a piezoelectric transducer.

10. The nebulizer assembly of claim 9 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir by an opening in a base of the fluid reservoir.

11. The nebulizer assembly of claim 9, further comprising at least one of a temperature sensor and a fluid level sensor operably coupled to a controller for controlling the operation of the piezoelectric transducer.

12. The nebulizer assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fluid flow control operably coupled to the fan to control the speed of the fan and thereby the flow rate of the mist.

13. The nebulizer assembly of claim 1, further comprising

a transitional assembly providing fluid communication between the air flow channel and the interior of the fabric treatment chamber.

14. The nebulizer assembly of claim 13, wherein the transitional assembly comprises a sump and a sump pump configured to pump fluid from the sump to the fluid reservoir.

15. The nebulizer assembly of claim 14 wherein the transitional assembly further comprises a bulkhead outlet and a connecting channel that fluidly connects the sump with the bulkhead outlet.

16. The nebulizer assembly of claim 15 wherein the transitional assembly further comprises a bulkhead outlet screen having a plurality of openings.

17. The nebulizer assembly of claim 16 wherein the openings are sized to prevent water droplets from covering the openings.

18. The nebulizer assembly of claim 16 wherein the openings are sized to prevent lint and debris from penetrating into the transitional assembly.

19. The nebulizer assembly of claim 15 wherein the bulkhead outlet is elevated relative to the sump.

20. The nebulizer assembly of claim 14 wherein the sump is positioned proximal to the air flow channel.

21. The nebulizer assembly of claim 15 wherein the bulkhead outlet is positioned proximal to the interior of the fabric treatment chamber.

22. A fluid delivery system for delivery of fluid to a fabric load in a fabric treatment chamber of a fabric revitalizing system, the fluid delivery system comprising:

a nebulizer assembly in fluid communication with the fabric treatment chamber and configured to provide a mist to the fabric load during operation of the nebulizer assembly; and

a transitional assembly interposed between the nebulizer assembly and the fabric treatment chamber such that the nebulizer assembly communicates with the fabric treatment chamber through the transitional assembly.

23. The fluid delivery system of claim 22, wherein the transitional assembly comprises:

a sump;

a sump pump configured to pump fluid from the sump to the nebulizer assembly;

a bulkhead outlet;

a connecting channel that fluidly connects the sump with the bulkhead outlet; and

a bulkhead outlet screen having a plurality of openings.

24. The fluid delivery system of claim 23 wherein the bulkhead outlet is elevated relative to the sump, the sump is positioned proximal to the nebulizer assembly, and the bulkhead outlet is positioned proximal to the fabric treatment chamber.

25. The fluid delivery system of claim 22 wherein the nebulizer assembly comprises:

a fluid tank configured to hold a supply of fluid;

a pump configured to pump fluid from the fluid tank;

a sanitization system; and

a vent in the fluid tank.

26. The fluid delivery system of claim 22 wherein the nebulizer assembly comprises a fluid tank that is hermetically sealed.

27. The fluid delivery system of claim 22 wherein the nebulizer assembly comprises:

a fluid tank configured to contain a fluid;

a fluid reservoir;

a fluid level control fluidly coupling the fluid tank to the fluid reservoir;

an air flow channel;

a power source; and

a fluid flow control.

28. The fluid delivery system of claim 22 wherein the nebulizer assembly comprises at least one of:

a fluid reservoir;

a sensor in fluid communication with fluid in the fluid reservoir;

a logic control;

a temperature control;

an air flow channel in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; and

a fan in fluid communication with the air flow channel to draw air through the air flow channel.

29. The fluid delivery system of claim 22 wherein the nebulizer assembly comprises a fluid reservoir and a piezoelectric transducer is in fluid communication with fluid in the fluid reservoir by an opening in a base of the fluid reservoir.

30. The fluid delivery system of claim 29 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is controlled by a temperature control, a power source, and a logic control.

31. The fluid delivery system of claim 22 wherein fluid flow in the nebulizer assembly is controlled by operation of a fan under the control of a fluid flow control.

32. The fluid delivery system of claim 22 wherein the nebulizer assembly comprises a fluid tank in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir and an air flow channel formed by an interstitial space between the fluid tank and the fluid reservoir.