Laundry treating appliance with a static tub and a water trap vapor seal

• US 9,896,792 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2014
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Erickson, Donald E., Sharp, Brenner M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin, Joseph L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Graf, Irina
• Application Number:
  US14/156,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20150052954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 17/06 by rotary impellers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 17/08 Driving arrangements for the impeller
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 21/08 within an enclosing receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 23/04 and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/47 Responding to irregular working conditions, e.g. malfunctioning of pumps safety arrangements D06F37/42
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/12 adapted for rotation or oscillation about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/26 Casings; Tubs
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/083 Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements

Abstract

A washing machine may include a static wash tub, a rotatable vertical axis wash basket in the static wash tub, and a drive motor for rotating the wash basket. A closure may direct wash liquid from the wash basket to a catch basin. A flange may be attached to the closure so that an unattached edge ends within the catch basin. The unattached edge may end below the surface of a first volume of wash liquid to minimize migration of wash liquid and/or vapor from the washing machine. The unattached edge may end above the surface of a second volume of wash liquid less than the first volume to minimize agitation of wash liquid in the catch basin.

Claims

1. A laundry treating appliance, comprising:

a cabinet;

a static wash tub coupled with the cabinet;

a wash basket mounted in the static wash tub and defining a laundry treating chamber, rotatable about a vertical axis and having a drain hole;

a drive motor for rotating the wash basket;

a catch basin disposed below and spaced from the wash basket and fixedly coupled to the static wash tub, the catch basin annular about the vertical axis and defining an interior for holding a selected volume of wash liquid;

a closure between the wash basket and the catch basin, the closure having a circumferential edge for directing wash liquid from the wash basket to the catch basin;

a suspension located at least partially within the static wash tub and connection the closure to the cabinet and adapted to dampen vibration from the wash basket; and

a flange having an attached edge and an unattached edge, the flange depending from and fully enclosing the circumferential edge of the closure along the attached edge so that the unattached edge is within the interior of the catch basin;

wherein the catch basin can hold a first volume of wash liquid so that the unattached edge ends below a wash liquid surface of the first volume of wash liquid and is configured to minimize migration of wash liquid and vapor from the interior of the catch basin, and

wherein the catch basin can hold a second volume of wash liquid less than the first volume so that the unattached edge ends above a wash liquid surface of the second volume of wash liquid and is configured to minimize agitation of wash liquid in the catch basin and isolate the cabinet from vibration of the wash basket.

2. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the flange is annular about the vertical axis.

3. The laundry treating appliance of claim 2 wherein the unattached edge remains out of contact with the catch basin.

4. The laundry treating appliance of claim 3 wherein the unattached edge remains out of contact with the catch basin when wash liquid is supplied to the treating chamber.

5. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the closure includes a drain port to direct liquid to the catch basin.

6. The laundry treating appliance of claim 5 wherein the drain hole is in a bottom of the wash basket to direct liquid to the drain port.

7. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the catch basin is between the wash basket and the static wash tub.

8. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1, and further comprising a detergent dispenser within the static wash tub.

9. The laundry treating appliance of claim 8 wherein the detergent dispenser is disposed vertically above the catch basin.

10. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the suspension comprises at least 3 suspension rods.

11. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the unattached edge of the flange ends below a wash liquid surface during a wash phase.

12. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the unattached edge of the flange ends above a wash liquid surface during a spin phase.

13. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1, and further comprising a sensing device for determining a height of wash liquid in the catch basin.

14. A laundry treating appliance, comprising:

a cabinet;

a static wash tub coupled with the cabinet;

a wash basket mounted in the static wash tub and defining a laundry treating chamber, rotatable about a vertical axis and having a drain hole;

a drive motor for rotating the wash basket;

a catch basin disposed below and spaced from the wash basket and fixedly coupled to the static wash tub, the catch basin annular about the vertical axis and defining an interior for holding a selected volume of wash liquid;

a closure between the wash basket and the catch basin, the closure having a circumferential edge for directing wash liquid from the wash basket to the catch basin;

a flange having an attached edge and an unattached edge, the flange depending from and enclosing a portion of the circumferential edge of the closure along the attached edge so that the unattached edge is within the interior of the catch basin;

wherein the closure is configured to be vertically movable by way of the suspension between a first position wherein the unattached edge of the flange is in communication with the bottom of the catch basin and a second position wherein the unattached edge of the flange is not in communication with the bottom of the catch basin.