IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,039,728
Granted Patent B2
US 11,039,728 · App. 15/891,628 · Granted Jun 22, 2021

Washing appliance having a recirculation circuit

Inventor: Rodney M. Welch (Eau Claire, MI)
Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
A47L15/4219A47L15/4206A47L15/4291B01D21/26D06F39/006D06F39/085C02F1/444C02F1/463D06F39/083
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,039,728
App. No.
15/891,628
Granted
Jun 22, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A washing appliance includes a treating chamber, a sprayer emitting liquid into the treating chamber, and a recirculation circuit including a centrifugal separator and an electrocoagulation unit both fluidly coupled to the recirculation circuit.

Claims (19)

1. A washing appliance configured to run a wash cycle and a rinse cycle, comprising:

a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber with an access opening;

a sprayer emitting liquid into the treating chamber;

a recirculation circuit fluidly coupling the treating chamber to the sprayer;

a centrifugal separator (CS) comprising a centrifuge with a rotating body that rotates around a rotational axis, with the rotating body fluidly coupled to the recirculation circuit; and

an electrocoagulation unit (EU) fluidly coupled to the recirculation circuit; and

a controller coupled to the EU and configured to switch off the EU during the wash cycle and configured to switch on the EU during the rinse cycle.

2. The washing appliance of claim 1 further comprising a recirculation pump fluidly coupled to the recirculation circuit.

3. The washing appliance of claim 2 wherein the EU is fluidly coupled to the recirculation circuit upstream of the CS.

4. The washing appliance of claim 3 wherein the CS removes particles greater than a predetermined size.

5. The washing appliance of claim 4 wherein the EU generates particles greater than the predetermined size.

6. The washing appliance of claim 5 wherein the CS and EU are fluidly coupled to the recirculation circuit downstream of the recirculation pump.

7. The washing appliance of claim 1 wherein the CS removes particles of a size greater than a predetermined size and the EU generates particles greater than the predetermined size.

8. The washing appliance of claim 7 further comprising a particle filter fluidly coupled to the recirculation circuit and removing particles of a size less than the predetermined size.

9. The washing appliance of claim 8 wherein the particle filter is one of an ultrafiltration or nanofiltration filter.

10. The washing appliance of claim 1 further comprising a reuse tank fluidly coupled to the recirculation circuit.

11. The washing appliance of claim 1 wherein the CS comprises a particle reservoir storing centrifugally removed particles.

12. The washing appliance of claim 11 further comprising a drain pump fluidly coupled to the particle reservoir.

13. The washing appliance of claim 1 wherein the washing appliance comprises at least one of a clothes washer or a dishwasher.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2018
From: WELCH, RODNEY M.
To: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044868/0631 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62464405 · Feb 28, 2017
Related Publication 20180242814A1 · Aug 30, 2018