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US-12618183-B2 - Modifications to washer and dryer cycles for a recreational vehicle combination laundry appliance

US12618183B2US 12618183 B2US12618183 B2US 12618183B2US-12618183-B2

Abstract

A combination washer and dryer laundry appliance for use in a recreational vehicle includes a recreational vehicle mode for operation of laundry profiles. The appliance determines when the vehicle is in motion by monitoring movement of the appliance using on-board sensors or a motion detection feature of an consumer device. When motion is detected, the appliance implements a predetermined responsive action to modify certain standard laundry profiles until the vehicle is stopped. The responsive action may include modification to cycles within the laundry profile during motion of the appliance, or the laundry operation may be suspended.

Inventors

  • David Scott Dunn
  • Jivko Ognianov Djerekarov

Assignees

  • HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20240104

Claims (19)

  1. 1 . A laundry appliance comprising: a tub positioned within a cabinet; a basket supported for rotation within the tub, the basket defining a chamber for receipt of laundry articles for washing or drying; a conditioning system fluidly coupled to the chamber, the conditioning system comprising a return duct; a recirculating air flow system providing fluid communication between the chamber and the conditioning system, wherein the recirculating air flow system, the conditioning system, and the basket define a process air flow path; a fan operable to move a flow of process air through the process air flow path; and a controller storing a set of standard laundry profiles, the controller configured to: receive an input signal indicating that the laundry appliance is in motion; and implement a responsive action based on the input signal, wherein the controller is in operative communication with a pressure sensor mounted in the tub, and wherein receiving an input signal indicating that the laundry appliance is in motion comprises receiving pressure signals from the pressure sensor, the pressure signals not associated with an operation of the laundry appliance.
  2. 2 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer operably coupled to the controller, and wherein the input signal is sent by the accelerometer.
  3. 3 . The laundry appliance of claim 2 , wherein the input signal corresponds to a motion of the tub not associated with an operation of the laundry appliance.
  4. 4 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in operative communication with an external device through an external network, the external device including a motion detection system, and wherein the input signal is sent by the external device in response to detected motion of the external device.
  5. 5 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: suspending a spin portion of one or more standard laundry profiles of the set of standard laundry profiles.
  6. 6 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , further comprising: a load sensing system configured to weigh a load of laundry articles, and wherein implementing the responsive action comprises reducing a spin speed for a spin cycle of laundry articles in excess of a predetermined weight for one or more standard laundry profiles of the set of standard laundry profiles.
  7. 7 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: suspending an agitation portion of one or more standard laundry profiles of the set of standard laundry profiles.
  8. 8 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: suspending a rinse portion of one or more standard laundry profiles of the set of standard laundry profiles.
  9. 9 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , further comprising: one or more water supply valves, and wherein implementing the responsive action comprises closing the one or more water supply valves or confirming that the one or more water supply valves are closed.
  10. 10 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , further comprising: a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet for providing selective access to the chamber; and a door lock for selectively locking the door in a closed position, and wherein implementing the responsive action comprises verifying the door is closed and locking the door or confirming the door is closed and locked.
  11. 11 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the conditioning system comprises a compressor and a fan, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises suspending operation of at least one of the compressor or the fan.
  12. 12 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a drain pump fluidly coupled to the tub, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises energizing the drain pump to drain a wash fluid from the tub.
  13. 13 . A method of operating a laundry appliance, the laundry appliance comprising a tub positioned within a cabinet, a basket supported for rotation within the tub, the basket defining a chamber for receipt of laundry articles for washing or drying, a conditioning system fluidly coupled to the chamber, the conditioning system comprising a return duct, a recirculating air flow system providing fluid communication between the chamber and the conditioning system, wherein the recirculating air flow system, the conditioning system, and the basket define a process air flow path, a fan operable to move a flow of process air through the process air flow path, and a controller storing a set of standard laundry profiles, the method comprising: receiving, by the controller, an input signal indicating that the laundry appliance is in motion; and implementing, by the controller, a responsive action based on the input signal, wherein the controller is in operative communication with a pressure sensor mounted in the tub, and wherein receiving an input signal indicating that the laundry appliance is in motion comprises receiving pressure signals from the pressure sensor, the pressure signals not associated with an operation of the laundry appliance.
  14. 14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: suspending a spin portion of one or more standard laundry profiles of the set of standard laundry profiles.
  15. 15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: reducing a spin speed for a spin cycle of laundry articles in excess of a predetermined weight for one or more standard laundry profiles of the set of standard laundry profiles.
  16. 16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: suspending an agitation portion of one or more standard laundry profiles of the set of standard laundry profiles.
  17. 17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: suspending a rinse portion of one or more standard laundry profiles of the set of standard laundry profiles.
  18. 18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises closing one or more water supply valves or confirming that the one or more water supply valve is closed.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: verifying a door is closed and locking the door or confirming the door is closed and locked.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates generally to combination washer and dryer laundry appliances, in particular a combination washer and dryer laundry appliance with modified laundry cycle profiles for a moving recreational vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Recreational vehicles (RVs) typically include a washing machine and dryer, for example a combination washer and dryer laundry appliance. When such laundry appliances are used in a stationary RV, laundry profiles similar to those in a land-based laundry appliance installation may be used. Wash, rinse, spin, and dry cycles may be the same, or substantially the same, as those found in a traditional home setting. In some cases, it may be desirable to operate a combination washer and dryer in a moving RV. When moving, a combination washer and dryer may be subject to unpredictable loads, accelerations, and imbalances due to, among other things, road conditions and traffic. Under some conditions in a moving RV, certain laundry operations may result in exaggerated displacements, magnified loads, and splashing of wash fluids, potentially damaging the appliance or the vehicle. It may be desirable to modify or suspend certain cycles or portions of cycles to prevent damage. Consumers may not be aware of the need to suspend or modify laundry operations while the RV is moving or may forget to stop a wash cycle before moving the vehicle. Unintentional operation of a laundry appliance in a moving RV may result in damage to the appliance or vehicle leading to consumer dissatisfaction. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide a laundry appliance with modified laundry profiles to be automatically implemented when the appliance detects motion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. In one exemplary aspect, a laundry appliance is presented, the laundry appliance comprises a tub positioned within a cabinet, a basket supported for rotation within the tub, the basket defining a chamber for receipt of laundry articles for washing or drying, a conditioning system, a recirculating air flow system providing fluid communication between the chamber and the conditioning system, wherein the recirculating air flow system, the conditioning system, and the basket define a process air flow path, and a fan operable to move a flow of process air through the process air flow path. A controller is provided for storing a set of standard laundry profiles, the controller configured to receive an input signal indicating that the laundry appliance is in motion, and implement a responsive action based on the input signal. In another exemplary aspect, a method of operating a laundry appliance is presented. The laundry appliance comprises a tub positioned within a cabinet, a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the basket defining a chamber for receipt of laundry articles for washing or drying, a conditioning system, a recirculating air flow system for providing fluid communication between the chamber and the conditioning system, and a fan operable to move a flow of process air through a process air flow path. The method comprises receiving an input signal indicating that the laundry appliance is in motion, and implementing a responsive action based on the input signal. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. FIG. 1 provides a front perspective view of an exemplary combination washer and dryer laundry appliance in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 provides a side cross-sectional view of the exemplary laundry appliance of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 provides a schematic diagram of an exemplary heat pump dryer appliance and a conditioning system thereof in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of the example laundry appliance of FIG. 1 with a cabinet of the laundry appliance removed to reveal certain components of the dryer appliance; and FIG. 5 illustrates a method for operating a laundry appliance in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.