US-12624491-B2 - Microparticle filtration detection for a laundry appliance

Abstract

A laundry appliance includes a filter that accumulates microparticles in a fluid path, a pressure sensor having a membrane that moves from an initial position toward a saturated position in response to the accumulation of the microparticles, an arm operably coupled with the pressure sensor, and a retention feature interposing the arm and the filter to operably couple the pressure sensor with the filter, wherein the retention feature maintains the membrane in the saturated position in response a threshold saturation of the filter with the microparticles.

Inventors

• Riccardo Catanzani
• Giacomo Marvardi
• Omar Rachid Murad
• Guglielmo Roelfsema

Assignees

• WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240110

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A laundry appliance, comprising: a filter that accumulates microparticles in a fluid path; a pressure sensor having a membrane that moves from an initial position toward a saturated fluid impeding position in response to the accumulation of the microparticles; an engaging arm operably coupled with the pressure sensor; and a retention feature that includes the engaging arm, the engaging arm selectively engaging a portion of the filter in the saturated fluid impeding position, the retention feature interposing the engaging arm and the filter to operably couple the pressure sensor with the filter, wherein the engaging arm of the retention feature maintains the membrane in the saturated fluid impeding position in response to a threshold saturation of the filter with the microparticles.
2. 2 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the retention feature includes a shaft coupled with the engaging arm and a pin coupled with the filter, the shaft defining a notch configured to receive the pin to maintain the membrane in the saturated fluid impeding position.
3. 3 . The laundry appliance of claim 2 , further comprising a spring configured to bias the pin against the shaft.
4. 4 . The laundry appliance of claim 3 , further comprising an electrical switch engaged by the shaft in the initial position that closes a filter detection circuit.
5. 5 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor includes a housing that defines a chamber and a hole in communication with the chamber, wherein the engaging arm extends through the hole and operably couples with the membrane.
6. 6 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , further comprising: a tub positioned within an outer cabinet; a door having a lock for opening of the door; a drum that is rotationally operable within the tub; and a fluid pump that directs a process fluid through the fluid path that includes the tub.
7. 7 . The laundry appliance of claim 6 , further comprising: a controller configured to operate at least the drum and the fluid pump in response to an enable signal that allows for initiation of an operational cycle, and wherein the absence of the enable signal prevents initiation of the operational cycle.
8. 8 . The laundry appliance of claim 7 , further comprising: a lock detection circuit that monitors the lock and selectively communicates the enable signal.
9. 9 . The laundry appliance of claim 8 , further comprising: a filter detection circuit monitoring the filter and electrically interposing the lock detection circuit and the controller.
10. 10 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the fluid path is configured to direct air having the microparticles through the filter.
11. 11 . The laundry appliance of claim 10 , wherein the pressure sensor includes a housing that defines a chamber and a hole in communication with the chamber, wherein the engaging arm extends through the hole and operably couples with the membrane.
12. 12 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the filter is selectively removable from the fluid path.
13. 13 . A laundry appliance, comprising: a tub positioned within an outer cabinet; a drum that is rotationally operable within the tub; a fluid pump that directs a process fluid through a fluid path that includes the tub; and a filter that accumulates microparticles in the fluid path; a pressure sensor having a membrane that moves from an initial position in response to the accumulation of the microparticles; an engaging arm operably coupled with the pressure sensor; and a retention feature that includes the engaging arm, the engaging arm selectively engaging a portion of the filter in the saturated fluid impeding position, the retention feature interposing the arm and the filter to operably couple the pressure sensor with the filter, wherein the engaging arm of the retention feature maintains the membrane away from the initial position in response to the accumulation of the microparticles within the filter.
14. 14 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the retention feature includes a shaft coupled with the engaging arm and a pin coupled with the filter, the shaft defining a notch configured to receive the pin to maintain the membrane in the saturated fluid impeding position.
15. 15 . The laundry appliance of claim 14 , further comprising a spring configured to bias the pin against the shaft.
16. 16 . The laundry appliance of claim 15 , further comprising an electrical switch engaged by the shaft in the initial position that closes a filter detection circuit.
17. 17 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , further comprising: a controller configured to operate at least the drum and the fluid pump in response to an enable signal that allows for initiation of an operational cycle, and wherein the absence of the enable signal prevents initiation of the operational cycle.
18. 18 . The laundry appliance of claim 17 , further comprising: a door having a lock; and a lock detection circuit that monitors the lock and selectively communicates the enable signal.
19. 19 . The laundry appliance of claim 18 , further comprising: a filter detection circuit monitoring the filter and electrically interposing the lock detection circuit and the controller.
20. 20 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the filter is selectively removable from the fluid path.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/440,472, filed on Jan. 23, 2023, entitled MICROFIBER FILTRATION ASSEMBLY FOR A LAUNDRY APPLIANCE AND A LAUNDRY APPLIANCE INCORPORATING THE SAME, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/454,781, filed Mar. 27, 2023, entitled MICROFIBER FILTRATION DETECTION FOR A LAUNDRY APPLIANCE, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The device generally relates to microparticle filtration for a laundry appliance and, more specifically, relates to sensors for detecting accumulation of microparticles on fine-particle filters for laundry appliances. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a laundry appliance includes a controller configured to operate the laundry appliance in response to an enable signal, a lock detection circuit that monitors a lock of a door for the laundry appliance, the lock detection circuit configured to selectively communicate the enable signal, a filter detection circuit electrically interposing the lock detection circuit and the controller and monitoring a filter of the laundry appliance, and a bypass circuit electrically interposing the lock detection circuit and the controller, wherein the lock detection circuit is configured to communicate the enable signal to the controller via the filter detection circuit when the door is unlocked, and further configured to communicate the enable signal via the bypass circuit when the door is locked. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a laundry appliance includes a tub positioned within an outer cabinet, a drum that is rotationally operable within the tub, a fluid pump that directs a process fluid through a fluid path that includes the tub, and a filter that accumulates microparticles in the fluid path, a pressure sensor having a membrane that moves from an initial position in response to the accumulation of the microparticles, an arm operably coupled with the pressure sensor, and a retention feature interposing the arm and the filter to operably couple the pressure sensor with the filter, wherein the retention feature maintains the membrane away from the initial position in response to the accumulation of the microparticles within the filter. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a filtration assembly for a laundry appliance includes a filter that captures microparticles in a fluid path. A pressure sensor has a membrane that moves from an initial position in response to a decrease in a fluid flow through the filter. An arm is operably coupled with the pressure sensor. A retention feature interposes the arm and the filter to operably couple the pressure sensor with the filter. The retention feature biases or maintains the membrane away from the initial position in response to the decrease in the fluid flow through the filter and the filter remaining in the fluid path. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a laundry appliance includes a tub positioned within an outer cabinet. A drum is rotationally operable within the tub. A fluid pump directs a process fluid through a fluid path that includes the tub. A filtration assembly is in the fluid path and includes a filter that accumulates microparticles in the fluid path. A pressure sensor has a membrane that moves from an initial position in response to the accumulation of the microparticles. An arm operably couples with the pressure sensor. A retention feature interposes the arm and the filter to operably couple the pressure sensor with the filter. The retention feature biases or maintains the membrane away from the initial position in response to the accumulation of the microparticles within the filter. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a filtration assembly for a laundry appliance includes a filter that captures microparticles in a fluid path. A pressure sensor has a housing that defines a chamber and a hole in communication with the chamber. The pressure sensor includes a membrane that is disposed in the housing and moves from an initial position in response to a decrease in a fluid flow through the filter. An arm extends through the passage and is operably coupled with the membrane. A magnetic connection is between the arm and the filter. The magnetic connection biases the membrane away from the initial position in response to the decrease in the fluid flow through the filter and the filter remaining in the fluid path. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a filtration assembly for a laundry appliance includes a filter that captures microparticles in a fluid path. A pressure sensor has a housing that defines a chamber and a hole in communication with the chamber. The pressure sensor includes a membrane that is disposed in the housing and moves from an initial