US 11,668,040 B2
Structural block for supporting a rotating drum within a laundry appliance
Nicholas C. Fugal, Benton Harbor, MI (US); Bradley D. Morrow, Stevensville, MI (US); Joseph C. O'Connor, Benton Harbor, MI (US); Prabhath KV, Nellore (IN); Jason S. Sabel, Berrien Springs, MI (US); Christine L. Strain, Stevensville, MI (US); Meredith A. Wagner, St. Joseph, MI (US); and Robert C. Williams, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 24, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/102,775.
Application 17/102,775 is a continuation of application No. 15/827,700, filed on Nov. 30, 2017, granted, now 10,907,293.
Prior Publication US 2021/0079580 A1, Mar. 18, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. D06F 37/40 (2006.01); D06F 23/04 (2006.01); D06F 37/12 (2006.01); D06F 37/26 (2006.01)
CPC D06F 37/40 (2013.01) [D06F 23/04 (2013.01); D06F 37/12 (2013.01); D06F 37/262 (2013.01); D06F 37/264 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A laundry appliance comprising:
a rotating drum that receives laundry to be treated;
a drive shaft that operates about a rotational axis and is operationally coupled to the rotating drum at a base;
a coupler disposed within an upper portion of the base and that rests upon the drive shaft in a rotationally fixed engagement to transfer rotational forces from the drive shaft to the rotating drum;
a lower portion of the base; and
a lower plate that is spaced apart from the coupler and disposed within the lower portion of the base to form a hollow space between the base and the drive shaft, wherein the lower plate includes a central bore having a smooth circular inner bore that engages a smooth outer surface of the drive shaft in surface-to-surface engagement to resist only moment forces that are exerted against the drive shaft in an off-axis direction relative to the rotational axis, and wherein the coupler provides rotational and axial support to the base relative to the drive shaft.