CPC D06F 25/00 (2013.01) [D06F 37/26 (2013.01); F16K 15/14 (2013.01)] | 17 Claims |
1. A combination washing and drying appliance comprising:
a tub positioned within an outer cabinet;
a rotating drum having a perforated wall, wherein the rotating drum is rotationally operable within the tub;
a blower that delivers process air through an airflow path that includes a processing space within the rotating drum and an interstitial space defined between the tub and the rotating drum; and
an operable vent that is selectively operable between a venting position and a closed position in response to operation of the rotating drum, wherein the operable vent in the venting position defines a passive flow of ambient air between the processing space and an area outside of the tub, and wherein the operable vent is operable to the closed position during a spin function of the rotating drum, wherein the operable vent includes a pitot mechanism that extends from the interstitial space to a diaphragm contained within a valve body, wherein rotation of the rotating drum during the spin function generated a pitot pressure that expands the diaphragm to engage a valve seat of the valve body to define the closed position of the operable vent.
|