Washing Machine Odor Reduction Systems

Abstract

Systems for reducing odors in washing machines such as front-loading washing machines, where a fan draws air from outside the washing machine through an air inlet, circulates the air through a lower portion of the washing machine where it reduces humidity and evaporates stagnant water that has accumulated in the lower portion of the washing machine, and exhausts the air from the washing machine through an air outlet. A check valve may be installed in a water discharge line, either upstream or downstream of a pump, to prevent water from flowing back through the discharge line into the washing machine. Humidity sensors may be provided to measure a humidity internal to and external to the washing machine, and the fan may circulate the air through the lower portion of the washing machine in response to determining that the measured internal humidity exceeds the measured external humidity by a predetermined amount.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a washing machine;   a fan removably installed on the exterior of a housing of the washing machine;   an air inlet in the washing machine; and   an air outlet in the washing machine;   wherein when the washing machine is not in operation, the fan draws air from outside the washing machine through the air inlet, circulates the air through one or more internal portions of the washing machine where the air mixes with higher humidity air caused by evaporating stagnant water that has accumulated in the lower portion of the washing machine, and exhausts the air through the air outlet, thereby lowering the humidity inside the internal portions of the washing machine.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a check valve installed in a water discharge line of the washing machine, wherein the check valve prevents water from flowing through the water discharge line into the lower portion of the washing machine. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a filter installed upstream from the check valve, wherein the filter filters debris from water that passes through the check valve. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the washing machine includes a pump that pumps water through the water discharge line, wherein the pump has a sealed impeller that functions as a check valve which prevents water from flowing through the water discharge line into the lower portion of the washing machine. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the washing machine is a front-loading washing machine. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first humidity sensor which measures a humidity external to the washing machine and a second humidity sensor which measures a humidity internal to the washing machine, wherein the fan circulates the air through the internal portions of the washing machine in response to determining that the internal humidity measured by the second humidity sensor exceeds the external humidity measured by the first humidity sensor by a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fan further circulates the air through a drum therein containing a load of laundry in response to determining that the washing machine has completed a wash cycle and that the load of laundry in the washing machine has not been removed. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the washing machine is configured to, after completion of the wash cycle, rotate the drum containing the load of laundry in response to determining that the washing machine is not in operation and that the load of laundry in the washing machine has not been removed. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an air filter coupled to the air inlet, wherein the air filter filters air drawn from outside the washing machine through the air inlet, wherein the air filter filters the air before the air reaches the fan. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a copper wire coupled to the fan, wherein the fan circulates air drawn from outside the washing machine over the bare copper wire before the air is circulated through the internal portions of the washing machine. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the bare copper wire is grounded. 
     
     
         12 . An improvement to a washing machine, the improvement comprising:
 a dehumidification retrofit kit adapted to be installed on the washing machine, the dehumidification retrofit kit including:   a fan removably installed on the exterior of a housing of a washing machine, wherein the fan is positioned over at least one of an air inlet to the washing machine and an air outlet from the washing machine;   wherein when the washing machine is not in operation, the fan draws air from outside the washing machine through the air inlet, circulates the air through one or more internal portions of the washing machine where the air mixes with higher relativity humidity air caused by evaporating stagnant water that has accumulated in the lower portion of the washing machine, and exhausts the air through the air outlet, thereby lowering the humidity inside the internal portions of the washing machine.   
     
     
         13 . The improvement of  claim 12 , further comprising a check valve installed in a water discharge line of the washing machine, wherein the check valve prevents water from flowing through the discharge line into the lower portion of the washing machine. 
     
     
         14 . The improvement of  claim 13 , wherein the fan has a housing that includes one or more magnets, wherein the magnets attach the fan housing to the washing machine housing. 
     
     
         15 . The improvement of  claim 13 , wherein the fan has a housing that includes a space therein which accommodates a vent cover which is installed over a vent in the washing machine, wherein the fan is attached to the exterior of the housing of the washing machine over the vent cover. 
     
     
         16 . The improvement of  claim 12 , further comprising first and second humidity sensors coupled to the fan, wherein the first humidity sensor measures a humidity external to the washing machine and the second humidity sensor measures a humidity internal to the washing machine, wherein the fan circulates the air through the internal portions of the washing machine in response to determining that the internal humidity measured by the second humidity sensor exceeds the external humidity measured by the first humidity sensor by a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         17 . The improvement of  claim 16 , further comprising a control system configured to periodically turn the fan on for a preset amount of time and compare the internal humidity measured by the second humidity sensor to the external humidity measured by the first humidity sensor, wherein the control system continues to run the fan when the internal humidity exceeds the external humidity by the predetermined amount, and wherein the control system stops the fan when the internal humidity does not exceed the external humidity by the predetermined amount. 
     
     
         18 . The improvement of  claim 12 , further comprising an air filter coupled to the air inlet, wherein the air filter filters air drawn from outside the washing machine through the air inlet. 
     
     
         19 . The improvement of  claim 12 , further comprising a bare copper wire coupled to the fan, wherein the fan circulates air drawn from outside the washing machine over the bare copper wire. 
     
     
         20 . The improvement of  claim 19 , wherein the bare copper wire is grounded.