Heat pipe assembly for dissipating heat in a drain pump

Abstract

A washing machine appliance is provided including a sump for collecting wash fluid and a pump assembly fluidly coupled to the sump for urging a flow of wash fluid. The pump assembly includes a pump housing, a pump impeller, and a drive motor for selectively rotating the pump impeller. A heat pipe assembly extends between the drive motor and the flow of wash fluid to transfer thermal energy generated by the motor to the wash fluid. For example, an evaporator section of the heat pipe may be in direct contact with the drive motor and a condenser section of the heat pipe may be positioned within pump housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a sump for collecting wash fluid;   a pump assembly in fluid communication with the sump for selectively urging a flow of wash fluid from the sump; and   a heat pipe assembly providing thermal communication between the pump assembly and the flow of wash fluid for transferring thermal energy from the pump assembly to the flow of wash fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe assembly comprises:
 an evaporator section positioned at one end of the heat pipe assembly; and   a condenser section positioned at an opposite end of the heat pipe assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe assembly comprises a plurality of heat pipes. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the pump assembly comprises:
 a pump housing;   a pump impeller rotatably mounted within the pump housing; and   a drive motor for selectively rotating the pump impeller to urge the flow of wash fluid within the pump housing.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the heat pipe is molded into the pump housing. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the drive motor is positioned below the pump housing along a vertical direction. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the evaporator section of the heat pipe assembly is positioned in direct contact with a winding of the drive motor. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the evaporator section of the heat pipe assembly is positioned in direct contact with a lamination core of the drive motor. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the condenser section of the heat pipe assembly is positioned within the pump housing. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the condenser section of the heat pipe assembly is positioned in a discharge conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the condenser section of the heat pipe assembly is positioned around the pump impeller. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the condenser section of the heat pipe assembly is positioned between the pump impeller and the drive motor. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the condenser section of the heat pipe assembly comprises a loop of pipe that extends around the pump housing within a radial plane. 
     
     
         14 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a sump for collecting wash fluid;   a pump housing in fluid communication with the sump;   a pump impeller rotatably mounted within the pump housing;   a drive motor for selectively rotating the pump impeller to urge a flow of wash fluid within the pump housing; and   a heat pipe assembly comprising an evaporator section and a condenser section, the heat pipe assembly providing thermal communication between the drive motor and the flow of wash fluid.   
     
     
         15 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the evaporator section is positioned in direct contact with a winding or a lamination core of the drive motor. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the condenser section is positioned within the pump housing. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the condenser section is positioned in a discharge conduit. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the condenser section is positioned around the pump impeller. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the condenser section comprises a loop of pipe that extends around the pump housing within a radial plane.