Washing machine appliance having a selective ventilation damper

Abstract

A washing machine appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a wash basket, a front ventilation line, and a vent damper. The cabinet may include a front panel. The front panel may define an opening and a cabinet aperture spaced apart from the opening. The tub may be positioned within the cabinet. The wash basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The front ventilation line may be in fluid communication with the tub. The front ventilation line may define an air path from an inlet at the cabinet aperture to an outlet in fluid communication with the tub. The vent damper may be positioned along the front ventilation line in fluid communication therewith. The vent damper may be selectively movable between a first position restricting airflow through the front ventilation line and a second position permitting airflow through the front ventilation line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet including a front panel, the front panel defining an opening and a cabinet aperture spaced apart from the opening;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub;   a front ventilation line in fluid communication with the tub, the front ventilation line defining an air path from an inlet at the cabinet aperture to an outlet in fluid communication with the tub; and   a vent damper positioned along the front ventilation line in fluid communication therewith, the vent damper being selectively movable between a first position restricting airflow through the front ventilation line and a second position permitting airflow through the front ventilation line.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the vent damper comprises a non-permeable restrictor plate movably mounted along the front ventilation line to block the air path in the first position. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the vent damper further comprises a resilient foam layer fixed to the non-permeable restrictor plate to seal the air path in the first position. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motor mechanically coupled to the non-permeable restrictor plate; and   a controller in operative communication with the motor, wherein the controller is configured to direct the motor to selectively move the vent damper between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to direct the motor to place the vent damper in the first position in based on a determined noise state. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to direct the motor to place the vent damper in the second position based on a determined noise state. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fan positioned in fluid communication with the front ventilation line to motivate an airflow therethrough.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a door movably attached to the cabinet to move between an open position permitting access to the opening and a closed position restricting access to the opening, the door defining an air aperture in upstream fluid communication with the cabinet aperture in the closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a front baffle extending between the tub and the front panel; and   a door movably attached to the cabinet to move between an open position permitting access to the opening and a closed position restricting access to the opening, the door comprising a central body and a perimeter rim extending outward from the central body, wherein the central body is in selective contact with the front baffle in the closed position, wherein the cabinet aperture is covered within a footprint of the door in the closed position, and wherein the perimeter rim is radially spaced apart from the cabinet aperture in the closed position to permit an ambient airflow to the cabinet aperture.   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a front baffle extending between the tub and the front panel, wherein the front baffle defines the outlet as a radial aperture in fluid communication between the cabinet aperture and the tub.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rear ventilation line in fluid communication with the tub, the rear ventilation line defining an output air path from a ventilation inlet within the cabinet to a ventilation outlet in fluid communication with an ambient environment outside of the cabinet.   
     
     
         12 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet including a front panel, the front panel defining an opening and a cabinet aperture spaced apart from the opening;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub;   a front baffle extending between the tub and the front panel;   a front ventilation line in fluid communication with the tub, the front ventilation line defining an intake air path from an inlet at the cabinet aperture to an outlet defined through the baffle in fluid communication with the tub;   a vent damper positioned along the front ventilation line in fluid communication therewith, the vent damper being selectively movable between a first position restricting airflow through the front ventilation line and a second position permitting airflow through the front ventilation line; and   a rear ventilation line in fluid communication with the tub, the rear ventilation line defining an output air path from a ventilation inlet within the cabinet and to a ventilation outlet above the ventilation inlet in fluid communication with an ambient environment outside of the cabinet.   
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the vent damper comprises a non-permeable restrictor plate movably mounted along the front ventilation line to block the air path in the first position. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the vent damper further comprises a resilient foam layer fixed to the non-permeable restrictor plate to seal the air path in the first position. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a motor mechanically coupled to the non-permeable restrictor plate; and   a controller in operative communication with the motor, wherein the controller is configured to direct the motor to selectively move the vent damper between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         16 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to direct the motor to place the vent damper in the first position based on a determined noise state. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to direct the motor to place the vent damper in the second position based on a determined noise state. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a fan positioned in fluid communication with the front ventilation line to motivate an airflow therethrough.   
     
     
         19 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a door movably attached to the cabinet to move between an open position permitting access to the opening and a closed position restricting access to the opening, the door defining an air aperture in upstream fluid communication with the cabinet aperture in the closed position.   
     
     
         20 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a door movably attached to the cabinet to move between an open position permitting access to the opening and a closed position restricting access to the opening, the door comprising a central body and a perimeter rim extending outward from the central body, wherein the central body is in selective contact with the front baffle in the closed position, wherein the cabinet aperture is covered within a footprint of the door in the closed position, and wherein the perimeter rim is radially spaced apart from the cabinet aperture in the closed position to permit an ambient airflow to the cabinet aperture.