Process air vent for laundry appliance

Abstract

A laundry appliance includes a cabinet, a tub positioned within the cabinet, and a basket supported for rotation within the tub. The laundry appliance includes a recirculating air flow system having a fan fluidly coupled to the tub and a vent tube with a first end fluidly coupled to a pressure side of the fan and a second end of the vent tube in fluid communication with an external atmosphere.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry appliance defining a vertical, a lateral, and a transverse direction, the laundry appliance comprising:
 a cabinet comprising a front panel, the front panel defining an opening;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a basket supported for rotation within the tub and accessible through the opening;   a recirculating air flow system comprising a fan fluidly coupled to the tub; and   a vent tube having a first end fluidly coupled to a pressure side of the fan;   wherein a second end of the vent tube is in fluid communication with an external atmosphere.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel comprises a recessed portion and the second end of the vent tube is disposed in the recessed portion. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the second end of the vent tube terminates in a diffuser. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry appliance of  claim 2 , further comprising a door assembly mounted to the cabinet and being rotatable between an open position allowing access to the opening and a closed position blocking access to the opening;
 wherein, in the closed position, the second end of the vent tube is covered by a portion of the door assembly and the recessed portion of the front panel and the portion of the door assembly covering the vent tube cooperate to form a ventilation gap.   
     
     
         5 . The laundry appliance of  claim 4  wherein the ventilation gap facilitates a flow of air from the vent tube into the external atmosphere away from the cabinet. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the recirculating air flow system further comprises a heat exchanger having an evaporator and a condenser. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the tub and the recirculating air flow system cooperate to provide an air flow path including the basket, the heat exchanger, the fan, and the basket. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry appliance of  claim 6 , wherein a flow of recirculating process air follows the air flow path through the evaporator, the condenser, the fan, and the basket. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the evaporator extracts heat energy and moisture from the flow of recirculating process air, the condenser adds heat energy to the flow of recirculating process air, and the fan urges the flow of recirculating process air. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry appliance of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of the flow of recirculating process air flows through the vent tube to the external atmosphere. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the vent tube is fluidly coupled to the pressure side of the fan at a fan housing. 
     
     
         12 . A combination washer/dryer laundry appliance defining a vertical, a lateral, and a transverse direction, the combination laundry appliance comprising:
 a cabinet comprising a front panel, the front panel defining an opening;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a basket supported for rotation within the tub and accessible through the opening;   a recirculating air flow system comprising a fan fluidly coupled to the tub; and   a vent tube having a first end fluidly coupled to a pressure side of the fan;   wherein a second end of the vent tube is in fluid communication with an external atmosphere.   
     
     
         13 . The combination washer/dryer laundry appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the front panel comprises a recessed portion and the second end of the vent tube is disposed in the recessed portion. 
     
     
         14 . The combination washer/dryer laundry appliance of  claim 12 , further comprising a door assembly mounted to the cabinet and being rotatable between an open position allowing access to the opening and a closed position blocking access to the opening; wherein, in the closed position, the second end of the vent tube is covered by a portion of the door assembly and the recessed portion of the front panel and the portion of the door assembly covering the vent tube cooperate to form a ventilation gap. 
     
     
         15 . The combination washer/dryer laundry appliance of  claim 14  wherein the ventilation gap facilitates a flow of air from the vent tube into the external atmosphere away from the cabinet. 
     
     
         16 . The combination washer/dryer laundry appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the recirculating air flow system further comprises a heat exchanger having an evaporator and a condenser. 
     
     
         17 . The combination washer/dryer laundry appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the tub and the recirculating air flow system cooperate to provide an air flow path including the basket, the heat exchanger, the fan, and the basket. 
     
     
         18 . The combination washer/dryer laundry appliance of  claim 16 , wherein:
 a flow of recirculating process air follows the air flow path through the evaporator, the condenser, the fan, and the basket; and   wherein the evaporator extracts heat energy and moisture from the flow of recirculating process air, the condenser adds heat energy to the flow of recirculating process air, and the fan urges the flow of recirculating process air.   
     
     
         19 . The combination washer/dryer laundry appliance of  claim 18 , wherein a portion of the flow of recirculating process air flows through the vent tube to the external atmosphere. 
     
     
         20 . The combination washer/dryer laundry appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the first end of the vent tube is fluidly coupled to the pressure side of the fan at a fan housing.