Drain pump volute with noise reduction feature

Abstract

A drain pump of a washing appliance includes a volute defined between an inlet and an outlet. The volute defines an axial direction, a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and a circumferential direction extending around the axial direction. The volute further includes a groove formed in an internal surface of an upper portion of the volute. The groove is configured to divert a portion of fluid inside the volute towards the inlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical direction, the lateral direction and the transverse direction are mutually perpendicular, the washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet extending between a top and a bottom along the vertical direction;   a wash tub mounted within the cabinet and configured for containing fluid during operation of the washing machine appliance;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber configured for receiving laundry articles; and   a drain pump positioned below the wash tub along the vertical direction within the cabinet, the drain pump comprising a volute defined between an inlet and an outlet, the volute defining an axial direction, a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and a circumferential direction extending around the axial direction, the volute comprising a groove formed in an internal surface of an upper portion of the volute, the groove configured to divert a portion of fluid inside the volute towards the inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the groove is one of a plurality of grooves, each groove of the plurality of grooves extending generally along the radial direction. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein one or more grooves of the plurality of grooves are positioned in an upstream side of the volute away from the discharge side. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein one or more grooves of the plurality of grooves are positioned in a discharge side of the volute. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a circumferential channel extending around the internal surface of the upper portion of the volute along the circumferential direction, the circumferential channel in fluid communication with the groove. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the circumferential channel extends across an upstream side of the volute. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the circumferential channel extends fully around the volute. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the groove is in fluid communication with a linear channel in the outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the groove is positioned on a discharge side of the volute and in direct fluid communication with the linear channel in the outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a circumferential channel extending around the internal surface of the upper portion of the volute along the circumferential direction, wherein the groove is one of a plurality of grooves, each groove of the plurality of grooves extending generally along the radial direction, and the circumferential channel is in fluid communication with each groove of the plurality of grooves. 
     
     
         11 . A drain pump of a washing appliance, the drain pump comprising:
 a volute defined between an inlet and an outlet, the volute defining an axial direction, a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and a circumferential direction extending around the axial direction, the volute further comprising:
 a groove formed in an internal surface of an upper portion of the volute; 
 wherein the groove is configured to divert a portion of fluid inside the volute towards the inlet. 
   
     
     
         12 . The drain pump of  claim 11 , wherein the groove is one of a plurality of grooves, each groove of the plurality of grooves extending generally along the radial direction. 
     
     
         13 . The drain pump of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of grooves are positioned in an upstream side of the volute away from the discharge side. 
     
     
         14 . The drain pump of  claim 12 , wherein one or more grooves of the plurality of grooves are positioned in a discharge side of the volute. 
     
     
         15 . The drain pump of  claim 11 , further comprising a circumferential channel extending around the internal surface of the upper portion of the volute along the circumferential direction, the circumferential channel in fluid communication with the groove. 
     
     
         16 . The drain pump of  claim 15 , wherein the circumferential channel extends across a suction side of the volute. 
     
     
         17 . The drain pump of  claim 15 , wherein the circumferential channel extends fully around the volute. 
     
     
         18 . The drain pump of  claim 11 , wherein the groove is in fluid communication with a linear channel in the outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The drain pump of  claim 18 , wherein the groove is positioned on a discharge side of the volute and in direct fluid communication with the linear channel in the outlet. 
     
     
         20 . The drain pump of  claim 11 , further comprising a circumferential channel extending around the internal surface of the upper portion of the volute along the circumferential direction, wherein the groove is one of a plurality of grooves, each groove of the plurality of grooves extending generally along the radial direction, and the circumferential channel is in fluid communication with each groove of the plurality of grooves.