Washer and dryer combination laundry appliance

Abstract

A laundry appliance including an in-door condensing system with a condenser positioned in an in-door cavity and an in-door bowl that includes both an air inlet and an air outlet that communicate air flow into and out of the in-door cavity. The in-door condensing system including a cooling water line that supplies cooling water to the condenser and a common water drain line that collects cooling water flowing out of the condenser and water condensate from inside the in-door cavity. Quick connect water conduit joints couple the cooling water line and water drain line in the appliance door to corresponding lines in the appliance housing. A temperature sensor for measuring the surface temperature of the drum is protected from steam and splash by an air stream flowing through a sensor air duct and by a sliding sensor cover.

1 - 70 . (canceled) 
     
     
         71 . A laundry appliance, comprising:
 an appliance housing with a front opening that provides access to a laundry compartment located inside said appliance housing;   a front appliance door pivotally mounted with respect to said appliance housing such that said front appliance door is configured to swing between a closed position where said front appliance door closes said front opening in said appliance housing and an open position where said front appliance door is swung away from said front opening;   a bowl mounted to said front appliance door at a location such that at least a portion of said bowl extends into said front opening in said appliance housing when said front appliance door is in said closed position;   an in-door cavity defined between said front appliance door and said bowl; and   an in-door condensing system mounted within said in-door cavity, said in-door condensing system having a condenser positioned in said in-door cavity that includes a water inlet and a water outlet, an air inlet positioned in said bowl to define an air intake flow path along which moist air flows directly from said laundry compartment into said in-door cavity, and an air outlet positioned in said bowl to define a return air flow path along which dry air from inside said in-door cavity flows directly into said laundry compartment.   
     
     
         72 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 71 , wherein said condenser is a tube that extends helically about a coil axis to form multiple windings that are positioned between said water inlet and said water outlet. 
     
     
         73 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 72 , wherein said coil axis is arranged in a substantially vertical orientation. 
     
     
         74 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 72 , wherein each of said windings has a substantially horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         75 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 72 , wherein said front appliance door has an outer door surface and wherein said coil axis is arranged substantially parallel to said outer door surface. 
     
     
         76 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 71 , wherein said condenser is a tube that extends in a flat spiral to form multiple loops that are arranged in a condenser loop plane and that gradually increase in radius. 
     
     
         77 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 76 , wherein said condenser loop plane is arranged in a substantially vertical orientation. 
     
     
         78 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 76 , wherein said front appliance door has an outer door surface and wherein said condenser loop plane is arranged substantially parallel to said outer door surface. 
     
     
         79 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 71 , wherein said in-door condensing system includes a condenser fan positioned in said in-door cavity to draw moist air into said in-door cavity along said air intake flow path and expel dry air from said in-door cavity along said return air flow path. 
     
     
         80 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 79 , further comprising:
 a removable lint screen positioned over said air inlet;   wherein said removable lint screen is retained on said bowl by a retaining feature that allows said removable lint screen to be detached from said bowl.   
     
     
         81 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 80 , wherein said retaining feature is a detachable cover that forms part of said bowl and that includes holes forming said air inlet into said in-door cavity. 
     
     
         82 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 79 , further comprising:
 a partition that extends from said bowl towards said condenser to divide at least part of said in-door cavity into an upper zone and a lower zone;   wherein said air inlet and said air outlet are positioned in different zones of said in-door cavity such that said partition directs airflow inside said in-door cavity past said condenser before exiting through said air outlet.   
     
     
         83 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 79 , further comprising:
 a drying air circulation duct mounted inside said appliance housing and including a duct inlet and a duct outlet that are arranged in fluid communication with said laundry compartment;   a drying air circulation fan mounted inside said drying air circulation duct that is configured to pull air in through said duct inlet and push air out through said duct outlet to generate a drying air circulation flow path through said drying air circulation duct; and   a heater positioned inside said drying air circulation duct for heating air inside said drying air circulation duct upstream of said duct outlet,   wherein said air intake flow path into said in-door cavity and said return air flow path out of said in-door cavity are separate and independent of said drying air circulation flow path.   
     
     
         84 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 71 , wherein said air inlet extends through said bowl at a location that is positioned above said air outlet. 
     
     
         85 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 71 , wherein said air inlet extends through said bowl at a location that is positioned below said air outlet. 
     
     
         86 . A laundry appliance, comprising:
 an appliance housing with a front opening that provides access to a laundry compartment located inside said appliance housing;   a front appliance door pivotally mounted with respect to said appliance housing such that said front appliance door is configured to swing between a closed position where said front appliance door closes said front opening in said appliance housing and an open position where said front appliance door is swung away from said front opening;   a bowl mounted to said front appliance door at a location such that at least a portion of said bowl extends into said front opening in said appliance housing when said front appliance door is in said closed position;   an in-door cavity defined between said front appliance door and said bowl; and   an in-door condensing system mounted within said in-door cavity, said in-door condensing system having a condenser positioned in said in-door cavity that includes a water inlet and a water outlet, a cooling water line that is connected in fluid communication with said water inlet of said condenser, and a water drain line with a drain line inlet that is spaced below said water outlet of said condenser and that is arranged in fluid communication with said in-door cavity such that said water drain line is configured to collect cooling water flowing out of said water outlet of said condenser and water condensate from inside said in-door cavity.   
     
     
         87 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 86 , further comprising:
 a water supply line positioned in said appliance housing;   a water return line positioned in said appliance housing;   a water cooling loop positioned in said appliance housing;   a cold water inlet valve positioned in fluid communication with said water supply line; and   a sump positioned in said appliance housing,   wherein said water supply and return lines are connected in fluid communication with said water cooling loop,   wherein said water return line is arranged to drain into said sump,   wherein said water cooling loop includes a heat exchanger that is configured to cool recirculating water traveling through said water cooling loop from said water return line to said water supply line.   
     
     
         88 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 87 , further comprising:
 a water inlet joint including a first water inlet coupling and a second water inlet coupling that are each connected to one of said water supply line in said appliance housing and said cooling water line in said appliance door; and   a water outlet joint including a first water outlet coupling and a second water outlet coupling that are each connected to one of said water return line in said appliance housing and said water drain line in said front appliance door,   wherein said first and second water inlet couplings are positioned on said appliance housing and said front appliance door to mate with one another and form a fluid tight connection when said front appliance door is in said closed position and disconnect from one another when said front appliance door is swung open towards said open position,   wherein said first and second water outlet couplings are positioned on said appliance housing and said front appliance door to mate with one another and form a fluid tight connection when said front appliance door is in said closed position and disconnect from one another when said front appliance door is swung open towards said open position.   
     
     
         89 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 86 , wherein said condenser is a tube that extends helically about a coil axis to form multiple windings that are positioned between said water inlet and said water outlet and wherein said coil axis is arranged in a substantially vertical orientation. 
     
     
         90 . The laundry appliance as set forth in  claim 86 , wherein said condenser is a tube that extends in a flat spiral to form multiple loops that are arranged in a condenser loop plane and that gradually increase in radius and wherein said condenser loop plane is arranged in a substantially vertical orientation.