Laundry appliance including a filtering agitator having an internal fluid pumping structure

Abstract

A washing appliance includes a tub positioned within an outer cabinet. A rotating drum rotates within the tub. A fluid flow path directs fluid through the tub and the drum. A rotator selectively rotates relative to the drum to generate at least a toroidal flow of the wash fluid through the drum and a supplemental flow of the wash fluid through a filter assembly positioned within the rotator.

1 . A rotating assembly for an appliance, the rotating assembly comprising:
 an impeller positioned within a processing space and configured to rotate to generate at least a toroidal flow of wash fluid through the processing space; and   a filter assembly having a ring that includes a side aperture and a cap member, the filter assembly selectively positioned within the impeller, wherein the impeller is further configured to rotate to generate a supplemental flow of the wash fluid through the filter assembly, wherein the supplemental flow of the wash fluid is directed through a top aperture of the impeller and through the filter assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The rotating assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the impeller includes a plurality of fluid outlets that are defined within a base of the impeller, wherein the plurality of fluid outlets direct the supplemental flow of the wash fluid through the base and a plurality of respective flow outlets. 
     
     
         3 . The rotating assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly includes a filter member, and wherein the filter member and the cap member are removable from the impeller. 
     
     
         4 . The rotating assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly includes a mesh filter. 
     
     
         5 . The rotating assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly is disposed within a filtration chamber, wherein the filtration chamber extends to a plurality of flow channels that are positioned proximate a plurality of external vanes of the impeller. 
     
     
         6 . The rotating assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly is selectively removable from the impeller via the top aperture of the impeller. 
     
     
         7 . A rotating assembly for a washing appliance, the rotating assembly comprising:
 an agitator having a stem, a base, and an interior set of ribs, wherein selective rotation of the agitator relative to a processing space is configured to generate a toroidal flow of wash fluid and a supplemental flow of the wash fluid through the processing space; and   a filter assembly that is removably positioned within the stem of the agitator, wherein the agitator includes a plurality of fluid outlets that are defined within the base of the agitator and that direct the supplemental flow of the wash fluid through the base and to an underside of the agitator, and wherein rotation of the agitator causes the interior set of ribs to produce a suction that generates the supplemental flow of the wash fluid through the filter assembly and through the plurality of fluid outlets.   
     
     
         8 . The rotating assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the agitator includes a plurality of external vanes and the interior set of ribs, wherein the plurality of external vanes and the interior set of ribs produce the toroidal flow of the wash fluid within the processing space and the supplemental flow of the wash fluid through the filter assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The rotating assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the supplemental flow of the wash fluid is directed through an exterior wall of the stem and through the filter assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The rotating assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the filter assembly includes a rigid filter member having a plurality of perforations. 
     
     
         11 . The rotating assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the filter assembly includes a side access aperture that provides access to the rigid filter member, the side access aperture configured to allow for extraction of captured particulate material from the filter assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The rotating assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of fluid outlets are aligned with the plurality of external vanes, respectively. 
     
     
         13 . A rotating assembly for a washing appliance, the rotating assembly comprising:
 an impeller having a base, wherein selective rotation of the impeller relative to a processing space is configured to generate a toroidal flow of wash fluid through the processing space; and   a filter assembly that is removably positioned within a top aperture of the base of the impeller, wherein the selective rotation of the impeller is further configured to generate a supplemental flow of the wash fluid through the filter assembly, wherein the impeller includes a plurality of fluid outlets that are defined within the base of the impeller, wherein the plurality of fluid outlets direct the supplemental flow of the wash fluid through the base, and wherein the plurality of fluid outlets are positioned within a medial portion of the base between a plurality of external vanes of the impeller.   
     
     
         14 . The rotating assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the supplemental flow of wash fluid exits the impeller via respective slots that are defined within the base of the impeller. 
     
     
         15 . The rotating assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of fluid outlets direct the supplemental flow of the wash fluid through the base and to a plurality of respective flow outlets that are defined within the impeller. 
     
     
         16 . The rotating assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the filter assembly includes a filter member and a cap member, and wherein the filter member and the cap member are removable from the impeller. 
     
     
         17 . The rotating assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the filter assembly includes a mesh filter. 
     
     
         18 . The rotating assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the filter assembly is disposed within a filtration chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The rotating assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the filtration chamber extends to a plurality of flow channels that are positioned proximate the plurality of external vanes of the impeller. 
     
     
         20 . The rotating assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the filter assembly is selectively removable from the impeller via the top aperture of the base.