US 7,481,080 B2
Clothes washer braking method and apparatus
Christopher Gregory Hoppe, Louisville, Ky. (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, N.Y. (US)
Filed on Jul. 01, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/882,368.
Prior Publication US 2006/0000031 A1, Jan. 05, 2006
Int. Cl. D06F 33/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 68—12.16  [68/12.01; 68/12.19; 68/12.14; 68/12.15] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A washing machine comprising:
a tub comprising a bottom wall defining a cavity, said cavity configured to retain a portion of a wash liquid as the wash liquid is drained from said tub;
a basket rotatably mounted within said tub, said basket rotatable around a vertical axis;
a multi speed drive system coupled to said basket, said drive system configured to rotate said basket at a plurality of speeds;
a brake system coupled to said basket, said brake system configured to brake the rotation of said basket;
at least one resistive heater element mounted in said cavity; and
an inverter coupled to said drive system, said brake system, and said at least one resistive heater element, said inverter configured to divert energy to said at least one resistive heater element, and said at least one resistive heater element configured to dissipate the diverted energy into the portion of the wash liquid within said cavity.