Patent Publication Number: US-10774453-B2

Title: Laundry treating appliance with a static tub and a water trap vapor seal

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional application of and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/156,928, filed Jan. 16, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,896,972, issued Feb. 20, 2018, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/970,733, filed Aug. 20, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,828,714, issued Nov. 28, 2017, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/641,492, filed Mar. 9, 2015, now abandoned, which is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/970,733, filed Aug. 20, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,828,714, issued Nov. 28, 2017. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Laundry treating appliances, such as vertical axis washing machines, typically include a cabinet, a tub in the interior of the cabinet, and a rotatable wash basket mounted in the tub that receives laundry for treatment according to a cycle of operation. The tub may suspend from the cabinet, and may be supported by one or more suspension systems. 
     During the operation of the vertical axis washing machine with the suspended tub, the laundry load may be limited by the wash basket size, which is limited by the adjacent suspending tub. In case the laundry is non-uniformly distributed in the wash basket, an unbalance during the rotation of the wash basket may cause it to deviate off an anticipated rotational orbit, and in extreme cases induce collisions between the wash basket and the tub and/or the tub and the cabinet, based upon the selected basket/tub/cabinet design, such that spin extraction efficiency may be limited. Prior solutions have focused on predicting imbalances, altering the rotation, and applying rebalancers or counterbalancers. 
     Alternatively, vertical axis washing machines may have a static, or fixed, tub attached to the cabinet. The rotatable wash basket may be intercoupled with a rotatable drive shaft, a drive motor, a drive shaft bearing assembly, a transmission, and a support structure, all dynamically isolated from the tub. The support structure may be flexibly suspended from the tub, and may utilize a rubber boot to flexibly connect the support structure to the static tub. The rubber boot may seal wash liquid and vapor inside the washing machine to prevent leakage onto washing machine components and an adjacent support surface such as a floor, carpeting, and the like. While the static tub is beneficial in that it can aid in increasing the capacity of the washing machine, the wash liquid and vapor sealing apparatus may be more costly than non-static tub washing machines. Moreover, the wash liquid and vapor sealing apparatus may also be difficult to incorporate into washing machine components, may have a shorter life cycle than the non-static tub washing machines, and may also interact with the suspension systems, which may contribute to instability, vibration, and noise. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     A washing machine may include a static wash tub, a rotatable vertical axis wash basket in the static wash tub, and a drive motor for rotating the wash basket. A closure may direct wash liquid from the wash basket to a catch basin. A flange may be attached to the closure so that an unattached edge ends within the catch basin. The unattached edge may end below the surface of a first volume of wash liquid to minimize migration of wash liquid and/or vapor from the washing machine. The unattached edge may end above the surface of a second volume of wash liquid less than the first volume to minimize agitation of wash liquid in the catch basin. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a laundry treating appliance with a static wash tub during a wash phase according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a controller of the laundry treating appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a laundry treating appliance with a static wash tub during a wash phase according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the laundry treating appliance with the static wash tub of  FIG. 3  during a spin phase according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a laundry treating appliance with a static wash tub during a wash phase according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the laundry treating appliance of  FIG. 4  during a wash phase according to an exemplary fifth embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an exemplary laundry treating appliance  10  in the form of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the invention. While the laundry treating appliance  10  is illustrated as a vertical axis, top-fill washing machine, the invention may have applicability in other laundry treating appliances, such as a horizontal axis washing machine, a combination laundry treating appliance and dryer, an extractor, a non-aqueous laundry treating appliance, and a tumbling or stationary refreshing/revitalizing machine, for example. 
     The washing machine  10  may include a cabinet or housing  12 , and a static wash tub  14  which is in fixed position with respect to the cabinet  12 . In one example, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the static wash tub  14  may be integrated to the cabinet  12 , and define an interior  16  of the washing machine  10 . By “static wash tub,” it is not necessarily meant that the tub is fixedly integrated to the cabinet  12 . Alternately, the tub  14  may be referred to as the static wash tub as long as the tub  14  is in a fixed position with respect to the cabinet  12 . For example, the static wash tub may be spaced from the cabinet  12  by a predetermined distance. 
     A drum or wash basket  18  may be located within and rotatable relative to the interior  16  of the tub  14  and may define a laundry treating chamber  20  for receiving a laundry load. The wash basket  18  may include one or more drain holes  22  formed on the base portion of the wash basket  18  to discharge the liquid from the wash basket  18  through one or more drain holes  22 . An agitator or clothes mover  24  may be located within the laundry treating chamber  20  and rotatable relative to and/or with the wash basket  18 . For example, the agitator  24  may be commonly oscillated or rotated about its axis of rotation during a cycle of operation in order to provide movement to the fabric load contained within the laundry treating chamber  20 . A balance ring  26  may be coupled to a top portion of the wash basket  18  for eliminating unbalance from the rotation of laundry items that are non-uniformly distributed in the wash basket  18 . 
     An electric motor assembly  28  may be provided to drive the wash basket  18  and/or the agitator  24 . The electric motor assembly  28  may include a motor  29 , a transmission  30 , a shaft  32 , a motor housing  33 , and a transmission housing  34 . The electric motor assembly  28  may be operably connected to the wash basket  18  and/or the agitator  24 . For example, the shaft  32  may be rotatably coupled to the agitator  24 . The motor housing  33  may include a flange-like drip loop  35  to divert moisture that may otherwise interfere with the motor  29 , particularly a rotor. The drip loop  35  may be incorporated into the motor housing  33 , or may be attached to a bearing housing element  48  immediately above the motor housing  33 . The drip loop  35  may extend to a suitable termination elevation, e.g. termination just below the motor housing  33 . 
     The top of the cabinet  12  may include a selectively openable lid  36  to provide access into the laundry treating chamber  20  through the open top of the wash basket  18 . 
     A liquid trap system may be provided to the interior  16  of the washing machine  10  for controlling the flow of liquid such as water or a combination of water and one or more treating chemistries from impacting the electric motor assembly  28 . A bearing housing  38  may be provided to the interior  16  of the washing machine  10  for protection of the electric motor assembly  28  from moisture, and controlling the flow of liquid from the wash basket  18  to the exterior to the bearing housing  38 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the bearing housing  38  may be positioned under the wash basket  18 , i.e. around the transmission housing  34 , above the motor housing  33 , and within the static wash tub  14 , to direct the flow of liquid from the wash basket  18  to the perimeter of the bearing housing  38 . 
     A first bearing  40  may be positioned above the motor assembly  28 , and a second bearing  42  may be positioned between the transmission housing  34  and the motor housing  33 . The bearings  40 ,  42  may be coupled with a first bearing housing element  46  and a second bearing housing element  48 , respectively, to define the bearing housing  38 . The bearings  40 ,  42 , along with the bearing housing elements  46 ,  48 , may define a structure having suitable strength for support of the motor assembly  28 , shaft  32 , and associated components. The bearing housing elements  46 ,  48  may be fabricated of stainless steel, or a suitable high strength plastic. The first bearing housing element  46  may include openings therethrough (not shown) to enable air circulation through the interior of the bearing housing  38  for cooling of the motor  29 . The motor housing  33  may be suspended from the first bearing housing element  46  by coupling the motor housing  33  with the second bearing housing element  48  through a suitable housing coupler  52 . Alternatively, the motor housing  33  may be integrated during fabrication into the second bearing housing element  48 . 
     Alternative motor assemblies with differing configurations than illustrated in the drawings may be used. For example, a direct drive motor with an exterior rotor and an interior stator may be used with or without a transmission, based upon clearance requirements beneath the motor assembly. The stator may be attached to the second bearing housing element  48 , with the rotor rotating around the stator. Or the stator may be attached to the motor housing  33 , with the motor housing  33  attached to the second bearing housing element  48 . 
     The bearing housing elements  46 ,  48  may be part of an assembly for attenuating the vibration generated from the operation of the rotatable wash basket  18 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , one end portion of a first bearing housing element  46  may downwardly extend from the first bearing  40  to form a slanted plane. One end portion of a second bearing housing element  48  may be coupled to and extend from the second bearing  42  to form an upwardly slanted plane. The other end portions of the first and second bearing housing elements  46 ,  48  may be coupled to a seal  50  such as a labyrinth seal. The bearing housing elements  46 ,  48  may selectively provide moisture protection to the motor assembly  28 . 
     The bearing housing  38  may also include a closure  51  extending generally from the first bearing  40  for coupling with the labyrinth seal  50 . The closure  51  may be an annular, somewhat bowl-shaped body having a raised center, positioned above the first and second bearing housing elements  46 ,  48 , with one or more drain ports  54  at a lower annular portion. From the lower annular portion (associated with the drain ports  54 ), the closure  51  may extend upwardly to transition to a radially outwardly directed circumferential mounting flange  56 . The mounting flange  56  may be coupled to a suspension system  58  that may comprise a rod  59 , cap  60 , elastic spring  62 , and damper  64 . The closure  51  may provide moisture protection for the motor assembly  28 , and may be fabricated of stainless steel or high strength plastic. 
     A plurality of suspension systems  58  may be provided in the interior  16  of the washing machine  10  for damping the vibrations generated during the rotational movement of the wash basket  18 . The suspension system  58  may be operably coupled to the cabinet  12  via the rod  59 . A flexure element  65  may downwardly extend from the damper  64  to operably couple the suspension system  58  to one of the first and second bearing housing elements  46 ,  48  via the seal  50  for damping the vibrations from the first and second bearing housing elements  46 ,  48 . The flexure element  65  may be made of metallic material, and may be in the form of a rod, plate, spring, or the like. The closure  51 , mounting flange  56 , and flexure element  65  may comprise a single integrated component. 
     A catch basin  66  may be fixedly positioned in the lower portion of the cabinet  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the catch basin  66  may have walls for accommodating a predetermined amount of wash liquid draining from the wash basket  18 . The catch basin  66  may be positioned underneath the bearing housing  38 , and the position of the catch basin  66  may be determined such that the catch basin  66  may receive the liquid flowing downwardly by gravity through the drain ports  54 . The catch basin  66  may include first and second walls  67 ,  68 , with the second wall  68  sealably coupled to the static wash tub  14  for preventing the leak of wash liquid and/or vapor through the gap between the second wall  68  and the static wash tub  14 . While the catch basin  66  may be located within the interior of the cabinet  12 , it may be understood that positioning the catch basin  66  exterior of the cabinet  12  may also be possible in another embodiment. 
     The catch basin  66  may be provided with a liquid level sensor for determining the liquid height in the catch basin  66 . The catch basin  66  may also be provided with a turbidity sensor for determining the turbidity of the wash liquid received in the catch basin  66 . 
     A spraying system may be provided to supply the liquid, such as water or a combination of water and one or more treating chemistries into the open top of the wash basket  18 . The spraying system may be configured to recirculate wash liquid from the catch basin  66 , and spray it onto the laundry via a recirculation conduit  80  and a sprayer  76 . The nature of the spraying system is not germane to the invention, and thus any suitable spraying system may be used with the washing machine  10 . 
     A dispensing system may be provided to the washing machine  10  for supplying treating chemistry to the treating chamber  20  according to a cycle of operation. The dispensing system may include a detergent dispenser  82  which may be a single use dispenser, a bulk dispenser or a combination of a single use and bulk dispenser. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the detergent dispenser  82  may be positioned within the static wash tub  14 , and may be disposed vertically above the catch basin  66  for providing one or more treating chemistries to the catch basin  66  by gravity according to a cycle of operation. The detergent dispenser  82  may include a conduit with a predetermined dimension for guiding the supply of one or more treating chemistries to the catch basin  66 . The treating chemistries may be in the form of at least one of liquid, powder, pod, compressed puck, or combination thereof. 
     The treating chemistries may be provided without being mixed with wash liquid from the recirculation conduit  80  or water from the household water supply  78 . In another embodiment, the detergent dispenser  82  may be operably configured to dispense a treating chemistry mixed with water supplied from the household water supply  78  through the sprayer  76 . The sprayer  76  may be configured to dispense the treating chemistry into the treating chamber  20  in a desired pattern and under a desired amount of pressure. For example, the sprayer  76  may be configured to dispense a flow or stream of treating chemistry into the tub  14  by gravity, i.e. a non-pressurized stream. 
     Non-limiting examples of suitable dispensers are disclosed in U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0000022 to Hendrickson et al., filed Jul. 1, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,196,441, issued Jun. 12, 2012, entitled “Household Cleaning Appliance with a Dispensing System Operable Between a Single Use Dispensing System and a Bulk Dispensing System,” U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0000024 to Hendrickson et al., filed Jul. 1, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,388,695, issued Mar. 5, 2013, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Controlling Laundering Cycle by Sensing Wash Aid Concentration,” U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0000573 to Hendrickson et al., filed Jul. 1, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,397,328, issued Mar. 19, 2013, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Controlling Concentration of Wash Aid in Wash Liquid,” U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0000581 to Doyle et al., filed Jul. 1, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,813,526, issued Aug. 26, 2014, entitled “Water Flow Paths in a Household Cleaning Appliance with Single Use and Bulk Dispensing,” U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0000264 to Luckman et al., filed Jul. 1, 2008, now abandoned, entitled “Method for Converting a Household Cleaning Appliance with a Non-Bulk Dispensing System to a Household Cleaning Appliance with a Bulk Dispensing System,” U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0000586 to Hendrickson, filed Jun. 23, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,397,544, issued Mar. 19, 2013, entitled “Household Cleaning Appliance with a Single Water Flow Path for Both Non-Bulk and Bulk Dispensing,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/093,132, filed Apr. 25, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,438,881, issued May 14, 2013, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Dispensing Treating Chemistry in a Laundry Treating Appliance,” all of which are herein incorporated by reference in full. 
     Non-limiting examples of treating chemistries that may be dispensed by the dispensing system during a cycle of operation include one or more of the following: water, surfactants, enzymes, fragrances, stiffness/sizing agents, wrinkle releasers/reducers, softeners, antistatic or electrostatic agents, stain repellants, water repellants, energy reduction/extraction aids, antibacterial agents, medicinal agents, vitamins, moisturizers, shrinkage inhibitors, and color fidelity agents, and combinations thereof. 
     A recirculation and drain system may be provided to the laundry treating appliance  10  for recirculating liquid within and/or draining liquid from the laundry treating appliance  10 . A pump  84  may be housed below the bearing housing  38 . The pump  84  may have an inlet  86  fluidly coupled to the sump  66  and an outlet  88  configured to fluidly couple to a recirculation conduit  80  and a drain conduit  90 . It is understood that the pump  84  may be configured to switch the pumping direction by operating the motor coupled to the pump  84  in the reverse direction. 
     Alternatively, two separate pumps, such as a recirculation pump and a drain pump, may be used instead of the single pump as previously described, in which case, at least one of the recirculation pump or the drain pump may be fluidly coupled to a drain conduit  90  for flushing the liquid out of the washing machine  10  according to a treating cycle of operation. It is understood that the recirculation pump, similar to the pump  84 , may be configured to switch the pumping direction by operating the motor in the reverse direction. 
     Additionally, the spraying system, the dispensing system, and the recirculation and drain system may differ from the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , such as by inclusion of other valves, conduits, treating chemistry dispensers, sensors and the like, to control the flow of liquid through the washing machine  10  and for the introduction of more than one type of treating chemistries. 
     As used herein, the term “wash liquid” refers to water or a combination of water and one or more treating chemistries such as those capable of generating suds. The terms “rinse liquid” and “rinse water” are interchangeable and refer to water supplied from the household water supply  78  that has not been mixed with a treating chemistries prior to being applied to the laundry. 
     The washing machine  10  also includes a control system for controlling the operation of the washing machine  10  to implement one or more cycles of operation. The control system may include a controller  92  and a user interface  94  that is operably coupled with the controller  92 . The user interface  94  may include one or more knobs, dials, switches, displays, touch screens and the like for communicating with the user, such as to receive input and provide output. The user may enter different types of information including, without limitation, cycle selection and cycle parameters, such as cycle options. 
     The controller  92  may include the machine controller and any additional controllers provided for controlling any of the components of the washing machine  10 . For example, the controller  92  may include the machine controller and a motor controller. Many known types of controllers may be used for the controller  92 . The specific type of controller is not germane to the invention. It is contemplated that the controller  92  is a microprocessor-based controller that implements control software and sends/receives one or more electrical signals to/from each of the various working components to effect the control software. As an example, proportional control (P), proportional integral control (PI), and proportional derivative control (PD), or a combination thereof, a proportional integral derivative control (PID control), may be used to control the various components. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the controller  92  may be provided with a memory  96  and a central processing unit (CPU)  98 . The memory  96  may be used for storing the control software that is executed by the CPU  98  in implementing a cycle of operation using the washing machine  10  and any additional software. Examples, without limitation, of cycles of operation include: wash, heavy duty wash, delicate wash, quick wash, pre-wash, refresh, rinse only, and timed wash. A common wash cycle includes a wash phase, a rinse phase, and a spin extraction phase. Other phases for cycles of operation include, but are not limited to, intermediate extraction phases, such as between the wash and rinse phases, and a pre-wash phase preceding the wash phase, and some cycles of operation include only a select one or more of these exemplary phases. 
     The memory  96  may also be used to store information, such as a database or table, and to store data received from one or more components of the washing machine  10  that may be communicably coupled with the controller  92 . The database or table may be used to store the various operating parameters for the one or more cycles of operation, including factory default values for the operating parameters and any adjustments to them by the control system or by user input. 
     The controller  92  may be operably coupled with one or more components of the washing machine  10  for communicating with and controlling the operation of the component to complete a cycle of operation. For example, the controller  92  may be operably coupled with the motor  30 , the pump  84 , and the detergent dispenser  82  to control the operation of these and other components to implement one or more of the cycles of operation. 
     The controller  92  may also be coupled with one or more sensors  100  provided in one or more of the systems of the washing machine  10  to receive input from the sensors, which are known in the art and not shown for simplicity. Non-limiting examples of sensors  100  that may be communicably coupled with the controller  92  include: a treating chamber temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, a weight sensor, a chemical sensor, a position sensor, a motor torque sensor, the liquid level sensor, and the turbidity sensor, which may be used to determine a variety of system and liquid characteristics. For example, when the turbidity of one of the wash liquid or rinse liquid in the wash basket  18  or the catch basin  66  satisfies a predetermined threshold, the wash liquid or rinse liquid may be drained by the activation of the pump  84 , and fresh water may be supplied to the wash basket  18  from the household water supply  78 . 
     Typically, a vertical axis washing machine having a tub suspended from a cabinet, and a rotatable wash basket disposed in the tub, may have multiple performance limitations. For example, the size of the wash basket and corresponding capacity of laundry load may be limited by the position of the suspended tub in the vicinity of the rotatable wash basket and one or more suspension systems exterior of the suspended tub in the cabinet. In another example, the spin speed for the wash basket during a rinse phase may not be maintained at a very high speed due to the potential collision between the wash basket and the suspended tub from an unbalance associated with non-uniformly distributed laundry load in the wash basket. In yet another example, the treating efficiency of laundry items is known to be limited due to discrete steps comprising water supply, agitation, rinsing, compared to out of water wash where wash liquid is continuously supplied to the laundry load for continuously treating laundry items. 
     The operation of the washing machine  10  with the static wash tub  14  may be different from the operation of a typical vertical axis washing machine having a suspending tub. It is assumed that laundry items may be received in the wash basket  18  prior to or during a cycle of treating operation. 
     When the wash phase in the wash cycle begins, water may be provided from the household water supply  78 . The water may percolate through the laundry items in the wash basket  18 , and drain downwardly by gravity through the drain holes  22 . The agitator  24  may rotate in at least one of the clockwise or counter clockwise directions for engaging the laundry with the agitator  24  at a predetermined speed according to a cycle of operation. The drain holes  22  may be configured to open, therefore the water may drain through the drain holes  22  when the basket  18  is either in a stationary mode or rotates according to a cycle of operation. Once passing through the drain holes  22 , the water may be received downwardly by the surface of the closure  51  until the water is received in the catch basin  66  through one or more drain ports  54 . 
     The height of wash liquid in the catch basin  66  may be determined by the amount of water initially provided from the household water supply  78  to the treating chamber  20  of the wash basket  18 . Therefore water may be supplied to the wash basket  18  until the water height in the catch basin  66  satisfies a predetermined threshold. For example, an output from the water level sensor may be monitored to determine when the water supply to the wash basket  18  needs to be stopped. 
     The water received in the catch basin  66  may be provided with one or more treating chemistries supplied from the detergent dispenser  82  to the interior of the catch basin  66 , and the water and one or more treating chemistries may be physically and/or chemically mixed to each other to form wash liquid. The wash liquid may subsequently be supplied to the inlet  86  of the pump  84  for recirculation through the recirculation conduit  80  back to the laundry items in the wash basket  18 . The wash liquid, now a mixture of water and one or more treating chemistries may be percolated through the laundry items in the wash basket  18  while the agitator  24  rotates according to a cycle of operation. 
     It may be noted that, during the wash phase, the wash liquid may be continuously recirculated from the wash basket  18 , through drain holes  22  of the wash basket  18 , drain ports  54  of the closure  51 , pump  84 , recirculation conduit  80 , and then back to the wash basket  18 . It may also be noted that treating laundry based on the continuous or semi-continuous percolation of wash liquid may be effective in improving the treating performance of laundry items, compared to a traditional treating step comprising discrete steps of water supply, agitation, and rinsing. 
     When the wash phase is complete, the wash liquid received in the catch basin  66  may be drained out of the washing machine  10  by activating the pump  84  in the drain mode. In another embodiment where two separate pumps are operable, the drain pump may be activated to drain wash liquid out of the washing machine  10 . Prior to the activation of the pump  70  for draining the wash liquid, the liquid height in the catch basin  66  may be monitored by the water level sensor, and the activation of the pump  84  for draining wash liquid may continue until the wash liquid height satisfies a predetermined threshold range. 
     The wash phase may be followed by the rinse phase. During the rinse phase, water may be provided to the laundry items in the wash basket  18  through the sprayer  76 . Similar to the wash phase, the water supplied from the household water supply  78  may be percolated through the laundry items while the laundry items are agitated by the agitator  24  according to a cycle of operation. During the rinse phase, the water may continuously drain out of the wash basket  18  through one or more drain holes  22 , pass through one or more drain ports  54 , and then recirculated back to the wash basket via the recirculation conduit  80  by the pump  70 . One or more treating chemistries for a rinse phase may be provided to the catch basin  66  prior to the onset of or during the rinse phase. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a schematic cross-sectional view of a laundry treating appliance with a static wash tub according to a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated wherein the laundry treating appliance is in the wash phase. 
     The primary difference between the first embodiment in  FIG. 1  and the second embodiment in  FIG. 3  may be a flange  102  mounted to the closure  51 . As illustrated, the flange  102  may be coupled to a low end portion of the closure  51  such that the flange  102  may extend downwardly from the low end portion of the closure  51  until one end portion of the flange  102  contacts the bottom of the catch basin  66  during the wash phase. 
     The flange  102  may be configured to form a seal when the flange  102  contacts the bottom of the catch basin  66 . As a result, the flange  102  may act as a trap for confining the wash liquid and/or vapor inside the interior  16  of the static wash tub  14 . For example, the flange  102  may form a trap seal with the bottom of the catch basin  66  for blocking the wash liquid and/or vapor escaping from the catch basin  66  and interior  16  of the static wash tub  14 . Confining wash liquid and/or vapor inside the static wash tub  14  may prevent the impingement of wash liquid and/or vapor into other parts of the laundry treating appliance. In one example, the motor assembly  28  may be protected from any impingements of wash liquid and/or vapor that may adversely affect the operation of the motor assembly  28  while wash liquid recirculates through the pump  84  and recirculation conduit  80  back to the treating chamber  20 . 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the laundry treating appliance of  FIG. 3  according to a third embodiment of the invention, where the laundry treating appliance in  FIG. 4  is in a spin extraction phase. When the wash phase is complete, the wash liquid may be drained out of the catch basin  66 , followed by the spin extraction phase where the wash basket  18  rotates at a high spin speed. 
     It is understood that, during the high speed spin extraction phase, the wash basket  18  may be subject to a translational and/or vertical movement from any unbalance of non-uniformly distributed laundry items in the wash basket  18 . The translational and/or vertical movement of the wash basket  18  may be transmitted to other coupled components in the form of vibration. In one example, vibration may transmit to the bearing housing  38 , the flange  102 , the flexure element  65 , and the suspension system  58 . 
     The suspension system  58  may move horizontally and/or vertically for damping out the vibrations of the wash basket  18  during the spin extraction phase. In one example, during the vibration damping, the elastic spring  62  of the suspension system  58  may be compressed for damping out the vibrations, which may lift up the flexure element  65  in an upward direction. As a result, the closure  51  and first/second bearing housing elements  46 ,  48 , which are coupled to the flexure element  65 , and the flange  102 , which is coupled to the closure  51 , may be also lifted up during the vibration damping. 
     Lifting up the flange  102  during the high speed rinse phase may disengage the flange  102  from the bottom of the catch basin  66 , and the vibrations transmitted from the wash basket  18  may not be transferred to the catch basin  66 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . When the spin extraction phase is complete, the elastic spring  62  may be extended back to its original length, and the flange  102  may move downwardly until the flange  102  contacts the bottom of the catch basin  66 . 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a laundry treating appliance  110  with a static wash tub  114  during the wash phase according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. The laundry treating appliance  110  may be different from a laundry treating appliance  10  in  FIG. 1  in that the laundry treating appliance  110  includes a rotatable tub  113  between a wash basket  126  and a static wash tub  114 . 
     As illustrated, the laundry treating appliance  110  comprises a cabinet  112 , and a static wash tub  114  which may be spaced from the cabinet  112  by a predetermined distance. First end portion  115  of the static wash tub  114  may be coupled to the cabinet  112 , while the second end portion  116  may extend downwardly to form a drain opening  117 . A rotatable tub  113  may be located within and rotatable relative to the interior  118  defined by the static wash tub  114 . The rotatable tub  113  may be in the form of a cylinder with a closed bottom, and may include an opening  120  at the center of the closed bottom. The rotatable tub  113  may be rotatably coupled to a first bearing  122 , which may be in the form of a seal bearing. A first outlet portion  124  may extend from the first bearing  122 . 
     A rotatable drum or wash basket  126  may be located within the rotatable tub  113  for defining a laundry treating chamber  128  for receiving a laundry load. The wash basket  126  may be configured to rotate at a predetermined speed according to a cycle of operation. It is understood that the wash basket  126  and rotatable tub  113  may be configured to rotate at the same time. It is also noted that the wash basket  126  and rotatable tub  113  may rotate substantially at identical speed relative to each other. The wash basket  126  may include one or more drain holes  130  formed on the base portion of the wash basket  126 , and one or more drain holes  130  may be fluidly coupled to the space  132  formed by the exterior of the wash basket  126  and the inner wall of the rotatable tub  113 . 
     An electric motor assembly  134  may be provided to drive the wash basket  126 , rotatable tub  113 , or an agitator  135  according to a cycle of operation. The electric motor assembly  134  may include a motor  136 , a shaft  137 , and a motor housing  138  for accommodating the motor  136 . The electric motor assembly  134  may be positioned on the motor  139 . 
     One or more bearing housing elements may be provided to the laundry treating appliance for attenuating the vibration generated from the operation of the rotatable wash basket  126  and/or preventing wash liquid impinging into the motor assembly  134 . First end portion  140  of a first bearing housing element  142  may extend from a second bearing  144 . A second outlet portion  146  may extend from the first end portion  140  of the first bearing housing element  142 , with the second outlet portion  146  combined with the first outlet portion  124  to form an outlet  148 . 
     The outlet  148  may be coupled to a recirculation conduit and pump (not shown) for recirculating wash liquid back to the treating chamber or draining wash liquid out of the laundry treating appliance  110 . 
     A second bearing housing element  152  may extend from a third bearing  154  in a horizontal direction until the second bearing housing element  152  may be coupled to the first bearing housing element  142  to form a closure  156 . The closure  156  may be coupled to a suspension system  158 , which may be operably coupled to the cabinet  112  for damping out the vibration from the movement of the wash basket  126  and/or the rotatable tub  113 . 
     Other components and sensors such as the electric motor assembly, the spraying system, the dispensing system, the recirculation and drain system, and the controller are well known, and may not be described in detail unless necessary for a complete understanding of the invention. 
     In operation, during a wash phase, wash liquid may be provided to the treating chamber  128  of the wash basket  126 , percolate through the laundry items in the wash basket  126 , and drain downwardly through the drain holes  130 . Wash liquid may be further removed from the laundry items in the spin extraction phase by rotating the wash basket  126  at a predetermined speed. When the wash basket  126  rotates, the rotatable tub  113  may also rotate at a substantially identical speed with the wash basket  126 . While the wash basket  126  and rotatable tub  113  rotate, wash liquid may be extracted from laundry items through the drain holes  130  along the inner wall of the rotatable tub  113  by a centrifugal force to form a wash liquid layer along the height of the rotatable tub  113 . 
     The distribution of the wash liquid layer on the inner wall of the rotatable tub  113  may vary with treating parameters. In one example, the drain holes  130  of the wash basket  126  may be configured to control the flow direction and magnitude of wash liquid extracted from drain holes  130  in the wash basket  126 . For example, by controlling the location and angle of the drain holes  130  relative to the rotational axis of the wash basket  126 , the wash liquid may be distributed such that the amount of wash liquid may substantially compensate for the unbalance from laundry items to spin the wash basket  126  at its maximum spin speed. 
     When the wash basket  126  is stationary, centrifugal force on the wash liquid may no longer be effective. Wash liquid may flow down to the lower portion of the rotatable tub  113  to be collected, and may be drained through the opening  120  to the outlet  148 , where the wash liquid may be recirculated to the wash basket  126  via the recirculation conduit and pump (not shown). Alternately wash liquid may be drained out of the laundry treating appliance by the pump by switching the pumping direction of the pump. 
     During the spin extraction phase, the wash liquid may spill out of the top of the rotatable tub  113 . The spilled wash liquid may be confined to the interior  118  by the static wash tub  114 . In one example, the spilled wash liquid may flow down the space formed between the rotatable tub  113  and the static wash tub  114 , and may be collected at the drain opening  117 , where the wash liquid may be either recirculated or drained. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a portion of the laundry treating appliance  10  during the wash phase according to an exemplary fifth embodiment of the invention. The laundry treating appliance  10  of  FIG. 6  may include many of the functionalities hereinbefore described and illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , a description of which will not be repeated unless otherwise necessary for a complete understanding of the invention. 
     The exemplary fifth embodiment of  FIG. 6  may be essentially identical to the third embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , except that the third embodiment may relate to a spin extraction phase and the exemplary fifth embodiment may relate to a wash phase. Furthermore, the third embodiment may include the flange  102  mounted to the closure  51 , while in the exemplary fifth embodiment, the flange may be in the form of an annular vapor seal skirt  164 , which may be made from plastic. Specifically, during the wash cycle, the flange  102  of the third embodiment may be in sealing contact with the bottom of the catch basin  66 , in contrast with the exemplary fifth embodiment in which the vapor seal skirt  164  may extend beneath the wash liquid level  162 , but not to the bottom of the catch basin  66 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 6 , the closure  51  may have the general shape of a truncated cone. An attached edge  168  of the vapor seal skirt  164  may be attached along a circumferential edge of the closure  51  so that an unattached edge  170  of the vapor seal skirt  164  may depend into the interior of the catch basin  66 , thus enabling the unattached edge  170  of the vapor seal skirt  164  to end between the top of the catch basin inner wall  160  and the bottom of the catch basin  66 . 
     The vapor seal skirt  164  may act as a trap for confining the wash liquid and/or vapor inside the interior  16  of the static wash tub  14 . For example, the vapor seal skirt  164  may form a trap seal with the wash liquid in the catch basin  66 . This trap seal may block the escape of wash liquid and/or vapor over the catch basin inner wall  160  from the catch basin  66  and the interior  16  of the static wash tub  14 . Preventing the escape of wash liquid and/or vapor from the static wash tub  14  may prevent contact, and operational disruption, of the motor assembly  28  by wash liquid and/or vapor, and the migration of wash liquid and/or vapor into other parts of the laundry treating appliance  10  and/or to the exterior of the laundry treating appliance  10 . In particular, the motor assembly  28  may be protected while wash liquid is pumped and drained through the recirculation system. 
     The wash liquid may percolate through laundry items in the wash basket  18 , and drain downwardly by gravity through the drain holes  22 , when the basket  18  is either in a stationary wash mode or a high-speed spin mode according to a selected cycle of operation. Upon exiting the drain holes  22 , the wash liquid may flow downwardly along the conical surface of the closure  51  through one or more drain ports  54  to be received in the catch basin  66 . During the wash phase, continuous recirculation of the wash liquid may maintain the wash liquid at a preselected height  162  in the catch basin  66  above the unattached end of the vapor seal skirt  164 , which may be continuously monitored by a liquid depth sensor  166 . The liquid depth sensor  166  may be electrically coupled with the controller  92 , shown in  FIG. 2 , to signal when the depth of wash liquid in the catch basin  66  falls outside of a selected range of wash liquid depths. The selected range of wash liquid depths may reflect maintenance of the wash liquid in the catch basin  66  at a height above the unattached end of the vapor seal skirt  164 . 
     During the high-speed spin extraction phase, the wash liquid may be drained from the laundry load in the basket  18  and the catch basin  66 . The height of the wash liquid may consequently drop below the unattached end  170  of the vapor seal skirt  164 , opening the catch basin  66  to the interior and exterior of the laundry treating appliance  10 . Simultaneously, the wash basket  18 , motor assembly  28 , and bearing housing  38  may move upward under the influence of the suspension system  58  as the wash liquid is removed from the basket  18 , also opening the catch basin  66  to the interior and exterior of the laundry treating appliance  10 . Because the wash liquid may be removed from the catch basin  66 , opening of the catch basin  66  to the interior and exterior of the laundry treating appliance  10  may have no effect on the contact, and operational disruption, of the motor assembly  28  by wash liquid and/or vapor, and the migration of wash liquid and/or vapor into other parts of the laundry treating appliance  10  and/or to the exterior of the laundry treating appliance  10 . The vapor seal skirt  164  may then be isolated from the catch basin  66 , thereby interrupting any vibration link between the wash basket  18 , motor assembly  28 , and bearing housing  38 , and the catch basin  66  and cabinet  12 . This may accommodate vibration of the basket  18  due to an unbalanced laundry load during a high-speed spin extraction phase with minimal effect on the static wash tub  14  and cabinet  12 . 
     The previously described washing machines  10  and  110  with the static wash tub may be used to implement one or more embodiments of the invention. The embodiment of the invention may be used in increasing the size of the wash basket and correspondingly the treating capacity of laundry items by eliminating the clearance between the wash basket and the suspending tub. The embodiments of the invention may also be used to control the operation of the washing machines  10 ,  110  to improve the treating efficiency of the laundry items during the wash cycle by continuously or semi-continuously percolating the wash liquid through the laundry items in the wash basket. The embodiments of this invention may also be used in attaining the maximum rotational speed of the wash basket for high dehydration efficiency and/or eliminating the mechanical contact between the basket and tub during the dehydrating step. The embodiments of this invention may also be used in designing the washing machine  110  to which any balancing system is not provided by means of the rotatable tub that may rotate at substantially identical speeds with the wash basket. The embodiments of this invention may further be used in blocking the wash liquid and/or vapor escaping from the interior of the static wash tub such that mechanical parts such as the motor assembly may not be impinged by the wash liquid and/or vapor. 
     To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various embodiments may be used in combination with each other as desired. That one feature may not be illustrated in all of the embodiments is not meant to be construed that it may not be, but is done for brevity of description. Thus, the various features of the different embodiments may be mixed and matched as desired to form new embodiments, whether or not the new embodiments are expressly described. All combinations or permutations of features described herein are covered by this disclosure. The primary differences between the exemplary embodiments relate to the location of the static wash tub relative to the cabinet, presence of a rotatable tub, numbers and location of drain holes in the basket, the coupling of first and second bearing housing elements to the bearings, the location and number of suspension system assemblies, the location and configuration of the catch basin and pump, and these features may be combined in any suitable manner to modify the above embodiments and create new embodiments. As examples, the detergent dispenser may be provided with one or more conduits for providing one or more treating chemistries to the catch basin. The seal may not be limited to the labyrinth seal, and may include any mechanical seals providing seals preventing leakage. It is also noted that the rotatable tub may be provided to the washing machine with a bearing housing having the catch basin provided with the flange. 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.