Hydraulically actuated diverter for an appliance
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Brandon Ross, Kyle Durham, Daniel J. Hart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulically actuated diverter for selectively controlling a flow of wash fluid in a dishwashing appliance is provided. The hydraulically actuated diverter includes a top portion and a bottom portion that are coupled together to form a diverter chamber. A shaft of a diverter valve is slidably received within a channel defined by the bottom portion of the diverter. The shaft and the channel define an annular gap that allows the shaft to slide and rotate within the diverter chamber. The shaft defines an alignment member positioned within the annular gap to prevent the shaft from moving out of alignment with the channel, reducing the likelihood of excessive friction and binding of the diverter valve.
Claims20
A dishwashing appliance, comprising:
- a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;
- a pump for providing a flow of wash fluid for cleaning the articles;
- and
- a diverter defining a central axis, the diverter being configured for receiving the flow of wash fluid from the pump, the diverter comprising:
- a top portion defining a plurality of outlet ports for providing the flow of wash fluid to the wash chamber;
- a bottom portion coupled with the top portion to form a diverter chamber, the bottom portion defining a channel extending substantially along the central axis;
- a shaft defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the shaft being positioned within the diverter chamber and being slidably and rotatably received within the channel of the bottom portion, the shaft and the channel defining an annular gap;
- a diverter disc connected to the shaft and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axial direction, the diverter disc being rotatable about the axial direction and defining an aperture for selectively providing fluid communication with one or more of the plurality of outlet ports;
- and
- an alignment member being positioned at least partially within the annular gap and being configured for preventing the shaft from moving out of alignment with the central axis.
A hydraulically actuated diverter for selectively controlling a flow of wash fluid in a dishwashing appliance, the hydraulically actuated diverter defining a central axis, the hydraulically actuated diverter comprising:
- a top portion defining a plurality of outlet ports for providing the flow of wash fluid to the wash chamber;
- a bottom portion coupled with the top portion to form a diverter chamber, the bottom portion defining a channel extending substantially along the central axis;
- a shaft defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the shaft being positioned within the diverter chamber and being slidably and rotatably received within the channel of the bottom portion such that an annular gap is defined between the shaft and the channel, the shaft defining an alignment member positioned within the annular gap to prevent the shaft from moving out of alignment with the central axis;
- and
- a diverter disc defining an aperture for selectively providing fluid communication with one or more of the plurality of outlet ports, the diverter disc being connected to the shaft and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axial direction, the diverter disc being rotatable about the axial direction to selectively align the aperture with one or more of the plurality of outlet ports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.