Rack assembly for a dishwasher
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsRonald M. Nowell, Jr., Daniel W. Southworth, Matthew M. Hansen, Joseph T. Ferencevich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rack assembly for an automatic dishwasher having opposing side portions, at least two axles extending outwardly from each of the opposing side portions, and a roller wheel mounted to each axle. Each roller wheel roller wheel has a hub adapted to be fixedly attached to the axle, and a wheel rotatably mounted to the hub. A plurality of separators that define pockets is integrally molded with one of the hub or the wheel. Each pocket is adapted to contain one ball bearing such that no two adjacent ball bearings make contact.
Claims15
A rack assembly for an automatic dishwasher comprising:
- opposing side portions;
- at least two axles extending outwardly from each of the opposing side portions;
- and
- a roller wheel mounted to each axle, wherein the roller wheel comprises a hub adapted to be fixedly attached to the axle, and a wheel rotatably mounted to the hub;
- a plurality of separators defining pockets and integrally molded with one of the hub or the wheel;
- wherein each pocket is adapted to contain one ball bearing such that no two adjacent ball bearings make contact.
A roller wheel for a dishwasher rack comprising:
- a hub having a first raceway on a perimeter of the hub;
- and
- a wheel having a central bore with a second raceway on a perimeter of the bore, mounted to the hub with the first raceway facing the second raceway;
- a plurality of separators defining pockets and integrally molded with one of the first raceway of the hub or second raceway of the wheel;
- wherein each pocket is adapted to contain one ball bearing such that no two adjacent ball bearings make contact.
An automatic dishwasher comprising;
- a tub with an open front and a door selectively movable about a horizontal axis between a closed position blocking access to the tub through the open front and an open position enabling access to the tub through the open front;
- a dishwasher rack having opposing side portions;
- rails mounted to the tub;
- and
- at least two axles extending outwardly from each of the opposing side portions of the dishwasher rack;
- and
- a roller wheel mounted to each axle, wherein the roller wheel comprises a hub adapted to be fixedly attached to the axle, and a wheel rotatably mounted to the hub;
- a plurality of separators defining pockets and integrally molded with one of the hub or the wheel;
- wherein each pocket is adapted to contain one ball bearing such that no two adjacent ball bearings make contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.