System and method for controlling the water fill level within a dishwasher appliance
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsNasib AlHaffar, Kyle Edward Durham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dishwasher appliance includes a sump, a water supply valve for providing a flow of water into the sump, and a circulation pump that circulates water that is collected in the sump to one or more spray arm assemblies. A pressure sensor is operably coupled to the sump for monitoring sump pressure and wash fluid level. A controller regulates the water supply valve to provide the flow of water into the sump and monitors the sump pressure during the fill process. The controller further determines that the circulation pump is primed when the rate of increase of the sump pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold rate and stops further filling of the sump.
Claims20
A dishwasher appliance, comprising:
- a sump for collecting water;
- a circulation pump in fluid communication with the sump for circulating the water to one or more spray arm assemblies;
- a water supply valve for selectively providing a flow of water into the sump;
- a pressure sensor operably coupled to the sump;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled with the pressure sensor and the circulation pump, the controller configured for:
- regulating the water supply valve to provide the flow of water into the sump;
- monitoring a sump pressure using the pressure sensor while the circulation pump is not operating;
- and
- determining that the circulation pump is primed if a rate of increase of the sump pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold rate.
A method for determining that a circulation pump of a dishwasher appliance is primed, the dishwasher appliance comprising a sump for collecting water, a water supply valve for selectively providing a flow of water into the sump, and a pressure sensor operably coupled to the sump, the method comprising:
- regulating the water supply valve to provide the flow of water into the sump;
- monitoring a sump pressure using the pressure sensor while the circulation pump is not operating;
- and
- determining that the circulation pump is primed if a rate of increase of the sump pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.