# US 11,896,181 B2 · Dishwasher and method of operating > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,181 B2 - Document ID: US11896181B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/838,516 - Filed: 2022-06-13 - Published: 2023-12-14 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-06-13 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Matthias Emanuel Freiherr Von Andrian-Werburg; Veronica Marin Kramer; Miron Wawrzusiak - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896181B2 ## CPC - A47L 15/0049: {Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention (arrangements to prevent clogging of filters A47L15/4208; safety arrangements for preventing water damage A47L15/421)} - A47L 15/0007: {Washing phases} - A47L 15/22: Rotary spraying devices - A47L 15/4225: {Arrangements or adaption of recirculation or discharge pumps} - A47L 15/4293: {Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels} - A47L 15/46: Devices for the automatic control of the different phases of cleaning {; Controlling devices (A47L15/449 takes precedence)} - A47L 15/23: moved by means of the sprays - A47L 2301/04: Operation mode, e.g. delicate washing, economy washing, reduced time, sterilizing, water softener regenerating, odor eliminating or service - A47L 2301/08: Other manual input - A47L 2401/08: Drain or recirculation pump parameters, e.g. pump rotational speed or current absorbed by the motor - A47L 2401/14: Water pressure or flow rate - A47L 2401/24: Spray arms status, e.g. detection of spray arm rotation - A47L 2401/32: Vibration or sound detection - A47L 2501/05: Drain or recirculation pump, e.g. regulation of the pump rotational speed or flow direction - A47L 2501/26: Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user - A47L 2501/32: Stopping or disabling machine operation, including disconnecting the machine from a network, e.g. from an electrical power supply - A47L 2601/02: Pressurised cleaning liquid delivered by a pump - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) ## Abstract A dishwasher and method of operating a dishwasher according to a cycle of operation are described herein. The dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a rotatable spray arm comprising a nozzle outlet, and a liquid supply conduit fluidly coupled to the spray arm. A pump can be fluidly coupled to the liquid supply conduit and operated to flow liquid through an aperture in the liquid supply conduit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a dishwasher, the method comprising: operating a pump to supply liquid through a stationary supply conduit to a rotatable spray arm; emitting a first spray of the pumped liquid from a first aperture in the rotatable spray arm, with the first spray defining a spray path as the rotatable spray arm rotates; emitting a second spray of the pumped liquid from a second aperture in the stationary supply conduit into the spray path; and determining a rotational status of the rotatable spray arm by sensing a pump signal corresponding to impingement of the first spray and the second spray along the spray path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the impingement of the first spray and the second spray is periodic with the rotation of the rotatable spray arm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the pump signal comprises a time-varying pump motor voltage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the pump signal comprises at least one of a voltage threshold or a time-interval threshold for determining impeded rotation of the rotatable spray arm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pump signal is periodic during the rotation of the rotatable spray arm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user indication of the rotational status of the rotatable spray arm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the user indication comprises at least one of an audio alert, a visual alert, a display update, or a notification on a mobile device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically pausing a cycle of operation, via a controller, when the pump signal indicates impeded rotation of the rotatable spray arm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user input comprising one of continuing a cycle of operation or pausing the cycle of operation when the pump signal indicates impeded rotation of the rotatable spray arm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the user input is received prior to starting the cycle of operation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a number of rotations of the rotatable spray arm after starting a cycle of operation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising automatically pausing the cycle of operation when the pump signal indicates impeded rotation of the rotatable spray arm, based on the number of rotations. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first spray comprises a first flow rate, and the second spray comprises a second flow rate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first flow rate is greater than the second flow rate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second spray is continuously emitted into the spray path.