Drain pump assembly for a dishwasher appliance
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsKyle Edward Durham, Benjamin David Thomas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid circulation assembly defining a vertical direction includes a drive shaft defining an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, a motor operable to rotate the drive shaft in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a drain pump assembly. The drain pump assembly includes a hub assembly mounted to the drive shaft and a plurality of rigid vanes, each of the plurality of rigid vanes being rotatably mounted to the hub assembly at a pivot point and extending to a distal end and being movable between an extended position when the motor is rotating in the first direction and a retracted position when the motor is rotating in the second direction.
Claims20
A fluid circulation assembly defining a vertical direction and comprising:
- a drive shaft defining an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction;
- a motor operable to rotate the drive shaft in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction;
- and
- a drain pump assembly comprising:
- a hub assembly mounted to the drive shaft, wherein the hub assembly defines a maximum outer circumference;
- and
- a rigid vane rotatably mounted to the hub assembly at a pivot point and extending to a distal end, the rigid vane being unflexible and movable between an extended position when the motor is rotating in the first direction and a retracted position when the motor is rotating in the second direction, wherein the distal end of the rigid vane remains within the maximum outer circumference when the rigid vane is in the retracted position.
A dishwasher appliance defining a vertical, a lateral, and a transverse direction, the dishwasher appliance comprising:
- a wash tub that defines a wash chamber;
- a wash rack mounted within the wash chamber, the wash rack being configured for receiving articles for washing;
- and
- a fluid circulation assembly for providing a flow of wash fluid for cleaning articles placed within the wash chamber, the fluid circulation assembly comprising:
- a drive shaft defining an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction;
- a motor operable to rotate the drive shaft in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction;
- a hub assembly mounted to the drive shaft, wherein the hub assembly defines a maximum outer circumference;
- and
- a rigid vane rotatably mounted to the hub assembly at a pivot point and extending to a distal end, the rigid vane being unflexible and movable between an extended position when the motor is rotating in the first direction and a retracted position when the motor is rotating in the second direction, wherein the distal end of the rigid vane remains within the maximum outer circumference when the rigid vane is in the retracted position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.