# US 12,601,101 B2 · Pump assembly for dispenser cleaning in a washing machine appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,601,101 B2 - Document ID: US12601101B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/582,202 - Filed: 2024-02-20 - Published: 2025-08-21 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2024-02-20 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Todd Anthony Reger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12601101B2 ## CPC - D06F 39/085: {Arrangements or adaptations of pumps} - D06F 39/088: {Liquid supply arrangements} - D06F 33/43: Control of cleaning or disinfection of washing machine parts, e.g. of tubs - D06F 39/02: Devices for adding soap or other washing agents - D06F 39/083: {Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements} - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES ## Abstract A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub positioned within a cabinet and defining a wash chamber, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub for receiving a load of clothes, a dispensing assembly mounted within the cabinet for selectively adding wash fluid into the wash tub, and a pump assembly in fluid communication with a sump of the wash tub. The pump assembly includes a recirculation conduit fluidly coupled to the dispensing assembly and a recirculation pump for selectively urging a flow of wash fluid through the recirculation conduit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A washing machine appliance comprising: a wash tub positioned within a cabinet and defining a wash chamber; a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub for receiving a load of clothes; a dispensing assembly mounted within the cabinet for selectively adding wash fluid into the wash tub; and a pump assembly in fluid communication with a sump of the wash tub, the pump assembly comprising: a dispenser housing defining an inlet port; a recirculation conduit fluidly coupled to the dispensing assembly through the inlet port, wherein the inlet port comprises a fluid oscillator for oscillating or agitating the flow of wash fluid passing into the dispenser housing; and a recirculation pump for selectively urging a flow of wash fluid through the recirculation conduit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the inlet port is defined on a back wall of the dispenser housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the inlet port defines a fan-shaped geometry to spread the flow of wash fluid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the dispensing assembly further comprises: one or more dispersion fins extending from the dispenser housing adjacent the inlet port for directing the flow of wash fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The washing machine appliance of claim 4, wherein the one or more dispersion fins are positioned above the inlet port along a vertical direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The washing machine appliance of claim 4, wherein the one or more dispersion fins are angled downward along a vertical direction to direct the flow of wash fluid downward. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The washing machine appliance of claim 4, wherein the one or more dispersion fins are integrally formed with the dispenser housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the dispensing assembly further comprises: one or more distribution ribs extending from the dispenser housing for directing the flow of wash fluid through a dispenser manifold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, further comprising: a drain conduit fluidly coupled to an external drain, wherein the recirculation pump is a bi-directional pump fluidly coupled to the drain conduit for selectively urging the flow of wash fluid through the drain conduit to an external drain. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The washing machine appliance of claim 9, wherein the bi-directional pump is a direct current (DC) pump. ### Claim 11 A pump assembly for a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a dispensing assembly mounted within a cabinet for selectively adding wash fluid into a wash tub, the pump assembly comprising: a dispenser housing defining an inlet port; a recirculation conduit fluidly coupled to the dispensing assembly through the inlet port, wherein the inlet port comprises a fluid oscillator for oscillating or agitating the flow of wash fluid passing into the dispenser housing; and a bi-directional pump for selectively urging a flow of wash fluid through the recirculation conduit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The pump assembly of claim 11, wherein the inlet port is defined on a back wall of the dispenser housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The pump assembly of claim 11, wherein the inlet port defines a fan-shaped geometry to spread the flow of wash fluid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The pump assembly of claim 11, wherein the dispensing assembly further comprises: one or more dispersion fins extending from the dispenser housing adjacent the inlet port for directing the flow of wash fluid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The pump assembly of claim 14, wherein the one or more dispersion fins are positioned above the inlet port along a vertical direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The pump assembly of claim 14, wherein the one or more dispersion fins are angled downward along a vertical direction to direct the flow of wash fluid downward.