# US 2014/0150831 A1 · Dishwasher > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150831 A1 - Document ID: US20140150831A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/885,609 - Filed: 2011-11-07 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-15 - Assignees: Electrolux Home Products, Inc. - Inventors: Klaus-Martin Forst; Hansjoerg Lampe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150831A1 ## CPC - A47L 15/4282: {Arrangements to change or modify spray pattern or direction} - A47L 15/4289: {Spray-pressure measuring or regulating arrangements (nozzles A47L15/4278)} - 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 The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising at least one spray device (20), the spray device having at least one nozzle (10) for discharging washing liquid in the form of a spray jet, where at least one nozzle is adjustable in order to change the characteristics of the spray jet. According the invention the adjustable nozzle (10) is adjustable by an adjusting means comprising a thermal actuator (10,60). ## Claims ### Claim 1 Dishwasher comprising at least one spray device, the spray device (20) having at least one nozzle (10) for discharging washing liquid in the form of a spray jet, where at least one nozzle is adjustable in order to change the characteristics of the spray jet, characterized in that the adjustable nozzle (10) is adjustable by an adjusting means (10, 60, 70, 80, 90) comprising a thermal actuator (10, 60). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dishwasher of claim 1, characterized in that the thermal actuator is a wax motor (60) . ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dishwasher of claim 1, characterized in that the thermal actuator is a memory material (10), preferably a memory metal or a memory polymer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The dishwasher of claim 3, characterized in that the memory material (10) is a material that reversibly changes the shape when a transition temperature is exceeded. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The dishwasher claim 4, characterized in that the transition temperature is above 20° C., preferably above 40° C., more preferably is between 55° C. and 75° C. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dishwasher of claim 1, characterized in that at least one adjustable nozzle (10) is usable for spraying items to be cleaned. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The dishwasher of claim 1, characterized in that at least one adjustable nozzle (10) is usable for rinsing a detergent out of a detergent chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The dishwasher of claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting means (10, 60, 70, 80, 90) is designed for changing the cross section of the opening of the adjustable nozzle (10) by reversibly changing the shape of the nozzle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The dishwasher of claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting means (10, 60, 70, 80, 90) is designed for changing the effective cross section of the opening of the adjustable nozzle (10) by partially covering the opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The dishwasher of claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting means (10, 60, 70, 80, 90) is designed for changing the opening direction of the adjustable nozzle (10). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The dishwasher of claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting means (10, 60, 70, 80, 90) is designed for changing the characteristics of the spray jet by means of the thermal actuator (10, 60) and depending on the temperature of a washing liquid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The dishwasher of claim 1, characterized in that spray device (20) comprises at least one spay arm carrying the adjustable nozzles (10) and being designed so as to be rotatable during a washing process where the speed of rotation of the spray arm is adjustable my means of the adjustable nozzles. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The dishwasher of claim 2, characterized in that the adjustable nozzle (10) is elastically deformable and the wax motor (60) is designed to deform the nozzle in order to adjust it. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The dishwasher of claim 13, characterized in that wax motor (60) is in direct mechanical contact with the adjustable nozzle (10) or is connected to the adjustable nozzle (10) by means of a mechanical connecting element (70). ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) The dishwasher of claim 3, characterized in that the adjustable nozzle (10) itself is made completely or partially of memory material such that the adjusting means is integrally formed into the nozzle. ### Claim 16 Dishwasher comprising at least one spray device, the spray device comprising: at least one nozzle for discharging washing liquid in the form of a spray jet, where at least one nozzle is adjustable in order to change the characteristics of the spray jet, and at least one thermal actuator for adjusting the adjustable nozzle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The dishwasher of claim 16, characterized in that the thermal actuator is a wax motor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The dishwasher of claim 16, characterized in that the thermal actuator is a memory material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The dishwasher of claim 18, characterized in that the memory material is a material that reversibly changes the shape of the adjustable nozzle when a transition temperature is exceeded. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The dishwasher of claim 17, characterized in that the wax motor is in direct mechanical contact with the adjustable nozzle, or is connected to the adjustable nozzle by a mechanical connecting element.