US 4,301,829 AGranted

Flood control for a dishwasher

AssigneeGeneral Electric Company

InventorRichard A. Rowe

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Abstract

A flood control arrangement for dishwashers in which the in-flow to the dishwasher tub from the water supply line is automatically terminated in the event the tub water rises to a flood level. The arrangement includes a sealing plunger disposed in a plunger body member housing installed downstream of the water fill valve. The sealing plunger tends to be moved to the sealing position by the line water pressure to shut off in-flow to the dishwasher but is blocked from movement to this position whenever the water level is below the flood level by the stem of a float positioned in the dishwasher tub. When the water level in the tub approaches the flood level, the float rises in the tub to a position whereat the float stem releases the sealing plunger to allow it to move to the sealing position and shut off further flow to the dishwasher. The float stem either causes the sealing plunger to be tilted off a sealing face or prevents it from moving laterally in the line to the sealing position in order to produce the blocking action.

A flood control arrangement for a washing machine of the type having a tub for collecting liquid and liquid in-flow means for providing a controlled in-flow of liquid to the tub from an external supply means, the in-flow means including an electrically operated solenoid valve and means directing liquid from the outlet of the electrically operated solenoid valve into the tub, said flood control arrangement comprising:

flood control valve means interposed in the liquid in-flow means downstream from the electrically operated solenoid valve, said flood control valve means including a plunger housing and a sealing plunger disposed in said plunger housing, said plunger housing being formed with an inlet chamber having an inlet port in fluid communication with the outlet of said electrically operated solenoid valve, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the interior of the tub, said plunger housing further including a valve seat formed between said inlet port and said outlet port, said sealing plunger having a head portion disposed in said inlet chamber between said inlet port and said outlet port and movable therein to a sealing position in sealing engagement with said valve seat by pressure exerted on said head portion by liquid received in said inlet chamber, said sealing plunger being operative in its sealing position to prevent liquid flow into the tub;
a float disposed in the bottom region of the tub adapted to be raised to a predetermined flood position upon rising of the liquid level in the tub to a predetermined flood level approaching a flood condition in the tub;
blocking means including a block member drivingly connected to said float and normally engaging said sealing plunger to prevent movement of said sealing plunger to its sealing position when said float is below its predetermined flood position, said blocking member being operative to disengage said sealing plunger when said float moves to its flood position thereby enabling movement of said sealing plunger to its sealing position.

Abstract

Claims9