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US 4,732,323 AGranted
Lower spray arm system for dishwasher
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsWilbur W. Jarvis, John I. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to the invention a seal is established between a rotary spray arm and a stationary pedestal support for the spray arm. Liquid from a pump, which forcibly delivers liquid to the spray arm is forced between cooperating parts of the spray arm and spray arm support in such a manner that a sealing split ring is urged both axially and radially relative to the rotational axis of the spray arm into sealing engagement with surfaces on both the spray arm and spray arm support.
Claims15
Structure for delivering washing liquid into a wash chamber of a dishwasher, said structure comprising:
- a spray arm support;
- a spray arm rotatively mounted to said spray arm support for rotation about an axis and having at least one liquid discharge opening and a radially inwardly facing annular surface,
- said spray arm support having a first, annular sealing surface facing axially with respect to said axis and a radially outwardly facing annular surface;
- said radially inwardly facing spray arm surface and said radially outwardly facing spray arm support surface cooperatively defining an annular opening located radially outwardly of said first annular sealing surface and in communication with the wash chamber;
- annular sealing means for selectively blocking the annular opening and having axially oppositely facing surfaces, a radially outwardly facing annular sealing surface and a radially inwardly facing surface;
- means mounting said sealing means for limited coaxial movement relative to said spray arm support;
- pump means for forcibly delivering a washing liquid from a source of washing liquid supply to said spray arm for delivery of washing liquid into said wash chamber through said discharge opening;
- and
- means for directing a portion of the washing liquid being delivered by said pump means simultaneously against said radially inwardly facing surface on the sealing means and one of the axially oppositely facing surfaces on the sealing means to thereby simultaneously urge the other of the axially oppositely facing surfaces on the sealing means axially sealingly against the first annular sealing surface on the spray arm support and the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the sealing means sealingly against the radially inwardly facing surface on the spray arm so that the sealing means blocks the annular opening to thereby prevent leakage of the washing liquid through said annular opening between said spray arm and said spray arm support into the wash chamber.
6 more elements
Structure for delivering a washing liquid into a wash chamber of a dishwasher, said structure comprising:
- a spray arm support having a first sealing surface residing substantially within a plane;
- a spray arm mounted to the spray arm support for rotation about an axis, said spray arm having a second sealing surface extending transversely to said plane and at least one liquid discharge opening,
- there being an opening between the first and second sealing surfaces in communication with the wash chamber;
- pump means for forcibly delivering a washing liquid from a source of washing liquid supply to said spray arm for delivery of washing liquid into said wash chamber through said discharge opening,
- a deformable sealing member having first and second oppositely facing flat surfaces and third and fourth surfaces each extending transversely to the oppositely facing flat surfaces;
- means mounting the sealing member movably relative to the spray arm support;
- and
- means for directing a portion of the washing liquid delivered by the pump means simultaneously against the first sealing member surface and the third sealing member surface to thereby sealingly urge the second sealing member surface in one direction against the first spray arm support sealing surface and across the opening between the first and second sealing surfaces to block the opening between the first and second sealing surfaces and the fourth sealing member surface transverse to said one direction sealingly against the second spray arm sealing surface to thereby prevent leakage of the washing liquid through said opening between the first and second sealing surfaces into the wash chamber.
5 more elements
Structure for delivering a washing liquid into a wash chamber of a dishwasher, said structure comprising:
- a spray arm support in said wash chamber and having a vertically extending annular sleeve with an inside annular surface and an upwardly facing, annular sealing surface;
- a spray arm having at least one liquid discharge opening and a depending annular skirt with an annular outer surface;
- means mounting the spray arm so that the annular sleeve and the skirt are in axially overlapping relationship;
- an annular flange on the spray arm and having a radially inwardly facing annular surface;
- there being a downwardly facing surface on the spray arm which in conjunction with the inwardly facing surface of the flange and at least a portion of the outer surface of the spray arm skirt defines a U-shaped chamber opening downwardly towards said sealing surface on the spray arm support and being in communication with the liquid passageway;
- a sealing member mounted in the U-shaped chamber and movable axially between the downwardly facing surface on the spray arm and the sealing surface on the spray arm support;
- and
- pump means for forcibly delivering a washing liquid from a source of washing liquid supply to said spray arm for delivery of washing liquid into said wash chamber through said discharge opening, said washing liquid delivered from the pump means delivered through said passageway further passing into said U-shaped chamber and building up pressure therein so as to urge the sealing member downwardly against the sealing surface on the spray arm support.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.