Dishwasher vent system

In a dishwasher having a box-like tub, said tub having a bottom wall, a top wall, two side walls, a back wall and an open front, a door for said open front of said tub, said tub and door comprising therebetween a wash chamber for receiving articles therein, means for washing the articles in the chamber, and means including a timer for sequentially operating the washing means through washing cycles and a drying cycle, venting means for the chamber, said venting means including an exhaust means at the top of the door and within the thickness thereof, said exhaust means including an exhaust port formed in the inner face of the door and opening from the interior of said wash chamber to a valve chamber formed within said thickness of said washer door, a valve member in the form of a plate closable against said port, a linear actuator for moving said plate normally to its plane in one or the other direction to retract and advance said plate within said valve chamber to respectively open and close said valve port, and exhaust ducting leading from said valve chamber to the front exterior of said door.

In a dishwasher having a box-like tub, said tub having a bottom wall, a top wall, two side walls, a back wall and an open front, a door for said open front of said tub, said door having a thickness defined by spaced outer and inner faces, said tub and door comprising therebetween a wash chamber having rack means for receiving articles therein, means for washing the articles in the chamber, and means including a timer for sequentially operating the washing means through washing cycles and a drying cycle, venting means for the chamber, said venting means including baffled passage means formed in the door bottom for permanently venting the wash chamber to the washer exterior at the door bottom, said venting means further including exhaust means at the top of the door and within the thickness thereof, said exhaust means including an exhaust port formed in the inner face of the door and opening from the interior of said wash chamber to a valve chamber formed within the thickness of said washer door, a valve member in the form of plate closable against said exhaust port, a valve actuator to advance and retract said plate within said valve chamber to respectively close off and open said valve port, and duct means leading from said valve chamber to the front exterior of said door.