US 5,924,432 A · Dishwasher having a wash liquid recirculation system

Abstract

A dishwasher having a fluid recirculation system which operates in a wash mode for spraying liquid onto objects supported on dishwasher upper and lower racks. The dishwasher includes a pump having a pump impeller disposed within a pump chamber for supplying wash liquid to first and second spray devices, associated with the lower rack and upper racks, respectively. The pump impeller draws wash liquid into the pump chamber and imparts a rotary motion to the wash liquid disposed in the pump chamber. A rotatable diffuser or flow director having a plurality of vanes extending into the pump chamber selectively directs the rotating wash liquid toward the spray devices and thereby controls wash liquid recirculation within the dishwasher responsive to the rotational motion of the wash liquid in the pump chamber.

Claims38

Dependent claims

In a dishwasher having a wash cavity for receiving dishes, a fluid recirculation system operable in a wash mode comprising:

a pump chamber disposed at the bottom of said wash cavity, said pump chamber having an outlet;
a pump impeller in said pump chamber for drawing wash liquid into and discharging wash liquid from said pump chamber, said pump impeller imparting a rotational motion to the wash liquid disposed in said pump chamber;
a rotatable diffuser disposed at said pump chamber outlet for selectively controlling fluid recirculation within said wash cavity responsive to the rotational motion of the wash liquid;
said pump impeller has a rotational axis;
and
said rotatable diffuser converts the rotational motion of said wash liquid to a translational motion along the rotational axis of said pump impeller.

3 more elements

In a dishwasher having a wash cavity for receiving dishes and an upper dishrack and a lower dishrack supported in said wash cavity, a fluid recirculation system operable in a wash mode comprising:

a pump chamber disposed at the bottom of said wash cavity, said pump chamber having an outlet;
a pump impeller in said pump chamber for drawing wash liquid into and discharging wash liquid from said pump chamber, said pump impeller imparting a rotational motion to the wash liquid disposed in said pump chamber;
a rotatable diffuser disposed at said pump chamber outlet for selectively controlling fluid recirculation within said wash cavity responsive to the rotational motion of the wash liquid;
a first spray device fluidly interconnected with said pump chamber for spraying wash liquid toward said lower rack;
a second spray device fluidly interconnected with said pump chamber for spraying wash liquid toward said upper rack;
and wherein
said rotatable diffuser includes a valve having a vane extending into said pump chamber, said valve selectively supplying wash liquid to either said first wash arm or said second wash arm responsive to said pump impeller rotation.

4 more elements

A dishwasher for washing dishes, comprising:

wash cavity adapted to hold dishes for washing;
a pump fluidly connected to the wash cavity for circulating a wash liquid in the wash cavity;
a spray device fluidly connected to the pump for spraying a wash liquid in the wash cavity;
a conduit extending between the pump and the spray device to fluidly connect the pump and spray device, said conduit having a conduit opening fluidly connecting the conduit to the spray device;
a second spray device fluidly connected to the conduit;
the conduit has a second conduit opening fluidly connecting the conduit to the second spray device;
a rotatable flow director having an axis of rotation provided within the conduit between the pump and the spray device for directing the flow of the wash liquid circulated by the pump along the axis of rotation toward the spray device;
said flow director comprising a valve for controlling the flow of a wash liquid through the conduit;
the valve comprising a valve body having an open end facing the pump and a valve opening which can be fluidly connected and disconnected to the spray device by the rotation of the valve body between a first rotational position and a second rotational position;
the valve body has a second valve opening for fluidly connecting the second spray device to the conduit upon the rotation of the valve body;
and
the first valve opening and the second valve opening being positioned on the body so that in the first rotational position the first valve opening is aligned with the first conduit opening, permitting liquid flow to the first spray device, and the second valve opening is not aligned with the second conduit opening, preventing the flow of liquid into the second spray device, and in the second rotational position the second valve opening is aligned with the second conduit opening, permitting liquid flow to the second spray device, and the first valve opening is not aligned with the first conduit opening, preventing the flow of liquid into the first spray device.

9 more elements

A dishwasher for washing dishes, comprising:

a wash cavity adapted to hold dishes for washing;
a pump fluidly connected to the wash cavity for circulating a wash liquid in the wash cavity;
a spray device fluidly connected to the pump for spraying a wash liquid in the wash cavity;
a conduit extending between the pump and the spray device t fluidly connect the pump and spray device;
a rotatable flow director having an axis of rotation being provided within the conduit between the pump and the spray device for directing the flow of the wash liquid circulated by the pump along the axis of rotation toward the spray device;
and
a second spray device fluidly connected to the pump for spraying wash liquid in the wash cavity;
a first stop extending from the conduit;
a first ratchet tooth extending from the conduit;
and wherein
the rotatable flow director is movable a predetermined distance along the axis of rotation, the flow director further includes a valve and a tab for selectively engaging the first stop or the first ratchet tooth such that the valve may be selectively positioned in a first angular orientation or a second angular orientation.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dishwasher having a wash liquid recirculation system

Life of this patent

Dishwasher having a wash liquid recirculation system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38