US 6,782,899 B2Granted

Dishwasher

AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.

InventorsKyeong Hwan Kim, Si Moon Jeon, Tae Hee Lee, Dae Yeong Han

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Abstract

A dishwasher is provided which uses a combined circulation/drain pump and an improved filtering system to enhance cleaning capability. The circulation section of the pump provides pressurization and supplies wash water to a spray arm of the dishwasher, while the drain section discharges the wash water. This single pump reduces space requirements, as well as manufacturing costs. A two stage filtration system may be used in the water collection area of the dishwasher to filter out unwanted material, and a third filter may further filter wash water prior to recirculation. Self cleansing mechanisms associated with each of the filters may be used to keep the filters free from obstructions and allow for the unobstructed flow and discharge of wash water.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A dishwasher, comprising:

a case;
a rack installed in the case for accommodating the dishes;
a spray arm installed below the rack for spraying washing water;
a combined circulation/drain pump including an upper pump for repeatedly pressurizing and supplying the washing water to the spray arm and a lower pump for discharging the washing water;
and
a filtering means for filtering the washing water, the filtering means comprising:
water collector formed below a bottom surface of the case and in a washing water flow passage connected to the combined circulation/drain pump;
a filter provided in the water collector for filtering out garbage;
a filter self-cleansing means for performing a self-cleansing operation of the filter;
a garbage collecting chamber provided below the bottom surface of the case and connected to both a washing water discharge port of the upper pump and a drain flow passage of the lower pump;
a fine filter mounted on a top surface of the garbage collecting chamber for filtering out the garbage from the washing water discharged upward;
and
a fine filter self-cleansing means for performing a self-cleansing operation of the fine filter.

10 more elements

A dishwasher, comprising:

a case;
at least one rack instilled in the case and configured to receive a plurality of items;
a spray arm installed below the at least one rack and configured to spray washing fluid;
a comprising a first section configured to repeatedly pressurize and supply washing fluid to the spray arm, and a second section configured to discharge the washing fluid;
and
a filtering device configured to filter the washing fluid, comprising:
a collector formed in a washing fluid flow passage and configured to collect the washing fluid at a bottom surface of the case and to discharge the collected washing fluid to the pump;
a filter provided in the collector and configured to filter out particles;
and
a filter self-cleansing device configured to perform a self-cleansing operation on the filter, wherein the filter self cleansing device comprises:
a spraying portion disposed outside the filter and configured to spray washing fluid supplied by the first section of the pump onto the filter so as to dislodge particles accumulated on the filter;
a connecting portion configured to connect the spraying portion and the first section of the pump, so as to supply washing fluid to the spraying portion;
and
an opening/closing portion attached to the first section of the pump and configured to close during a washing operation and to open during a drain operation so as to discharge the washing fluid to the connecting portion during the drain operation.

11 more elements

A dishwasher, comprising:

a case;
at least one rack installed in the case and configured to receive a plurality of items;
a spray arm provided below the rack and configured to spray washing fluid;
a comprising a first section configured to pressurize and supply the washing fluid to the spray arm, and a second section configured to discharge the washing fluid;
and
a filtering device configured to filter the washing fluid, comprising:
a collector formed in a washing fluid flow passage and configured to collect the washing fluid at a bottom surface within the case and to discharge the collected washing fluid to the pump;
a collecting chamber provided below the bottom surface of the case and connected to both a washing fluid discharge port of the first section of the pump and a drain flow passage of the second section of the pump, comprising a fine filter mounted on a top surface of the collecting chamber and configured to filter out particles from the washing fluid and a dispersing device configured to prevent particles from accumulating at one side of the fine filter by dispersing a flow of the washing fluid into the collecting chamber from the first section of the pump;
and
a fine filter self-cleansing device configured to perform a self-cleansing operation of on the fine filter.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.