In-sink dishwasher
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsRalph E. Christman, Ryan K. Roth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dish-cleaning appliance comprising a sink having a bowl defining a wash chamber with an open top for providing access to the wash chamber. A liquid recirculation system is provided for spraying liquid throughout the wash chamber. A drain conduit can be provided, alone or in combination with the recirculation system, for draining liquid from the wash chamber when the drain is closed. A fill control system is provided to ensure that the dishwashing cycle is not started with liquid in the wash chamber and that the sink drain is properly closed. One or more sensors can be provided for enabling the fill control system. The sensors can be located within the drain above the location where the drain is plugged.
Claims32
An in-sink dishwasher comprising:
- a sink having a bowl comprising a bottom wall from which extends a peripheral side wall, which collectively define a wash chamber with an open top for receiving dishes to be washed;
- the bottom wall of the sink comprising first and second spaced apertures;
- the first aperture being positioned off-center in the bottom wall of the sink bowl for allowing liquid to flow out of the wash chamber and the second aperture being centrally located in bottom wall of the sink bowl for allowing liquid to be re-introduced into the wash chamber;
- the first aperture for accommodating a first drain for allowing wash liquid to flow out of the wash chamber;
- the second aperture for accommodating a liquid sprayer for allowing liquid to be re-introduced into the wash chamber;
- a plug removably mounted in the first drain and for fluidly closing the first drain;
- and
- a recirculation conduit coupled between the first drain and the liquid sprayer for forming a liquid recirculation loop between the wash chamber, first drain and liquid sprayer, wherein draining of liquid in the recirculation loop is not restricted when the first drain is closed by the plug.
An in-sink dishwasher comprising:
- a sink having a bowl comprising a bottom wall from which extends a peripheral side wall, which collectively define a wash chamber with an open top for receiving dishes to be washed;
- a first drain fluidly connected to the wash chamber for draining wash liquid from the wash chamber;
- a liquid sprayer fluidly connected to the wash chamber for introducing wash liquid to the wash chamber;
- a recirculation conduit coupled between the first drain and the liquid sprayer for forming a liquid recirculation loop between the wash chamber, the first drain and the liquid sprayer;
- a plug removably mounted in the first drain for fluidly closing the first drain but not restricting flow of liquid in the recirculation loop when the first drain is closed by the plug;
- and
- a recirculation drain fluidly connected to the recirculation conduit and spaced apart from the first drain for draining liquid in the recirculation loop when the plug closes off the first drain.
An in-sink dishwasher comprising:
- a sink having a bowl comprising a bottom wall from which extends a peripheral side wall, which collectively define a wash chamber with an open top for receiving dishes to be washed;
- a first drain fluidly connected to the wash chamber for draining wash liquid from the wash chamber;
- a liquid sprayer fluidly connected to the wash chamber for introducing wash liquid to the wash chamber;
- a recirculation conduit coupled between the first drain and the liquid sprayer for forming a liquid recirculation loop between the wash chamber, the first drain and the liquid sprayer;
- a recirculation pump for pumping wash liquid through the recirculation conduit and into the liquid sprayer;
- and
- a drain pump in fluid communication with a recirculation drain and a waste drain conduit for pumping wash liquid from the recirculation loop to the waste drain conduit for allowing liquid to be drained from the wash chamber when a plug is seated in the first drain and the first drain is closed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.