Back to results
US 7,754,026 B2Granted
Dishwasher with sonic cleaner
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorDennis L. Kehl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A household dishwasher having a sonic cleaner that propagates sonic waves via a stream of liquid to clean off a utensil.
Claims13
A household dishwasher comprising:
- a tub defining a wash chamber;
- a utensil rack located within the wash chamber;
- a rotating spray arm located within the wash chamber and having at least one outlet for spraying wash liquid into the utensil rack to define a first wash zone;
- and
- a sonic cleaner located within the wash chamber comprising:
- a liquid conducting housing that defines a stream generator configured to direct a stream of liquid from the stream generator into the utensil rack to define a second wash zone;
- and
- a transducer located within said housing configured to generate and imbed sound waves in the stream of liquid as the liquid passes in front of the transducer such that said stream of liquid with the sound waves propagated therein is directed from the sonic cleaner into the utensil rack;
- wherein at least a portion of the first wash zone intersects with at least a portion of the second wash zone.
6 more elements
A conveyor dishwasher comprising:
- a tub defining a wash chamber;
- a utensil holder in the form of a conveyor belt with utensil rack located at least partially within the wash chamber;
- a first sonic cleaner located within the wash chamber above the utensil rack comprising:
- a liquid conducting housing that defines a stream generator configured to direct a first stream of liquid from the stream generator into the utensil rack to define a first wash zone;
- and
- a transducer located within said housing configured to generate and imbed sound waves in the stream of liquid as the liquid passes in front of the transducer such that said stream of liquid with the sound waves propagated therein is directed from the sonic cleaner into the utensil rack;
- a second sonic cleaner located within the wash chamber below the utensil rack comprising:
- a liquid conducting housing that defines a stream generator configured to direct a second stream of liquid from the stream generator into the utensil rack to define a second wash zone;
- and
- a transducer located within said housing configured to generate and imbed sound waves in the stream of liquid as the liquid passes in front of the transducer such that said stream of liquid with the sound waves propagated therein is directed from the sonic cleaner into the utensil rack;
- wherein at least a portion of the first wash zone intersects with at least a portion of the second wash zone.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.