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US 7,909,939 B2Granted
Humidity reducing exhaust duct for dishwasher
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsMark Edward Brewer, Walter G. Stelzer, Kenyon A. Hapke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vent system for a dishwasher provides a mixing chamber receiving high humidity air from a downdraft dishwasher vent system or the like and mixes this air with dry air before discharging it from the dishwasher to reduce the humidity of the discharged air moderating condensation problems.
Claims18
A vent system for a dishwasher comprising:
- a mixing chamber having a first inlet for receiving moist air from a wash cavity of the dishwasher, a second inlet for receiving drier air from outside of the wash cavity and an outlet displaced from the second inlet for venting the moist air to outside of the wash cavity, and a condensation reservoir for collecting water condensing out of the moist air;
- a first fan having a first motor and communicating with one of the mixing chamber and the wash cavity to move the moist air from the wash cavity into the first inlet;
- and
- a second fan having a second motor and communicating with the mixing chamber and operable independently of the first fan to (i) move drier air into the mixing chamber via the second inlet to mix with the moist air prior to exit of the moist air from the outlet, and (ii) move drier air across the collected water such that the collected water is removed from the condensation reservoir by evaporation therefrom.
1 more element
A dishwasher with a venting system comprising:
- a wash cavity having a first opening in a wash cavity wall leading into an upper area of the wash cavity;
- a mixing chamber having a first inlet for receiving moist air from a second opening in the wash cavity wall leading into a lower area of the wash cavity of the dishwasher and a second inlet for receiving drier air from outside of the wash cavity, an outlet displaced from the second inlet for venting the moist air to outside of the wash cavity, and a condensation reservoir for collecting water condensing out of the moist air and holding the collected water until it evaporates therefrom;
- a fan having a motor communicating with at least one of the mixing chamber and the wash cavity to move air through the first and second inlets to be mixed within the mixing chamber and exhausted through the outlet, wherein the fan moves dry air from outside the wash cavity into the wash cavity through the first opening to flush the wash cavity in a downward direction and then to be drawn into the mixing chamber through the first inlet and the fan moves dry air from outside the wash cavity into the second inlet for mixing with air from the first inlet;
- and
- wherein the fan is positioned upstream of at least one of the mixing chamber and wash cavity to be out of the path of moist air from inside the wash cavity;
- and wherein the fan is a brushless DC muffin fan.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.