Two level conduit docking port mechanism for a dishwashing appliance
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsErrin Gnadinger, Satish Kumar Raju Buddharaju
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A two level conduit docking port for a dishwashing appliance is described. The docking port is provided having an upper port and a lower port, either of which is opened depending upon the position of a sliding valve that moves along the vertical direction. Movement of the valve to open either the upper port or the lower port is caused by contact between a protrusion on the sliding valve and a conduit attached to a height-adjustable rack. As such rack is pushed into the wash chamber of the dishwasher, the valve is moved vertically depending upon the vertical level of the rack.
Claims18
A dishwashing appliance, comprising:
- a cabinet defining a wash chamber for the receipt of articles for washing;
- a rack for carrying the articles, said rack configured for movement in and out of the cabinet for access by a user of the appliance, said rack also configured for adjustment between an upper level and a lower level within the wash chamber;
- a conduit attached to said rack and movable with said rack in and out of the cabinet, said conduit having a connecting end oriented towards a rear wall of the wash chamber;
- a fluid supply located along the rear wall of the chamber and defining an egress for the flow of fluid out of said fluid supply;
- a housing positioned adjacent the egress of said fluid supply, said housing defining an aperture for the flow through of fluid;
- and,
- a valve member positioned between said fluid supply and said housing, said valve member defining a protrusion that extends through the aperture of said housing, said valve member configured for sliding movement between
- i) a lower location where the aperture of said housing and said valve member align to define an upper port shaped to receive the connecting end of said conduit when said rack is in the upper level, and
- ii) an upper location where the aperture of said housing and said valve member align to define a lower port shaped to receive the connecting end of said conduit when said rack is in the lower level.
A dishwashing appliance, comprising:
- a cabinet defining a wash chamber for the receipt of articles for washing;
- a rack for carrying the articles, said rack configured for movement in and out of the cabinet for access by a user of the appliance, said rack also configured for adjustment between an upper level and a lower level within the wash chamber;
- a conduit attached to said rack and movable with said rack in and out of the cabinet, said conduit having a connecting end oriented towards a rear wall of the wash chamber;
- a fluid supply positioned along the rear wall of the wash chamber;
- and,
- a docking port mechanism located along said fluid supply;
- said docking port mechanism comprising:
- a cover defining a vertically-oriented slot;
- a sliding member having a protrusion positioned between an upper edge and a lower edge, said sliding member movable between i) an upper location where the lower edge and said cover define a lower port for receipt of the connecting end of said conduit and ii) a lower location where the upper edge and said cover define an upper port for receipt of the connecting end of said conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.