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US 9,307,886 B2Granted
Indexing passive diverter for an appliance
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsKyle Edward Durham, Craig Curtis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A passive diverter is provided that does not require a dedicated motor to switch between multiple outlet ports. The diverter uses a flow of fluid provided by a pump to switch between different outlet ports. In a dishwashing appliance, fluid from the pump that supplies one or more spray assemblies can be used to cause the diverter to switch between different fluid outlets and e.g., different spray assemblies. A separate motor to power the diverter is not required, which allows a savings in costs and space.
Claims16
A dishwasher appliance, comprising:
- a tub that defines a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;
- a pump for providing fluid flow for cleaning the articles;
- a passive diverter that receives fluid flow from the pump, the passive diverter having an axial direction, the passive diverter having a plurality of outlet ports for providing fluid to the wash chamber, the passive diverter comprising
- a housing defining a chamber, the chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet to supply fluid to the outlet ports;
- a disk positioned within the fluid outlet and rotatable about an axis, the disk defining an aperture for selectively controlling fluid flow from the chamber through one of the outlet ports, the disk movable along the axial direction between a first position and a second position, the disk defining a channel and a plurality of cams projecting into the channel, the disk further comprising a flange extending around the disk and projecting along the axial direction towards the fluid outlet, the flange configured to assist in capturing the momentum provided by fluid flow through the fluid outlet, wherein the flange rests on an interior surface of the housing when the disk is in the first position and is separated from the housing when in the second position;
- a biasing element configured to urge the rotatable disk into the first position;
- and
- a boss extending from the housing into the channel of the disk, the boss defining a plurality of guide elements, wherein the guide elements and cams are configured to interact so that movement of the disk along the axial direction between the first position and the second position causes the disk to rotate about the axis.
5 more elements
A passive diverter for selectively controlling fluid flow in an appliance, the passive diverter comprising:
- a housing comprising a chamber and a plurality of fluid outlet ports for providing selective control of fluid flow for the appliance, the chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet to supply fluid to the outlet ports;
- a disk positioned within the fluid outlet and rotatable about an axis, the disk defining an aperture for selectively controlling fluid flow from the chamber through one of the outlet ports, the disk movable along the axial direction between a first position and a second position, the disk defining a channel and a plurality of cams projecting into the channel, the disk further comprising a flange extending around the disk and projecting along the axial direction towards the fluid outlet, the flange configured to assist in capturing the momentum provided by fluid flow through the fluid outlet, wherein the flange rests on an interior surface of the housing when the disk is in the first position and is separated from the housing when in the second position;
- a biasing element configured to urge the rotatable disk into the first position;
- and
- a boss extending from the housing into the channel of the disk, the boss defining a plurality of guide elements, wherein the guide elements and cams are configured to interact so that movement of the disk along the axial direction between the first position and the second position causes the disk to rotate about the axis.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.