Dishwasher system with a reuse tank
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsJosef A. Buser, Kristopher L. Delgado, Elliott V. Stowe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of operating a dishwasher having a wash tub and a reuse tank for storing liquid for subsequent reuse, wherein the condition of the water in the reuse tank may be monitored and/or acted upon to limit the likelihood of undesired effects associated with the growth of micro-organisms in the liquid.
Claims23
A method of operating a dishwasher comprising a tub forming a treating chamber and a reuse tank fluidly coupled to the tub for storing liquid from the treating chamber for subsequent reuse, the method comprising:
- storing liquid in the reuse tank for use in a same or subsequent wash cycle in the dishwasher, wherein the liquid has a pH above 8.0 to limit the growth of micro-organisms;
- monitoring the pH of liquid in the reuse tank;
- and
- draining the liquid from the reuse tank when the pH decreases to less than or equal to a pH threshold.
A method of operating a dishwasher comprising a reuse tank, a tub forming a treating chamber and fluidly coupled to the reuse tank, a temperature sensor, and a pH sensor coupled with the reuse tank, the method comprising:
- storing liquid in the reuse tank for use in a same or subsequent cycle in the dishwasher, wherein the liquid has a pH above 8.0 to limit the growth of micro-organisms;
- and
- monitoring the air temperature within the dishwasher and the pH of liquid in the reuse tank, the monitoring comprising outputting a signal indicative of the air temperature within the dishwasher using the temperature sensor and outputting a signal indicative of the pH of the liquid within the reuse tank using the pH sensor;
- draining the liquid from the reuse tank upon first to occur of:
- a) the air temperature within the dishwasher decreasing to less than or equal to a temperature threshold;
- or
- b) the pH of the liquid within the reuse tank decreasing to less than or equal to a pH threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.