Dishwasher with sprayer

• US 10,058,229 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Feddema, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lorenzi, Marc
• Application Number:
  US15/621,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20170280965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/23 moved by means of the sprays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4282 Arrangements to change or modify spray pattern or direction

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and a sprayer for spraying liquid to the treating chamber. The sprayer may include a liquid passage and at least one outlet extending from an interior to an exterior of the sprayer and in fluid communication with the liquid passage. A membrane may have at least one opening and may be in fluid communication with the liquid passage to control the flow of liquid through the at least one outlet.

Claims

1. A dishwasher for treating utensils according to an automatic cycle of operation, comprising:

a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving utensils for treatment according to the automatic cycle of operation;

a sprayer for spraying liquid into the treating chamber and having a body, the body having an exterior and an inner surface defining an interior, wherein the interior forms at least a portion of a liquid passage and at least one outlet including an aperture extends from the interior to the exterior, wherein the inner surface includes a rib defining a periphery surrounding the at least one outlet; and

a slidable valve body located within the interior including a membrane having at least one opening;

wherein the membrane sealingly abuts the rib to form a liquid seal between the rib and the membrane and where the membrane and the sprayer are operably coupled wherein, during use, rotation of the sprayer causes reciprocating movement of the membrane relative to the sprayer such that at least a portion of the at least one opening passes within the periphery to fluidly couple the interior to the at least one outlet and provide for a fluid path from the interior, through the at least one opening, and through the at least one outlet to emit a spray of liquid from the sprayer into the treating chamber.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the membrane includes a polyester film.

3. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a driver system coupling the rotatable sprayer to the membrane and wherein rotation of the sprayer acts as an input to the driver system, which in turn drives the membrane relative to the body of the rotatable sprayer.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the driver system includes a reduction gear train.

5. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the driver system converts rotation of the rotatable sprayer into lateral movement of the membrane.

6. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the membrane is flexible and conforms to the rib.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the rib is integral with the body of the sprayer.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the rib is operably coupled to the body of the sprayer.

9. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the at least one outlet comprises a plurality of outlets.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9, further comprising a rib surrounding each of the plurality of outlets.