Rotating filter for a dishwasher

• US 10,076,226 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2015
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Blanchard, Walter T., Geda, Jacquelyn R., Jozwiak, Todd M., Miller, John A., Rappette, Antony M., Welch, Rodney M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Adhlakha, Rita P
• Application Number:
  US14/967,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20160100738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4202 Water filter means or strainers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4206 Tubular filters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4208 Arrangements to prevent clogging of the filters, e.g. self-cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4219 Water recirculation A47L15/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4221 Arrangements for redirection of washing water, e.g. water diverters to selectively supply the spray arms A47L15/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4225 Arrangements or adaption of recirculation or discharge pumps

Abstract

A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a washing chamber, a liquid spraying system, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a rotating filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid.

Claims

1. A dishwasher for treating dishes according to at least one automatic cycle of operation, comprising:

a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment;

a sprayer proximate to the tub to spray liquid into the treating chamber;

a pump fluidly coupled between the treating chamber and the sprayer to define a circulation circuit for circulating the sprayed liquid from the treating chamber to the sprayer;

a rotating filter located within the circulation circuit such that the circulated liquid passes through the filter from an upstream surface to a downstream surface;

a diverter extending along and spaced away from at least a portion of at least one of the upstream and downstream surfaces to define a gap between the diverter and a longitudinal length of the filter; and

a diverter mount operably coupling the diverter to an exterior of the filter such that there is only a one tolerance stack up between at least one portion of the diverter and one portion of the filter that effects the gap;

wherein the diverter mount comprises a diverter bearing surface on the diverter and a filter bearing surface on the filter, with the diverter bearing surface and the filter bearing surface being in contact during rotation of the filter to form the one tolerance stack up.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises a frame, with at least a part of the frame forming the filter bearing surface.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the filter comprises a screen, which is supported by the frame, with the screen having a first surface defining the upstream surface and a second surface defining the downstream surface.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the position of the screen is fixed relative to the frame.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4 wherein the screen defines a hollow body having an exterior, defined by one of the first and second surfaces, and an interior, defined by the other of the first and second surfaces.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the filter further comprises a stationary shaft.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6 wherein the diverter mount has a first mount supported by the shaft.

8. A dishwasher for treating dishes according to at least one automatic cycle of operation, comprising:

a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving the dishes for treatment;

a sprayer proximate to the tub to spray liquid into the treating chamber;

a pump fluidly coupled between the treating chamber and the sprayer to define a circulation circuit for circulating the sprayed liquid from the treating chamber to the sprayer;

a rotating filter comprising a frame supporting a screen, with the frame having at least one filter bearing surface extending beyond the screen, and the filter located within the circulation circuit such that the circulated liquid passes through the screen from an upstream surface to a downstream surface as the filter rotates;

a first diverter extending along at least a portion of one of the upstream and downstream surfaces, and having a diverter bearing surface; and

a biasing device relatively biasing the rotating filter and the first diverter such that the filter bearing surface and the diverter bearing surface contact;

wherein the filter and first diverter are arranged such that when the filter bearing surface and diverter bearing surface are in contact, the first diverter is spaced from the screen along an exterior of the filter to form a gap between the first diverter and the screen such that the gap extends continuously along a longitudinal length of the screen.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the filter bearing surface extends beyond the screen.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9 wherein the filter defines a hollow body and the filter bearing surface comprises a projection extending about a periphery of the hollow body.

11. The dishwasher of claim 10 wherein the frame comprises at least one ring, with a portion of the ring projecting beyond the screen to form the projection.

12. The dishwasher of claim 8, further comprising a shroud at least partially enclosing the filter and having an access opening, with the first diverter located within the access opening.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12 wherein the first diverter projects through the access opening.

14. A dishwasher for treating dishes according to at least one automatic cycle of operation, comprising:

a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving the dishes for treatment;

a sprayer proximate to the tub to spray liquid into the treating chamber;

a pump fluidly coupled between the treating chamber and the sprayer to define a circulation circuit for circulating the sprayed liquid from the treating chamber to the sprayer;

a rotating filter comprising at least one filter bearing surface and a body in which are provided a plurality of openings, and the filter located within the circulation circuit such that the circulated liquid passes through the plurality of openings from an upstream surface to a downstream surface as the filter rotates; and

a first diverter extending along an exterior of the filter and the first diverter having a diverter bearing surface;

wherein a gap formed between the first diverter and the filter extends along a longitudinal length of the body of the filter, and wherein the first diverter bearing surface is in contact with the filter bearing surface, and

wherein the sum of the individual areas of the plurality of openings defines a cumulative open area for the body, the area of the body exposed to the circulation circuit defines the body area, and the ratio of the open area to the body area is 0.15 to 0.25.

15. The dishwasher of claim 14 wherein the ratio is a function of the rotational speed of the filter.

16. The dishwasher of claim 15 wherein the rotational speed of the filter is between 2000 and 3500 rpm.

17. The dishwasher of claim 15 wherein the pump comprises an inlet in fluid communication with the circulation circuit and an outlet in fluid communication with the circulation circuit, and the ratio is a function of at least the area of one of the inlet and the outlet.

18. The dishwasher of claim 17 wherein the inlet has an area of 660 to 810 mm² and the outlet has an area of 450 to 500 mm².

19. The dishwasher of claim 18 wherein the pump comprises a volumetric flow rate and the ratio is a function of the volumetric flow rate.