Water guide for dishwasher

• US 20050241683A1
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jeong, Mun Gyu
• Granted Patent: US 7,434,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/58.D
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4223 Devices for water discharge, e.g. devices to prevent siphoning, non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7898 Pivoted valves

Abstract

A water guide of a dishwasher checks the flow of water draining from the dishwasher. The water guide includes a drain passage having one end communicating with an outer atmosphere and another end communicating with a sump for receiving washing water, at least part of the drain passage being routed via a point higher than a water level in the sump, and a valve assembly, disposed above the drain passage, for selectively introducing external air into the drain passage.

Claims

1. A water guide for a dishwasher, comprising:

a drain passage having one end communicating with an outer atmosphere and another end communicating with a sump for receiving washing water, at least part of the drain passage being routed via a point higher than a water level in the sump; and

a valve assembly, disposed above the drain passage, for selectively introducing external air into the drain passage.

2. The water guide of claim 1, wherein the drain passage is disposed between a drain pump communicating with the sump and a drain hose communicating with the outer atmosphere.

3. The water guide of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly is automatically operated by a pressure of water drained through the drain passage.

4. The water guide of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly comprises:

a valve chamber, provided above the drain passage and communicating with the drain passage, the valve chamber communicating with the outer atmosphere via an aperture formed in an upper side of the valve chamber; and

a valve body, provided inside the valve chamber, for closing and opening the aperture by ascending and descending inside the valve chamber.

5. The water guide of claim 4, wherein the valve body is made of a material having buoyancy.

6. The water guide of claim 4, wherein the valve assembly further comprises a needle, extending from the valve body through the aperture, for guiding the ascending and descending movement of the valve body inside the valve chamber.

7. The water guide of claim 4, wherein the valve body comprises a conic upper end for seating the aperture when the valve body is ascended.

8. The water guide of claim 4, further comprising an air passage, extending from an upper side of the valve chamber, having one end communicating with the outer atmosphere and another end communicating with the aperture.

9. The water guide of claim 1, further comprising a check valve for preventing a reverse flow of water drained through the drain passage.

10. The water guide of claim 9, wherein the check valve comprises a hinged shutter, provided in the drain passage, for opening and closing the drain passage.

11. The water guide of claim 10, wherein the hinged shutter is installed to open and close the drain passage.

12. The water guide of claim 10, wherein the hinged shutter, when in a closed position, is disposed obliquely to create a self-weighted seal of the drain passage.

13. A water guide for a dishwasher, comprising:

a drain passage having one end communicating with an outer atmosphere and another end communicating with a sump for receiving washing water, at least part of the drain passage being routed via a point higher than a water level in the sump;

a connection passage communicating with the sump and the drain passage; and

a check valve, provided at a junction of the drain passage and a connection passage, for selectively opening and closing the connection passage.

14. The water guide of claim 13, wherein the connection passage is closed by the weight of the check valve and is opened by water pressure.

15. The water guide of claim 13, wherein the check valve comprises a hinged shutter, provided in the connection passage, for opening and closing the connection passage.

16. The water guide of claim 15, wherein the connection passage is disposed horizontally and is connected perpendicularly to the drain passage.

17. The water guide of claim 15, wherein the hinged shutter, when in a closed position, is disposed obliquely to create a self-weighted seal of the drain passage.

18. The water guide of claim 15, wherein the connection passage has a lower portion partially extending into the drain passage.

19. The water guide of claim 13, further comprising a valve assembly, disposed above the drain passage, for selectively introducing external air into the drain passage.

20. The water guide of claim 19, wherein the valve assembly comprises:

a valve chamber, provided above the drain passage and communicating with the drain passage, the valve chamber communicating with the outer atmosphere via an aperture formed in an upper side of the valve chamber; and

a valve body, provided inside the valve chamber, for closing and opening the aperture by ascending and descending inside the valve chamber.

21. The water guide of claim 20, wherein the valve assembly further comprises a needle, extending from the valve body through the aperture, for guiding the ascending and descending movement of the valve body inside the valve chamber.

22. A water guide for a dishwasher, comprising:

a case, enclosing an inner space, having an air inlet communicating with an outer atmosphere;

a drain passage, provided in the case, having one end communicating with the outer atmosphere and another end communicating with a sump for receiving washing water, at least part of the drain passage being routed via a point higher than a water level in the sump;

a valve assembly, disposed above the drain passage, for selectively introducing external air into the drain passage via the air inlet; and

a feed passage, provided in the case, communicating with the sump and a water feed valve, part of the feed passage being higher than the water level in the sump.

23. The water guide of claim 22, wherein the valve assembly comprises:

a valve chamber, provided above the drain passage and communicating with the drain passage, the valve chamber communicating with the outer atmosphere via an aperture formed in an upper side of the valve chamber; and

a valve body, provided inside the valve chamber, for closing and opening the aperture by ascending and descending inside the valve chamber.

24. The water guide of claim 23, wherein the valve assembly further comprises a needle, extending from the valve body through the aperture, for guiding the ascending and descending movement of the valve body inside the valve chamber.

25. The water guide of claim 22, further comprising:

a check valve for preventing a reverse flow of water drained through the drain passage; and

a hinged shutter, provided in the drain passage, for opening and closing the drain passage.

26. The water guide of claim 25, wherein the hinged shutter, when in a closed position, is disposed obliquely to create a self-weighted seal of the drain passage.

27. The water guide of claim 22, wherein the feed passage communicates with the air inlet.

28. The water guide of claim 22, wherein the case has a tub opening formed in one side to communicate with a tub of the dishwasher.

29. The water guide of claim 28, further comprising at least one baffle, provided in the case, such that an air passage between the air inlet and the opening has at least one bend.

30. The water guide of claim 29, wherein the at least one baffle comprises:

a first baffle, protruding from an inner surface of the case and disposed obliquely between the air inlet and the opening; and

a second baffle, protruding from an outer circumference of the opening and disposed obliquely between the opening and the first baffle.

31. The water guide of claim 22, further comprising a flow meter, disposed in the feed passage, for measuring an amount of water flowing through the feed passage, the flow meter having an inlet disposed at a high point, an outlet disposed at a low point, and an impeller disposed between the inlet and the outlet.

32. The water guide of claim 22, further comprising a water level sensor, provided in the case, for sensing a full water level in the sump.

33. The water guide of claim 32, wherein the water level sensor comprises:

a tube, provided in the case, such that an inner water level is varied depending on a water level of the sump;

a floater provided inside the tube;

a lever, supported in the tube and spaced a predetermined interval from the floater; and

a switch, disposed on the lever, having a pair of contact terminals that are closed when the lever ascends.

34. The water guide of claim 33, wherein the water level sensor further comprises a partitioning plate, provided in the tube to support the lever, for partitioning an inner space of the tube into an upper space and a lower space, the partitioning plate having a hole for receiving the lever.