Dishwasher fill control

• US 20070017551A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel Hartogh
• Original Assignee: Daniel Hartogh
• Inventors: Hartogh, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/186,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20070017551A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0023 Water filling A47L15/4244 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0049 Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention arrangements to prevent clogging of filters A47L15/4208; safety arrangements for preventing water damage A47L15/421
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/12 Water temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/20 Time, e.g. elapsed operating time
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/26 Loading door status, e.g. door latch opened or closed state
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/01 Water supply, e.g. opening or closure of the water inlet valve
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/02 Water discharge, e.g. opening or closure of discharge valve
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/05 Drain or recirculation pump, e.g. regulation of the pump rotational speed or flow direction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user

Abstract

A method of filling a dishwasher includes inputting first water into a dishwasher in a first fill, monitoring temperature of the first water, pumping the first water out of the dishwasher until the temperature of the first water reaches a first predetermined temperature, then filling the dishwasher with second water in a second fill. The method may use criteria other than temperature for stopping the pumping out of the first water and commencing with the filling of the second fill. Such criteria may include elapsing of a timeout.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

inputting first water into a dishwasher in a first fill;

monitoring temperature of the first water;

pumping the first water out of the dishwasher until the temperature of the first water reaches a first predetermined temperature; and

then filling the dishwasher with second water in a second fill.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring of first water temperature by obtaining a temperature from a fill tube.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising displaying the fill tube temperature on an outer surface display of the dishwasher.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring of first water temperature by obtaining a temperature from a sump area of the dishwasher.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising displaying the sump area temperature on an outer surface display of the dishwasher.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising stopping the pumping after a predetermined time.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising adjusting the predetermined time based on a previous time required to reach the first predetermined temperature.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring a time from a starting of the inputting of first water until the reaching of the first predetermined temperature.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising triggering an alarm when the measured time reaches a predetermined amount.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the triggering of the alarm includes illuminating an indicator light.

11. A method comprising:

inputting water into a dishwasher;

pumping the water out of the dishwasher until a predetermined amount of time has elapsed; and

then filling the dishwasher with water.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the method is repeated for each water fill of a dishwashing cycle.

13. A method comprising:

inputting water into a dishwasher;

monitoring a temperature of the water being input;

pumping the water out of the dishwasher;

if the monitored water temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, stopping the pumping, filling the dishwasher with the water being input, and performing a wash; and

if the monitored water temperature has not reached a predetermined temperature and a predetermined time has elapsed, stopping the pumping, filling the dishwasher with the water being input, and performing a wash.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising repeating the method for each fill of a cycle being performed by the dishwasher.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising, if the monitored water temperature has not reached a predetermined temperature and a predetermined time has elapsed during a first fill operation of a cycle, then bypassing the pumping for each subsequent fill operation of the cycle.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

illuminating a test indicator during the pumping; and

turning off the test indicator during the filling and the performing of a wash.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising flashing the test indicator when the monitored water temperature is below a first alarm temperature.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising flashing the test indicator when the monitored water temperature is above a second alarm temperature.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising disabling a performing of a wash if, during the filling, the monitored water temperature is above the second alarm temperature.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the flashing of the test indicator continues until a dishwasher door is opened.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising disabling the illuminator light when a door of the dishwasher is open.

22. A dishwasher, comprising:

a hot water inlet;

a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of water being input via the hot water inlet;

a wash starter that initiates a dish washing when the water being input reaches a predetermined fill level; and

means for pumping the water being input out of the dishwasher, thereby preventing the water being input from reaching the fill level, until a specified criteria is met.

23. Apparatus of claim 22, wherein the specified criteria is the temperature reaching a predetermined value.

24. Apparatus of claim 22, wherein the specified criteria is the passage of a predetermined time.

25. Apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a mechanical timer operative to determine when the predetermined time has passed.1.