Modular drip pan and component mounting assembly for a dishwasher

• US 20080289664A1
• Filed: 05/13/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC (Owens Corning)
• Original Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC (Owens Corning)
• Inventors: Johnson, Phil, Rockwell, Anthony L., Frysinger, Clint, Chan, Albert W.
• Application Number:
  US12/119,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20080289664A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4209 Insulation arrangements, e.g. for sound damping or heat insulation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/421 Safety arrangements for preventing water damage
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4212 Detection of water leaks; Collection of leaked water, e.g. in the casing
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4251 Details of the casing insulation arrangements A47L15/4209; collecting leaked water in the casing for preventing water damage A47L15/4212
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4274 Arrangement of electrical components, e.g. control units or cables A47L15/4293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/09 Water level
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/32 Stopping or disabling machine operation, including disconnecting the machine from a network, e.g. from an electrical power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/00 Methods preventing fouling preventing accumulation of deposits in pneumatic conveyors B65G53/521

Abstract

A dishwasher for receiving and cleansing soiled kitchenware includes a tub defining a washing chamber, a movable door for selectively exposing the washing chamber, and a modular, slidably mounted drip pan and component mounting assembly or base member positioned below the tub. One or more of a plurality of wash system components, including a wash pump, an inlet valve and a drain valve, is mounted to the modular base member. The modular base member includes connection points for household utilities, a peripheral lip or rim so as to contain any liquid that may fall from the dishwasher tub and a float and cut-off system that serves to terminate operation of the dishwasher upon detecting a water leak. In addition, the modular base member may also contain a system for heating washing fluid to a desired temperature, along with related control components.

Claims

1. A dishwasher for receiving and cleansing soiled kitchenware comprising:

a washing chamber;

a door mounted for movement relative to the tub for selectively exposing the washing chamber; and

a modular base member shiftably mounted relative to and below the tub, said modular base member supporting at least one of a wash pump, a drain valve, an inlet water connection point and an electrical connection point.

2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein each of a wash pump, a drain valve and an inlet water connection point are attached to the modular base member.

3. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the modular base member supports each of an inlet water connection point and an electrical connection point.

4. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the modular base member includes front, rear, opposing side and bottom walls that collectively define a basin.

5. The dishwasher according to claim 4, further comprising:

a float valve positioned in the basin, said float valve being adapted to cut-off operation of the dishwasher upon detecting a predetermined amount of water in the basin.

6. The dishwasher according to claim 4, further comprising:

a base portion positioned below the washing chamber, said base member includes first and second opposing side walls and a rear wall, said modular base member being shiftably supported by the base portion.

7. The dishwasher according to claim 6, wherein each of the first and second opposing side walls of the base portion is provided with a glide member.

8. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein each of the first and second opposing side walls of the modular base member is provided with a corresponding side rail, each said side rail being supported for relative sliding movement along a respective glide member.

9. The dishwasher according to claim 1, further comprising:

a controller mounted adjacent the modular base member.

10. A method of accessing a washing component of a dishwasher comprising:

shifting a modular base member relative to a tub supported by a base portion of the dishwasher; and

directly accessing at least one of a wash pump, a drain valve, an inlet water connection point and an electrical connection point supported by the modular base member.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sliding the modular base member from below the tub, with the modular base member being supported on glide members of the base portion, to access the washing component.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting when a predetermined amount of water is in a basin defined by the modular base member; and

cutting-off operation of the dishwasher when the predetermined amount of water is detected in the basin.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined amount of water is detected and operation of the dishwasher is cut-off by a float valve positioned in the basin.

14. The method of claim 14, wherein shifting the modular base member relative to the tub is performed by shiftably supporting side members of the modular base member on respective glide members of the base portion.