Safety arrangement for a dishwasher

• US 20100126526A1
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Sumner, David, Jadhav, Ashwin, Poyner, Dennis A.
• Application Number:
  US12/275,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20100126526A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• 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 15/507 Arrangements for extracting racks, e.g. roller supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/34 Other automatic detections
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/01 Water supply, e.g. opening or closure of the water inlet valve
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• 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: A47L 2501/36 Other output

Abstract

Provided is a safety arrangement for a dishwasher. The safety arrangement may include a rack sensing component configured to determine whether a rack is in a washing location in a dishwasher and to provide a signal in response thereto. A processing unit may be in communication with the rack sensing component and may be configured to receive the signal. The processing unit may be further configured to prevent a washing procedure of the dishwasher when the signal indicates that the rack is not disposed in the washing location. The dishwasher may further include a user interface in communication with the processing unit, which user interface can provide an indicia of the rack not being disposed in the washing location and/or may be rendered inoperable by the processing unit when the signal indicates that the rack is not disposed in the washing location.

Claims

1. A safety arrangement for a dishwasher, said safety arrangement comprising:

a rack sensing component configured to determine whether a rack is in a washing location in a dishwasher and to provide a signal in response thereto; and

a processing unit in communication with said rack sensing component and configured to receive the signal, the processing unit being further configured to prevent a washing procedure of the dishwasher when the signal indicates that the rack is not disposed in the washing location.

2. The safety arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said dishwasher includes a water inlet valve in communication with the processing unit, and said processing unit is configured to prevent opening of a water inlet valve when the signal indicates that the rack is not disposed in the washing location.

3. The safety arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said dishwasher further comprises a user interface in communication with the processing unit, the user interface being configured to provide an indicia of the rack not being disposed in the washing location in response to the signal.

4. The safety arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said dishwasher further comprises a user interface in communication with the processing unit, and said processing unit is configured to render the user interface inoperable when the signal indicates that the rack is not disposed in the washing location.

5. The safety arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said rack sensing component is configured to physically engage the rack when the rack is disposed at the washing location, such that said determination includes said rack sensing component sensing physical engagement with said rack.

6. The safety arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said rack sensing component defines an incomplete electrical circuit configured to be completed by the rack when the rack is disposed in the washing location.

7. The safety arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said rack sensing component includes a switch capable of being urged into a closed position to complete said electrical circuit, and said switch is configured to be urged into the closed position by the rack when the rack is disposed in the washing location.

8. The safety arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said rack sensing component comprises a detection device configured to detect said rack and a disposition thereof with respect to the washing location.

9. A dishwasher comprising:

a washing chamber defining therein a washing location;

a rack disposed within and selectively removable from said washing chamber;

a washing mechanism configured to dispense fluid into said washing chamber; and

a safety arrangement including;

a rack sensing component configured to determine whether a rack is in a washing location in a dishwasher and to provide a signal in response thereto; and

a processing unit in communication with said rack sensing component and said washing mechanism, and configured to receive the signal, said processing unit being further configured to prevent a washing procedure of the dishwasher when the signal indicates that the rack is not disposed in the washing location.

10. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein said washing mechanism further comprises a water inlet valve, and said processing unit is configured to prevent opening of said water inlet valve when the signal indicates that the rack is not disposed in the washing location.

11. The dishwasher according to claim 9, further comprising a user interface in communication with the processing unit and configured to provide an indicia of the rack not being disposed in the washing location in response to the signal.

12. The dishwasher according to claim 9, further comprising a user interface in communication with the processing unit, wherein said processing unit is configured to render the user interface inoperable when the signal indicates that the rack is not disposed in the washing location.

13. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein said rack sensing component is configured to physically engage said rack when said rack is disposed at the washing location, such that said determination includes said rack sensing component sensing physical engagement with said rack.

14. The dishwasher according to claim 13, wherein said rack sensing component defines an incomplete electrical circuit and said rack acts to complete the circuit when said rack is disposed in the washing location.

15. The dishwasher according to claim 14, wherein said rack sensing component includes a switch capable of being urged into a closed position in order to complete said electrical circuit, and said rack acts to urge said switch into the closed position when said rack is disposed in the washing location.

16. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein said rack sensing component comprises a detection device configured to detect said rack and a disposition thereof with respect to the washing location.

17. A method of controlling a dishwasher, comprising:

determining whether a rack is in a washing location in a dishwasher and providing a signal in response thereto; and

preventing a washing procedure of the dishwasher when the signal indicates that the rack is not disposed in the washing location.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein preventing the washing procedure further comprises preventing opening of a water inlet valve engaged with the dishwasher when the signal indicates that the rack is not disposed in the washing location.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising providing an indicia of the rack not being disposed in the washing location, in response to the signal, via a user interface of the dishwasher.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the dishwasher further includes a user interface, and the method further comprises rendering the user interface inoperable when the signal indicates that the rack is not disposed in the washing location.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the dishwasher further comprises a rack sensing component, and determining whether a rack is in a washing location further comprises physically engaging said rack with the rack sensing component when said rack is disposed at the washing location, such that said determination includes said rack sensing component sensing physical engagement with said rack.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said rack sensing component defines an incomplete electrical circuit, and determining whether a rack is in a washing location further comprises completing the circuit when said rack is disposed in the washing location.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said rack sensing component includes a switch capable of being urged into a closed position in order to complete said electrical circuit, and determining whether a rack is in a washing location further comprises urging said switch into the closed position when said rack is disposed in the washing location.

24. The method according to claim 17, wherein the dishwasher further comprises a rack sensing component comprising a detection device, and the method further comprises detecting said rack and a disposition thereof with respect to the washing location.

25. A safety arrangement for a dishwasher, the dishwasher having a tub portion sealable by a door pivotably engaged therewith, and including a rack disposed about a lower end of the tub portion and a control device configured to actuate a wash cycle in the dishwasher, the safety arrangement comprising:

an actuation device operably engaged with the dishwasher and configured to interact with the rack, the actuation device being further configured to be in communication with the control device so as to direct the control device to prevent actuation of the wash cycle in the dishwasher upon the actuation device determining that the rack is not present in the tub portion.