FLUID INLET FOR A DISHWASHER

• US 20100186785A1
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Goodyear, Charles A., Colon, Mario Ascander
• Granted Patent: US 8,201,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/198
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/16 with rigidly-mounted spraying devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4209 Insulation arrangements, e.g. for sound damping or heat insulation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4217 Fittings for water supply, e.g. valves or plumbing means to connect to cold or warm water lines, aquastops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4246 Details of the tub A47L15/4272 takes precedence; insulation arrangements A47L15/4209
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/483 by using condensers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/488 Connections of the tub with the ambient air, e.g. air intake or venting arrangements

Abstract

A fluid inlet for a dishwasher configured to help manage acoustic emissions is provided. The fluid inlet includes a nozzle that defines a plurality of relatively small-diameter orifices and a plurality of relatively large-diameter orifices. The large diameter orifices may define a diverging cross-section. The relatively small-diameter orifices may be interspersed in a plurality of clusters between the relative larger diameter orifices. The fluid inlet may further include an enclosure defining a vertically descending channel from the nozzle toward a bottom of a tub of the dishwasher and one or more dampers within the enclosure such that the water exiting the nozzle cascades down onto and over the dampers and out of the enclosures through one or more outlets of the enclosure to the bottom of the tub.

Claims

1. A dishwasher for cleaning dishware comprising:

a tub for holding the dishware;

a water conduit; and

a fluid inlet in communication with the tub and the water conduit, the fluid inlet comprising a nozzle defining a combination of a plurality of relatively small-diameter orifices and a plurality of relatively large-diameter orifices, wherein, during a filling cycle of the dishwasher, water is transmitted along the water conduit through the nozzle to the tub.

2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of relatively large-diameter orifices comprises a diverging cross-section in a water inflow direction.

3. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the relatively small-diameter orifices are interspersed in a plurality of clusters between the relatively large-diameter orifices.

4. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein each of the clusters includes seven small diameter orifices.

5. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet further comprises an enclosure defining a vertically descending channel from the nozzle toward a bottom of the tub.

6. The dishwasher according to claim 5 further comprising one or more dampers within the enclosure such that the water exiting the nozzle cascades down onto and over the dampers and out of the enclosure through one or more outlets of the enclosure to the bottom of the tub.

7. The dishwasher according to claim 6 further comprising an air conduit extending from an inlet end of the air conduit in communication with the fluid inlet to an outlet end of the air conduit, wherein, during a drying cycle of the dishwasher, air is withdrawn from the tub through the fluid inlet and the air conduit and out of the outlet end of the air conduit.

8. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein each orifice defines a plurality of corners between the orifice and a material of the nozzle and wherein each corner is rounded to minimize flow jetties and turbulence from the air and the water travelling through the orifices

9. The dishwasher according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the one or more dampers is at least partially movable depending on a direction of flow of air or water travelling through the enclosure.

10. A fluid inlet for a dishwasher comprising:

a nozzle defining a combination of a plurality of relatively small-diameter orifices and a plurality of relatively large-diameter orifices, wherein each of the relative diameter orifices defines a diverging cross-section in a water inflow direction.

11. The fluid inlet according to claim 10, wherein the relatively small-diameter orifices are interspersed in a plurality of clusters between the relatively large-diameter orifices.

12. The fluid inlet according to claim 11, wherein each cluster includes seven relatively small-diameter orifices.

13. The fluid inlet according to claim 10 further comprising an enclosure defining a vertically descending channel from the nozzle.

14. The fluid inlet according to claim 12 further comprising one or more dampers within the enclosure.

15. The fluid inlet according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the one or more dampers is at least partially movable depending on a direction of flow of air or water travelling through the enclosure.

16. A nozzle for a fluid inlet of a dishwasher, the nozzle comprising:

an inner surface;

an outer surface;

a plurality of relatively small-diameter orifices extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, each of the relatively small-diameter orifices defining a constant cross-section; and

a plurality of relatively large-diameter orifices extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, each of the relatively large-diameter orifices defining a diverging cross-section.

17. The nozzle according to claim 16, wherein the relatively small-diameter orifices are interspersed in a plurality of clusters between the relatively large-diameter orifices.

18. The nozzle according to claim 17, wherein each cluster includes seven relatively small-diameter orifices.