FLUID CIRCULATION ARRANGEMENT FOR PROVIDING AN INTENSIFIED WASH EFFECT IN A DISHWASHER AND AN ASSOCIATED METHOD

• US 20110030742A1
• Filed: 08/10/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux), Aktiebolaget Electrolux
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Montgomery, Mark D., Dalsing, Troy, Olson, Niklas, White, Daniel Clay, Francisco, Virgil J., House, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,301,670 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 15/508 Hydraulic connections for racks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

According to embodiments of the present invention, a dishwasher may provide an intensified wash effect. The dishwasher may include a rack defining a bottom and a sidewall, wherein the rack is adapted to receive dishware therein. A dishwashing fluid supply channel may be configured to supply dishwashing fluid to a spray assembly. The spray assembly may comprise at least one nozzle member. Thereby, the spray assembly may be adapted to receive the dishwashing fluid from the dishwashing fluid supply channel and to dispense the dishwashing fluid therethrough. The spray assembly may be coupled to the sidewall of the rack. Further, the nozzle member may be attached to an arm which is moveable between at least a first position wherein the arm is adjacent the sidewall of the rack and a second position wherein the arm is adjacent the bottom of the rack.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising:

a rack defining a bottom and at least one sidewall, the rack adapted to receive dishware therein;

a dishwashing fluid supply channel configured to supply a dishwashing fluid; and

a spray assembly coupled to the sidewall of the rack, the spray assembly comprising at least one nozzle member adapted to receive the dishwashing fluid from the dishwashing fluid supply channel and to dispense the dishwashing fluid therefrom.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the spray assembly further comprises at least one attachment member configured to couple the spray assembly to the sidewall of the rack.

3. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the spray assembly further comprises a fluid connector configured to couple the spray assembly to the dishwashing fluid supply channel so as to provide fluid communication therebetween.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3, wherein the rack is moveable between a loading position at which the spray assembly is decoupled from the dishwashing fluid supply channel and an operating position at which the spray assembly is coupled to the dishwashing fluid supply channel.

5. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a valve configured to control supply of the dishwashing fluid to the nozzle member.

6. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the spray assembly further comprises an arm coupled to the nozzle member.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6, wherein the arm is moveable with respect to the rack.

8. The dishwasher of claim 7, wherein the arm is configured to rotate about a first axis between a first position wherein the nozzle member is directed substantially horizontally and a second position wherein the nozzle member is directed substantially vertically.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8, wherein the arm comprises a bend configured to direct the nozzle member away from a center of the bottom of the rack in the second position.

10. The dishwasher of claim 8, further comprising a valve configured to control the supply of dishwashing fluid to the nozzle member, wherein the valve is configured to be closed when the arm is in the first position and open when the arm is in the second position.

11. The dishwasher of claim 8, wherein the arm is further configured to rotate about a second axis which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis such that the nozzle member may be directed towards or away from the rack in at least one of the first position or the second position.

12. The dishwasher of claim 11, wherein the arm comprises a first section configured to rotate about the first axis and a second section configured to rotate about the second axis.

13. The dishwasher of claim 8, wherein the spray assembly comprises a plurality of arms each rotatable with respect to the rack about the first axis and each comprising at least one respective nozzle member.

14. The dishwasher of claim 6, wherein the arm is Y-shaped.

15. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the spray assembly comprises a manifold coupled to the sidewall and a plurality of nozzle members coupled thereto.

16. The dishwasher of claim 15, wherein the manifold is positioned adjacent to the sidewall such that the nozzle members extend at least partially through the sidewall.

17. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a spray arm positioned adjacent the bottom of the rack, wherein the spray arm is configured to receive the dishwashing fluid and to dispense the dishwashing fluid in a first wash zone, and

wherein the spray assembly is configured to dispense the dishwashing fluid in a second wash zone, wherein the second wash zone differs from the first wash zone in at least one of position or intensity.

18. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the spray assembly is coupled to the sidewall of the rack so as to be supported thereby.

19. A dishwasher comprising:

a rack defining a bottom and at least one sidewall, the rack adapted to receive dishware therein;

a dishwashing fluid supply channel configured to supply a dishwashing fluid; and

a spray assembly adapted to receive the dishwashing fluid from the dishwashing fluid supply channel, the spray assembly comprising at least one nozzle member adapted to dispense the dishwashing fluid therefrom and an arm coupled to the at least one nozzle member, the arm being moveable between at least a first position wherein the arm is adjacent the sidewall of the rack and a second position wherein the arm is adjacent the bottom of the rack.

20. The dishwasher of claim 19, wherein the spray assembly is coupled to the dishwashing fluid supply channel so as to be supported thereby.

21. The dishwasher of claim 19, wherein the spray assembly is coupled to the rack so as to be supported thereby.

22. The dishwasher of claim 19, wherein the nozzle member is directed substantially horizontally in the first position and wherein the nozzle member is directed substantially vertically in the second position.

23. The dishwasher of claim 19, wherein the arm is configured to releasably engage a base member in the first position.

24. The dishwasher of claim 23, wherein the arm and the base member cooperate to define a substantially planar surface in the first position.

25. A method of assembling a dishwasher comprising:

providing a dishwasher, the dishwasher comprising;

a rack defining at least one sidewall and a bottom, the rack adapted to receive dishware therein; and

a dishwashing fluid supply channel configured to supply a dishwashing fluid; and

coupling a spray assembly to the sidewall of the rack so as to be supported thereby, the spray assembly comprising at least one nozzle member adapted to receive the dishwashing fluid from the dishwashing fluid supply channel and to dispense the dishwashing fluid therefrom.

26. A method of assembling a dishwasher comprising:

providing a dishwasher, the dishwasher comprising;

a rack defining a bottom and at least one sidewall, the rack adapted to receive dishware therein;

a dishwashing fluid supply channel configured to supply a dishwashing fluid; and

a spray assembly adapted to receive the dishwashing fluid from the dishwashing fluid supply channel, the spray assembly comprising at least one nozzle member adapted to dispense the dishwashing fluid therefrom and an arm coupled to the nozzle member; and

operably engaging the arm with the dishwasher such that the arm is moveable between at least a first position wherein the arm is adjacent the sidewall of the rack and a second position wherein the arm is adjacent the bottom of the rack.