ROTATING DRUM FILTER FOR A DISHWASHING MACHINE

• US 20110146731A1
• Filed: 10/22/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: WELCH, RODNEY M., FOUNTAIN, JORDAN R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,918,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/110
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4202 Water filter means or strainers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4206 Tubular filters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4208 Arrangements to prevent clogging of the filters, e.g. self-cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4225 Arrangements or adaption of recirculation or discharge pumps

Abstract

A dishwasher with a tub and a recirculation pump, which includes a housing defining a chamber and having an inlet fluidly coupled to the tub and an outlet fluidly coupled to the tub, an impeller rotatably mounted within the chamber and expelling liquid from the chamber through the outlet, and a filter fluidly disposed between the inlet and the outlet and operably coupled to the impeller for co-rotation.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising:

a tub defining a washing chamber for receiving dishes for cleaning; and

a recirculation pump comprising;

a housing defining a chamber and having an inlet fluidly coupled to the tub and an outlet fluidly coupled to the tub;

an impeller rotatably mounted within the chamber and expelling liquid from the chamber through the outlet; and

a rotating filter fluidly disposed within the chamber between the inlet and the outlet and operably coupled to the impeller for co-rotation;

wherein liquid in the tub is recirculated by actuating the recirculation pump such that the liquid is drawn into the chamber through the inlet, passes through the rotating filter, and is expelled by the rotating impeller through the outlet to the tub.

2. The dishwasher according to claim 1 wherein the impeller and at least a portion of the filter are formed together to form a singular piece.

3. The dishwasher according to claim 1, further comprising a speed adjuster operably coupling the impeller to the filter to rotate the filter at a speed different than the impeller.

4. The dishwasher according to claim 3 wherein the speed adjuster includes a speed reducer operably coupling the impeller to the filter wherein when the impeller is rotated the filter rotates at a slower speed than the impeller.

5. The dishwasher according to claim 3 wherein the speed adjuster includes a speed increaser operably coupling the impeller to the filter wherein when the impeller is rotated the filter rotates at a faster speed than the impeller.

6. The dishwasher according to claim 1, further comprising a motor operably coupled with the impeller to rotate the impeller and wherein the rotation of the impeller by the motor also rotates the filter.

7. The dishwasher according to claim 1, further comprising a detachable mount coupling the filter to the impeller.

8. The dishwasher according to claim 7 wherein the detachable mount is a bayonet mount having a male side including lugs on one of the impeller and filter and a female side including corresponding slots on the other of the impeller and filter.

9. The dishwasher according to claim 1, further comprising a first flow diverter positioned in the chamber, the first flow diverter having a tip spaced apart from an outer surface of the filter so as to define a gap and a second flow diverter positioned within an interior of the filter, the second flow diverter having an outer surface spaced apart from an inner surface of the filter and wherein during rotation of the filter an angular velocity of fluid advanced through the gap is increased relative to the angular velocity of the fluid prior to entering the gap.

10. The dishwasher according to claim 1 wherein the impeller further comprises vanes and the vanes are operably coupled with the filter to rotate the filter as the vanes are rotated.

11. The dishwasher according to claim 1, further comprising a conduit fluidly coupling the tub to the housing inlet, wherein, in a direction from the tub to the housing inlet, the conduit slopes downwardly.

12. The dishwasher according to claim 11 wherein the conduit from the tub to the housing inlet slopes downwardly five degrees.

13. The dishwasher according to claim 11 wherein in a direction from the tub to the housing inlet, the conduit has a decreasing cross-sectional area.

14. The dishwasher according to claim 11, further comprising a grate located at an inlet of the conduit.

15. The dishwasher according to claim 14 wherein the grate has a plurality of openings, which are sized to provide substantially non-turbulent liquid flow to the conduit.

16. The dishwasher according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of openings have a total cross-sectional area of about 1800 sq. mm for a flow rate ranging from 25-50 liters per minute.

17. A dishwasher comprising:

a tub defining a washing chamber for receiving dishes for cleaning;

a sump having a housing fluidly coupled to the tub and collecting liquid supplied to the tub;

a recirculation pump comprising an impeller fluidly coupled to the sump and an outlet fluidly coupled to the tub;

a rotating filter fluidly separating the sump and the outlet and operably coupled to the impeller for co-rotation;

wherein liquid in the tub collects in the sump and is recirculated by actuating the recirculation pump such that the liquid in the sump is drawn through the rotating filter and is expelled through the outlet to the tub.

18. The dishwasher according to claim 17 wherein at least a portion of the filter extends into the sump.

19. The dishwasher according to claim 17 wherein the impeller and the filter are injection molded together to form a singular piece.

20. The dishwasher according to claim 17, further comprising a motor operably coupled with the impeller to rotate the impeller and wherein the rotation of the impeller by the motor also rotates the filter.

21. The dishwasher according to claim 17, further comprising a speed adjuster operably coupling the impeller to the filter to rotate the filter at a speed different than the impeller.

22. The dishwasher according to claim 21 wherein the speed adjuster includes a speed reducer operably coupling the impeller to the filter wherein when the impeller is rotated, the filter rotates at a slower speed than the impeller.

23. The dishwasher according to claim 21 wherein the speed adjuster includes a speed increaser operably coupling the impeller to the filter wherein when the impeller is rotated the filter rotates at a faster speed than the impeller.

24. The dishwasher according to claim 17, further comprising a detachable mount coupling the filter to the impeller.

25. The dishwasher according to claim 24 wherein the detachable mount is a bayonet mount having a male side including lugs on one of the impeller and filter and a female side including corresponding slots on the other of the impeller and filter.

26. The dishwasher according to claim 17, further comprising a first flow diverter positioned in the chamber, the first flow diverter having a tip spaced apart from an outer surface of the filter so as to define a gap and a second flow diverter positioned within an interior of the filter, the second flow diverter having an outer surface spaced apart from an inner surface of the filter and wherein during rotation of the filter an angular velocity of fluid advanced through the gap is increased relative to the angular velocity of the fluid prior to entering the gap.

27. The dishwasher according to claim 17, further comprising a conduit fluidly coupling the tub to the housing inlet, wherein, in a direction from the tub to the housing inlet, the conduit slopes downwardly.

28. The dishwasher according to claim 27 wherein the conduit from the tub to the housing inlet slopes downwardly five degrees.

29. The dishwasher according to claim 27 wherein in a direction from the tub to the housing inlet, the conduit has a decreasing cross-sectional area.

30. The dishwasher according to claim 27, further comprising a grate located at an inlet of the conduit.

31. The dishwasher according to claim 30 wherein the grate has a plurality of openings, which are sized to provide substantially non-turbulent liquid flow to the conduit.

32. The dishwasher according to claim 31 wherein the plurality of openings have a total cross-sectional area of about 1800 sq. mm for a flow rate ranging from 25-50 liters per minute.