MULTIPLE WASH ZONE DISHWASHER

• US 20110197938A1
• Filed: 04/28/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: THIES, EDWARD L., CARLSON, CHRISTOPHER J., VANDERROEST, CHAD T., LANDSIEDEL, JAY C., GURUBATHAM, VINCENT P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,187,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/184
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/16 with rigidly-mounted spraying devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/22 Rotary spraying devices
• 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 15/4221 Arrangements for redirection of washing water, e.g. water diverters to selectively supply the spray arms A47L15/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4278 Nozzles

Abstract

A dishwasher having a tub defining a wash chamber for washing dishes and a dish rack located within the wash chamber. The dishwasher also has a spray arm assembly configured to spray a first flow of wash liquid toward the dish rack, thereby providing a first wash zone. A spray manifold provided within the wash chamber is configured to provide a second flow of wash liquid toward the dish rack, thereby providing a second wash zone.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising:

a tub defining a wash chamber;

a dish rack provided within the wash chamber to receive dishes for washing;

a spray assembly provided within the wash chamber and emitting wash liquid to provide a first spray within the wash chamber that forms a first wash zone in the wash chamber;

a pump assembly fluidly coupled to the tub for recirculating wash liquid from the tub;

a supply tube fluidly coupling the pump assembly to the spray assembly such that recirculated wash liquid is provided to the spray assembly; and

a spray manifold provided on the supply tube separate from the dish rack and having multiple apertures emitting liquid into the wash chamber to form a second wash zone in the wash chamber that extends into the dish rack.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the tub comprises a rear wall and the spray manifold is at least one of adjacent the rear wall and parallel to the rear wall.

3. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the spray assembly comprises a rotating spray arm having at least one nozzle emitting liquid to form the first spray.

4. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the spray assembly is located below the dish rack.

5. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the spray manifold comprises multiple nozzles, with each nozzle having at least one aperture.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein more than one of the nozzles has multiple apertures.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the dish rack further comprises an upper edge and at least one of the multiple apertures lies below the upper edge.

8. The dishwasher of claim 7 wherein the dish rack further comprises a lower edge and at least one of the multiple apertures lies between the upper edge and lower edge.

9. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the spray manifold defines a passageway and each of the apertures is fluidly coupled to the passageway.

10. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the spray manifold is fixedly mounted within the wash chamber.

11. The dishwasher of claim 1 further comprising a valve selectively and independently coupling the spray assembly and the spray manifold to a liquid supply such that the spray assembly and spray manifold may selectively and independently form the first wash zone and the second wash zone.

12. A dishwasher comprising:

a tub defining a wash chamber;

a dish rack provided within the wash chamber to receive dishes for washing and having an upper edge and a lower edge;

a pump assembly fluidly coupled to the tub for recirculating wash liquid from the tub;

a supply tube fluidly coupled to the pump assembly to distribute the recirculated wash liquid within the wash chamber; and

a spray manifold provided on the supply tube separate from the dish rack and having multiple nozzles, each nozzle having at least one aperture, which collectively provide the spray manifold with multiple apertures, with at least one of the multiple apertures located between the upper edge and the lower edge, and the apertures emitting liquid into the wash chamber to form a wash zone in the wash chamber that extends into the dish rack.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12 wherein the tub comprises a rear wall and the spray manifold is at least one of adjacent the rear wall and parallel to the rear wall.

14. The dishwasher of claim 12 wherein more than one of the nozzles has multiple apertures.

15. The dishwasher of claim 12 wherein the spray manifold defines a passageway and each of the apertures is fluidly coupled to the passageway.

16. The dishwasher of claim 12 wherein the spray manifold is fixedly mounted within the wash chamber.

17. A dishwasher comprising:

a tub defining a wash chamber;

a dish rack provided within the wash chamber to receive dishes for washing and having an upper edge;

a pump assembly fluidly coupled to the tub for recirculating wash liquid from the tub;

a supply tube fluidly coupled to the pump assembly to distribute the recirculated wash liquid within the wash chamber; and

a spray manifold provided on the supply tube separate from the dish rack and having multiple nozzles, each nozzle having multiple apertures, with at least one of the multiple apertures located below the upper edge, and the apertures emitting liquid into the wash chamber to form a wash zone in the wash chamber that extends into the dish rack.

18. The dishwasher of claim 17 wherein the tub comprises a rear wall and the spray manifold is at least one of adjacent the rear wall and parallel to the rear wall.

19. The dishwasher of claim 17 wherein the spray manifold defines a passageway and each of the apertures is fluidly coupled to the passageway.

20. The dishwasher of claim 17 wherein the spray manifold is fixedly mounted within the wash chamber.

21. A dishwasher comprising:

a tub defining a wash chamber;

a dish rack provided within the wash chamber to receive dishes for washing and having an upper edge;

a spray assembly provided within the wash chamber and emitting wash liquid to provide a first spray within the wash chamber that forms a first wash zone in the wash chamber; and

a spray manifold provided within the wash chamber separate from the dish rack and having multiple nozzles, each nozzle having a multiple of apertures, with at least one of the apertures located below the upper edge, and the nozzles emitting liquid within the wash chamber to form a second wash zone in the dish rack.

22. The dishwasher of claim 21 wherein the tub comprises a rear wall and the spray manifold is at least one of adjacent the rear wall and parallel to the rear wall.

23. The dishwasher of claim 21 wherein the spray assembly comprises a rotating spray arm having at least one nozzle emitting liquid to form the first spray.

24. The dishwasher of claim 21 wherein the spray assembly is located below the dish rack.

25. The dishwasher of claim 21 wherein the dish rack further comprises a lower edge and at least one of the multiple apertures lies between the upper edge and lower edge.

26. The dishwasher of claim 21 wherein the spray manifold defines a passageway and each of the apertures is fluidly coupled to the passageway.

27. The dishwasher of claim 21 wherein the spray manifold is fixedly mounted within the wash chamber.

28. The dishwasher of claim 21 further comprising a valve selectively and independently coupling the spray assembly and the spray manifold to a liquid supply such that the spray assembly and spray manifold may selectively and independently form the first wash zone and the second wash zone.