DISHWASHER WITH MULTIPLE TREATING CHAMBERS

• US 20130160799A1
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: DELGADO, KRISTOPHER L., TULLER, BARRY E., FOUNTAIN, JORDAN R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,834,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0084 of drawer-type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4244 Water-level measuring or regulating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4248 Arrangements for dividing the tub compartment, e.g. for simultaneous washing of delicate and normal crockery
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4291 Recovery arrangements, e.g. for the recovery of energy or water
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/10 Water cloudiness or dirtiness, e.g. turbidity, foaming or level of bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/02 Water discharge, e.g. opening or closure of discharge valve
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/03 Water recirculation, e.g. control of distributing valves for redirection of water flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A method of operating a dishwasher having multiple wash chambers, with each wash chamber executing a different cycle of operation, and liquid from one chamber may be reused in the other chamber.

Claims

1. In a dish washing system having at least two, independently-operable treating chambers, each having a user-filled detergent cup, and in each of which separate user-selected wash cycles are implemented, a method of sharing a wash liquid comprising a solution of detergent and water between the treating chambers during the implementation of the wash cycles, comprising:

a) determining whether a detergent load of the wash liquid in one of the wash cycles satisfies a detergent load threshold for the other of the wash cycles; and

b) supplying the wash liquid to the treating chamber in which the other of the wash cycles is implemented for use in the other of the wash cycles when the detergent load threshold is satisfied.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining whether a detergent load of the wash liquid in one of the wash cycles comprises determining the detergent load of the wash liquid in one of the wash cycles based on a user selected cycle information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising confirming the detergent load of the wash liquid.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the confirming the detergent load of the wash liquid comprises determining a pH of the wash liquid using a pH sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising dispensing detergent from the detergent cup of the other of the treating chambers.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the dispensing is delayed for a predetermined time.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the predetermined time is set such that a cleaning action of the solution remains below a predetermined threshold and is determined based on at least one of concentration of the treating liquid, temperature of treating liquid, pH of treating liquid, water hardness, and soil level.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the cleaning action of the solution is determined using at least one of pH sensor, turbidity sensor, temperature sensor, timing sensor, and conductivity sensor.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising supplying additional water to the wash liquid to treating chamber in which the other of the wash cycles is implemented when the detergent load is above a predetermined threshold.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the supplying additional water comprises supplying an amount of additional water such that a resulting wash liquid has a cleaning action below a predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising refraining from dispensing detergent from the detergent cup of the treating chamber in which the other of the wash cycles is implemented until the wash liquid is drained from the treating chamber in which the other of the wash cycles is implemented.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising removing the dispensed detergent from the treating chamber in which the other of the wash cycles is implemented.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the removing the dispensed detergent comprises supplying water to the treating chamber in which the other of the wash cycles is implemented to form a new wash liquid.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising removing the new wash liquid from the treating chamber in which the other of the wash cycles is implemented.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising recirculating the new wash liquid within the treating chamber in which the other of the wash cycles is implemented prior to removing the new wash liquid.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the removing the new wash liquid comprises draining the new wash liquid from the treating chamber in which the other of the wash cycles is implemented.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the dish washing system further comprises a common chassis and the at least two, independently-operable treating chambers are provided within the common chassis.