DISHWASHER

• US 20140261585A1
• Filed: 11/05/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: KLEIN, JAMES W., SLABBEKOORN, SCOTT D., BESHEARS, PAUL E. Jr., GHOSH, KAUSTAV
• Granted Patent: US 9,861,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/56.D
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/449 Metering controlling devices A47L15/4229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/22 Number of operational cycles

Abstract

A dishwasher has a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation and a dispensing system for storing and dispensing treating chemistry to the treating chamber during the cycle of operation. The dishwasher can be provided with a lifetime supply of a treating chemistry for the dispensing system.

Claims

1. A dishwasher for treating dishes according to an automatic cycle of operation, the dishwasher comprising:

a chassis defining an interior;

a tub located within the interior and at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment according to the cycle of operation;

a lifetime supply reservoir storing a predetermined number of doses of treating chemistry; and

a dispensing system fluidly coupled with the treating chamber and the lifetime supply reservoir, and supplying a dose of treating chemistry to the treating chamber from the lifetime supply reservoir during the cycle of operation; and

wherein the lifetime supply reservoir is located within the interior such that it is inaccessible to a user of the dishwasher and wherein the predetermined number of doses is based on an expected lifetime of the dishwasher.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the treating chemistry comprises a rinse aid.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2, wherein the rinse aid comprises a super-concentrated rinse aid.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3, wherein the super-concentrated rinse aid comprises no greater than 45% by weight of water.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4, wherein the super-concentrated rinse aid comprises no greater than 10% by weight of water.

6. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the lifetime supply reservoir has a volume of no greater than one liter.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the lifetime supply reservoir is not visible to the user of the dishwasher.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1 and further comprising a sump provided in the tub, wherein the lifetime supply reservoir is located adjacent the sump.

9. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the lifetime supply reservoir is located within a space between the chassis and the tub.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9, wherein the treating chamber comprises a bottom wall and the lifetime supply reservoir is located underneath the bottom wall of the treating chamber.

11. The dishwasher of claim 1 and further comprising a recirculation pump, wherein the lifetime supply reservoir is in fluid communication with the recirculation pump.

12. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the lifetime supply reservoir comprises an air inlet and a selectively openable closure for the air inlet configured to allow air into the lifetime supply reservoir as the treating chemistry is dispensed from the lifetime supply reservoir by the dispensing system.

13. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the dispensing system comprises a metering valve for selectively metering a single dose of treating chemistry from the lifetime supply reservoir.

14. The dishwasher of claim 13, wherein the dispensing system further comprises a dispensing pump and the dispensing pump is in fluid communication with the metering valve.

15. The dishwasher of claim 13, wherein the metering valve comprises a pressure-actuated valve.

16. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the metering valve comprises a moveable valve body disposed within a valve barrel.

17. The dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the dispensing system further comprises a motor coupled with the valve body for rotating the valve body within the valve barrel.

18. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the lifetime supply reservoir comprises a sealed, collapsible container.

19. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the lifetime supply reservoir is non-refillable.