DISHWASHER

• US 20140373876A1
• Filed: 06/21/2013
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: FEDDEMA, MARK S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,638,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/10
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4202 Water filter means or strainers
• 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 2401/03 Operation mode, e.g. delicate washing, economy washing, reduced time, sterilizing, water softener regenerating, odor eliminating or service
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/10 Water cloudiness or dirtiness, e.g. turbidity, foaming or level of bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/12 Water temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/20 Time, e.g. elapsed operating time
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/03 Water recirculation, e.g. control of distributing valves for redirection of water flow

Abstract

A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a spraying system for spraying liquid into the treating chamber, and a recirculation system for recirculating liquid sprayed in the treating chamber to the spraying system, further includes a variable filtration system that permits varying the amount of wash liquid to be filtered during a cycle of operation in the dishwasher.

Claims

1. A method of operating a dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a spraying system for spraying liquid into the treating chamber, a recirculation system for recirculating liquid sprayed in the treating chamber to the spraying system, and a filter for filtering the recirculated liquid, the method comprising:

recirculating a liquid through the treating chamber with the recirculation system;

supplying a first portion of the liquid through the spraying system while the liquid is being recirculated;

supplying a second portion of the liquid through the filter while the liquid is being recirculated; and

varying the amount of the second portion of the liquid depending on at least one of a cycle parameter and a treatment condition parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cycle parameter comprises at least one of a cycle type, a cycle phase, a time after the start of a cycle, a time until the end of a cycle, and a liquid temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment condition parameter comprises at least one of a soil level and a particulate size.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein varying the amount of the second portion comprises controlling an opening in a conduit of the recirculation system that fluidly couples a sump of the dishwasher to the filter.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein controlling the opening in the conduit comprises varying the flow rate of a variable flow rate valve.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein varying the flow rate comprises varying the flow rate based on the temperature of the recirculated liquid.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the valve comprises a diverter valve with at least one port, and controlling the opening in the conduit comprises controlling a degree of alignment of the at least one port in the diverter valve with an inlet to the filter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the diverter valve comprises a disk, and adjusting the diverter valve comprises rotating the disk.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the diverter valve comprises multiple ports.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the opening in the conduit comprises aligning one of the multiple ports in the diverter valve with the inlet to the filter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the second portion of the liquid comprises one of a volume, a volumetric flow rate, a ratio, and a percentage of the total amount of recirculated liquid.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the amount of the second portion of the liquid varies between 0% and 20% of the total amount of recirculated liquid.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the first portion of the liquid and the amount of the second portion of the liquid are inversely proportional.

14. The method of claim 1, and further comprising varying the amount of the second portion of the liquid at least once after the start of a cycle of operation of the dishwasher.

15. The method of claim 1, and further comprising varying the amount of the second portion of the liquid more than once after the start of a cycle of operation of the dishwasher.