DISHWASHER WITH SOIL DETECTING MEANS

• US 3,807,418 A
• Filed: 08/04/1972
• Issued: 04/30/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas E. Jenkins
• Original Assignee: Thomas E. Jenkins
• Inventors: Jenkins, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US05/277,861
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 134/56D,57D,57DL 68/12R
• US Class Current: 134/57.00D
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0026 Rinsing phases
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4297 Arrangements for detecting or measuring the condition of the washing water, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/10 Water cloudiness or dirtiness, e.g. turbidity, foaming or level of bacteria

Abstract

Provision is made in an automatic timer controlled dishwashing machine for detecting soil particles carried in washing liquid within the machine and reacting thereto by effecting the nature of the operational program of the machine whereby dishes in the machine are subjected to additional rinsing action. The invention includes a mechanical sensing device adapted to sense and react to the presence of soil by electrically signaling the machine'"'"''"'"'s timer control to thereby alter the normal operational program of the machine.

Claims

1. A soil sensing means for a washing apparatus having a wash chamber for holding articles to be washed, the washing apparatus further having liquid inlet means for the wash chamber, liquid draining means for the wash chamber, pumping means for circulating liquid through the wash chamber, and a timer means for controlling the operational interaction of the liquid inlet means, liquid draining means, and pumping means;

said soil sensing means comprising;

reciprocal means for varying the cross-sectional flow area of the liquid draining means, said reciprocal means being disposeable to a sensing position wherein the cross-sectional flow area of the liquid draining means is substantially restricted and a retracted position wherein the cross-sectional flow area of the liquid draining means is substantially unrestricted, said reciprocal means being urged from said sensing position to said retracted position upon a predetermined increase in pressure in the liquid draining means resulting from further restriction of the cross-sectional flow area of the liquid draining means by entrained soil particles, and the timer means being responsive to said reciprocal means upon said reciprocal means being urged to said retracted position so that additional washing for the articles in the wash chamber is provided.

2. The invention as defined within claim 1 wherein said soil sensing means is disposed within the liquid draining means.

3. The invention as defined within claim 1 further including switch means responsive to movement of said reciprocal means, and said switch means being in electrical circuit with the timer means so that the timer means is responsive to said reciprocal means upon said reciprocal means being urged to said retracted position.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said sensing means further comprises a casing means for carrying liquid flow therethrough with said reciprocal means being disposed within said casing means, whereby the substantially restricted cross-sectional flow area of the liquid draining means is the space between the edge of said reciprocal means and the inside surface of said casing means when said reciprocal means is in said sensing position.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 further including biasing means for normally biasing said reciprocal means toward said sensing position.

6. The invention of claim 5 further including holding means for holding said reciprocal means in said retracted position for a predetermined period of time.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 further including releasing means for releasing said holding means.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said releasing means includes an electrical resistance element.