Dishwasher with fill water control

• US 5,137,041 A
• Filed: 09/21/1990
• Issued: 08/11/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Glastender, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Glastender, Inc.
• Inventors: Hall, Jon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/586,143
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 134/56 D, 134/57 D, 134/58 D, 134/105, 134/56 R, 134/57 R, 134/58 R, 134/107, 134/108, 134/106, 134/155
• US Class Current: 134/57.00D
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0023 Water filling A47L15/4244 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0065 specially adapted for drinking glasses
• 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 15/4287 Temperature measuring or regulating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/12 Water temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/20 Time, e.g. elapsed operating time
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/01 Water supply, e.g. opening or closure of the water inlet valve
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/02 Water discharge, e.g. opening or closure of discharge valve

Abstract

A glass washer has a cabinet enclosing a water reservoir having a drain, a water inlet, a spray box, a motor driven rotary tray above the spray box, and a pump for causing water flow through the spray box to spray the contents of the tray. A control senses incoming water temperature and holds the drain open until the water temperature reaches a predetermined level and then closes the drain.

Claims

1. Apparatus for enabling the filling of a reservoir with incoming water at a predetermined minimum temperature, said apparatus comprising valve means movable between positions in which incoming water is enabled and disabled to flow to said reservoir;

a drain opening in said reservoir;

a closure for said drain opening movable between drain opened and drain closed positions;

means for maintaining said closure in said drain opened position when the temperature of the incoming water is less that said minimum temperature thereby enabling incoming water to flow out of said reservoir through said drain opening;

operating means for moving said closure from said drain opened position to said drain closed position;

means for sensing the temperature of the incoming water;

means coupling said sensing means and said operating means for actuating said operating means and effecting movement of said closure to said drain closed position in response to said sensing means sensing said predetermined minimum temperature of said incoming water, thereby enabling said reservoir to be filled with said incoming water, and timer means coupled to said valve means for moving the latter to its disabled position if the temperature of said incoming water is lower than said predetermined minimum temperature after a predetermined time period.

2. In a dishwashing apparatus having a cabinet, a water reservoir in said cabinet, a water inlet for delivering incoming water to said reservoir, a drain opening in said reservoir for draining water therefrom, a closure for opening and closing said drain opening, dish supporting means in said cabinet, and spray means for spraying dishes on said supporting means with water from said reservoir, the improvement comprising:

(a) valve means for controlling the flow of incoming water from a source thereof through said inlet;

(b) temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of incoming water flowing through said inlet;

(c) means mounting said closure for movements between first and second positions in which said closure respectively opens and closes said drain opening;

(d) means maintaining said closure in said first position when the temperature of incoming water is lower than a predetermined minimum, thereby enabling water delivered to said reservoir at a temperature lower than said predetermined temperature to be discharged through said drain opening;

(e) operating means for moving said closure between said positions;

(f) control means coupling said temperature sensing means and said operating means, said control means being operable to actuate said operating means in response to said sensing means sensing a rise in the temperature of said incoming water to said predetermined minimum and effect movement of said closure means to said second position, whereby said reservoir may be filled with water at a temperature not less than that of said predetermined minimum; and

(g) times means coupled to said valve means for moving the latter to a position in which incoming water is disabled from passing through said inlet if the temperature of said incoming water is lower than said predetermined minimum after a predetermined time interval.

3. Apparatus for filling a reservoir having a drain opening therein with incoming water at a predetermined minimum temperature, said apparatus comprising valve means movable between first and second positions in which said valve means respectively enables and diasables the flow of incoming water from a source thereof to said reservoir;

a closure for said drain opening movable between drain opened and drain closed positions;

closure support means for supporting said closure in its drain opened position so that incoming water from said source may exit said reservoir via said drain opening;

operating means coupled to said closure support means and operable in response to actuation thereof to move said closure to its drain closed position;

sensing means for sensing the temperature of incoming water;

means coupling said sensing means to said operating means for actuating the latter and effecting movement of said closure to its drain closed position in response to the sensing by said sensing means of said predetermined minimum temperature of said incoming water; and

timing means coupling said operating means and said valve means for moving said valve means to its second position if said operating means is not actuated within a predetermined period of time.