Dishwasher and motor cavity sound attenuator

• US 7,409,959 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2003
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Retsema, Andrew James
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson; Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US10/698,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20050092353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,749 Days
• Field of Search: 134/56.D, 134/57.D, 134/58.D, 134/200, 134/201
• US Class Current: 134/56.00D
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4209 Insulation arrangements, e.g. for sound damping or heat insulation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4251 Details of the casing insulation arrangements A47L15/4209; collecting leaked water in the casing for preventing water damage A47L15/4212

Abstract

A dishwasher with a sound attenuator for attenuating the sound emanating from a motor cavity of the dishwasher. The sound attenuator comprising a sound absorber and a sound barrier. The sound absorber absorbing sound in the motor cavity with the sound barrier blocking the unabsorbed sound from escaping.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising:

a wash tub comprising a rear wall, top wall, bottom wall, and side walls, with the walls collectively forming an open-faced wash chamber;

a support frame having a front-facing opening intermediate a support frame upper portion and a support frame lower portion, and the wash tub is mounted to the support frame such that the open-faced wash chamber is in communication with the front-facing opening, and a motor cavity with a front-facing motor cavity opening is defined intermediate the wash tub bottom wall and the support frame lower portion;

an insulation curtain extending along at least one side of the support frame and terminating at an edge adjacent the motor cavity; and

a sound attenuator substantially closing the motor cavity opening and comprising a sound barrier element and a sound absorbing element, the sound absorbing element being a sheet-like body comprising a planar central portion extending along a bottom portion of the motor cavity to attenuate the sound emanated from the motor cavity, the sound absorbing element having at least one lateral wing portion hingedly attached to the central portion and extending along at least a portion of motor cavity sides, beyond the insulation curtain edge to overlap the insulation curtain to attenuate sound emanated from the motor cavity below the insulation curtain edge.

2. The dishwasher assembly of claim 1 wherein the sound barrier element comprises a sheet-like body.

3. The dishwasher assembly of claim 1 wherein the sound barrier element extends across the motor cavity opening.

4. The dishwasher assembly of claim 2 wherein the sound barrier element comprises a mass loaded vinyl.

5. The dishwasher assembly of claim 1 wherein the sound absorbing element comprises a fibrous polyester.

6. A dishwasher comprising:

a wash tub comprising a rear wall, top wall, bottom wall, and side walls, with the walls collectively forming an open-faced wash chamber;

a support frame having a front-facing opening intermediate a support frame upper portion and a support frame lower portion, and the wash tub is mounted to the support frame such that the open-faced wash chamber is in communication with the front-facing opening, and a motor cavity with a front-facing motor cavity opening is defined intermediate the wash tub bottom wall and the support frame lower portion; and

a sound attenuator comprising a sound barrier element and a sound absorbing element, the sound absorbing element being a sheet-like body comprising a planar central portion adapted to be inserted into the motor cavity and at least one lateral wing portion hingedly attached to the central portion and adapted for vertical installation along the sides of the motor cavity, the sound attenuator substantially closing the motor cavity opening and extending along a bottom portion of the motor cavity to attenuate the sound emanated from the motor cavity.

7. The dishwasher assembly of claim 6 and further comprising an insulation curtain extending along at least one side of the support frame and terminating in an edge adjacent the motor cavity, and the wing portion extending beyond the edge portion to overlap the insulation curtain.

8. The dishwasher assembly of claim 6 wherein the sheet-like body comprises a front panel portion hingedly attached to the central portion and adapted for vertical installation in motor cavity opening.

9. The dishwasher assembly of claim 8 wherein the sound barrier element extends along the front panel portion.

10. The dishwasher assembly of claim 9 and further comprising at least one connector for attaching the sound baffler element to the front panel portion.

11. The dishwasher assembly of claim 10 wherein the at least one connector comprises at least one staple.

12. The dishwasher assembly of claim 10 wherein the at least one connector comprises an adhesive.

13. The dishwasher assembly of claim 9 and further comprising a access panel mounted to the support frame in overlying relationship with the sound barrier and the motor cavity opening.

14. A dishwasher comprising:

a wash tub comprising a rear wall, bottom wall, and side walls, with the walls collectively forming an open-faced wash chamber;

a support frame having a front-facing opening intermediate a support frame upper portion and a support frame lower portion, and the wash tub is mounted to the support frame such that the open-faced wash chamber is in communication with the front-facing opening, and a motor cavity with a front-facing motor cavity opening is defined intermediate the wash tub bottom wall and the support frame lower portion;

an access panel covering the motor cavity opening;

an insulation curtain extending along at least one side of the support frame and terminating at an edge adjacent the motor cavity; and

a sound attenuator substantially closing the motor cavity opening and comprising a sound barrier element and a sound absorbing element, the sound absorbing element being a sheet-like body comprising a planar central portion extending along a bottom portion of the motor cavity to attenuate the sound emanated from the motor cavity, the sound absorbing element having at least one lateral wing portion hingedly attached to the central portion and extending along at least a portion of the motor cavity sides and beyond the insulation curtain edge to overlap the insulation curtain to attenuate the sound emanated from the motor cavity below the insulation curtain edge.