Dishwasher with multiple treating chambers

• US 8,043,437 B1
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Tuller, Barry E., Fountain, Jordan R., Delgado, Kristopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dennis; Caitlin N
• Application Number:
  US12/959,651
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0084 of drawer-type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4244 Water-level measuring or regulating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4248 Arrangements for dividing the tub compartment, e.g. for simultaneous washing of delicate and normal crockery
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4291 Recovery arrangements, e.g. for the recovery of energy or water
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/10 Water cloudiness or dirtiness, e.g. turbidity, foaming or level of bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/02 Water discharge, e.g. opening or closure of discharge valve
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/03 Water recirculation, e.g. control of distributing valves for redirection of water flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A method of operating a dishwasher having multiple wash chambers, with each wash chamber executing a different cycle of operation, and liquid from one chamber may be reused in the other chamber.

Claims

1. A method of operating a dishwasher having multiple treating chambers, comprising:

a) determining which of the multiple treating chambers has a lightest soil load to define a treating chamber with the lightest soil load;

b) implementing a wash cycle selected for the treating chamber with the lightest soil load by supplying a charge of treating liquid to the treating chamber with the lightest soil load;

c) supplying the treating liquid from the treating chamber with the lightest soil load to another one of the multiple treating chambers; and

d) implementing another wash cycle selected for the another one of the treating chambers using the treating liquid from the treating chamber with the lightest soil load;

further comprising, confirming that a soil load of the treating liquid is less than a predetermined soil load threshold before at least one of c) and d);

wherein, the confirming the soil load of the treating liquid comprises determining the turbidity of the treating liquid.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining which of the multiple treating chambers has the lightest soil load comprises determining if any of the selected wash cycles is indicative of a lighter soil load than the other selected wash cycles.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein when one of the selected wash cycles is indicative of a lighter soil load than the other selected wash cycles, defining the corresponding treating chamber as the treating chamber with the lightest soil load.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein when none of the selected wash cycles is indicative of a lighter soil load than the other selected wash cycles, defining any one of the treating chambers as the treating chamber with the lightest soil load.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising draining the treating liquid when the soil load of the treating liquid is greater than the soil load threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising supplementing the treating liquid with at least one of treating chemistry and additional treating liquid.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the implementing the wash cycle of b) further comprises recirculating the treating liquid within the treating chamber with the lightest soil load.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the recirculating the treating liquid is done during a wash phase of the wash cycle of b).

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the treating liquid comprises a solution of water and detergent.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the implementing another wash cycle of d) comprises recirculating the treating liquid in the another one of the multiple treating chambers.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the recirculating the treating liquid is done during a wash phase of the wash cycle of d).

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the treating liquid comprises a solution of water and detergent.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining whether a concentration of detergent satisfies a concentration threshold for use in the another wash cycle of d).

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising supplying water to the solution when the concentration is greater than the concentration threshold.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising draining the solution when the concentration is greater than the concentration threshold.

16. In a dish washing system having at least two, independently-operable treating chambers, and in each of which separate user-selected was cycles are implemented, a method of sharing a rinse liquid between the treating chambers during the implementation of the wash cycles, comprising:

a) recirculating a wash liquid in each of the at least two treating chambers;

b) determining which of the at least two treating chambers has a lightest residual soil load to define a treating chamber with the lightest residual soil load;

c) supplying a rinse liquid to the treating chamber with the lightest residual soil load as part of a rinse phase for a wash cycle implemented in the treating chamber with the lightest residual soil load; and

d) supplying the rinse liquid from the treating chamber with the lightest soil load to the other of the at least two treating chambers as part of a rinse phase for a wash cycle implemented in the other of the at least two treating chambers;

wherein determining which of the at least two treating chambers has the lightest residual soil load comprises determining a turbidity of the wash liquid for each of the at least two chambers.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the recirculating the wash liquid comprises recirculating the same charge of wash liquid in each of the at least two treating chambers.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the determining the turbidity comprises determining an increase in turbidity over time.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the supplying the rinse liquid to the treating chamber comprises supplying water.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the supplying the rinse liquid to the treating chamber comprises reusing the wash liquid.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the wash liquid is reused when a turbidity of the wash liquid is below a predetermined threshold.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the dish washing system further comprises a common chassis and the at least two, independently-operable treating chambers are provided within the common chassis.