Dishwasher with multiple treating chambers

• US 8,404,054 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2011
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Delgado, Kristopher L., Fountain, Jordan R., Tuller, Barry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNLAP, CAITLIN NOELLE DENNI
• Application Number:
  US13/185,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20120138094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 134 57 D- 58 DL, 134/60, 134/18, 134/25.2, 134/56.D
• 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) sensing a soil load in each of the multiple treating chambers;

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

c) 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;

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

e) 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.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensing the soil load in each of the multiple treating chambers comprises sensing the soil load with an optical sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensing the soil load in each of the multiple treating chambers comprises supplying liquid to each of the multiple treating chambers and sensing a turbidity of the liquid supplied to each of the multiple treating chambers.

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

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the recirculating the treating liquid is done during a wash phase of the wash cycle of c).

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the implementing another wash cycle of e) comprises recirculating the treating liquid in the another one of the multiple treating chambers.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the recirculating the treating liquid is done during a wash phase of the wash cycle of e).

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the treating liquid comprises a solution of water and detergent.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining whether a concentration of detergent satisfies a concentration threshold for use in the another wash cycle of e).

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising supplying water to the solution when the concentration of detergent is greater than the concentration threshold.

11. he method of claim 9, further comprising draining the solution when the concentration of detergent is greater than the concentration threshold.