Rotating filter for a dishwashing machine

• US 8,627,832 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2011
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Fountain, Jordan R., Jozwiak, Todd M., Rappette, Antony M., Welch, Rodney M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIGGLEMAN, JASON PAUL
• Application Number:
  US13/163,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20120167928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 134/104.4
• US Class Current: 134/104.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4206 Tubular filters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4208 Arrangements to prevent clogging of the filters, e.g. self-cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4219 Water recirculation A47L15/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4225 Arrangements or adaption of recirculation or discharge pumps

Abstract

A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a washing chamber, a liquid spraying system, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a rotating filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising:

a tub at least partially defining a washing chamber;

a liquid spraying system supplying a spray of liquid to the washing chamber;

a liquid recirculation system recirculating the sprayed liquid from the washing chamber to the liquid spraying system to define a recirculation flow path; and

a liquid filtering system comprising;

a shroud defining an interior and having an inlet opening facing downstream to the recirculation flow path;

a rotating filter having an upstream surface and a downstream surface and located within the interior relative to the recirculation flow path such that the recirculation flow path passes through the filter from the upstream surface to downstream surface to effect a filtering of the sprayed liquid; and

a first artificial boundary spaced apart from at least a portion of the downstream surface of the filter to form a gap between the first artificial boundary and the filter to form a high pressure zone that creates a backflow zone where the liquid flows from the downstream surface to the upstream surface;

wherein the first artificial boundary is located such that the backflow zone is positioned relative to the inlet opening to retard entry of foreign objects in the liquid into the inlet opening along the recirculation flow path.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the recirculation flow path circumscribes a portion of the shroud.

3. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the recirculation flow path passes over a top of the inlet opening.

4. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein at least part of the high pressure zone is at a location that is rotationally in front of the inlet opening.

5. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the shroud forms a second artificial boundary spaced apart from the upstream surface to form a gap between the second artificial boundary and the filter and creates a low pressure zone that aids in creating the backflow zone.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of the low pressure zone and at least a portion of the high pressure zone are at a location rotationally in front of the inlet opening.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the shroud forms a second artificial boundary spaced apart from the upstream surface to form a gap between the second artificial boundary and the filter and creates a low pressure zone that aids in creating the backflow zone.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the shroud forms a second artificial boundary spaced apart from the upstream surface to from a gap between the second artificial boundary and the filter and creates a high pressure zone that is at a location rotationally in front of the inlet opening and aids in retarding entry of foreign objects in the liquid into the inlet opening.

9. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the shroud creates a second artificial boundary spaced apart from the upstream surface to from a gap between the second artificial boundary and the filter that creates a shear force zone along the upstream surface.

10. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the first artificial boundary is located such that at least a portion of the backflow zone extends into the inlet opening and liquid therein outflows in opposition to the recirculation flow path.

11. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the shroud defines one of a top edge and lower edge of the inlet opening.

12. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein there are multiple inlet openings in the shroud.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12 wherein each of the multiple inlet openings has a corresponding first artificial boundary.

14. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the rotating filter comprises a first filter element forming the upstream surface and a second filter element forming the downstream surface.

15. The dishwasher of claim 14 wherein the first filter element is a courser filter than the second filter element.

16. The dishwasher of claim 15 wherein the first filter element is a cylinder and the second filter element is a cylinder received within the first filter element.

17. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a housing defining a sump enveloping the shroud and the housing having an outlet coupled to a drain pump, wherein actuation of the drain pump drains the liquid and any foreign objects in the sump.

18. The dishwasher of claim 17 wherein the recirculation system comprises a recirculation pump fluidly coupled downstream of the downstream surface of the filter, wherein the recirculation pump may be shut off to let the liquid settle in the sump.

19. The dishwasher of claim 18 wherein the recirculation pump comprises an impeller that is operably coupled to the filter such that rotation of the impeller effects the rotation of the filter.