Dishwasher with multiple treating chambers

• US 8,834,642 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Delgado, Kristopher L., Tuller, Barry E., Fountain, Jordan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNLAP, CAITLIN NOELLE DENNI
• Application Number:
  US13/771,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20130160799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 134/25.2, 134/56.D, 134/57.D, 134/60, 134/26
• US Class Current: 134/25.2
• 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. In a dish washing system having at least two, independently-operable treating chambers, each having a user-filled detergent cup, and in each of which separate user-selected wash cycles are implemented, a method of sharing a wash liquid comprising a solution of detergent and water between the treating chambers during the implementation of the wash cycles, comprising:

a) determining that a detergent concentration of the wash liquid in one of the wash cycles is below a detergent concentration threshold for an other of the wash cycles; and

b) supplying the wash liquid to an other treating chamber in which the other of the wash cycles is implemented, for use in the other of the wash cycles, when the detergent concentration of the wash liquid is below the detergent concentration threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining whether a detergent concentration of the wash liquid in the one of the wash cycles satisfies the detergent concentration threshold for the other of the wash cycles comprises determining the detergent concentration of the wash liquid in the one of the wash cycles based on a user selected cycle information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising confirming the detergent concentration of the wash liquid by utilizing a sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a pH sensor, a turbidity sensor, and a chemical sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising dispensing detergent from the detergent cup of the other treating chamber in which the other of the wash cycles is implemented.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the dispensing is delayed for a predetermined time.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the predetermined time is set such that a cleaning action of the wash liquid remains below a predetermined threshold and is determined based on at least one of:

concentration of detergent in the wash liquid, temperature of the wash liquid, pH of the wash liquid, water hardness, and soil level of utensils in the other treating chamber.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the cleaning action of the wash liquid is determined using at least one of:

a pH sensor, a turbidity sensor, a temperature sensor, a timing sensor, and a conductivity sensor.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising refraining from dispensing detergent from the detergent cup of the other treating chamber in which the other of the wash cycles is implemented until the wash liquid is drained from the other treating chamber.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising removing the dispensed detergent from the other treating chamber in which the other of the wash cycles is implemented.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the removing the dispensed detergent comprises draining the dispensed detergent from the other treating chamber in which the other of the wash cycles is implemented.

11. The method of claim 1 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.