Appliances with sudsing-reducing flushable detergent dispensers

• US 9,003,588 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Amos, Sylvan J., Griswold, Eric G., Strain, Ryan K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin, Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US12/905,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20110247147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 815/8, 815/9, 68/17.R, 682/07, 915/8, 915/9
• US Class Current: 8/158
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements

Abstract

Appliances having a detergent dispenser that may be flushed with a water flow for removal of residual treating chemistry while reducing sudsing are disclosed. An example dispenser includes a cup with a bottom wall, a siphon tube projecting upwardly from the bottom wall, a cover for the siphon tube, an opening configured to introduce a liquid stream into the cup from a position above and beyond a periphery of the cover, wherein substantially all of the liquid stream flows downwardly along a trajectory defined by the opening and terminating below and within the periphery of the cover, and wherein the liquid stream directly impinges a portion of at least one of the cup or the siphon tube below the cover.

Claims

1. A method of operating an appliance comprising a treating chamber, and a treating chemistry dispenser having a cup and a siphon, where the siphon includes a siphon tube and a cover having a periphery, and where the siphon is fluidly coupled to the treating chamber, the method comprising:

introducing a shower of liquid into the cup through a slot positioned above and beyond the periphery of the cover so the shower of liquid that strikes the cover along substantially a length of the cover.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the shower of liquid comprises a discontinuous cascade.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the shower of liquid further strikes a portion of the cup adjacent the siphon tube.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the shower of liquid further strikes a junction of the siphon tube and the cup.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the shower of liquid washes away residual treating chemistry beneath the cover.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing a liquid stream into the cup through an opening, wherein substantially all of the liquid stream flows along an axis generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the siphon.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the opening is located above the cover.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein both the shower of liquid and the liquid stream are emitted from a distribution header positioned above the cup.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the opening has a shape different from the slot.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the shape comprises a hole.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing a liquid stream into the cup from a position above the cover, wherein substantially all the liquid stream flows downwardly along a generally vertical trajectory.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the slot is defined by at least a first dimension and a second dimension different from the first dimension.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the shower of liquid further strikes the siphon tube beneath the cover.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the shower of liquid further strikes the cup beneath the cover.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a trajectory of the shower of liquid is generally along a plane defined at least in part by a longitudinal axis of the slot and a generally vertical axis.