Method and apparatus for dishwasher with common heating element for multiple treating chambers

• US 9,113,766 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2010
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Tuller, Barry E., Welch, Rodney M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSTERHOUT, BENJAMIN LEE
• Application Number:
  US12/947,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20120118330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 134/25.2, 134/56.D, 134/57.D, 134/58.D, 134/58.DL, 134/105
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0047 Energy or water consumption, e.g. by saving energy or water
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0084 of drawer-type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4285 Water-heater arrangements steam generating arrangements A47L15/4234
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/46 Devices for the automatic control of the different phases of cleaning ; Controlling devices A47L15/449 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/12 Water temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/18 Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/19 Air humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/26 Loading door status, e.g. door latch opened or closed state
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/06 Water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/11 Air heaters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/12 Air blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user

Abstract

A dishwasher with multiple, physically separate treating chambers includes a liquid supply system supplying liquid to the treating chambers, an air supply system supplying air to the treating chambers, and a common heating element for simultaneously heating the air and liquid. A method for operating a dishwasher including simultaneously heating the air and the liquid with a common heating element is also provided.

Claims

1. A method of operating a dishwasher having a first tub at least partially defining a first treating chamber and a second tub at least partially defining a second treating chamber physically separate and fluidly isolated from the first treating chamber;

a first drawer at least partially defining the first tub and including a first spray arm assembly;

a second drawer at least partially defining the second tub and including a second spray arm assembly;

a liquid supply system selectively fluidly coupled to both of the first and second spray arm assemblies in the first and second treating chambers to selectively supply liquid thereto;

an air supply system selectively fluidly coupled to both of the first and second treating chambers to selectively supply air thereto; and

a heating system for heating the supplied air and liquid and comprising a heating element common to the liquid supply system and the air supply system;

wherein activation of the heating element heats the liquid supplied to the one of the first and second treating chambers and the air supplied to the other of the first and second treating chambers; and

wherein the first drawer is movable between a first and second position, and the first spray arm assembly moves with the first drawer, comprising;

supplying air to one of the first and second treating chambers;

supplying liquid to the other of the first and second treating chambers; and

simultaneously heating the supplied air and the supplied liquid with the common heating element.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the heating element by supplying a standard house line voltage to a resistive heating element.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the line voltage is between about 110 and 120 volts.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the heating of the supplied liquid comprises immersing the heating element in the supplied liquid.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the heating of the supplied air comprises heating the air with the heated liquid.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the heating of the supplied air comprises transferring heat from the heated liquid by convective transfer.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the supplying air and the supplying liquid occur simultaneously during at least a portion of the supplying air and supplying liquid.

8. A dishwasher comprising:

a first tub at least partially defining a first treating chamber;

a second tub at least partially defining a second treating chamber physically separate and fluidly isolated from the first treating chamber;

a first drawer at least partially defining the first tub and including a first spray arm assembly;

a second drawer at least partially defining the second tub and including a second spray arm assembly;

a liquid supply system selectively fluidly coupled to both of the first and second spray arm assemblies in the first and second treating chambers to selectively supply liquid thereto;

an air supply system selectively fluidly coupled to both of the first and second treating chambers to selectively supply air thereto; and

a heating system for heating the supplied air and liquid and comprising a heating element common to the liquid supply system and the air supply system;

wherein activation of the heating element heats the liquid supplied to the one of the first and second treating chambers and the air supplied to the other of the first and second treating chambers; and

wherein the first drawer is movable between a first and second position, and the first spray arm assembly moves with the first drawer.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the heating element comprises a power rating of less than about 1800 watts.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9 wherein the heating system supplies a voltage in a range of about 110 to 120 volts to the heating element.

11. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the heating element is immersed within the liquid of the liquid supply system.

12. The dishwasher of claim 11 wherein the air supply system is in conductive contact with the liquid supply system such that the air is heated by the convective transfer of heat between the heated liquid and the air.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12 wherein the air supply system comprises an air supply conduit and the liquid supply system comprises a liquid supply conduit, with both supply conduits being in abutting relationship to define an interface between the supply conduits.

14. The dishwasher of claim 13 wherein the heating element abuts one of the supply conduits at the interface.

15. The dishwasher of claim 13 wherein the heating element is located within one of the supply conduits.

16. The dishwasher of claim 13 wherein the heating element is located between the supply conduits.

17. The dishwasher of claim 8, further comprising a diverter for selectively directing heated liquid to one of the first and second treating chambers.

18. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the air supply system is selectively fluidly coupled to both of the first and second treating chambers to selectively supply air thereto.

19. The dishwasher of claim 18, further comprising a diverter for selectively directing heated air to one of the first and second treating chambers.

20. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein activation of the heating element simultaneously heats the liquid supplied to the one of the first and second treating chambers and the air supplied to the other of the first and second treating chambers.