Rotating filter for a dishwasher

• US 9,237,836 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2012
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Blanchard, Walter T., Geda, Jacquelyn R., Jozwiak, Todd M., Rappette, Antony M., Welch, Rodney M., Miller, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADHLAKHA, RITA P
• Application Number:
  US13/483,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20130319485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4202 Water filter means or strainers
• 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 15/4221 Arrangements for redirection of washing water, e.g. water diverters to selectively supply the spray arms 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 for treating dishes according to at least one automatic cycle of operation, comprising:

a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving the dishes for treatment;

a sprayer proximate to the tub to spray liquid into the treating chamber;

a pump fluidly coupled between the treating chamber and the sprayer to define a circulation circuit for circulating the sprayed liquid from the treating chamber to the sprayer;

a housing fluidly coupled to the circulation circuit and defining a filter chamber;

a rotating filter located within the housing such that the circulated liquid passes through the rotating filter from an upstream surface to a downstream surface as the rotating filter rotates; and

a first diverter extending along and positioned away from at least a portion of at least one of the upstream or downstream surfaces, with at least a first portion of the first diverter abutting a first portion the rotating filter to define a floating relative relationship between the first diverter and the rotating filter and define a gap therebetween.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the first diverter comprises a first diverter bearing surface and the first portion of the rotating filter comprises a filter bearing surface.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the rotating filter comprises a frame, with at least a part of the frame forming the filter bearing surface.

4. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the first diverter further comprises a second portion in a fixed relative relationship with the rotating filter.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4 wherein the rotating filter further comprises a stationary shaft and the second portion of the first diverter is mounted to the stationary shaft.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5, further comprising a biasing element provided on the stationary shaft and biasing the second portion of the first diverter toward a first end of the rotating filter to maintain the first diverter and the rotating filter in a fixed relative position.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6 wherein the pump comprises an impeller operably coupled to the rotating filter to effect the rotation of the rotating filter, with the first portion of the first diverter being proximate the impeller and the second portion of the first diverter being distal the impeller.

8. The dishwasher of claim 7 wherein the rotating filter defines a hollow cone having an exterior, defined by one of the upstream and downstream surfaces, and an interior, defined by the other of the upstream and downstream surfaces, and the biasing element biases both of the first diverter and the rotating filter toward the impeller from the fixed relative position.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8, further comprising a second diverter, with the first diverter proximate one of the upstream and downstream surfaces and the second diverter proximate the other of the upstream and downstream surfaces to define a second gap.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9 wherein the second diverter is non-rotatably mounted to the shaft.

11. The dishwasher of claim 9 wherein the rotating filter comprises a hollow body having an exterior, defined by one of the upstream and downstream surfaces, and an interior, defined by the other of the upstream and downstream surfaces, with the first diverter proximate the exterior and the second diverter proximate the interior.

12. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a shroud at least partially enclosing the rotating filter and having an access opening, with the first diverter located within the access opening.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12 wherein the first diverter projects through the access opening.

14. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a biasing device for biasing the first diverter into an axial position relative to the rotating filter.

15. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the first diverter abuts the first portion of the rotating filter via a filter bearing surface.