Dishwasher with unitary wash module

• US 9,451,862 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2012
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Welch, Rodney M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cormier, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bucci, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/486,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20130319481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 134/56.D, 134/25.2, 134/111, 134/58.D, 134/176, 134/57.D, 134/200, 134/179, 134/18, 134/186, 134/198, 239/251, 239/261, 239/264, 239/66, 239/227, 239/240, 239/255, 239/243, 239/245, 239/244, 239/237, 137/625.11, 137/387, 137/625.47, 137/627
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0021 Regulation of operational steps within the washing processes, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending from the detergent nature or from the condition of the crockery
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0078 with a plurality of fluid recirculation arrangements, e.g. with separated washing liquid and rinsing liquid recirculation circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/02 with circulation and agitation of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning chamber containing a stationary basket for drinking glasses A47L15/0065
• 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
• 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 15/486 Blower arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/488 Connections of the tub with the ambient air, e.g. air intake or venting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/03 Water recirculation, e.g. control of distributing valves for redirection of water flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/10 Air circulation, e.g. air intake or venting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/12 Air blowers

Abstract

A dishwasher for treating dishes according to at least one automatic cycle of operation and having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and defining an access opening, a sprayer providing a spray of liquid into the treating chamber, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path for recirculating the sprayed liquid from the treating chamber to the sprayer and a drive system operable to control at least a position of the liquid diverter.

Claims

1. A dishwasher for treating dishes according to at least one cycle of operation comprising:

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

at least one sprayer located in the treating chamber and spraying liquid into the treating chamber;

a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path having multiple recirculation circuits, with one of the circuits coupled to the at least one sprayer;

a liquid diverter provided within the flow path and operable to select between at least two of the multiple circuits for inclusion in the recirculation flow path;

an air supply system having an air supply conduit fluidly coupled to the tub and a blower having a selectively positionable blower shutter and fluidly coupled with the air supply conduit to supply air to the tub from the blower; and

a drive system having a cam mechanism mounted to the blower shutter, a drive shaft mounted to the liquid diverter, and a single motor mechanically coupled to the cam mechanism and the drive shaft to control the position of the liquid diverter and the position of the blower shutter.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the blower further comprises a first inlet open to air in the dishwasher and a second inlet open to ambient air.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the blower shutter controls a ratio of air from the first inlet and the second inlet.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the drive system may independently control the position of the liquid diverter and the position of the blower shutter.

5. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the air supply system further comprises an outlet fluidly open to ambient air.

6. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising multiple sprayers configured to provide a spray of liquid into the treating chamber.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6 wherein the liquid diverter is configured to include in the recirculation flow path at least one of the multiple sprayers.

8. THe dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a second tub at least partially defining a second treating chamber for receiving dishes.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the liquid diverter is configured to include in the recirculation flow path at least one of the tubs.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9, further comprising multiple sprayers for each of the tubs and where the each of the multiple sprayers is configured to provide a spray of liquid into one of the treating chambers.

11. The dishwasher of claim 10 wherein the liquid diverter is configured to include in the recirculation flow path at least one of the multiple sprayers.

12. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the liquid diverter includes a hemispherical seal having a single opening to control a flow of liquid for inclusion in the recirculation flow path.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12, further comprising a recirculation manifold forming at least a portion of the at least two of the multiple circuits and wherein positive pressure of the liquid flowing through the recirculation flow path presses the seal against the recirculation manifold.

14. The dishwasher of claim 13, further comprising a pump for selectively recirculating the sprayed liquid.

15. The dishwasher of claim 14, further comprising a filter located within the recirculation flow path to filter liquid recirculated through the recirculation flow path.

16. The dishwasher of claim 15 wherein the filter is a rotating filter and is mounted to an impeller of the pump to effect the rotation of the filter.

17. The dishwasher of claim 16, further comprising a sump remote from the tub and wherein the filter is located in the sump such that the filter is not directly exposed to the tub.

18. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the drive system comprises a gear train coupling the cam mechanism to the drive shaft operably coupled to the liquid diverter such that output from the single motor effects rotation of the liquid diverter via the gear train.

19. A dishwasher for treating dishes according to at least one automatic cycle of operation, the dishwasher comprising:

a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber;

at least one sprayer located in the treating chamber and spraying liquid into the treating chamber;

a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path having multiple recirculation circuits, with one of the circuits coupled to the at least one sprayer;

a pump fluidly coupled to the recirculation flow path to pump the liquid to the at least one sprayer;

a rotating filter located within the recirculation flow path and mounted to an impeller of the pump to effect the rotation of the filter;

a liquid diverter provided within the flow path and operable to select between at least two of the multiple circuits for inclusion in the recirculation flow path; and

a drive system having a cam mechanism mounted to a blower shutter, a drive shaft mounted to the liquid diverter, and a single motor mechanically coupled to the cam mechanism and the drive shaft to control the position of the liquid diverter and the position of the blower shutter;

wherein the liquid diverter is a hemispherical seal having a single opening to control a flow of liquid from the pump to one of the at least two of the multiple circuits.

20. The dishwasher of claim 19 wherein the at least one sprayer includes multiple sprayers configured to provide a spray of liquid into the treating chamber.

21. The dishwasher of claim 20 wherein the liquid diverter is configured to direct liquid from the pump to one of the multiple sprayers.

22. The dishwasher of claim 19, further comprising a second tub at least partially defining a second treating chamber.

23. The dishwasher of claim 22 wherein the liquid diverter is configured to direct liquid from the pump to one of the tubs.

24. The dishwasher of claim 23, further comprising multiple sprayers for each of the tubs where the each of the multiple sprayers is configured to provide a spray of liquid into one of the treating chambers.

25. The dishwasher of claim 24 wherein the diverter is configured to direct liquid from the pump to one of the multiple sprayers.

26. The dishwasher of claim 19, further comprising a recirculation manifold forming at least a portion of the at least two of the multiple circuits and wherein positive pressure of the liquid flowing from the pump presses the seal against a recirculation manifold.

27. The dishwasher of claim 26, further comprising a drive system for positioning the selectively positionable liquid diverter.