Dishwasher with spray system

• US 9,492,055 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2012
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Feddema, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin, Joseph L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Graf, Irina
• Application Number:
  US13/570,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20130074888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 134/172, 134/176, 134/179, 134/198
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/23 moved by means of the sprays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4282 Arrangements to change or modify spray pattern or direction

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and a spraying system for supplying liquid to the treating chamber. The spraying system includes a sprayer having a body with an interior, a liquid passage provided in the interior, and an outlet extending through the body and in fluid communication with the liquid passage. A fluid coupling defines a duration of a fluid communication between an opening of a valve body and the outlet.

Claims

1. A dishwasher for treating utensils according to an automatic cycle of operation, comprising:

a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving utensils for treatment according to the automatic cycle of operation;

a spraying system for supplying liquid to the treating chamber and having a sprayer with at least one liquid passage, a first outlet extending to an exterior of the sprayer and in fluid communication with the liquid passage;

a valve body having a first opening in fluid communication with the liquid passage;

a seal located between the first opening and the first outlet, the seal surrounding the first outlet and fluidly sealing the first outlet relative to the valve body, and wherein the seal creates an effective outlet for the first outlet, wherein the effective outlet is larger than the first outlet, and allows for a longer duration of the fluid communication between the first outlet and the first opening; and

wherein the valve body and the sprayer are coupled for relative movement to each other and the first outlet and the first opening are differently sized, and one of the first outlet or the first opening defines a first size and the other of the first outlet or the first opening defines a second size that is larger than the first size, wherein when the valve body moves relative to the sprayer a duration of the fluid communication between the first opening and the first outlet is increased as compared to had the first outlet and the first opening both been the first size.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising at least two spaced first outlets.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the first opening has a first portion that is less than an edge to edge spacing between at least two adjacent spaced first outlets.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the valve body moves along a predetermined path that passes over the at least two adjacent spaced first outlets.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4 wherein a relative size of the first portion and the edge to edge spacing is such that the first opening is at least temporarily not fluidly coupled to either of the at least two adjacent spaced first outlets as the valve body moves along the predetermined path.

6. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the first opening has a first portion that is greater than an edge to edge spacing of the at least two ad adjacent spaced first outlets.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6 wherein a relative size of the first portion and the edge to edge spacing is such that the first opening is at least temporarily fluidly coupled to both of the at least two adjacent first outlets as the valve body moves along a predetermined path.

8. A dishwasher for treating utensils according to an automatic cycle of operation, comprising:

a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving utensils for treatment according to the automatic cycle of operation;

a spraying system for supplying liquid to the treating chamber and having a sprayer with at least one liquid passage, a first outlet extending to an exterior of the sprayer and in fluid communication with the liquid passage;

a valve body having a first opening in fluid communication with the liquid passage configured to reciprocally move with respect to the sprayer; and

a sealing ring located between the first outlet and the first opening, the sealing ring surrounding one of the first outlet or the first opening and fluidly sealing the valve body to the sprayer and defining an effective cross-section outlet area larger than the first outlet or the first opening; and

wherein the valve body reciprocally moves with respect to the sprayer to selectively fluidly couple the first opening and the first outlet and wherein the sealing ring is configured to allow the first opening or the first outlet to have the effective cross-sectional area to increase a duration of the fluid communication between the first opening and the first outlet as the valve body moves within the sprayer.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the sealing ring includes a second opening fluidly coupling the first opening and the first outlet, and wherein the second opening defines a length dimension parallel with the reciprocal movement of the valve body, and wherein the length dimension is larger than the one of the first outlet or the first opening.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9 wherein the seal is configured to create a seal between the valve body and the sprayer.

11. The dishwasher of claim 9 wherein the sprayer defines an interior in which the liquid passage is provided, with the first outlet extending from the exterior to the interior.

12. The dishwasher of claim 11 wherein the valve body comprises a moveable element located within the interior and having a portion conforming to a shape of the sprayer.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12 wherein the sprayer comprises a rotating spray arm.

14. The dishwasher of claim 13 wherein the valve body comprises a plate.

15. The dishwasher of claim 14 wherein the plate is reciprocally moveable within the interior.

16. The dishwasher of claim 9 wherein the valve body further comprises a second opening in fluid communication with the liquid passage.

17. A dishwasher for treating utensils according to an automatic cycle of operation, comprising:

a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving utensils for treatment according to the automatic cycle of operation;

a spraying system for supplying liquid to the treating chamber and having a sprayer with at least one liquid passage, a first outlet extending to an exterior of the sprayer and in fluid communication with the liquid passage;

a valve body having a first opening in fluid communication with the liquid passage and configured for movement with respect to the sprayer; and

a fluid coupling selectively providing fluid communication between the first opening and the first outlet to provide for a passage of liquid from the liquid passage to the first outlet and wherein the fluid coupling comprises a seal located between the first opening and the first outlet, the seal surrounding the first outlet and fluidly sealing the first outlet relative to the valve body, and wherein the seal is configured to create an effective outlet for the first outlet, wherein the effective outlet is larger than the first outlet, and that allows for a longer duration of the fluid communication between the first outlet and the first opening as the valve body moves with respect to the sprayer.