Dishwasher having a conduit framework

• US 9,713,414 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2013
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Beshears, Jr., Paul E., Burns, John J., Stowe, Elliott V., Welch, Rodney M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ko, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): BELL, SPENCER E
• Application Number:
  US13/923,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20140373885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4214 Water supply, recirculation or discharge arrangements; Devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4246 Details of the tub A47L15/4272 takes precedence; insulation arrangements A47L15/4209
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4274 Arrangement of electrical components, e.g. control units or cables A47L15/4293 takes precedence

Abstract

A dishwasher has a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation. At least one wall of the tub has spaced outer and inner panels and a conduit framework extending between the outer and inner panels to define a plurality of conduits. The conduits can convey liquid, air, and/or electrical wiring.

Claims

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

a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment, and having a tub wall, the tub wall comprising;

spaced outer and inner panels, the inner panel defining an interior surface of the treating chamber; and

a conduit framework with a plurality of walls extending between the outer and inner panels of the tub wall to define a plurality of conduits arranged side-by-side such that a single wall of the plurality of walls has a first surface and a second surface, opposite the first surface, and where the first surface forms a wall of a first conduit of the plurality of conduits and the second surface forms a wall of a second conduit of the plurality of conduits, and terminating at a lower end of the tub wall, with the outer and inner panels forming the plurality of conduits with the conduit framework, the plurality of conduits comprising;

multiple liquid conduits to fluidly convey liquid from a source of liquid to separate locations in the treating chamber, the multiple liquid conduits including a first liquid conduit in fluid communication with a recirculation pump and a first sprayer for conveying liquid from the recirculation pump to the first sprayer and including a second liquid conduit in fluid communication with the recirculation pump and a second sprayer for conveying liquid from the recirculation pump to the second sprayer; and

at least one of an air conduit in fluid communication with a source of air or an electrical conduit conveying electrical wiring and where the at least one of an air conduit or the electrical conduit is separate from liquid conduits within the dishwasher;

wherein the plurality of conduits can convey liquid and convey at least one of circulated air or electrical wiring in a space between the outer and inner panels of the tub wall, and

wherein fluid vertically enters the plurality of conduits at the lower end of the tub wall and perpendicularly exits the plurality of conduits via fittings coupled to the inner panel.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the interior surface is substantially flat.

3. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conduits comprises at least one air conduit in fluid communication with a source of air and at least one electrical conduit conveying electrical wiring both of which are separate from liquid conduits within the dishwasher.

4. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a sump and a drain pump, wherein at least one of the multiple liquid conduits is fluidly coupled between the sump and the drain pump such that the at least one liquid conduit receives liquid from the sump and conveys the liquid to the drain pump.

5. The dishwasher of claim 1 and further comprising a blower and an air vent, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits comprises an air conduit in fluid communication between the blower and the air vent.

6. The dishwasher of claim 1 and further comprising a light located within the tub coupled to electric wiring and wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits conveys the electrical wiring to the light.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of valves associated with the plurality of conduits for controlling the flow of fluid to the plurality of conduits.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1 and further comprising at least one component selected from a group consisting of:

a recirculation pump, a sprayer, a sump, a drain pump, a fan, and an air vent;

wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is in fluid communication with the at least one component.

9. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein at least two of the multiple liquid conduits extending between the outer and inner panels are connected to each other to form a siphon break.

10. A dishwasher for treating dishes according to an automatic cycle of operation, comprising:

a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment, and having a tub wall, the tub wall comprising;

spaced outer and inner panels, the inner panel defining an interior surface of the treating chamber; and

a conduit wall framework with a plurality of walls extending between the outer and inner panels to define a plurality of conduits arranged side-by-side, wherein a single wall of the plurality of walls has a first surface and a second surface, opposite the first surface, and where the first surface forms a wall of a first conduit of the plurality of conduits and the second surface forms a wall of a second conduit of the plurality of conduits with the outer and inner panels forming portions of the conduits along with the conduit wall framework, and wherein the plurality of conduits form flow paths to convey a fluid to or from the treating chamber and the plurality of conduits terminate at a lower end of the tub wall and where the plurality of conduits include multiple liquid conduits to fluidly convey liquid from a source of liquid to separate locations in the treating chamber, the multiple liquid conduits including a first liquid conduit in fluid communication with a recirculation pump and a first sprayer for conveying liquid from the recirculation pump to the first sprayer and including a second liquid conduit in fluid communication with the recirculation pump and a second sprayer for conveying liquid from the recirculation pump to the second sprayer; and

a manifold assembly provided at the lower end of the tub wall and having a plurality of ports that extend upwards to couple to the corresponding plurality of conduits, which terminate at the lower end of the tub wall, wherein the plurality of ports of the manifold assembly are located in a space between the outer and inner panels of the tub wall and comprise inlets or outlets for the plurality of conduits, and

wherein fluid vertically enters the plurality of conduits at the lower end of the tub wall and perpendicularly exits the plurality of conduits via fittings coupled to the inner panel.

11. The dishwasher of claim 10 and further comprising valves within the manifold assembly and associated with the plurality of ports for controlling the flow of fluid through the plurality of conduits.

12. The dishwasher of claim 11, wherein at least some of the valves comprise one of pop-up valves and flipper valves.

13. The dishwasher of claim 11, wherein at least some of the valves are individually-controllable such that varying combinations of flow paths can be opened.

14. The dishwasher of claim 11 and further comprising at least one valve actuator operably coupled to the valves.

15. The dishwasher of claim 14, wherein each valve comprises a cam follower and the at least one valve actuator comprises a cam associated with each cam follower, wherein each valve is configured to move to an open position when the associated cam bears against the cam follower.

16. The dishwasher of claim 15, wherein the at least one valve actuator comprises a common shaft carrying the cams associated with the valves and a motor operably coupled to the common shaft.

17. The dishwasher of claim 10 wherein the treating chamber houses a plurality of sprayers, each of which is supplied with liquid by a separate conduit of the plurality of conduits and where the manifold assembly includes a valve assembly configured to supply fluid to the plurality of sprayers in various combinations for delivery to different areas of the dishwasher.

18. The dishwasher of claim 10 wherein the manifold assembly further comprises a branched adapter that fluidly combines liquid conveyed through at least two of the plurality of ports before the liquid is conveyed to a pump assembly.