Dishwasher

• US 9,861,258 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2013
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Beshears, Jr., Paul E., Ghosh, Kaustav, Klein, James W., Slabbekoorn, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): AYALEW, TINSAE B
• Application Number:
  US14/071,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20140261585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 134 10, 134 18, 134 56 D, 134 93, 134 992, 1341022, 1341041, 134115 R, 134 57 D, 134 941, 134 953, 225 25, 225 1, 225 52, 225505, 225 63
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/449 Metering controlling devices A47L15/4229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/22 Number of operational cycles

Abstract

A dishwasher has a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation and a dispensing system for storing and dispensing treating chemistry to the treating chamber during the cycle of operation. The dishwasher can be provided with a lifetime supply of a treating chemistry for the dispensing system.

Claims

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

a chassis defining an interior;

a tub located within the interior and at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment according to the cycle of operation;

at least one sprayer spraying liquid into the treating chamber;

a liquid recirculation system recirculating liquid from the treating chamber to the at least one sprayer and comprising a sump provided in the tub;

a lifetime supply reservoir comprising a tank located within the interior of the chassis and where the tank is concealed such that it is non-refillable, inaccessible, and not openable;

a lifetime supply of treating chemistry stored in the lifetime supply reservoir, wherein the lifetime supply of treating chemistry comprises a predetermined number of doses of treating chemistry for multiple cycles of operation and where the lifetime supply of treating chemistry is configured to last for an expected lifetime of the dishwasher based on a designed useful life of the dishwasher determined by a manufacturer; and

a dispensing system fluidly coupled with the treating chamber and the tank of the lifetime supply reservoir, and configured to meter via a metering device a dose of treating chemistry from the lifetime supply of treating chemistry stored in the tank of the lifetime supply reservoir to the treating chamber during the cycle of operation.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the treating chemistry comprises a rinse aid.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the rinse aid comprises a super-concentrated rinse aid.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the super-concentrated rinse aid comprises no greater than 45% by weight of water.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4 wherein the super-concentrated rinse aid comprises no greater than 10% by weight of water.

6. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the lifetime supply reservoir has a volume of no greater than one liter.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the lifetime supply reservoir is located adjacent the sump.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the lifetime supply reservoir is located within a space between the chassis and the tub.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the treating chamber comprises a bottom wall and the lifetime supply reservoir is located underneath the bottom wall of the treating chamber.

10. The dishwasher of claim 7, further comprising a recirculation pump and a conduit fluidly coupling the sump to the recirculation pump and wherein the lifetime supply reservoir is in fluid communication with the conduit such that the treating chemistry can be supplied directly to recirculating wash liquid.

11. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the lifetime supply reservoir comprises an air inlet with a selectively openable closure for the air inlet configured to allow air into the lifetime supply reservoir as the treating chemistry is dispensed from the lifetime supply reservoir by the dispensing system.

12. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the metering device comprises a metering valve for selectively metering a single dose of treating chemistry from the lifetime supply reservoir.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12 wherein the dispensing system further comprises a dispensing pump and the dispensing pump is in fluid communication with the metering valve.

14. The dishwasher of claim 12 wherein the metering valve comprises a pressure-actuated valve.

15. The dishwasher of claim 12 wherein the metering valve comprises a moveable valve body disposed within a valve barrel.

16. The dishwasher of claim 15 wherein the dispensing system further comprises a motor coupled with the valve body for rotating the valve body within the valve barrel.

17. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the lifetime supply reservoir comprises a sealed, collapsible container.

18. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the dispensing system further comprises a user-accessible portion having a compartment configured to store another treating chemistry to be dispensed during the cycle of operation.

19. The dishwasher of claim 10, further comprising a holding area in fluid communication between the tank of the lifetime supply reservoir and the conduit and where the metering of the dose comprises initially metering to the holding area and final metering to the conduit.

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

a chassis defining an interior;

a tub located within the interior and at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment according to the cycle of operation;

a cover mounted to the chassis and moveable between an opened position wherein a user of the dishwasher may access the treating chamber, and a closed position wherein the cover closes an open face of the treating chamber;

a lifetime supply reservoir comprising a sealed tank located within the interior of the chassis and exteriorly of the tub such that the sealed tank is concealed and inaccessible by a user of the dishwasher in both the opened and closed positions of the cover;

a lifetime supply of treating chemistry stored in the lifetime supply reservoir, wherein the lifetime supply of treating chemistry comprises a predetermined number of doses of treating chemistry for multiple cycles of operation configured to last an expected lifetime of the dishwasher based on a designed useful life of the dishwasher as determined by a manufacturer; and

a dispensing system fluidly coupled with the treating chamber and the sealed tank of the lifetime supply reservoir, and configured to meter a dose of treating chemistry from the lifetime supply of treating chemistry stored in the lifetime supply reservoir to the treating chamber during the cycle of operation.