DISHWASHER

• US 20140060597A1
• Filed: 09/05/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: WELCH, Rodney M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,173,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/58.D
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4231 Constructional details of the salt container or the ion exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4246 Details of the tub A47L15/4272 takes precedence; insulation arrangements A47L15/4209
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4291 Recovery arrangements, e.g. for the recovery of energy or water
• 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 15/4409 by tipping containers or opening their lids, e.g. with the help of a programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/488 Connections of the tub with the ambient air, e.g. air intake or venting arrangements

Abstract

A dishwasher having a tub having a front defining an outer periphery, a treating chamber defined by the tub and having an open face located at the front of the tub and within the outer periphery, and a cover selectively closing the open face. A usable space configured to receive a component of the dishwasher can be at least partially defined by the outer periphery of the tub. The cover is sized to overlie the usable space when the cover closes the open face.

Claims

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

a tub having a front defining an outer periphery;

a treating chamber defined by the tub and having an open face located at the front of the tub and within the outer periphery;

a cover selectively closing the open face;

a spraying system spraying liquid within the treating chamber; and

a recirculation system recirculating the liquid within the treating chamber;

wherein the open face is laterally offset within the outer periphery and defines a usable space between the outer periphery and an exterior of the treating chamber and the cover is sized to overlie the usable space when the cover closes the open face.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising at least one subsystem with at least one component located within the usable space.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the at least one component is accessible from the front of the tub.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the at least one component is covered by the cover when the cover closes the open face.

5. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the at least one subsystem comprises at least one of:

a chemistry dispensing system, a water softening system, a condensing system, a liquid reuse system, a regeneration system, an air venting system, and an electronic control system.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the at least one subsystem comprises the chemistry dispensing system and the at least one component comprises a treating chemistry reservoir.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6, wherein the treating chemistry reservoir comprises at least one of:

a bulk dispensing cartridge removable through the front, a dispensing cup having an opening accessible through the front, and a dispensing drawer slidable through the front.

8. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the at least one subsystem comprises the water softening system having a salt chamber, and the at least one component comprises an opening provided in the front such that the salt chamber may be filled via the opening.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the salt chamber is located within the usable space.

10. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the at least one subsystem comprises the condensing system and the at least one component comprises a condenser.

11. The dishwasher of claim 10 wherein the condenser comprises a heat exchanger.

12. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the at least one subsystem comprises the liquid reuse system and the at least one component comprises a tank in fluid communication with the recirculation system.

13. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the at least one subsystem comprises the air venting system and the at least one component comprises a vent having an opening in the front and fluidly coupled to the treating chamber.

14. The dishwasher of claim 13 wherein the cover comprises an exhaust duct that fluidly couples with the vent opening when the cover closes the open face.

15. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the at least one subsystem comprises the electronic control system and the at least one component comprises a user interface provided in the front of the tub.

16. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the cover further comprises a seal that fluidly seals the treating chamber relative to the cover when the cover closes the open face.

17. The dishwasher of claim 16 wherein the cover comprises a door movable relative to the open face.

18. The dishwasher of claim 17, wherein the door is unpowered.

19. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising an electronic control system having a user interface located in the front of the tub and above the open face of the treating chamber.

20. The dishwasher of claim 19 wherein the user interface may be selectively moved from a stored position, behind the front of the tub, to a use position in front of the front of the tub.

21. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the tub comprises a treating chamber peripheral wall defining a treating chamber periphery and the usable space is located between the tub outer periphery and the treating chamber periphery.

22. The dishwasher of claim 21 wherein the usable space extends vertically along a side of the treating chamber.

23. A dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation, comprising:

a tub having a front defining an outer periphery;

a treating chamber defined by the tub and having at least one side partially defining an open face located at the front of the tub and within the outer periphery;

a cover selectively closing the open face; and

a dispensing system providing treating chemistry to the treating chamber and having at least one component;

wherein the treating chamber is not laterally centered within the outer periphery, which defines a usable space along the at least one side and within the outer periphery, with the at least one component located within the usable space, and the cover is sized to overlying the usable space when the cover closes the open face.

24. The dishwasher of claim 23 wherein the at least one component comprises a treating chemistry reservoir.

25. The dishwasher of claim 24 wherein the treating chemistry reservoir comprises at least one of:

a dispensing cartridge removable through the front, a dispensing cup having an opening accessible through the front, a dispensing drawer slidable through the front.

26. The dishwasher of claim 25 wherein the tub further comprises a top wall coupled to a side wall to define a junction, and at least a portion of the treating chemistry reservoir is located at the junction.

27. The dishwasher of claim 26 wherein the junction is formed by an arcuate transition from the side wall to the top wall.

28. The dishwasher of claim 25 wherein the treating chemistry reservoir comprises both the dispensing drawer and the dispensing cartridge.

29. The dishwasher of claim 28 wherein the dispensing drawer and the dispensing cartridge are vertically arranged relative to each other with the usable space.

30. The dishwasher of claim 29, further comprising a vent system comprising a vent opening located in the space and the vent opening is provided in the front and is vertically arranged between the dispensing drawer and the dispensing cartridge.

31. The dishwasher of claim 30, further comprising a water softening system having a salt reservoir and a fill opening located in the front, and the fill opening is arranged below the dispensing cartridge.

32. The dishwasher of claim 31, further comprising an electronic control system having a user interface accessible through the front.

33. The dishwasher of claim 32 wherein the user interface may be selectively moved from a stored position, behind the front of the tub, to a use position in front of the front of the tub.

34. The dishwasher of claim 33 wherein the user interface is located in the front at a location above the open face.

35. The dishwasher of claim 29, further comprising a vent system comprising a vent opening located in the front.

36. The dishwasher of claim 29, further comprising a water softener having a salt reservoir with a fill opening located in the front.