Patent Application
20150196188
This non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) from Patent Applications No. 201410013161.4 and No. 201410013176.0 both filed in The People's Republic of China on Jan. 10, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
This invention relates to a dishwasher and in particular, to a fan for the dishwasher for exhausting moist air from the washing chamber of the dishwasher.
A dishwasher typically includes a washing chamber, a door for closing an opening of the washing chamber, a sump for storing wash water, spray nozzles for spraying wash water, a heater for heating the wash water, and a fan for exhausting moist air from the washing chamber via a discharge duct which is in fluid communication with the sump.
In a known dishwasher, the fan is arranged between the outer wall and the inner wall of the door and water sprayed by the nozzles might enter into the fan. When the door is closed the discharge duct is connected to the sump to return water sprayed into the fan back to the sump. However, when the door is open, the discharge duct is disconnected from the sump and water in the duct will leak to the floor, worsening the sanitation condition in the kitchen.
Hence there is a desire for a dishwasher with less or no sprayed water entering into the fan.
Accordingly, in one aspect thereof, the present invention provides a dishwasher, comprising: a cabinet which defines a washing chamber; a door for opening and closing an opening of the washing chamber; and a fan for exhausting moist air from the washing chamber, the fan being arranged between an outer wall and an inner wall of the door, in fluid communication with the washing chamber via at least one vent hole formed in the inner wall, and comprising a housing with an inlet and an outlet, an impeller disposed in the housing, and an electric motor for driving the impeller; wherein a flange is formed at an edge of the inlet for blocking water from entering the housing.
Preferably, an inner diameter of the flange gradually decreases in a direction from the edge of the inlet towards the impeller.
Preferably, a bottom inner surface of the flange in the vertical direction forms an inclined angle θ that is less than 45 degrees relative to the axial direction of the motor.
Preferably, the flange extends axially from the edge of the inlet.
Preferably, the distance between the flange and the inner wall is less than 0.5 mm.
Preferably, the housing comprises a base with a side plate, and a cover assembled to the base and having a ring wall extending from one axial end surface of the cover facing the inner wall, the inlet being formed in the cover; wherein a groove is formed between the ring wall and the side plate; and a seal ring in water-tight contact with the inner wall is disposed in the groove.
Preferably, the distance between the flange and the inner wall is greater than the distance between the ring wall and the inner wall.
Preferably, the flange extends outwardly from the edge of the inlet towards the inner wall.
Preferably, the flange extends inwardly from the edge of the inlet towards the impeller.
Preferably, the flange extends from the edge of the inlet on both axial sides of the cover.
Preferably, a ratio between the distance D between the flange and the inner wall and an axial length L of the flange is less than 10%.
Preferably, the fan is disposed such that an axial direction of the motor is perpendicular to the inner wall.
According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a fan of a dishwasher for exhausting moist air from a washing chamber of the dishwasher, comprises a housing with an inlet and an outlet, an impeller disposed in the housing, and an electric motor for driving the impeller; wherein a flange is formed at an edge of the inlet for blocking water from entering the housing.
Preferably, an inner diameter of the flange gradually decreases in a direction from the edge of the inlet towards the impeller.
Preferably, an inner surface of the flange forms an inclined angle θ that is less than 45 degrees relative to an axial direction of the motor.
Preferably, the flange extends axially from the edge of the inlet.
Preferably, the motor is a low voltage direct current motor with an input voltage of less than 60V and an output power of less than 0.5 Watt.
Preferably, the flange extends outwardly from the edge of the inlet.
Preferably, the flange extends inwardly from the edge of the inlet towards the impeller.
Preferably, the flange extends from the edge of the inlet on both axial sides of the cover.
Preferably, the flange has an axial length L that is greater than 2 mm.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to figures of the accompanying drawings. In the figures, identical structures, elements or parts that appear in more than one figure are generally labeled with a same reference numeral in all the figures in which they appear. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are generally chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. The figures are listed below.
The base 30 of the fan housing has a bottom plate 42 and an annular side plate 44 axially extending from the outer periphery of the bottom plate 42. The motor 36 is received in a motor sleeve 46 extending from the center of the bottom plate 42. The shaft 48 of the motor 36 passes through the bottom plate 42 and enters into the fan housing to connect with the impeller 34. The side plate 44 of the base 30 has an outlet 50. Preferably, the outlet 50 extends downwardly in the radial direction and is connected to the discharge duct 26.
Preferably, the flange 64 has an axial length L greater than 2 mm. The ratio of the distance D between the flange 64 and the inner wall 14 and the axial length L of the flange 64 is smaller than 10%.
Preferably, the motor 36 is a low voltage direct current (LVDC) motor. The input voltage of the LVDC motor is less than 60V and the output power of the LVDC motor is less than 0.5 Watt. Compared to the brushless direct current (BLDC) motor and the shaded pole motor in traditional fans, the performance of the LVDC motor fan is better and the cost of the LVDC motor fan is less as no controller is required. Below table 1 is a comparison of the dishwashers using the three different types of motor. In the table, “3” means the test result is the best, “1” means the test result is the worst. The table shows the LVDC motor in the present invention has advantages in controllability, safety, system cost and efficiency.
In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs “comprise”, “include”, “contain” and “have”, and variations thereof, are used in an inclusive sense, to specify the presence of the stated item or feature but do not preclude the presence of additional items or features.
It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.
The embodiments described above are provided by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201410013161.4 | Jan 2014 | CN | national |
| 201410013176.0 | Jan 2014 | CN | national |
