Patent Application
20140196755
The present subject matter relates generally to dishwasher appliances and spray assemblies for the same.
Dishwasher appliances generally include a tub that defines a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing. In particular, certain dishwasher assemblies include a rack assembly slidably mounted within the wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing. A user can load articles, such as plates, bowls, and/or cups, into the rack assembly, and the rack assembly can support such articles within the wash chamber during operation of the dishwasher appliance.
Certain dishwasher appliances include a spray arm for directing wash fluid onto articles within the wash chamber during operation of the dishwasher appliance. Spray arms are generally rotatably mounted with the wash chamber in order to improve wash fluid coverage of articles within the wash chamber. During rotation, spray arms generally define a circular spray area. However, wash chambers generally have a rectangular or square cross-section. Thus, it can be difficult to direct wash fluid towards corners of the wash chamber with rotating spray arms.
To improve wash fluid coverage within the wash chamber's corners, certain spray arms include outlets directed towards the wash chamber's corners. However, wash fluid directed out of such outlets can impact the dishwasher appliance's tub and generate unappealing or undesirable noise. Further, wash fluid directed in such a manner often provides poor or uneven coverage and can lead to inconsistent cleaning of articles located within the wash chamber's corners.
Accordingly, a spray assembly for a dishwasher appliance with features for improving spray coverage within a wash chamber of the dishwasher appliance would be useful. In particular, a spray assembly for a dishwasher appliance with features for improving spray coverage within corners of a wash chamber would be useful.
The present subject matter provides a dishwasher appliance and a spray assembly for the same. The spray assembly includes a spray body and features for moving the spray body within a wash chamber of the dishwasher appliance. Wash fluid coverage within the wash chamber can be improved by moving the spray body within the wash chamber. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In a first exemplary embodiment, a dishwasher appliance is provided. The dishwasher appliance includes a tub that defines a wash chamber and a rack assembly slidably positioned within the wash chamber of the tub. The rack assembly is configured for receipt of articles for washing. A spray assembly is mounted within the wash chamber of the tub and is also configured for directing a spray of wash fluid towards the rack assembly. The spray assembly defines a lateral direction. The spray assembly includes a spray body and a pair of links. Each link of the pair of links is rotatably mounted to the tub and the spray body. A crank is configured for rotation about an axis of rotation. A coupler is rotatably mounted to one of the pair of links and the crank such that the coupler extends between and connects the crank and the one of the pair of links. The spray body moves along the lateral direction when the crank rotates about the axis of rotation.
In a second exemplary embodiment, a spray assembly for a dishwasher appliance is provided. The spray assembly defines a lateral direction and a transverse direction. The spray assembly includes a spray body having a first lateral side portion and a second lateral side portion spaced apart from each other along the lateral direction. The spray body also has a first transverse side portion and a second transverse side portion spaced apart from each other along the transverse direction. A link is positioned proximate the second transverse side portion of the spray body and is rotatably mounted to the spray body at the second lateral side portion of the spray body. A rocker is positioned proximate the first transverse side portion of the spray body and is rotatably mounted to the spray body at the first lateral side portion of the spray body. A crank is configured for rotation about an axis of rotation. A coupler is rotatably mounted to the rocker and the crank such that the coupler extends between and connects the crank and the rocker. The spray body moves along the lateral direction when the crank rotates about the axis of rotation.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Dishwasher appliance 100 includes a tub 104 that defines wash compartment 106. In particular, tub 104 includes a top wall 107 that assists in defining wash compartment 106. Tub 104 also includes a door 120 hinged at its bottom 122 for movement between a normally closed configuration (shown in
Turning to
A silverware basket 160 is removably mounted to upper rack assembly 130. However, silverware basket 160 may also be selectively attached to other portions of dishwasher appliance 100, e.g., lower rack assembly 132 or door 120. Silverware rack 160 is configured for receipt of silverware, utensils, and the like, that are too small to be accommodated by the upper and lower racks assemblies 130, 132.
The dishwasher appliance 100 further includes a lower spray assembly 144 that is mounted within a lower region 146 of the wash compartment 106 and above a tub sump portion 142 so as to be in relatively close proximity to the lower rack assembly 132. A mid-level spray assembly 148 is located in an upper region of the wash compartment 106 and may be located in close proximity to upper rack assembly 130. Additionally, an upper spray assembly 150 is located above the upper rack assembly 130 and mounted to top wall 107 of tub 104.
The lower and mid-level spray assemblies 144, 148 and the upper spray assembly 150 are fed by a fluid circulation assembly (not shown) for circulating water and wash fluid (e.g., detergent, water, and/or rinse aid) in the tub 104. The fluid circulation assembly may be located in a machinery compartment 140 located below the bottom sump portion 142 of the tub 104, as generally recognized in the art. The fluid circulation assembly includes circulation piping 108 that directs water and/or wash fluid to upper spray assembly 150.
Each spray assembly includes an arrangement of discharge ports or orifices for directing wash fluid onto dishes or other articles located in the upper and lower rack assemblies 130, 132 and silverware basket 160. The lower, mid-level, and upper spray assemblies 144, 148, and 150 may be rotatably mounted in wash compartment 106. Accordingly, the arrangement of the discharge ports in at least the lower spray assembly 144 may provide a rotational force by virtue of washing fluid flowing through the discharge ports. The resultant rotation of the lower spray assembly 144 can provide coverage of dishes and other dishwasher contents with a washing spray.
The dishwasher appliance 100 is further equipped with a controller 137 to regulate operation of the dishwasher appliance 100. Controller 137 may include a memory and microprocessor, such as a general or special purpose microprocessor operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with a cleaning cycle. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor.
Controller 137 may be positioned in a variety of locations throughout dishwasher appliance 100. In the illustrated embodiment, controller 137 is located within a control panel 116 of door 120. Input/output (“I/O”) signals may be routed between the control system and various operational components of dishwasher appliance 100 along wiring harnesses that may be routed through the bottom 122 of door 120. Typically, controller 137 includes a user interface panel 136 through which a user may select various operational features and modes and monitor progress of the dishwasher appliance 100. In one exemplary embodiment, user interface 136 represents a general purpose I/O (“GPIO”) device or functional block. In another exemplary embodiment, user interface 136 includes input components, such as one or more of a variety of electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical input devices including rotary dials, push buttons, and touch pads. User interface 136 may include a display component, such as a digital or analog display device designed to provide operational feedback to a user. User interface 136 may be in communication with controller 137 via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses.
It should be appreciated that the present subject matter is not limited to any particular style, model, or other configuration of dishwasher appliance and that dishwasher appliance 100 depicted in
Spray assembly 200 includes a spray body 210. Spray body 210 is configured for moving, e.g., linearly, within wash compartment 106 of dishwasher appliance 100, e.g., along the lateral direction L. In
Spray body 210 is configured for receipt of wash fluid and for directing such wash fluid, e.g., towards articles for washing within wash compartment 106. In particular, spray body 210 defines a plurality of outlets 212 (
As shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
Spray assembly 200 also includes a pair of links 230. As shown in
Spray assembly 200 also includes a crank 270 that is configured for rotation about an axis of rotation R, e.g., that extends along the vertical direction V. In particular, a motor 272 is in mechanical communication with crank 270 and is configured for rotating crank 270 about the axis of rotation R. As an example, crank 270 may be directly mounted to a shaft of motor 272. As another example, suitable gearing can couple motor 272 and crank 270, e.g., such that rotational motion of motor 272 is transferred to crank 270. Motor 272 can rotate crank 270 about the axis of rotation R at any suitable rate, e.g., at about six rotations per minute.
A connector or coupler 274 is rotatably mounted to one of links 230 and to crank 270. Thus, coupler 274 extends between and connects crank 270 and the one of links 230. Thus, motion of crank 270 can be transferred to the one of links 230 and, in turn, to spray body 210 via coupler 274. In particular, spray body 210 moves, e.g., linearly, along the lateral direction L when crank 270 rotates about the axis of rotation R as discussed in greater detail below.
Wash spray coverage of spray body 210 within wash compartment 106 can be improved because spray body 210 moves along the lateral direction L. In particular, wash compartment 106 of tub 104 extends between a left side portion 166 and a right side portion 168, e.g., along the lateral direction L, and spray body 210 may be mounted such that spray body 210 moves between left side portion 166 of wash compartment 106 and right side portion 168 of wash compartment 106, e.g., along lateral direction L. By moving between, left and right side portions 166 and 168, spray body 210 can apply wash fluid uniformly along the lateral direction L within wash compartment 106 and thereby improve wash fluid coverage within wash compartment 106.
In alternative exemplary embodiments, spray assembly 200 may be oriented in any suitable manner within wash compartment 106. In particular, wash compartment 106 of tub 104 extends between a front portion 162 and a back portion 164, e.g., along the transverse direction T, and spray body 210 may be mounted such that spray body 210 moves between front portion 162 of wash compartment 106 and back portion 164 of wash compartment 106, e.g., along transverse direction T. However, as discussed above, the lateral direction L and transverse direction T may be switched or inverted relative to each other. Thus, spray body 210 can move between front and back portions 162 and 164 of wash compartment 106 along the lateral direction L.
Links 230 include a water link 236 and a rocker 268. Water link 236 is positioned proximate or at second transverse side portion 220 of spray body 210. Further, water link 236 is rotatably mounted to spray body 210 at second lateral side portion 216 of spray body 210. Conversely, rocker 268 is positioned proximate or at first transverse side portion 218 of spray body 210. Further, rocker 268 is rotatably mounted to spray body 210 at first lateral side portion 214 of spray body 210.
Water link 236 is configured for supplying wash fluid to spray body 210. In particular, water link 236 defines a passage 237 therein. Passage 237 of water link 236 is configured for directing a flow of wash fluid into spray body 210. In turn, outlets 212 of spray body 210 can direct the flow of wash fluid out of spray body 210.
As discussed above, crank 270 is configured for rotation about the axis of rotation R (
In particular, when crank 270 rotates about the axis of rotation R, spray body 210 can move between the various positions shown in
Spray assembly 200 also includes a rail 276, e.g., mounted to tub 104. Rail 276 extends along the lateral direction L, and spray body 210 is slidably mounted to rail 276. In particular, spray body 210 includes a carriage 278 that is slidably received within rail 276. Rail 276 can assist within hindering downward movement of spray body 210, e.g., along the vertical direction V (
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
