DISHWASHER

Abstract

A dishwasher is disclosed, by which a manufacturing cost of the dishwasher can be reduced in a manner of reducing the number of pumps used for the dishwasher. The present invention includes a tub (1), a sump (20) provided under the tub (1) to store water, a wash passage (51) guiding the water stored in the sump (20) to the tub (1), a drain passage (52) guiding the water stored in the sump (20) to be discharged from the tub (1), a driving unit (10) provided tinder the sump (20), the driving unit (10) pumping the water after grinding garbage contained in the introduced water, and a passage switching valve (60) provided to a diverging portion between the wash passage (51) and the drain passage (52) to enable the water pumped by the wash pump to be selectively supplied to the wash passage (51) or the drain passage (52).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dishwasher. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for reducing a product cost of the dishwasher by sharing a wash pump and a drain pump.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a dishwasher is a device for washing tableware in a manner of spraying high-pressure water on the tableware and then drying the washed tableware.

The dishwasher consists of a case, upper and lower racks provided within the case, upper and lower nozzles, a sump and a driving unit provided to the sump. In this case, tableware is accommodated within the racks. And, a nozzle for spraying water is provided over or under each of the racks.

Water is collected in the sump. The water is pumped by the driving unit to be sprayed via the respective nozzles. The tableware is then washed by the water sprayed via the nozzles.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Moreover, the dishwasher is provided with a water supply pipe enabling water to be supplied into a tub by connecting the tub and a water source outside the case together and a drain pipe enabling the water polluted due to the washing of the tableware to be drained out of the dishwasher. And, a drain pump is provided to the drain pipe to discharge the water collected in the sump from the dishwasher.

However, since the wash pump and the drain pump are separately provided to the related art dishwasher, a manufacturing cost of the dishware is raised.

Technical Solution

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a dishwasher that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher, by which a manufacturing cost of the dishwasher can be reduced in a manner of reducing the number of pumps used for the dishwasher.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a dishwasher according to the present invention includes a tub, a sump provided under the tub to store water, a wash passage guiding the water stored in the sump to the tub, a drain passage guiding the water stored in the sump to be discharged from the tub, a driving unit provided under the sump, the driving unit pumping the water after grinding garbage contained in the introduced water, and a passage switching valve provided to a diverging portion between the wash passage and the drain passage to enable the water pumped by the wash pump to be selectively supplied to the wash passage or the drain passage.

Preferably, the dishwasher further includes a garbage chamber, into which a portion of the water pumped by the wash pump is introduced, the garbage chamber collecting the garbage contained in the introduced water and a discharge valve opening/closing a discharge port for discharging the garbage collected in the garbage chamber.

More preferably, the discharge valve is turned on if the passage switching valve connects the wash pump and the drain passage together.

In this case, the passage switching valve and the discharge valve are linked together to interoperate.

And, the dishwasher further includes a link means for enabling the passage switching valve and the discharge valve interoperate to interoperate together.

Preferably, the driving unit includes a motor providing a driving force and an impeller connected to a shaft of the motor to rotate.

More preferably, the driving unit further includes a disposer grinding the garbage contained in the water, wherein the disposer is provided over the impeller.

In another aspect of the present invention, a dishwasher includes a tub, a sump provided under the tub to store water, a wash passage guiding the water stored in the sump to the tub, a drain passage guiding the water stored in the sump to be discharged from the tub, a driving unit provided under the sump, the driving unit pumping the water after grinding garbage contained in the introduced water, and a garbage chamber having an inlet communicating with the wash passage and a discharge port for discharging collected garbage, wherein the discharge port is provided over the driving unit.

Preferably, the discharge port and a top of the driving unit are configured to communicate with each other.

Preferably, the driving unit includes a motor providing a driving force, an impeller connected to a shaft of the motor to rotate, and a disposer grinding the garbage contained in the water.

More preferably, the disposer is provided over the impeller.

Preferably, the dishwasher further includes a discharge valve opening/closing the discharge port.

In this case, the dishwasher further includes a passage switching valve provided to a diverging portion between the wash passage and the drain passage to enable the water pumped by the wash pump to be selectively supplied to the wash passage or the drain passage.

And, the passage switching valve and the discharge valve are linked together to interoperate.

Moreover, the dishwasher further includes a link means for enabling the passage switching valve and the discharge valve interoperate to interoperate together.

Accordingly, the present invention enables both an expensive wash pump and a drain pump to be shared, thereby reducing a manufacturing cost of a dishwasher.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Advantageous Effects

Accordingly, the present invention provides the following effects and/or advantages.

First of all, the present invention enables the courses of a dishwasher using a wash pump only without a drain pump, thereby reducing a manufacturing cost of the dishwasher.

Secondly, the present invention is able to drive both a passage switching valve and a discharge valve using a single driving means, thereby reducing a manufacturing cost.

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 spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram of a driving unit provided to the dishwasher shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a layout of the driving unit shown in FIG. 2, in which a cover of the driving unit is removed;

FIG. 4 is a layout of the driving unit shown in FIG. 2, in which a filter provided to a cover of the driving unit is removed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram of a passage switching valve provided to a diverging pipe and a discharge valve provided to a discharge port of a garbage chamber; and

FIG. 6 is a diagram for operations of the passage switching valve and the discharge valve shown in FIG. 5.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

First of all, a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a tub 1, upper and lower nozzles 4 and 5, upper and lower racks 6 and 7, a sump 20 and a driving unit 10.

A wash space for washing tableware therein is provided within the tub 1. And, the upper and lower nozzles 4 and 5 are provided upper and lower parts within the tub 1, respectively. The upper rack 6 is provided over the upper nozzle 4, while the lower rack 7 is provided over the lower nozzle 5. And, tableware is accommodated within each of the racks 6 and 7.

Water is collected and stored in the sump 20. One side of the sump 20 is connected to a wash pump 30 configuring a portion of the driving unit 10. The water stored in the sump 20 is pumped by the wash pump 30 and is then shifted to the nozzles 4 and 5 via upper and lower passages 2 and 3, respectively.

Preferably, the upper and lower nozzles 4 and 5 are rotatably provided over the driving unit 10. Each of the racks 6 and 7 respectively corresponding to the nozzles 4 and 5 includes spray holes enabling the water to be sprayed therethrough. Therefore, the tableware accommodated within the racks 6 and 7 can be washed by the water sprayed through the spray holes.

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram of the sump 20 and the driving unit 10 provided to the dishwasher shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the driving unit 10 includes a wash pump 30 pumping the water collected in the sump 20.

The sump 20 includes an inclined plane 21 provided to its edge to have a dish shape inclined downward toward its central portion and a tank 22 configured to extend from the central portion downward to collect the water therein. A heater (not shown in the drawing) is provided within the tank 22 to heat the water collected in the tank 22.

The wash pump 30 pumping the water is provided to a bottom of the tank 22. And, the wash pump 30 includes a wash motor 31 and an impeller 32. In this case, the wash motor 31 is provided under the sump 20 to generate a driving force and the impeller 32 connected to the wash motor 31 pumps the water collected in the tank 22.

A filter 23 can be provided over the tank 22 to filter off garbage contained in the falling water having been sprayed on the tableware accommodated in the racks 6 and 7. The driving unit 10 further includes a disposer 24 provided over the filter 23 to grind or pulverize the garbage contained in the water introduced into the sump 20.

A filtering means for filtering off the garbage contained in the water circulating from the sump 20 to the tub 1 is provided over the sump 20.

The filtering means includes a cover 40 coupled with a topside of the sump 20. In this case, the cover 40 is partitioned into an inside and an outside by a partition protruding upward in a ring shape.

A multitude of return holes 42 are provided to the outside of the partition 41 to enable the water sprayed into the tub 1 to be introduced into the sump 20. And, a garbage chamber 45 is provided to the inside of the partition 41 to enable the garbage contained in the water supplied to the tub 1 to be collected therein.

And, a filter 46 for filtering off the garbage contained in the water introduced into the garbage chamber 45 is provided over the garbage chamber 45.

FIG. 3 is a layout of the driving unit 10 shown in FIG. 2, in which the cover 40 is removed. FIG. 4 is a layout of the driving unit 10 shown in FIG. 2, in which the filter 46 provided to the cover 40 is removed.

In the following description, passages of the driving unit 10 are explained in detail with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a supply pipe 25 for supplying the water pumped by the wash pump 30 provided to the tank 22 is provided to one side of the tank 22 for collecting the water therein.

The supply pipe 25 is configured to communicate with a wash passage 51 for guiding the water to be sprayed into the tub 1 and a drain passage 52 for guiding the water to be discharged from the tub 1.

In order for the supply pipe 25 to communicate with each of the wash passage 51 and the drain passage 52, it is preferable that the supply pipe 25, the wash passage 51 and the drain passage 52 are coupled with each other by a diverging pipe 53 having a Y-shape.

The diverging pipe 53 includes a first diverging port 53a connected to the wash passage 51 and a second diverging port 53b connected to the drain passage 52.

A passage switching valve 60 is provided within the diverging pipe 53. In this case, the passage switching valve 60 selectively turns on/of the first diverging port 53a or the second diverging port 53b to enable the water pumped by the wash pump 30 to be selectively supplied to the wash passage 51 or the drain passage 52.

In the present invention, without using a separate drain pump provided to the drain passage 52, by providing the passage switching valve 60 to a diverging portion between the wash passage 51 and the drain passage 52, it is able to supply the water collected in the sump 20 into the tub 1 or to an external environment of the tub 1 using the wash pump 30 only.

A passage control valve 70 is provided to the inclined plane 21 of the sump 20 connected to the wash passage 51. In this case, the passage control valve 70 enables the water supplied from the wash passage 51 to be selectively supplied via the upper or lower passage 2 or 3. The passage control valve 70 is configured to have a disc shape with two holes 70a and 70b. A driving means (not shown in the drawings) for driving the passage control valve 70 is provided under the sump 20.

It the driving means rotates the passage control valve 70, the upper/lower passage 2/3 is selectively turned on/off according to relative positions between the two holes 70a and 70b and two discharge holes 47 and 48 provided to the cover 40 that will be explained with reference to FIG. 4 later.

And, an outflow hole 75 is provided to the inclined plane of the sump 20. In this case, the water supplied from the wash passage 51 always flows out via the outflow hole 75 regardless of the rotational position of the passage control valve 60.

Referring to FIG. 4, two discharge holes 47 and 48 are provided to positions of the cover 40 to correspond to the installed position of the passage control valve 70. One 47 of the two discharge holes 47 and 48 is configured to communicate with the upper passage 2 and the other 48 is configured to communicate with the lower passage 3.

An introducing port 45a for introducing the water into the garbage chamber 45 is provided to one side of the garbage chamber 45 to correspond to the discharge hole 75 and a discharge port 45b for discharging the garbage gathering in the garbage chamber 45 is provided to the other side of the garbage chamber 45. In this case, the discharge port 45b is configured to communicate with an upper part of the driving unit 10. Therefore, the garbage discharged via the discharge port 45b is grinded by the disposer 24 configuring the driving unit 10.

The side of the garbage chamber 45 having the discharge port 45 is configured to be inclined lower than the other side having the introducing port 45a. Hence, the garbage introduced in the garbage chamber 45 gathers toward the discharge port 45b. And, a discharge valve 80 is provided to the discharge port 85b to discharge the garbage from the garbage chamber 45.

In the following description, a process for the garbage to gather in the garbage chamber 45 is explained in brief.

First of all, the water supplied to the wash passage 51 by the wash pump 30 is introduced into the garbage chamber 45 in part. If the water keeps being introduced into the garbage chamber 45, a waver level within the garbage chamber 45 rises. As the water keeps being introduced into the garbage chamber 45, the garbage contained in the water is filtered off by the filter 46 provided over the garbage chamber while the water passes through the filter 46. The water through the filter 46 is then recollected into the sump 20 via the return hole 42 provided to the outside of the cover 40. While the washing course of the dishwasher is in progress, the above process is repeated to enable the garbage to gather in the garbage chamber 45.

In the following description, structures of the passage switching valve 60 provided to the diverging pipe 53, at which the wash passage 51 and the drain passage 52 diverge from each other, and the discharge valve 80 provided to the discharge port 45b of the garbage chamber 45 are explained in detail with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram of a passage switching valve provided to a diverging pipe and a discharge valve provided to a discharge port of a garbage chamber, and FIG. 6 is a diagram for operations of the passage switching valve and the discharge valve shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the passage switching valve 60 includes a rotational shaft 61 having its top and bottom hinged with the diverging pipe 53, a support portion extending in a radial direction of the rotational shaft 61, and a packing member 63 provided to both sides of the support portion 63. If the rotational shat 62 rotates to block the first diverging port 53a, the supply pipe 25 and the drain passage 52 communicate with each other. If the packing member 63 blocks the second diverging port 53b, the supply pipe 25 and the wash passage 51 communicates with each other.

The discharge valve 80 includes an opening/closing member 81 opening/closing the discharge port 45b provided to the garbage chamber 45. The opening/closing member 81 covers the discharge port 45b of the garbage chamber 45 and its one side is hinged.

The dishwasher according to the present invention includes a driving means for driving both of the passage switching valve 60 and the discharge valve 80 simultaneously. And, a loading part 26 for loading the driving means 90 therein is provided under the sump 20.

Preferably, the driving means 90 includes a step motor rotated at a prescribed angle.

In order for the driving means 90 to simultaneously drive both of the passage switching valve 60 and the discharge valve 80, a link means 100 is provided.

The link means 100 includes a cam 110 rotating according to an activation of the driving means 90, first and second pistons 120 and 130 vertically reciprocating according to the rotation of the cam 110, a connecting member 125 connecting the first piston 120 with the bottom of the rotational shaft 61 of the passage switching valve 60 together, and a rod 132 provided under the discharge valve 80 by being connected with the first piston 120.

A first projection 111 is provided to one side of the cam 110 and a second projection 112 is provided to the other side of the cam 110. Preferably, the first and second projections 111 and 112 are configured to form 90 degrees mutually.

The first projection 111 and the first piston 120 are connected together by a first connecting rod 121. And, the second projection 112 and the second piston 130 are connected together by a second connecting rod 131. In particular, the first piston 120 and the first connecting rod 121 are hinged together and the second piston 130 and the second connecting rod 131 are hinged together. Moreover, the second piston 130 is connected to the rod 132 of the discharge valve 80.

The loading part 26 includes a first guide 26a guiding the reciprocation of the first piston 120 and a second guide 26b guiding the reciprocation of the second piston 130.

Operations of the above-described dishwasher are explained in brief as follows.

First of all, the above-described dishwasher performs the steps of preliminary washing, main washing, rinsing, heating rinsing and drying sequentially or selectively. A discharging step of discharging water is performed between the respective steps.

When the dishwasher performs the washing or rinsing, the passage switching valve 60, as shown in FIG. 5, blocks the second diverging port 53b of the diverging pipe 53 as soon as the discharge valve 80 blocks the discharge port 45b of the garbage chamber 45. Therefore, the water pumped by the wash pump 30 is supplied to the tub 1 via the wash passage 51. In doing so, the garbage contained in the water gathers in the garbage chamber 45.

When the water is discharged from the tub 1, the driving means 90 rotates the cam by 180° in the state shown in FIG. 5. Hence, the first projection 111 provided to the cam 110 becomes most distant from the first guide 26a.

Accordingly, the cam 110 pulls the first piston 120 and the connecting member 125.

As the connecting member 125 is pulled, the rotational shaft 61 of the passage switching valve 60 is rotated. If so, the packing member 63 blocks the first diverging port 53a as soon as opens the second diverging port 53b. Therefore, the supply pipe 25 and the drain passage 52 come into communicating with each other.

Meanwhile, the second projection 112 provided to the cam 110 becomes closest to the second guide 26b.

Accordingly, the cam 110 lifts up the second piston 130. The rod 132 connected to the second piston 130 pushes the opening/closing member 81 upward. As the opening/closing member 81 is pushed upward to rotate centering on the hinge shaft, the discharge valve 80 opens the discharge port 45b provided to the garbage chamber 45. Hence, the garbage gathering in the garbage chamber 45 is discharged over the driving unit 10. In this case, the garbage is grinded or pulverized by the disposer 24 and is then introduced into the sump 20. The garbage introduced into the sump 20 is mixed with the water and is then discharged from the sump 20 via the drain passage 52 together with the water pumped by the wash pump 30.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising: a tub;a sump provided under the tub to store water;a wash passage guiding the water stored in the sump to the tub;a drain passage guiding the water stored in the sump to be discharged from the tub;a driving unit provided under the sump, the driving unit pumping the water after grinding garbage contained in the introduced water; anda passage switching valve provided to a diverging portion between the wash passage and the drain passage to enable the water pumped by the wash pump to be selectively supplied to the wash passage or the drain passage.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising: a garbage chamber, into which a portion of the water pumped by the wash pump is introduced, the garbage chamber collecting the garbage contained in the introduced water; anda discharge valve opening/closing a discharge port for discharging the garbage collected in the garbage chamber.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2, wherein the discharge valve is turned on if the passage switching valve connects the wash pump and the drain passage together.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3, wherein the passage switching valve and the discharge valve are linked together to interoperate.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4, further comprising a link means for enabling the passage switching valve and the discharge valve interoperate to interoperate together.

6. The dishwasher of claim 1, the driving unit comprising: a motor providing a driving force; andan impeller connected to a shaft of the motor to rotate.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6, the driving unit further comprising a disposer grinding the garbage contained in the water, wherein the disposer is provided over the impeller.

8. A dishwasher comprising: a tub;a sump provided under the tub to store water;a wash passage guiding the water stored in the sump to the tub;a drain passage guiding the water stored in the sump to be discharged from the tub;a driving unit provided under the sump, the driving unit pumping the water after grinding garbage contained in the introduced water; anda garbage chamber having an inlet communicating with the wash passage and a discharge port for discharging collected garbage,wherein the discharge port is provided over the driving unit.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8, wherein the discharge port and a top of the driving unit are configured to communicate with each other.

10. The dishwasher of claim 8, the driving unit comprising: a motor providing a driving force;an impeller connected to a shaft of the motor to rotate; anda disposer grinding the garbage contained in the water.

11. The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein the disposer is provided over the impeller.

12. The dishwasher of claim 8, further comprising a discharge valve opening/closing the discharge port.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12, further comprising a passage switching valve provided to a diverging portion between the wash passage and the drain passage to enable the water pumped by the wash pump to be selectively supplied to the wash passage or the drain passage.

14. The dishwasher of claim 13, wherein the passage switching valve and the discharge valve are linked together to interoperate.

15. The dishwasher of claim 14, further comprising a link means for enabling the passage switching valve and the discharge valve interoperate to interoperate together.