Patent Application
20180192848
The present subject matter relates generally to dishwasher appliances and more particularly to filter assemblies for dishwasher appliances.
During wash and rinse cycles, dishwasher appliances generally circulate a fluid through a wash chamber over articles, such as pots, pans, silverware, etc. The fluid can be, e.g., various combinations of water and detergent during the wash cycle, or water (which may include additives) during the rinse cycle. Typically, the fluid is circulated during a given cycle using a pump. Fluid is collected at or near the bottom of the wash chamber and pumped back into the wash chamber through, e.g., nozzles in spray arms and other openings that direct the fluid against the articles to be cleaned or rinsed.
Depending upon the level of soil on the articles, fluids used during wash and rinse cycles can become contaminated with soils in the form of debris or particles that are carried with the fluid. In order to facilitate recirculation of the fluid through the wash chamber, it is beneficial to filter the fluid so that relatively clean fluid is applied to the articles in the wash chamber.
Accordingly, known dishwashers typically utilize either a pressurized filter system or a suction side (upstream of the pump) filter system. Known filter systems, however, have various drawbacks. For example, many filter systems do not filter 100% of the water flowing therethrough, in order to prevent pump starvation. Further, may filter systems suffer from clogging issues due to soil becoming stagnant on the filters thereof.
Accordingly, improved filter assemblies are desired. In particular, filter assemblies which can provide 100% filtration and reduce clogging issues would be advantageous.
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 accordance with one embodiment, a filter assembly for filtering wash fluid in a dishwasher appliance is provided. The filter assembly includes an outer body defining an interior and an inlet port and extending along a longitudinal axis between a first upstream end and a second downstream end. The filter assembly further includes an inner body disposed radially inward of the outer body and at least partially within the interior of the outer body. The inner body defines an interior and an outlet port. The inner body includes a filter portion and a solid body portion. The filter portion positioned upstream of the solid body portion in a flow direction along the longitudinal axis. An inlet flow path defined by the inlet port is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis.
In accordance with another embodiment, a dishwasher appliance defining a vertical direction is provided. The dishwasher appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber, a sump positioned at a bottom portion of the tub along the vertical direction, a circulation pump for circulating a wash fluid in the sump to the wash chamber, at least one spray assembly disposed within the wash chamber for receiving wash fluid from the circulation pump, and a filter assembly. The filter assembly includes an outer body defining an interior and an inlet port and extending along a longitudinal axis between a first upstream end and a second downstream end. The filter assembly further includes an inner body disposed radially inward of the outer body and at least partially within the interior of the outer body. The inner body defines an interior and an outlet port. The inner body includes a filter portion and a solid body portion. The filter portion is positioned upstream of the solid body portion in a flow direction along the longitudinal axis. An inlet flow path defined by the inlet port is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis.
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.
As used herein, the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, etc. may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components.
As shown, dishwasher appliance 100 defines a vertical direction V and includes a cabinet 102. Cabinet 102 has a tub 104 therein that defines a wash chamber 106. The tub 104 also defines a front opening (not shown). Dishwasher appliance 100 includes a door 120 hinged at a bottom 122 of door 120 for movement between a normally closed, vertical position (shown in
Rack assemblies 130 and 132 are slidably mounted within wash chamber 106. Each of the rack assemblies 130 and 132 is fabricated into lattice structures including a plurality of elongated members 134. Each rack of the rack assemblies 130 and 132 is adapted for movement between an extended loading position (not shown) in which the rack is substantially positioned outside the wash chamber 106, and a retracted position (shown in
Dishwasher appliance 100 further includes one or more spray assemblies. For example, dishwasher appliance 100 further includes a lower spray assembly 144 that is rotatably mounted within a lower region 146 of the wash chamber 106 and above sump assembly 170 so as to rotate in relatively close proximity to rack assembly 132. A mid-level spray assembly 148 is located in an upper region of the wash chamber 106 and may be located in close proximity to upper rack 130. Additionally, an upper spray assembly 150 may be located above the upper rack 130.
The lower and mid-level spray assemblies 144 and 148 and the upper spray assembly 150 are fed by a fluid circulation assembly 152 for circulating water and/or dishwasher fluid (collectively, “wash fluid”) in the tub 104. Fluid circulation assembly 152 may include a wash or circulation pump 154 and a cross-flow/drain pump 156 located in a machinery compartment 140 located below sump assembly 170 of the tub 104, as generally recognized in the art. Cross-flow/drain pump 156 is configured for urging wash fluid within sump assembly 170 out of tub 104 and dishwasher appliance 100 to a drain 158. Circulation pump 154 is configured to provide a flow of recirculated wash fluid to tub 104 and wash chamber 106. More particularly, circulation pump 154 is configured for supplying a flow of wash fluid from sump assembly 170 to spray assemblies 144, 148 and 150 via a plurality of circulation conduits (not labeled).
Each spray assembly 144 and 148 includes an arrangement of discharge ports or nozzles for directing wash fluid onto dishes or other articles located in rack assemblies 130 and 132. The arrangement of the discharge ports in spray assemblies 144 and 148 provides a rotational force by virtue of wash fluid flowing through the discharge ports. The resultant rotation of the lower spray assembly 144 provides coverage of dishes and other dishwasher contents with a spray of wash fluid.
Dishwasher appliance 100 is further equipped with a controller 137 (shown in phantom) 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. Alternatively, controller 137 may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software.
Controller 137 may be positioned in a variety of locations throughout dishwasher appliance 100. In the illustrated embodiment, controller 137 may be located within a control panel area 121 of door 120 as shown. In such an embodiment, 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 136 through which a user may select various operational features and modes and monitor progress of the dishwasher appliance 100. In one embodiment, user interface 136 may represent a general purpose I/O (“GPIO”) device or functional block. Additionally or alternatively, user interface 136 may include 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 subject matter disclosed herein is not limited to any particular style, model or configuration of dishwasher appliance, and that the embodiment depicted in
Referring again to
Referring now to
The outer body 202 may be a generally solid outer body, and may be formed as an integral, unitary component or as an assembly of a plurality of components. Outer body 202 may define an interior 210, and may extend between a first end 212 and a second end 214 along a longitudinal direction 216. The first end 212 may be an upstream end and the second end 214 may be a downstream end relative to the flow of wash fluid along the longitudinal axis 216 within interior 210. A first end wall 222 may be provided at the first end 212, and a second end wall 224 may be provided at the second end 214. The walls 222, 224 may, for example, be flat walls. The outer body 202 may extend between and include these walls 222, 224.
The outer body 202 may be at least partially cylindrical. For example, in some embodiments, the outer body 202 may be entirely generally cylindrical between the first end wall 222 and the second end wall 224. Alternatively, as shown, the outer body 202 may include a first upstream portion 232 and a second portion 234 downstream of the first upstream portion in the flow direction of wash fluid along the longitudinal axis 216. In some embodiments, the second portion 234 may be a second medial portion and the outer body 202 may further include a third downstream portion 236 which is downstream of both the first portion 232 and second portion 234 in the flow direction of wash fluid along the longitudinal axis 216. The second medial portion 234 may be between and connected to the first and third portions 232, 236. The first portion 232 may, for example, include the first end 212. The third portion 236 (or alternatively the second portion 234) may include the second end 214. In some embodiments, the first upstream portion 232 may be cylindrical. In some embodiments, the third downstream portion 236 may be cylindrical. Further, in some embodiments, the third downstream portion 236 may have a maximum outer diameter that is greater than a maximum outer diameter of the first upstream portion 232. In some embodiments, the second medial portion 234 may taper between the first upstream portion 232 and the third downstream portion 236, such as from the third downstream portion 236 to the first upstream portion 232. In some embodiments, such taper may be a curved taper, as shown. Alternatively, such taper may be a linear.
As shown, an inlet port 240 may be defined in the outer body 202. The inlet port 240 may be an opening in the outer body 202 through which wash fluid is inlet into the interior 210 of the outer body 202, i.e. from the circulation pump 154. Accordingly, an inlet flow path 242 for wash fluid entering the interior 210 through the inlet port 240 may be defined by the inlet port 240. Advantageously, the inlet port 240 may be oriented such that the inlet flow path 242 is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis 216. For example, in exemplary embodiments, the inlet flow path 242 may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 216, such as within 20 degrees of perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 216, such as within 10 degrees of perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 216, such as within 5 degrees of perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 216. The inlet port 240 may, for example, be provided proximate the first end 212 and distal from the second end 214. For example, the inlet port 240 may be provided in or in fluid communication with the first upstream portion 232.
A drain port 244 may be defined in the outer body 202. The drain port 244 may be an opening in the outer body 202 through which wash fluid is exhausted from the interior 210 of the outer body 202. In particular, the wash fluid exhausted through the drain port 244 may include soil that is prevented from being recirculated by a filter of the filter assembly 200 as discussed herein. The drain port 244 may thus be in fluid communication with the drain 158 and/or drain pump 156, such that wash fluid exhausted from the filter assembly 200 through the drain port 244 is provided to the drain 158 and/or drain pump 156. Accordingly, a drain flow path 246 for wash fluid exiting the interior 210 through the drain port 244 may be defined by the drain port 244. Advantageously, the drain port 244 may be oriented such that the drain flow path 246 is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis 216. For example, in exemplary embodiments, the drain flow path 246 may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 216, such as within 20 degrees of perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 216, such as within 10 degrees of perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 216, such as within 5 degrees of perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 216. The drain port 244 may, for example, be provided proximate the second end 214 and distal from the first end 212. For example, the drain port 244 may be provided in or in fluid communication with the third downstream portion 236.
As discussed, the filter assembly 200 may further include an inner body 204. Inner body 204 may be disposed radially inward of the outer body 202, as shown, such that at least a portion of the inner body 204 is provided within the interior 210 of the outer body 202. Inner body 204 may define an interior 250, and may extend along the longitudinal axis 216 between a first upstream end 252 and a second downstream end 254. In some embodiments, the inner body 204 may be radially centrally located relative to the outer body 202, such that the inner body 204 and outer body 202 are generally co-axial with respect to the longitudinal axis 216.
The first upstream end 252 of the inner body 204 may be disposed within the interior 210 of the outer body 202. For example, the first upstream end 252 may be connected to the first upstream end 212 of the outer body 202, such as connected to the first end wall 222. The second downstream end 254 may be disposed within the interior 210 of the outer body 202, such as in alignment with the second downstream end 214, or alternatively may external to the outer body 202 as shown, such as downstream of the second downstream end 254 in the flow direction of wash fluid along the longitudinal axis 216.
Inner body 204 may include a filter portion 260 and a solid body portion 270. The filter portion 260 is a portion of the inner body 204 that acts as a filter by allowing wash fluid therethrough from interior 210 surrounding the inner body 204 into interior 250 while preventing soil particles larger than the size of filter apertures 262 of the filter portion 260 to flow into the interior 250. As shown, filter portion 260 thus includes a plurality of filter apertures 262 defined in a substrate 264 of the filter portion 260. Filter apertures 262 may have any suitable sizes. For example, in some embodiments, a diameter of each filter aperture 262 may be between 100 microns and 800 microns, such as between 120 microns and 700 microns, such as between 140 microns and 600 microns, such as between 150 microns and 500 microns.
The solid body portion 270 is a portion of the inner body 204 formed from a solid substrate that does not allow wash fluid therethrough, as shown. As shown, the filter portion 260 may be positioned upstream of the solid body portion 270 in the flow direction of wash fluid along the longitudinal axis 216. The filter portion 260 may, for example, include the first upstream end 252. The solid body portion 270 may, for example, include the second downstream end 254. The filter portion 260 and solid body portion 270 may be connected (i.e. directly connected) and in fluid communication such that wash fluid entering the interior 250 through the filter portion 260 flows in the interior 260 from the filter portion 260 to the solid body portion 270.
In some embodiments, the inner body 202 (and thus the filter portion 260 and solid body portion 270 thereof) is cylindrical. Alternatively, other suitable shapes may be utilized.
As, shown, an outlet port 280 may be defined in the inner body 204. The outlet port 280 may be an opening in the inner body 204 through which wash fluid, and more specifically filtered wash fluid having been flowed through filter portion 260, is exhausted from the interior 250 of the inner body 204. In particular, the wash fluid exhausted through the outlet port 280 is filtered wash fluid to be recirculated within appliance 100. The outlet port 280 may thus be in fluid communication with the spray assemblies, such that wash fluid flowed from outlet port 280 is flowed to the spray assemblies. Accordingly, an outlet flow path 282 for wash fluid exiting the interior 250 may be defined by the outlet port 280. The outlet port 280 may be oriented such that the outlet flow path 282 is parallel to the longitudinal axis 216, such as within 20 degrees of parallel to the longitudinal axis 216, such as within 10 degrees of parallel to the longitudinal axis 216, such as within 5 degrees of parallel to the longitudinal axis 216. The outlet port 280 may, for example, be defined in the second end 254 and by the solid body portion 270, as shown.
Accordingly, filter assemblies 200 in accordance with the present disclosure advantageously provide reduced clogging. Additionally, filter assemblies 200 in accordance with the present disclosure are advantageous due to the filtering of 100% of the wash fluid that is exhausted for recirculation via the outlet port 280.
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.
