A dishwashing machine is a domestic appliance into which dishes and other cooking and eating wares (e.g., plates, bowls, glasses, flatware, pots, pans, bowls, etc.) are placed to be washed. A dishwashing machine includes various filters to separate soil particles from wash fluid.
The invention relates to methods of operating a dishwasher comprising a washing chamber holding utensils for washing, sprayers for spraying liquid on the utensils, and a liquid recirculation system, for recirculating sprayed liquid back to the sprayers, and including a filter for filtering the liquid.
In the drawings:
While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Referring to
A door 24 is hinged to the lower front edge of the tub 12. The door 24 permits user access to the tub 12 to load and unload the dishwasher 10. The door 24 also seals the front of the dishwasher 10 during a wash cycle. A control panel 26 is located at the top of the door 24. The control panel 26 includes a number of controls 28, such as buttons and knobs, which are used by a controller (not shown) to control the operation of the dishwasher 10. A handle 30 is also included in the control panel 26. The user may use the handle 30 to unlatch and open the door 24 to access the tub 12.
A machine compartment 32 is located below the tub 12. The machine compartment 32 is sealed from the tub 12. In other words, unlike the tub 12, which is filled with fluid and exposed to spray during the wash cycle, the machine compartment 32 does not fill with fluid and is not exposed to spray during the operation of the dishwasher 10. Referring now to
Referring now to
The bottom wall 42 of the tub 12 has a sump 50 positioned therein. At the start of a wash cycle, fluid enters the tub 12 through a hole 48 defined in the side wall 40. The sloped configuration of the bottom wall 42 directs fluid into the sump 50. The recirculation pump assembly 34 removes such water and/or wash chemistry from the sump 50 through a hole 52 defined the bottom of the sump 50 after the sump 50 is partially filled with fluid.
The liquid recirculation system supplies liquid to a liquid spraying system, which includes a spray arm 54, to recirculate the sprayed liquid in the tub 12. The recirculation pump assembly 34 is fluidly coupled to a rotating spray arm 54 that sprays water and/or wash chemistry onto the dish racks 16 (and hence any wares positioned thereon) to effect a recirculation of the liquid from the washing chamber 14 to the liquid spraying system to define a recirculation flow path. Additional rotating spray arms (not shown) are positioned above the spray arm 54. It should also be appreciated that the dishwashing machine 10 may include other spray arms positioned at various locations in the tub 12. As shown in
After wash fluid contacts the dish racks 16, and any wares positioned in the washing chamber 14, a mixture of fluid and soil falls onto the bottom wall 42 and collects in the sump 50. The recirculation pump assembly 34 draws the mixture out of the sump 50 through the hole 52. As will be discussed in detail below, fluid is filtered in the recirculation pump assembly 34 and re-circulated onto the dish racks 16. At the conclusion of the wash cycle, the drain pump 36 removes both wash fluid and soil particles from the sump 50 and the tub 12.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The side wall 76 has an inner surface 84 facing the filter chamber 82. A number of rectangular ribs 85 extend from the inner surface 84 into the filter chamber 82. The ribs 85 are configured to create drag to counteract the movement of fluid within the filter chamber 82. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, each of the ribs 85 may take the form of a wedge, cylinder, pyramid, or other shape configured to create drag to counteract the movement of fluid within the filter chamber 82.
The manifold 68 has a main body 86 that is secured to the end 78 of the filter casing 64. The inlet port 70 extends upwardly from the main body 86 and is configured to be coupled to a fluid hose (not shown) extending from the hole 52 defined in the sump 50. The inlet port 70 opens through a sidewall 87 of the main body 86 into the filter chamber 82 of the filter casing 64. As such, during the wash cycle, a mixture of fluid and soil particles advances from the sump 50 into the filter chamber 82 and fills the filter chamber 82. As shown in
A passageway (not shown) places the outlet port 72 of the manifold 68 in fluid communication with the filter chamber 82. When the drain pump 36 is energized, fluid and soil particles from the sump 50 pass downwardly through the inlet port 70 into the filter chamber 82. Fluid then advances from the filter chamber 82 through the passageway and out the outlet port 72.
The wash pump 60 is secured at the opposite end 80 of the filter casing 64. The wash pump 60 includes a motor 92 (see
The wash pump 60 also includes an impeller 104. The impeller 104 has a shell 106 that extends from a back end 108 to a front end 110. The back end 108 of the shell 106 is positioned in the chamber 102 and has a bore 112 formed therein. A drive shaft 114, which is rotatably coupled to the motor 92, is received in the bore 112. The motor 92 acts on the drive shaft 114 to rotate the impeller 104 about an imaginary axis 116 in the direction indicated by arrow 118 (see
The front end 110 of the impeller shell 106 is positioned in the filter chamber 82 of the filter casing 64 and has an inlet opening 120 formed in the center thereof. The shell 106 has a number of vanes 122 that extend away from the inlet opening 120 to an outer edge 124 of the shell 106. The rotation of the impeller 104 about the axis 116 draws fluid from the filter chamber 82 of the filter casing 64 into the inlet opening 120. The fluid is then forced by the rotation of the impeller 104 outward along the vanes 122. Fluid exiting the impeller 104 is advanced out of the chamber 102 through the outlet port 74 to the spray arm 54.
As shown in
A filter sheet 140 extends from one end 134 to the other end 136 of the filter drum 132 and encloses a hollow interior 142. The sheet 140 includes a number of holes 144, and each hole 144 extends from an outer surface 146 of the sheet 140 to an inner surface 148. In the illustrative embodiment, the sheet 140 is a sheet of chemically etched metal. Each hole 144 is sized to allow for the passage of wash fluid into the hollow interior 142 and prevent the passage of soil particles.
As such, the filter sheet 140 divides the filter chamber 82 into two parts. As wash fluid and removed soil particles enter the filter chamber 82 through the inlet port 70, a mixture 150 of fluid and soil particles is collected in the filter chamber 82 in a region 152 external to the filter sheet 140. Because the holes 144 permit fluid to pass into the hollow interior 142, a volume of filtered fluid 156 is formed in the hollow interior 142.
Referring now to
Another flow diverter 180 is positioned between the outer surface 146 of the sheet 140 and the inner surface 84 of the housing 62. The diverter 180 has a fin-shaped body 182 that extends from a leading edge 184 to a trailing end 186. As shown in
As shown in
In operation, wash fluid, such as water and/or wash chemistry (i.e., water and/or detergents, enzymes, surfactants, and other cleaning or conditioning chemistry), enters the tub 12 through the hole 48 defined in the side wall 40 and flows into the sump 50 and down the hole 52 defined therein. As the filter chamber 82 fills, wash fluid passes through the holes 144 extending through the filter sheet 140 into the hollow interior 142. After the filter chamber 82 is completely filled and the sump 50 is partially filled with wash fluid, the dishwasher 10 activates the motor 92.
Activation of the motor 92 causes the impeller 104 and the filter 130 to rotate. The rotation of the impeller 104 draws wash fluid from the filter chamber 82 through the filter sheet 140 and into the inlet opening 120 of the impeller shell 106. Fluid then advances outward along the vanes 122 of the impeller shell 106 and out of the chamber 102 through the outlet port 74 to the spray arm 54. When wash fluid is delivered to the spray arm 54, it is expelled from the spray arm 54 onto any dishes or other wares positioned in the washing chamber 14. Wash fluid removes soil particles located on the dishwares, and the mixture of wash fluid and soil particles falls onto the bottom wall 42 of the tub 12. The sloped configuration of the bottom wall 42 directs that mixture into the sump 50 and down the hole 52 defined in the sump 50.
While fluid is permitted to pass through the sheet 140, the size of the holes 144 prevents the soil particles of the mixture 152 from moving into the hollow interior 142. As a result, those soil particles accumulate on the outer surface 146 of the sheet 140 and cover the holes 144, thereby preventing fluid from passing into the hollow interior 142.
The rotation of the filter 130 about the axis 116 causes the unfiltered liquid or mixture 150 of fluid and soil particles within the filter chamber 82 to rotate about the axis 116 in the direction indicated by the arrow 118. Centrifugal force urges the soil particles toward the side wall 76 as the mixture 150 rotates about the axis 116. The diverters 160, 180 divide the mixture 150 into a first portion 190, which advances through the gap 188, and a second portion 192, which bypasses the gap 188. As the portion 190 advances through the gap 188, the angular velocity of the portion 190 increases relative to its previous velocity as well as relative to the second portion 192. The increase in angular velocity results in a low pressure region between the diverters 160, 180. In that low pressure region, accumulated soil particles are lifted from the sheet 140, thereby, cleaning the sheet 140 and permitting the passage of fluid through the holes 144 into the hollow interior 142 to create a filtered liquid. Additionally, the acceleration accompanying the increase in angular velocity as the portion 190 enters the gap 188 provides additional force to lift the accumulated soil particles from the sheet 140.
Referring now to
In operation, the rotation of the filter 130 about the axis 116 causes the mixture 150 of fluid and soil particles to rotate about the axis 116 in the direction indicated by the arrow 118. The diverter 200 divides the mixture 150 into a first portion 290, which passes through the gap 212 defined between the diverter 200 and the sheet 140, and a second portion 292, which bypasses the gap 212. As the first portion 290 passes through the gap 212, the angular velocity of the first portion 290 of the mixture 150 increases relative to the second portion 292. The increase in angular velocity results in low pressure in the gap 212 between the diverter 200 and the outer surface 146 of the sheet 140. In that low pressure region, accumulated soil particles are lifted from the sheet 140 by the first portion 290 of the fluid, thereby cleaning the sheet 140 and permitting the passage of fluid through the holes 144 into the hollow interior 142. In some embodiments, the gap 212 is sized such that the angular velocity of the first portion 290 is at least sixteen percent greater than the angular velocity of the second portion 292 of the fluid.
One difference between the first embodiment and the third embodiment is that the flow diverter 360 has a body 366 with an outer surface 368 that is less symmetrical than that of the first embodiment 360. More specifically, the body 366 is shaped in such a manner that a leading gap 393 is formed when the body 366 is positioned adjacent to the inner surface 348 of the sheet 340. A trailing gap 394, which is smaller than the leading gap 393, is also formed when the body 366 is positioned adjacent to the inner surface 348 of the sheet 340.
The third embodiment operates much the same way as the first embodiment. That is, the rotation of the filter 330 about the axis 316 causes the mixture 350 of fluid and soil particles to rotate about the axis 316 in the direction indicated by the arrow 318. The diverters 360, 380 divide the mixture 350 into a first portion 390, which advances through the gap 388, and a second portion 392, which bypasses the gap 388. The orientation of the body 366 such that it has a larger leading gap 393 that reduces to a smaller trailing gap 394 results in a decreasing cross-sectional area between the outer surface 368 of the body 366 and the inner surface 348 of the filter sheet 340 along the direction of fluid flow between the body 366 and the filter sheet 340, which creates a wedge action that forces water from the hollow interior 342 through a number of holes 344 to the outer surface 346 of the sheet 340. Thus, a backflow is induced by the leading gap 393. The backwash of water against accumulated soil particles on the sheet 340 better cleans the sheet 340.
One difference between the fourth embodiment and the first embodiment is that the fourth embodiment includes a first artificial boundary 480 in the form of a shroud extending along a portion of the rotating filter 430. Two first artificial boundaries 480 have been illustrated and each first artificial boundary 480 is illustrated as overlying a different portion of the upstream surface 446 to form an increased shear force zone 481. A beam 487 may secure the first artificial boundary 480 to the filter casing 64. The first artificial boundary 480 is illustrated as a concave shroud having an increased thickness portion 483. As the thickness of the first artificial boundary 480 is increased, the distance between the first artificial boundary 480 and the upstream surface 446 decreases. This decrease in distance between the first artificial boundary 480 and the upstream surface 446 occurs in a direction along a rotational direction of the filter 430, which in this embodiment, is counter-clockwise as indicated by arrow 418, and forms a constriction point 485 between the increased thickness portion 483 and the upstream surface 446. After the constriction point 485, the distance between the first artificial boundary 480 and the upstream surface 448 increases from the constriction point 485 in the counterclockwise direction to form a liquid expansion zone 489.
A second artificial boundary 460 is provided in the form of a concave deflector and overlies a portion of the downstream surface 448 to form a liquid pressurizing zone 491 opposite a portion of the first artificial boundary 480. The second artificial boundary 460 may be secured to the ends of the filter casing 64. As illustrated, the distance between the second artificial boundary 460 and the downstream surface 448 decreases in a counter-clockwise direction. The second artificial boundary 460 along with the first artificial boundary 480 form the liquid pressurizing zone 491. The second artificial boundary 460 is illustrated as having two concave deflector portions that are spaced about the downstream surface 448. The two concave deflector portions may be joined to form a single second artificial boundary 460, as illustrated, having an S-shape cross section. Alternatively, it has been contemplated that the two concave deflector portions may form two separate second artificial boundaries. The second artificial boundary 460 may extend axially within the rotating filter 430 to form a flow straightener. Such a flow straightener reduces the rotation of the liquid before the impeller 104 and improves the efficiency of the impeller 104.
The fourth embodiment operates much the same way as the first embodiment. That is, during operation of the dishwasher 10, liquid is recirculated and sprayed by a spray arm 54 of the spraying system to supply a spray of liquid to the washing chamber 17. The liquid then falls onto the bottom wall 42 of the tub 12 and flows to the filter chamber 82, which may define a sump. The housing or casing 64, which defines the filter chamber 82, may be physically remote from the tub 12 such that the filter chamber 82 may form a sump that is also remote from the tub 12. Activation of the motor 92 causes the impeller 104 and the filter 430 to rotate. The rotation of the impeller 104 draws wash fluid from an upstream side in the filter chamber 82 through the rotating filter 430 to a downstream side, into the hollow interior 442, and into the inlet opening 420 where it is then advanced through the recirculation pump assembly 34 back to the spray arm 54.
Referring to
Referring to
The shear force created by the increased angular acceleration and applied to the upstream surface 446 has a magnitude that is greater than what would be applied if the first artificial boundary 480 were not present. A similar increase in shear force occurs on the downstream surface 448 where the second artificial boundary 460 overlies the downstream surface 448. The liquid would have an angular speed profile of zero at the second artificial boundary 460 and would increase to approximately 3000 rpm at the downstream surface 448, which generates the increased shear forces.
Referring to
The high pressure zone 493 is generally opposed by the high pressure zone 491 until the end of the high pressure zone 491, which is short of the constriction point 489. At this point and up to the constriction point 489, the high pressure zone 493 forms a pressure gradient across the rotating filter 430 to generate a flow of liquid through the rotating filter 430 from the upstream surface 446 to the downstream surface 448. The pressure gradient is great enough that the flow has a nozzle or jet-like effect and helps to remove particles from the rotating filter 430. The presence of the low pressure expansion zone 495 opposite the high pressure zone 493 in this area further increases the pressure gradient and the nozzle or jet-like effect. The pressure gradient is great enough at this location to accelerate the water to an angular velocity greater than the rotating filter.
One difference between the fifth embodiment and the fourth embodiment is that the first and second artificial boundaries 580, 560 of the fifth embodiment are oriented differently with respect to the rotating filter 530. More specifically, while the first artificial boundary 580 still overlies a portion of the upstream surface 546 and forms an increased shear force zone 581, the shape of the first artificial boundary 580 has been transposed such the constriction point 585 is located just counter-clockwise of the gap 592 and after the constriction point 585 the first artificial boundary 580 diverges from the rotating filter 530 as the thickness of the first artificial boundary 580 is decreased, for a portion of the first artificial boundary 580, in a counter-clockwise direction.
The second artificial boundary 560 in the fifth embodiment is also oriented differently from that of the fourth embodiment both with respect to the portions of the downstream surface 548 it overlies and its relative orientation to the first artificial boundary 580. As with the fourth embodiment, the second artificial boundary 560 has an S-shape cross section and the second artificial boundary 560 extends axially within the rotating filter 530 to form a flow straightener.
The fifth embodiment operates much the same as the fourth embodiment and the increased shear zone 581 is formed by the significant increase in angular velocity of the liquid due to the relatively short distance between the first artificial boundary 580 and the rotating filter 530. As the constriction point 585 is located just counter-clockwise of the gap 592 the liquid portion 590 that enters into the gap 592 is subjected to a significant increase in angular velocity because of the proximity of the constriction point 585 to the rotating filter 530. This increase in the angular velocity of the liquid portion 590 results in a shear force being applied on the upstream surface 546.
A localized pressure increase results from the constriction point 585 being located so near the gap 592, which forms a liquid pressurized zone or high pressure zone 596 on the upstream surface 546 just prior to the constriction point 585. Conversely, a liquid expansion zone or a low pressure zone 589 is formed on the opposite side of the constriction 1 point 585 as the distance between the first artificial boundary 580 and the upstream surface 546 increases from the constriction point 585 in the counter-clockwise direction. Similarly, a high pressure zone 591 is formed between the downstream surface 548 and the second artificial boundary 560.
The pressure zone 596 forms a pressure gradient across the rotating filter 530 before the constriction point 585 to form a nozzle or jet-like flow through the rotating filter to further clean the rotating filter 530. The low pressure zone 589 and high pressure zone 591 form a backwash liquid flow from the downstream surface 548 to the upstream surface 546 along at least a portion of the filter 530. Where the low pressure zone 589 and high pressure zone 591 physically oppose each other, the backwash effect is enhanced as compared to the portions where they are not opposed.
The backwashing aids in a removal of soils on the upstream surface 546. More specifically, the backwash liquid flow lifts accumulated soil particles from the upstream surface 546 of at least a portion of the rotating filter 530. The backwash liquid flow thereby aids in cleaning the filter sheet 540 of the rotating filter 530 such that the passage of fluid into the hollow interior 542 is permitted.
In the fifth embodiment, the nozzle effect and the backflow effect cooperate to form a local flow circulation path from the upstream surface to the downstream surface and back to the upstream surface, which aids in cleaning the rotating filter. This circulation occurs because the nozzle or jet-like flow occurs just prior to the backwash flow. Thus, liquid passing from the upstream surface to the downstream surface as part of the nozzle or jet-like flow almost immediately drawn into the backflow and returned to the upstream surface.
The difference between the sixth embodiment and the fourth embodiment is that the second artificial boundary 660 in the sixth embodiment has a multi-pointed star shape in cross section. As with the fourth embodiment, the second artificial boundary 660 extends axially within the rotating filter 630 to form a flow straightener. Such a flow straightener reduces the rotation of the liquid before the impeller 104 and improves the efficiency of the impeller 104. It has been determined that the second artificial boundary 660 provides for the highest flow rate through the filter assembly with the lowest power consumption.
As with the fourth embodiment, the first artificial boundaries 680 form increased shear force zones 681 and liquid expansion zones 689. Further, the multiple points of the second artificial boundary 660 overlie a portion of the downstream surface 648 and form liquid pressurizing zones 691 opposite portions of the first artificial boundary 680. Low pressure zones 695 are formed between the multiple points of the second artificial boundary 660.
The sixth embodiment operates much the same way as the fourth embodiment. Except that the liquid pressurizing zones 691 on the downstream surface 648 are much smaller than in the fourth embodiment and thus the pressure gradient, which is created is smaller. Further, the low pressure zones 695 create multiple pressure drops across the filter sheet 640 and the portion 690 is drawn through to the hollow interior 642 at a higher flow rate. This concept also creates multiple internal shear locations, which further improves the cleaning of the filter.
There are a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure arising from the various features of the method, apparatuses, and system described herein. For example, the embodiments of the apparatus described above allows for enhanced filtration such that soil is filtered from the liquid and not re-deposited on utensils. Further, the embodiments of the apparatus described above allow for cleaning of the filter throughout the life of the dishwasher and this maximizes the performance of the dishwasher. Thus, such embodiments require less user maintenance than required by typical dishwashers.
While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.
The present application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/966,420, filed Dec. 13, 2010, which application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/643,394, filed Dec. 21, 2009, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20140130829 A1 | May 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12966420 | Dec 2010 | US |
Child | 14155402 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12643394 | Dec 2009 | US |
Child | 12966420 | US |