Patent Grant
11191417
This application is a national stage application filed under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2016/066288 filed Jul. 8, 2016, which application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Embodiments herein relate to a wash arm assembly for a dishwasher.
Today's dishwashers are expected to perform high quality wash of dishware while at the same time to efficiently use of water and energy in order to fulfill requirements concerning environmental impact and sustainability. Various arrangements, taking up some space within the dishwasher, for washing of the dishware in an efficient manner have thus been developed. However, it is also desired that the dishwashers can accommodate a lot of dishware to be washed. Therefore, it is desired that space within the dishwashers for accommodating dishware is as large as possible. A trade-off between space for dishware and environmental impact is consequently made.
A known dishwasher comprises a so called upper wash arm connection as one typical example of the aforementioned arrangements for washing of dishware. The upper wash arm connection connects an upper central wash arm to a tube for providing washing liquid to be exerted out of the upper central wash arm. It is thus desired that the upper wash arm connection has a low profile to limit space occupied by it within the dishwasher. Furthermore, leakage of the washing liquid through the connection is desired to be limited. The upper wash arm connection should also be characterized by low friction, low sensitivity to dirt and high abrasive resistance.
Furthermore, the known dishwasher can comprise a satellite wash arm, connected to the central wash arm by means of a bearing. The bearing includes a tubular connection portion of the satellite wash arm inserted in a tubular receiving portion of the central wash arm. The bearing allows the satellite wash arm to rotate in relation to the central wash arm. During operation of the dishwasher, when the washing liquid is delivered to the satellite wash arm through the central wash arm, the washing liquid causes the satellite wash arm to lift from the bearing. Usually, there is a locking means limiting a distance the satellite wash arm may lift. The lift of the satellite wash arm results in leakage of washing liquid between the tubular connection and tubular receiving portions. The leakage lubricates the bearing, whereby friction between the tubular connection and tubular receiving portions is reduced.
One problem with known wash arm assemblies, such as the wash arm connection, the bearing and the like, is that a wash arm, such as the satellite wash arm or the central wash arm, may wobble when, for example dirt get stuck in the wash arm assembly if the wash arm lifts too much during operation of the dishwasher. Wobbling causes more leakage and larger losses due to increased friction. The wobbling may also cause the wash arm to hit some part of the dishwasher or dishware accommodated in the dishwasher.
An object of the embodiments herein is to provide a wash arm assembly for a dishwasher comprising a wash arm, which the wash arm assembly provides an improved rotational movement of the wash arm.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the object is achieved by a wash arm assembly for a dishwasher. The wash assembly comprises a wash arm, comprising a tubular connection portion and a tubular receiving means for receiving the tubular connection portion. The tubular connection portion is arranged to be inserted in the tubular receiving means to create a connection between the tubular connection portion and the tubular receiving means. Thus, the tubular connection portion may be easily connected to the tubular receiving means by inserting the tubular connection portion in the tubular receiving means. Further, the tubular connection portion and the tubular receiving means may be easily disconnected by pulling out the tubular connection portion from the tubular receiving means.
The connection allows the wash arm to rotate, which means that the tubular connection portion of the wash arm may rotate in relation to the tubular receiving means when the tubular connection portion has been inserted in the tubular receiving means. Further, the connection is arranged to conduct a washing liquid of the dishwasher in a first direction to the wash arm. Thus, the washing liquid may be supplied to the wash arm through the connection in the first direction.
The tubular connection portion comprises a first guiding surface and a second guiding surface, and the tubular receiving means comprises a third guiding surface and a fourth guiding surface, wherein the first guiding surface is aligned to the third guiding surface and the second guiding surface is aligned to the fourth guiding surface when the tubular connection portion is inserted in the tubular receiving means. As an effect thereof, the tubular insertion portion is guided into a predetermined position in relation to the tubular receiving means when the tubular insertion portion is inserted into the tubular receiving means. In other words, the first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces are arranged to lead, or guide, the tubular insertion portion to the predetermined position in relation to the tubular receiving means when the tubular insertion portion is inserted into the tubular receiving means. Said predetermined position of the tubular insertion portion in relation to the tubular receiving means is a position, in which an essentially unhindered, or non-inhibited, rotation of the tubular insertion portion within the tubular receiving means. In such a position, the first guiding surface and the third guiding surface as well as the second guiding surface and the fourth guiding surface are at least substantially parallel to each other. To sum up, thanks to the first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces, the tubular insertion portion may easily be positioned in the tubular insertion means in said predetermined position to achieve an improved rotational movement for the wash arm. Further, the predetermined position may be achieved repeatedly each time the tubular insertion portion is inserted in the tubular receiving means thanks to the guiding surfaces of the tubular insertion portion and the tubular receiving means.
The first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces are arranged to guide the tubular connection portion and the tubular receiving means into alignment with each other upon rotation of the wash arm. The tubular connection portion is tapered in the first direction along the first guiding surface, and wherein the tubular connection portion is tapered in a second direction, being opposite to the first direction, along the second guiding surface. The tubular receiving means is tapered in the first direction along the third guiding surface and wherein the tubular receiving means is tapered in the second direction along the fourth guiding surface.
Since the first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces are arranged to guide the tubular connection portion and the tubular receiving means into alignment with each other upon rotation of the wash arm, the tubular connection portion and the tubular receiving means are guided to a position where the first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces align with each other upon rotation of the wash arm. In such a position the first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces are at least substantially parallel with each other. Thereby, during rotation of the wash arm, the first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces are all the time guided into alignment with each other even if the first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces are not pairwise completely parallel to each other at all times as explained in more detail below.
A disturbance of the wash arm, effecting the rotational movement of the wash arm, may lead to wobbling of the wash arm. During the wobbling, the first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces are displaced from alignment with each other. However, on account of that the tubular connection portion is tapered in the first direction along the first guiding surface and that the tubular receiving means is tapered in the first direction along the third guiding surface, the tubular connection portion is guided back to the position where the first and third guiding surfaces align with each other. Additionally, on account of that the tubular connection portion is tapered in a second direction along the second guiding surface and that the tubular receiving means is tapered in the second direction along the fourth guiding surface, the tubular connection portion is guided back to the position where the second and fourth guiding surfaces align with each other.
To sum up, when a disturbance of the wash arm occurs the tubular insertion portion is guided back, e.g. brought back, to a position where the first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces align with each other upon rotation of the wash arm. This occurs thanks to friction forces, acting on the tubular connection portion and creating a momentum that with Coriolis forces strives to straighten the wash arm's position during rotation of the wash arm. The forces and the momentum are created because the tubular connection portion and the tubular receiving means are tapered along the first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces as described above. Thereby, wobbling of the wash arm is prevented.
As an effect, the improved rotational movement of the wash arm is achieved.
Consequently, an improved wash arm assembly is obtained.
As a result, the above mentioned object is achieved.
In some embodiments, the tubular connection portion comprises an upstream edge and a downstream edge in relation to a stream of washing liquid in the first direction, wherein the first guiding surface is arranged at the upstream edge and the second guiding surface is arranged at the downstream edge.
The wash arm assembly may comprise a main wash arm of the dishwasher, wherein the wash arm is connectable to the main wash arm by means of the connection, wherein the main wash arm comprises the tubular receiving means. Thereby, the wash arm may be attached to the main wash arm. The wash arm thus acts as a so called satellite wash arm. Accordingly, an improved wash arm assembly for assembling the satellite wash arm onto the main wash arm is achieved.
In some embodiments, the tubular receiving means is connectable to a conduit arranged to convey the washing liquid to an interior of the dishwasher. Thereby, the wash arm may be attached to a tube for supplying the washing liquid to the dishwasher.
The first guiding surface is defined by a first envelope surface of a first cut-off cone pointing in the first direction.
The second guiding surface is defined by a second envelope surface of a second cut-off cone pointing in the second direction.
According to another aspect of the embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a dishwasher comprising a wash arm assembly according to the embodiments herein.
Further features of, and advantages with, the embodiments herein will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following detailed description. Those skilled in the art will realize that the different features described may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the embodiments herein, as defined by the appended claims.
The various aspects of the embodiments herein, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:
The embodiments herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. Disclosed features of example embodiments may be combined. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Well-known functions or constructions will not necessarily be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.
The wash arm assembly 1 comprises the wash arm 3 and a tubular receiving means 7, such as a tubular element, pipe piece or the like. Further, the wash arm 3 comprises a tubular connection portion 5, such as tubular element, pipe piece or the like, arranged to be inserted in the tubular receiving means 7 to create a connection 9 (shown in
The connection 9 according to the embodiments herein may also be called for hydraulic ejector connection because of the form of channels for delivering the washing liquid to the wash arm 3. Hydraulic ejector connections are well known in the art and therefore not described in details herein.
The tubular connection portion 5 and the tubular receiving means 7 are formed as tubes, i.e. shaped as circular pipes, wherein the tubular connection portion 5 has a first diameter d1 and a length l1 and the tubular receiving means 7 has a second diameter d2 and a depth l2. The first diameter d1 indicates an outer diameter of the tubular connection portion 5. The second diameter d2 indicates an inner diameter of the tubular receiving means 7. The first diameter d1 is less than the second diameter d2 to enable insertion of the tubular connection portion 5 into the tubular receiving means 7.
Clearance between the first diameter d1 and the second diameter d2 may be in a range of 1-3 mm.
The tubular connection portion 5 comprises a first guiding surface 11 and a second guiding surface 13, and the tubular receiving means 7 comprises a third guiding surface 15 and a fourth guiding surface 17. The length l1 of the tubular connection portion 5 and the depth l2 of the tubular receiving means 7 are determined to achieve an alignment of the first guiding surface 11 with the third guiding surface 15 and the second guiding surface 13 with the fourth guiding surface 17 when the tubular connection portion 5 is inserted into the tubular receiving means 7. Further, the length l1 of the tubular connection portion 5 is determined in order to place the first guiding surface 11 below a center of gravity (not shown) of the wash arm 3. For example, the first guiding surface 11 may be arranged 20 mm below the center of gravity of the wash arm 3.
According to some embodiments herein, the tubular receiving means 7 is arranged at the main wash arm 23, sometimes also referred to as a central wash arm. As illustrated in
In some embodiments, the tubular receiving means 7 is connectable to a conduit arranged to convey the washing liquid to an interior of the dishwasher. Thus, the tubular receiving means 7 may be arranged at a tube (not shown) for supply the washing liquid to the dishwasher. In such an embodiment, the wash arm 3 is directly connected to the tube.
The tubular receiving means 7 may be arranged as a separate member arranged to be fastened to the main wash arm 23 or to the tube. According to some embodiments herein, the tubular receiving means 7 is arranged as a part of the main wash arm 23.
As illustrated in
According to the embodiments herein he tubular connection portion 5 is tapered in a first direction w1 along the first guiding surface 11 constituting a part of an internal surface of the tubular connection portion 5. The direction w1 is a direction the washing liquid is delivered to the wash arm 3 through the tubular connection portion 5 of the wash arm 3. The tubular connection portion 5 is also tapered in a second direction w2, being opposite to the first direction w1, along the second guiding surface 13 constituting a part of an external surface the tubular connection portion 5. Internal and external relate to a common meaning of what is meant with interior and exterior of a tube for delivering a liquid. Consequently, interior means where the liquid flows in the tube.
In a similar way, the tubular receiving means 7 is tapered in the first direction w1 along the third guiding surface 15 and is tapered in the second direction w2 along the fourth guiding surface 17. Both the third guiding surface 15 and the fourth guiding surface 17 constitute a part of an internal surface of the tubular receiving portion 7.
As illustrated in
The first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces 11, 13, 15, and 17 are arranged so the first guiding surface 11 is aligned to the third guiding surface 15 and the second guiding surface 13 is aligned to the fourth guiding surface 17 when the tubular connection portion 5 is inserted in the tubular receiving means 7. With aligned is meant that the first, and third guiding surfaces 11, 15 respectively the second and fourth guiding surfaces 13, 17 are substantially parallel to each other and may have a contact with each other or there may be a distance between the surface 11, 15 when the connection portion 5 is inserted in the receiving means 7.
Before the washing liquid is delivered to the wash arm 3, the first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces 11, 13, 15, and 17 may abut against, or have contact with or touch, each other as described above when the tubular connection portion 5 is inserted in the tubular receiving means 7. When the washing liquid is supplied to the wash arm 3, lift forces are created in the wash arm 3. The lift forces may lift the wash arm 3 if the pressure is enough to overcome all forces, for example gravitational forces or forces from spray nozzles (not shown) of the wash arm 3, acting on the wash arm 3 in the second direction w2, opposite to the first direction w1 of delivering the washing liquid. When the wash arm 3 lifts the first guiding surface 11 and the third guiding surface 15 respectively the second guiding surface 13 and the fourth guiding surface 17 are separated from each other. Thus, allowing washing liquid to lubricate the connection 9 in
The washing liquid has a primary purpose of washing dishware accommodated in the dishwasher. The washing liquid delivered to the wash arm 3 also has a secondary purpose of driving the wash arm 3 during the rotational movement. The wash arm 3 comprises one or several driving nozzles (not shown) arranged at a periphery of the wash arm 3.
The first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces 11, 13, 15, 17 are arranged to guide the tubular connection portion 5 and the tubular receiving means 7 into alignment with each other upon rotation of the wash arm 3. During rotation of the wash arm 3 the first guiding surface 11 cooperates with the third guiding surface 15 and the second guiding surface cooperates with the fourth guiding surface 17 to guide the tubular connection portion 5 and the tubular receiving means 7 into alignment with each other.
The tubular connection portion 5, and along with it also the wash arm 3, and the tubular receiving means 7 are guided into alignment with each other upon rotation of the wash arm 3 thanks to the first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces 11, 13, 15, 17 that are defined by envelope surfaces of cut-off cones as described below.
The first guiding surface 11 is defined by a first envelope surface of a first cut-off cone pointing in the first direction w1. The first cut-off cone is cut-off from a first main cone with a first virtual top t1, or a first virtual peak, that may be located on a rotational axis a1 of the wash arm 3. As shown in
A location of said first virtual top t1 relatively the first base plane bp1 determines a first inclination of said first main cone. The first inclination may be defined by a first angle α1 between the rotational axis a1 and a first line e1 on the envelope surface of the first main with said first virtual top t1. The greater distance of the first virtual top t1 from the first base plane bp1 results in the greater first inclination of the first main cone i.e. the less the first angle α1. The first angle α1 may be in a range of 25-35 degrees.
The second guiding surface 13 is defined by a second envelope surface of a second cut-off cone pointing in the second direction w2. The second cut-off cone is cut-off from a second main cone with a second virtual top t2 that also may be located on the rotational axis a1. As shown in
Similarly to the first virtual top t1, a location of said second virtual top t2 relatively the second base plane bp2 defines a second inclination of said second main cone with the second virtual top t2. The second inclination may be defined by a second angle α2 between the rotational axis a1 and a second line e2 on the envelope surface of the second main cone with said second virtual top t2.The greater distance of the second virtual top t2 from the second base plane bp2 results in the greater second inclination of the second main cone i.e. the less the second angle α2. The second angle α2 may be in a range of 30-45 degrees.
Said third and fourth guiding surfaces 15, 17 of the tubular receiving means 7 are arranged in similar way to the first and second guiding surfaces 11, 13 of the tubular connection portion 5 described above. However, the third and fourth guiding surfaces 15, 17 are arranged in relation to a second axis a2 through a center of the tubular receiving means 7.
The third guiding surface 15 is defined by a third envelope surface of a third cut-off cone pointing in the first direction w1. The third cut-off cone is cut-off from a third main cone with a third virtual top t3 that may be located on the second axis a2. As shown in
Further, the fourth guiding surface 17 is defined by a fourth envelope surface of a fourth cut-off cone pointing in the second direction w2. The fourth cut-off cone is cut-off from a fourth main cone with a fourth virtual top t4 that may be located on the axis a2. As shown in
Consequently, when a disturbance of the wash arm 3 occurs the tubular insertion 5 portion is guided back, e.g. brought back, to a position where the first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces 11, 13, 15 and 17 align with each other upon rotation of the wash arm 3, thanks to that the tubular connection portion 5 and the tubular receiving means 7 are tapered along the first, second, third and fourth guiding surfaces 11, 13, 15 and 17 as described above.
As an effect, the improved rotational movement of the wash arm is achieved and thereby an improved wash arm assembly is obtained.
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