Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

Christopher Brandon Ross

Kyle Edward Durham

Craig Curtis

Adam Christopher Hofmann

Matthew David Mersch

Daniel J Hart

Gregory Owen Miller

Brian Steven Riddle

Mark Thomas Fryman

Domingo E Galliano

Kathleen Lueck

Thomas Fernandez

A diverter assembly for a dishwasher appliance includes a housing and a cam sleeve with a plurality of passages. The cam sleeve defines a first portion of a plurality of cam teeth. The diverter assembly also includes a diverter plate rotatably mounted within the housing, and the diverter plate includes a plurality of passages and a plurality of guide teeth. Additionally, the diverter assembly includes a cam post coupled to the housing at the cam sleeve. The cam post defines a second portion of the plurality of cam teeth such that the cam sleeve and the cam post collectively form the plurality of cam teeth. The plurality of cam teeth mesh with the plurality of guide teeth at the central passage of the housing such that the diverter plate rotates relative to the housing when the diverter plate vertically translates within the housing.

Systems for liquid diversion in appliances

A dishwasher is provided having a diverter assembly. The diverter assembly may include a diverter disk moveable between an upper and a lower position. The diverter disk may include a diverter head defining an opening and a radial center, and a disk boss attached to the diverter head at a radial center of the diverter head. The disk boss may define a disk channel extending below the diverter head. The diverter disk may further include an upper spring guide extending below the disk boss and located within the disk channel, a return spring extending below the upper spring guide within the disk channel, and a lower spring guide extending through the return spring. The return spring may have a top end attached to the upper spring guide and a bottom end attached to the lower spring guide.

Diverter assembly for dishwasher

A method of operating a dishwasher appliance including a drain pump includes detecting a flagged water response state within the dishwasher appliance during a washing operation, ceasing a current cycle segment of the washing operation in response to detecting the flagged water response state, initiating a drain sequence at the drain pump after the current cycle segment has been ceased, determining a next scheduled cycle segment of the washing operation following the current cycle segment in response to initiating the drain sequence, detecting a non-flagged water event following the flagged water response state, and initiating the next scheduled cycle segment of the washing operation in response to detecting the non-flagged water event.

Flagged water event response cycle resume for a dishwasher appliance

A therapeutic pelvic region analyzer and method of use thereof that includes an expandable device sized and shaped for insertion into an opening in a pelvic region of a user and a collapsible reservoir fluidly coupled to the expandable device. The collapsible reservoir is configured to temporarily retain and expel an amount of fluid. A tube defining a fluid-flow path for the amount of fluid is between the expandable device and the collapsible reservoir. The therapeutic pelvic region analyzer also includes fluid-flow control valve disposed between the expandable device and the collapsible reservoir. The fluid-flow control valve is operable to provide a selectively variable level of resistance as the amount fluid passes from the expandable device to the collapsible reservoir.

Therapeutic pelvic region analyzer and method of use thereof

A method of determining a position of a diverter of a fluid circulation system in a dishwasher appliance includes determining a total amount of water supplied to the dishwasher appliance; activating a pump at a predetermined speed in response to determining the total amount of water supplied to the dishwasher appliance, the predetermined speed being based on the determined total amount of water; measuring a fluid pressure of an amount of sump water provided within a sump of the dishwasher appliance after activating the pump at the predetermined speed, the amount of sump water being at least part of the total amount of water; and determining a position of the diverter in response to measuring the fluid pressure of the amount of sump water, the position of the diverter being dependent on the measured fluid pressure.

Dishwasher appliance and method of operating a pump based on sump water

Dishwashing appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include features or steps such as performing a drain cycle; detecting a pressure (P1) during an activation period of the drain cycle; comparing the pressure to a first predetermined pressure limit; comparing the pressure to a second predetermined pressure limit; determining a target fill value based on a difference between a normal fill volume and a fluid volume corresponding to P1; and initiating a fill cycle based on the target fill value.

Dishwashing appliances and methods for addressing obstruction therein

A dishwashing appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a spray assembly, a circulation pump, a pressure sensor, and a controller. The circulation pump may be in fluid communication with a wash chamber defined by the tub. The pressure sensor may be upstream of the circulation pump. The controller may be configured to initiate a washing operation including activating the circulation pump, detecting movement of the door from a closed position, detecting return of the door to the closed position, calculating a modified time period for flood detection, determining pressure at the pressure sensor exceeds a pressure threshold following detecting return of the door to the closed position, initiating the modified time period in response to determining pressure at the pressure sensor exceeds the pressure threshold, and directing the circulation pump based on measuring the elevated pressure and expiration of the modified time period.

Dishwashing appliances and methods for evaluating pressure therein

A dishwasher appliance includes a tub that defines a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing. The dishwasher appliance also includes a lower spray assembly located in the wash chamber and configured to direct a spray of fluid into the wash chamber. The dishwasher appliance further includes an upper spray assembly located in the wash chamber above the lower spray assembly along the vertical direction. The upper spray assembly is configured to direct a spray of fluid into the wash chamber. A sump is positioned at a bottom of the wash chamber for receiving fluid from the wash chamber. The dishwasher appliance further includes a pump in fluid communication with the sump. The pump is configured to draw fluid from the sump. A main conduit extends between the pump and the upper spray assembly. The main conduit includes an upper end and a hole defined in the upper end.

Dishwasher appliance main conduit with pressure relief hole

Dishwashing appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include features or steps such as detecting a pressure (P1) at a pressure sensor upstream from a pump while maintaining the pump in an inactive state and activating the pump from the inactive state for an activation period during which the pump remains active to motivate a continuous fluid flow. Dishwashing appliances and methods may further include features or steps for detecting a pressure (P2) at the pressure sensor upstream from the pump during the activation period and initiating a response sequence at the pump based on P1 and P2.

Dishwashing appliances and methods for addressing obstructions therein

Dishwashing appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include features or steps such as activating the drain pump for an activation period and receiving a pump-status signal during the activation period. Dishwashing appliances and methods may further include features or steps for detecting a pressure (P) upstream from the drain pump during the activation period, determining a condition at the filter based on the pump-status signal and P, and directing the drain pump based on the determined condition.

A dishwasher appliance includes a sump that defines a transition fill level where the cross sectional area of the sump increases. A pressure sensor is operably coupled to the sump for monitoring sump pressure and wash fluid level. A controller calibrates the pressure sensor by monitoring a sump pressure and determining when the wash fluid has reached the transition fill level. A measured transition pressure is taken at this point and compared to a target transition pressure that is known based on the sump geometry. A slope correction factor is calculated based on the measured transition pressure and the target transition pressure to obtain improved pressure readings and wash fluid level measurements.

System and method for calibrating a wash fluid level detection system in a dishwasher appliance

A dishwasher appliance includes a spray nozzle having a housing defining a spray chamber in fluid communication with a fluid circulation assembly. A diversion element is positioned within the spray chamber and is movable between a lowered position and a raised position where it contacts a discharge orifice. The diversion element defines a plurality of flow paths that are randomly oriented relative to the discharge orifice every time the diversion element is moved into the raised position, such as when the fluid circulation assembly cycles off and then on again.

Spray nozzle for a dishwasher appliance

A hydraulically actuated diverter includes a top portion defining a plurality of outlet ports and a bottom portion defining a fluid inlet and being coupled to the top portion to form a diverter chamber. A diverter disk is positioned in the diverter chamber and can move along an axial direction between a first position and a second position. The diverter disk has one or more apertures and may be rotated about the axial direction to selectively place the one or more apertures in fluid communication with the plurality of outlet ports. When water flows through the fluid inlet, the diverter disk moves to the second position and forms a fluid seal with the top portion. To reduce noise resulting from the diverter disk striking the top portion, a strike pad is coupled to and extends from the top portion toward the diverter disk.

Hydraulically actuated diverter for an appliance

A hydraulically actuated diverter for selectively controlling a flow of wash fluid in a dishwashing appliance is provided. The hydraulically actuated diverter includes a top portion and a bottom portion that are coupled together to form a diverter chamber. A shaft of a diverter valve is slidably received within a channel defined by the bottom portion of the diverter. The shaft and the channel define an annular gap that allows the shaft to slide and rotate within the diverter chamber. The shaft defines an alignment member positioned within the annular gap to prevent the shaft from moving out of alignment with the channel, reducing the likelihood of excessive friction and binding of the diverter valve.

A turbidity sensor assembly for a dishwasher appliance is provided. The turbidity sensor assembly measures the turbidity of wash fluid in a manner similar to conventional turbidity sensors, but also includes an integral water level indicator. The water level indicator is an opaque buoyant ball that rises and falls with the water level to provide a water level indication that can be used to shut off the drain pump when the sump is empty. More specifically, when the water level drops below a predetermined level, the opaque ball blocks the transmission of light between the emitter and receiver of the turbidity sensor, thus indicating that the sump is almost empty. As a result, the pump operating during a drain cycle need only operate long enough to drain the sump, and this may be achieved without an additional measuring device or complicated control system.

Growing community of inventors

Louisville, KY, United States of America

Christopher Brandon Ross