Whirlpool Corporation

Claude W Miller

Todd Michael Jozwiak

Edward L Thies

Roger James Bertsch

Geoffrey L Dingler

Wilbur W Jarvis

John Alan Miller

Nicholas J Cottrell

The present invention provides a dishwasher having a wash chamber including a sump. A pump having a rotating element is supported within a pump housing wherein the pump is adapted to draw liquid from the sump through an inlet area and then pump liquid to the wash chamber. A particle chopping assembly is supported in the inlet area upstream of the rotating element, the particle sizing assembly including a particle screen rotatably supporting drive shaft which drivingly supports a chopping blade adjacent the particle screen. The drive shaft has a coupling end which detachably couples to the rotating element. The coupling between the chopping blade and the rotating element is capable of accommodating axial tolerance with regard to the axial position of the rotating element.

Dishwasher with food particle chopping assembly

A wash liquid recirculation system for a dishwasher is provided including a unique soil separating system. The recirculation system includes a wash pump which is provided with an internal filter plate to concentrate soils. The wash pump includes an impeller disposed within a pump housing or casing. When energized, the wash pump draws wash liquid from a sump area and pumps wash liquid through the impeller into the pump housing or casing. The filter plate is disposed within the casing for dividing the casing into a first and second region and for concentrating soils in the second region. Concentrated soils are delivered from the second region to a soil collection system. The filter plate is disposed radially outwardly from the impeller, substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the impeller.

Wash liquid circulation system for a dishwasher

A dishwasher is provided having a wash pump and soil collection system. The wash pump may be a volute type pump having a horizontal axis and includes a casing surrounding a wash impeller. The casing has a main outlet and a secondary outlet. The wash impeller draws wash liquid from the dishwasher sump region and pumps the wash liquid through the main outlet and the secondary outlet. The wash liquid pumped through the main outlet is provided to a wash arm device such that wash liquid is recirculated throughout the dishwasher interior wash chamber. The wash liquid pumped through the secondary outlet is directed to flow into a soil collector. The soil collector includes a soil separation channel which receives the flow from the secondary outlet and includes at least one filter screen panel for returning filtered wash liquid back into the sump such that soils are retained in the soil separation channel and accumulate within a soil accumulator region. A pressure sensor may be provided for sensing the pressure within the soil accumulator. A drain pump is provided having an inlet fluidly connected to the soil separation channel. When the pressure within the soil collector exceeds a predetermined limit level, the drain pump is energized such that soils are cleared or purged from the soil collector. Alternatively, a second outlet may be provided in the soil collector through which wash liquid flows back into the wash chamber when the filter screen is clogged with soils.

Pump and soil collection system for a dishwasher

Growing community of inventors

Troy, OH, United States of America

Claude W Miller