Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

General Electric Company

Craig Curtis

Kyle Edward Durham

Christopher Brandon Ross

Steven Chadwick Koepke

Mark Thomas Fryman

John Edward Dries

Kyle James Brewer

Gregory Owen Miller

Aaron Matthew McDaniel

Scott Noll

Luke Thomas Fredette

Joel Boyer

Adam Christopher Hofmann

William Nathan Garnett

Daniel J Hart

Austin Horn

Charles Anthony DeCataldo

A dishwasher appliance or pump assembly may include a fluid pump and a vibration damper. The fluid pump may define a center of gravity. The vibration damper may be attached to the fluid pump. The vibration damper may include first and second spring beams and first and second damper masses. The first spring beam may extend longitudinally between a fixed end and a free end and be offset from the center of gravity at a first radial side. The first damper mass may be disposed on the free end of the first spring beam. The second spring beam may extend longitudinally between a fixed and a free end and be offset from the center of gravity at a second radial side. The second damper mass may be disposed on the free end of the second spring beam.

Pump damper assembly and dishwasher appliance

A dishwashing appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing. A sump is a sump positioned at a bottom of the wash chamber for receiving fluid from the wash chamber. A circulation pump is connected to the sump. The dishwashing appliance also includes a mounting cable extending from the circulation pump. The circulation pump is suspended by the mounting cable.

Dishwashing appliance cable motor mount

A dishwashing appliance or variable spray assembly, as provided herein, may include a manifold body, a diverter valve, and a driver. The manifold body may define a fluid inlet, a first flow path, a second flow path, a first spray outlet, and a second spray outlet. The first and second flow paths may be downstream from the fluid inlet. The second flow path may be in fluid parallel to the first flow path. The second spray outlet may be spaced apart from the first spray outlet. The diverter valve may be mounted within manifold body and movable between a first zone position directing wash fluid to the first flow path and a second zone position directing wash fluid to the second flow path. The driver may be disposed outside of the manifold body to motivate the diverter valve between the first zone position and the second zone position.

Dishwashing appliance having a variable spray assembly to alternate the spray of wash fluid

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

A dishwasher appliance equipped with leak detection features and a method of detecting leak conditions during an operation cycle of a dishwasher are provided. In one aspect, the dishwasher appliance includes a tub having a sump. A pressure sensor is mounted to the sump and is configured to monitor the sump pressure during an operation cycle. If the sump pressure falls below a pressure threshold during a circulation cycle, corrective action can be taken. For instance, a circulation pump circulating wash fluid through the tub can deactivated and a static pressure reading can be taken by the pressure sensor. The static pressure reading can be compared to a static pressure reading taken prior to the circulation cycle. In response to whether the static pressure is within a predetermined range of the static pressure reading taken prior to the circulation cycle, the circulation cycle can be recommenced or aborted.

Dishwasher appliance equipped with leak detection features

A dishwashing appliance and a spray assembly, as provided herein, may include a manifold body, and a cammed diverter valve. The manifold body may be mountable within a wash chamber. The manifold body may define a fluid inlet, a first spray zone, and a second spray zone. The first spray zone may include a first spray outlet. The second spray zone may include a second spray outlet spaced apart from the first spray outlet. The cammed diverter valve may be mounted within the manifold body and be movable between a first zone position and a second zone position. The first zone position may direct wash fluid to the first spray zone and restrict wash fluid to the second spray zone. The second zone position may direct wash fluid to the second spray zone and restrict wash fluid to the first spray zone.

Dishwashing appliance having a multi-zone spray assembly to alternate the spray of wash fluid

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 dishwasher appliance equipped with flood protection features that proactively attempt to prevent, stop, and/or mitigate flood events is provided. The dishwasher appliance may also include features for determining the cause of the flood event. Moreover, methods for flood protection of the dishwasher appliance are also provided.

Dishwasher appliance equipped with flood protection

A fluid circulation assembly for a dishwasher appliance includes a pump, a diverter, and a valve. The diverter includes an inlet and a plurality of outlet ports. The inlet of the diverter is in fluid communication with the pump for receiving fluid from the pump. The valve is in fluid communication with the diverter via one or more of the plurality of outlet ports. The valve includes a housing, a dual check valve assembly mounted in the housing and a plurality of conduits. The dual check valve assembly selectively directs fluid from the diverter to one or more of the plurality of conduits.

Dual check valve fluid circulation system for dishwasher appliances

A flood detection sensor for a dishwasher appliance is provided. The flood detection sensor includes features that allow for detection of flood events or tub overfills without sacrificing performance or efficiency of the dishwasher during normal operating conditions and for secure mounting to a tub lip of the dishwasher.

Flood detection sensor for a dishwasher appliance

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.

Turbidity sensor assembly including an integral water level indicator

A detergent dispenser module for a dishwashing appliance may generally include a body extending between a top side and a bottom side. The body may include an outer surface extending from the top side and may define a detergent chamber between the outer surface and the bottom side. The detergent chamber may be at least partially formed by an upper sidewall, a lower sidewall and a bottom wall extending between the upper and lower sidewall. In addition, the dispenser module may also include at least one flow diverter extending outwardly from the outer surface at a location adjacent to the upper sidewall of the detergent chamber. The flow diverter(s) may be angled in a direction of a fluid collection opening defined through a top of the upper sidewall such that fluid flowing downwardly along the outer surface of the body is directed into the fluid collection opening.

Detergent dispenser module for a dishwashing appliance

A passive diverter is provided that does not require a dedicated motor to switch between multiple outlet ports. The diverter uses the forces provided by a flow of fluid from a pump to switch between different outlet ports and supply one or more spray assemblies or other fluid-using elements. A separate motor to power the diverter is not required, which allows a savings in costs and space. In addition, a secondary set of ramps may provide a manner in which to 'zero' the angular position of the diverter, i.e., place the diverter in a known, home position. This can reduce the additional cost, weight, and complexity of including additional sensors to determine the angular position of the diverter.

Variable position hydraulically actuated diverter for an appliance

A variable position diverter that provides wash fluid to selected combinations of outlet ports and spray assemblies. The diverter includes a housing having a first fluid outlet, a second fluid outlet, and a valve disk having four apertures. The valve disk is rotated relative to the housing to align one or more of the four apertures with one or both of the first fluid outlet and the second fluid outlet to selectively control the flow of wash fluid through corresponding spray assemblies. Selectively diverting wash fluid in this manner can improve wash performance and reduce cycle time while meeting government regulations regarding water usage.

Variable position diverter for an appliance

A spray arm assembly includes a spray arm including a plurality of branches connected to each other and arrayed about a center point, each of the plurality of branches defining a passage therethrough and an aperture in fluid communication with the passage. The center point defines a spray arm central axis. The spray arm is rotatable about the spray arm central axis. The spray arm assembly further includes a base conduit defining a passage therethrough, the base conduit defining a base conduit central axis. The spray arm assembly further includes an intermediate conduit connecting the base conduit and the spray arm, the intermediate conduit defining a passage in fluid communication between the passage of the base conduit and the passages of the plurality of branches. The intermediate conduit is rotatable about the base conduit central axis. The spray arm central axis is offset from the base conduit central axis.

Growing community of inventors

Crestwood, KY, United States of America

Craig Curtis