Whirlpool Corporation

Philip P Johnson

Geoffrey L Dingler

William T Lampman

Ronald E Hahn

Clifford L DeSchaaf

William F Gourdeau

Chester W Wassilak

Paul J LaPrad

A dishwasher apparatus having an improved soil separator arranged to bypass a portion of the dishwashing liquid being circulated by the circulation impeller and to separate from the bypass portion of the dishwashing liquid soil which may have been entrained therein. The cleansed dishwashing liquid is then returned to the circulation system for reuse in effecting the dishwashing operation. The soil separator is further arranged to separate from the dishwashing liquid delivered thereto air which may have been entrained in the liquid and return the air to the dishwashing liquid being circulated for washing the dishes. The structure for collecting the soil is arranged to collect the soil from a relatively slowly moving portion of the bypassed liquid. The soil separator structure is arranged to effectively discharge the collected soil to drain upon initiation of a drain operation. The drain port is disposed downstream of the collecting space and the separator structure is arranged to cause flow of dishwashing liquid past the collecting space and concurrently reversely from the outlet of the separator structure so as to provide a turbulent delivery of the collected soil to the drain port. The drain port is arranged to be maintained free of collected soil during the normal operation of the dishwasher and may be disposed adjacent the return outlet of the separator structure. The cross section of the liquid bypass passage may gradually increase from the inlet to the outlet thereof to facilitate separation of the soil from the dishwashing liquid. The drain port is located in an area of relatively rapid movement of the dishwashing liquid to provide improved cleansing of the drain port in the draining operation.

Dishwasher soil separator

A liquid swirler arranged to comminute relatively large solids so as to permit the comminuted solids to pass through openings in the swirler with a liquid flow induced therethrough. In the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus is utilized in a dishwasher having a pump for flowing dishwashing liquid through a flow passage of a centrifuge-type separator. The swirler effects a swirling movement of the liquid in the separator to permit the separator to remove the solids from the liquid before passing the liquid on to the pump. The swirler is arranged to provide the further function of breaking solids down to a small enough size to permit them to pass satisfactorily through the pump and dishwashing liquid circulation system. A resilient member is disposed adjacent the swirler to assist in breaking up relatively large solids by holding them suitably for comminuting action by the rotating swirler.

Comminuting liquid swirler

A dishwasher having improved structure for separating food soil and the like from the dishwashing liquid. The soil separating structure is associated with a suction passage leading to a circulation pump of the dishwasher provided for effecting circulation of the dishwashing liquid from a lower sump portion of the dishwasher receptacle back to the dishwashing space for washing dishes and the like therein. The soil separator includes an accumulator wherein the soil is collected for subsequent discharge as desired and structure responsive to a centrifugal action in the suction passage for effecting a circulation of a portion of the dishwashing liquid between the suction passage and the accumulator. The structure is arranged to utilize the combined swirling and longitudinal movement of the dishwashing liquid in the suction passage for effecting the desired soil separation by centrifugal action. The discharge of the collected soil may be effected by a suitable drain pump connected to the accumulator. The swirling movement of the dishwashing liquid in the suction passage may be effected by a rotary impeller, the circulation of the dishwashing liquid in the dishwashing space may be effected by a centrifugal circulation pump, and the draining of the system may be effected by a rotary drain pump. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the impeller, circulation pump and drain pump is coaxially carried on a common shaft of a single drive motor.

A receptacle such as a dishwasher tub having an improved control for effecting filling of the tub to a preselected full level and protecting the apparatus against undesirable overfill in the event the normal flow control malfunctions. The flow control includes a control valve having two valve elements for cooperatively preventing such undesirable overfill. One of the valve elements may be controlled by an electrically operated solenoid, and the other valve element may be controlled by mechanical control structure. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrically controlled valve element is controlled by a timer, and the mechanically controlled valve element is controlled by a float.

Receptacle fill apparatus

A receptacle such as a dishwasher tub having an improved control for effecting filling of the tub to a preselected full level and protecting the apparatus against undesirable overfill in the event the normal flow control malfunctions. The flow control includes a control valve having two valve elements for cooperatively preventing such undesirable overfill. One of the valve elements may be controlled by an electrically operated solenoid, and the other valve element may be controlled by mechanical control structure. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrically controlled valve element is controlled by a timer, and the mechanically controlled valve element is controlled by a float. A heater is provided for heating liquid in the tub and an improved control is provided for controlling the heater so as to prevent energization thereof whenever the sensed liquid volume in the tub is below a preselected minimum. Illustratively, the volume is sensed by a float sensing the level of liquid in the tub and connected to a switch of the control for selectively energizing the heater.

Heater safety control

A control valve assembly for an appliance includes a control valve and a swivel garden hose type connector for releasably connecting the fluid inlet of the control valve to external plumbing. The connector is securely and permanently affixed to a mounting bracket which is affixed to the cabinet of the appliance and is adapted for connection to the external plumbing by an internal thread. The integral connection of the connector and mounting bracket isolates the torque generated in securing the external plumbing to the connector and transmits the torque via the mounting bracket to the appliance cabinet. The swivel connector provides for ease in installation and/or replacement of the control valve. A grounding strap connected at one end to the control valve and to a predetermined location of the mounting bracket physically orients the fluid outlet of the control valve to a proper position for connection to a conduit which carries fluid from the control valve to a washing chamber of the appliance.

Control valve and mounting assembly for an appliance

A fluid delivery system for a dishwashing appliance of the type having movable upper and lower racks and upper and lower spray arms has a telescoping tower in fluid communication with a manifold during operation. A face seal between the upper spray arm and the telescoping portion of the tower is effected upon buildup of fluid pressure in the tower sufficient to bring the telescoping portion into engagement with the upper spray arm and thereby deliver wash liquid to the upper spray arm. A generally axially-extending seal actuated by the fluid pressure in the tower seals the telescoping portion to the fixed portion of the tower during delivery of wash liquid through the fluid conduit system. When the pumping of the wash liquid is terminated, the telescoping portion of the tower automatically retracts.

Growing community of inventors

St. Joseph, MI, United States of America

Philip P Johnson