Maytag Corporation

Randall L Cooper

Mitchell N Corbett

Mark A Cracraft

Douglas W Gardner

Rodney Michael Welch

Thomas M Johnson

Darrin Scott Manke

Mary E Kennedy

A method of selecting a washing cycle for an intelligent appliance uses several factors to make a cycle selection. The first factor is a combination of the water turbidity, conductivity and temperature as well as the wash arm speed. The other factors are the average of previously selected cycles, the number of times the appliance door has been opened, and the time between wash cycles. The appliance also allows the user to bump up the selected cycle to a higher cycle if the user is unsatisfied with the performance of the appliance. If a failure has occurred with any of the sensors or in the communications routine, the appliance selects the average of previously selected cycles as the wash cycle.

Cycle selection method and apparatus

An automatic dishwashing machine includes enhanced drying and draining cycles. Toward the end of the rinse and hold cycle when the water is draining, a second quantity of water is added to the machine resulting in a purging action which reduces the concentration of soil in the wash pump. During the normal wash cycle, if the dishwashing machine determines that the water is sufficiently dirty, a second drain is initiated to remove any dirty water that is present in the bottom of the pump after the first drain. During the dry cycle, the machine senses the temperature of the water and the presence of a rinse aid to select an appropriate dry cycle. The possible dry cycles include a delayed dry cycle and a pulsed dry cycle.

Enhanced draining and drying cycles for an automatic dishwasher

An appliance control panel having selective backlighting includes a selection area that is normally visible to the operator including an 'OPTIONS' switch. By pressing the 'OPTIONS' switch, a plurality of lamps are illuminated. The light from the lamps passes through an assembly of overlays and illuminates a set of optional switches that are not normally visible. The incandescent lamps are positioned partially within a clear plastic mounting plate with a lamp on each side of the optional switches. The clear mounting plate is masked on both sides except for areas on the plate that form depressions around each optional switch. The light is trapped between the masks and escapes through the overlay assembly, illuminating the optional switches.

Selective back lighting of appliance control panel

Enhanced cycles for an automatic appliance

Method of selecting a wash cycle for an appliance

A water circulation system for a dishwasher is provided, and includes a pump housing with a cover mounted in the bottom wall of the washing chamber of the dishwasher. The cover includes a collection chamber with a strainer portion extending around the outside of the chamber, and a filter element positioned on the inside of the chamber. A first portion of the wash water passes through the strainer, which removes large food particles from the water, which is then recirculated by a pump in the pump housing back to the washing chamber. A second portion of wash water is collected in the collection chamber and passes through the filter element to remove food particles therefrom, and then into the pump housing for recirculation by the pump to the washing chamber. The collection chamber includes a drainage outlet for draining collected food particles from the chamber at the end of the wash cycle. A backwash spray of water is also provided to continuously backwash the filter element during the washing cycle so as to prevent clogging of the element.

Dishwasher filter arrangement

An adjustable rinse additive dispenser is provided for a dishwasher having a washing compartment and a door pivotal between a horizontal open position and a vertical closed position. The dispenser includes a rinse additive reservoir mounted on the door. A conduit provides a fill opening for adding rinse additive to the reservoir. A knob assembly includes a shaft extending into the conduit so as to substantially seal the opposite ends of the conduit, and defines an annular chamber within the conduit. A trough is provided in the reservoir for holding a fixed quantity of rinse additive. A passageway provides communication between the trough and the annular chamber, and is normally closed by a plunger assembly. During the last rinse cycle of the dishwasher, the plunger assembly is moved to an open position so as to allow rinse additive to flow from the trough into the annular chamber. A leak path is provided in the knob assembly so as to allow a selective amount of rinse additive to flow from the annular chamber into the washing compartment of the dishwasher. The quantity of additive dispensed from the annular chamber can be varied by turning the knob assembly such that the angular position of the leak path is raised or lowered.

Growing community of inventors

Newton, IA, United States of America

Randall L Cooper