Dishwasher

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10426313-B2
Application number	US-201715403302-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2017
Priority date	Jun 10, 2016
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

A dishwasher that includes: a tub configured to accommodate an object; a main arm that is configured to (i) rotate about a first axis inside the tub, (ii) guide first water of the incoming water through a first flow path and second water of the incoming water through a second flow path, and (iii) spray the first water to the object; an auxiliary arm that is configured to (i) rotate about a second axis inside the tub and (ii) spray the second water to the object; and an auxiliary arm connector that couples the main arm to the auxiliary arm and that is rotatable with the auxiliary arm, the auxiliary arm connector including: an auxiliary flow path guide that is configured to (i) guide the second water from the main arm to the auxiliary arm and (ii) control water pressure of the second water is disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dishwasher comprising:
a tub configured to accommodate an object;
a pair of main arms that extend in a first extension direction and that are configured to (i) rotate about a first axis inside the tub, (ii) receive incoming water from a water source, (iii) guide first water of the incoming water through a first flow path and second water of the incoming water through a second flow path, and (iv) spray the first water to the object;
a pair of auxiliary arms that extend in a second extension direction to define a predetermined angle with respect to the main arms, that are coupled to the main arms, and that are configured to (i) rotate about a second axis inside the tub and (ii) spray the second water to the object; and
a pair of auxiliary arm connectors that are disposed at the main arms, that are configured to couple to the auxiliary arms, and that are rotatable with the auxiliary arms, the auxiliary arm connectors including:
an auxiliary flow path guide that is configured to (i) change a water flow direction of the second water from the main arms to the auxiliary arms and (ii) control water pressure of the second water, and
a flow path formation rib that is disposed at an inner surface of the auxiliary flow path guide and that is configured to (i) divide the incoming water into the first water and the second water and (ii) control the water pressure of the second water based on a volume of the second water.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary arm connectors include:
a plurality of reinforcing ribs that are coupled to an outer surface of the auxiliary flow path guide and that are configured to support the auxiliary flow path guide.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 , wherein the auxiliary arms include:
a plurality of nozzles that are configured to spray the second water to the object, and
wherein each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs includes:
one or more depressed grooves for preventing interference with the nozzles of the auxiliary arm.

4. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary arms include:
one or more first auxiliary nozzles that are configured to spray a first portion of the water that has passed through the second flow path in a first direction, and
one or more second auxiliary nozzles that are configured to spray a second portion of the water that has passed through the second flow path in a second direction.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4 , wherein the second direction is opposite to a direction that the auxiliary arms are configured to rotate.

6. The dishwasher of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs include:
one or more first reinforcing ribs that are coupled to a first portion of the auxiliary flow path guide, and
one or more second reinforcing ribs that are coupled to a second portion of the auxiliary flow path guide.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6 , wherein a number of the one or more second reinforcing ribs is more than a number of the one or more first reinforcing ribs.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1 , further comprising:
a supporting part that is coupled to the auxiliary arms, the supporting part including a coupling hole.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary arm connectors include:
a shaft that is coupled to the supporting part, the shaft being configured to be inserted into the coupling hole of the supporting part, and
an insertion key that protrudes from the shaft and that is configured to couple the shaft to the auxiliary arms.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9 , wherein the auxiliary arms are configured to rotate within a first angle, and
wherein the shaft is configured to rotate about the second axis.

11. The dishwasher of claim 9 , wherein the supporting part further includes:
a key groove that is defined at the coupling hole and that is configured to receive the insertion key in a first position, and
wherein the insertion key is configured to, based on the auxiliary arms being coupled to the main arms, be disposed in a second position relative to the key groove different from the first position.

12. The dishwasher of claim 11 , wherein the auxiliary arms further include:
a reflective plate that is configured to block water from the coupling hole or the key groove.

13. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary arm connectors further include:
an extending pipe that couples the main arms to the auxiliary flow path guide and that is configured to guide the second water to the auxiliary flow path guide.

14. The dishwasher of claim 13 , wherein the extending pipe further includes:
one or more sealing ribs that are protruded from an outer surface of the extending pipe and that are configured to block water leaking between the extending pipe and the auxiliary arms, and
a plurality of flow path formation protrusions that are protruded from the outer surface of the extending pipe and that are configured to flow a portion of the second water toward the sealing ribs.

15. The dishwasher of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first gear that is coupled to the tub and that is configured to rotate with the main arms;
a second gear that is coupled to the main arms and that is configured to rotate based on rotation of the main arms; and
a linker that is coupled to the main arms and the auxiliary arms and that is configured to rotate the auxiliary arms based on rotation of the second gear.

16. The dishwasher of claim 15 , wherein the linker is configured to rotate the auxiliary arms based on elastic force.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Choi Kyuhyung
• Pyo Joonho
• Hong Wook

Classifications

• A47L15/22

  Rotary spraying devices · CPC title

• A47L15/23 Primary

  moved by means of the sprays · CPC title

• A47L15/20

  Swingable spraying devices · CPC title

• A47L15/421

  Safety arrangements for preventing water damage · CPC title

• A47L15/428 Primary

  Rotary nozzles · CPC title