Dishwasher rack spray assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10463227-B2
Application number	US-201815945138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2018
Priority date	Mar 13, 2014
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

A dishwasher having a tub defining a treating chamber, a dish rack, and a spray assembly associated with the dish rack. The spray assembly may include at least one sprayer positioned to spray treating liquid onto dishes received by the rack. The sprayer has two openings and may be movable between a first position and a second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spray assembly, comprising:
a first liquid supply conduit having a length configured to be located adjacent a dish rack within a treating chamber of a dishwasher and configured to be fluidly coupled to a recirculation system of the dishwasher,
a second liquid supply conduit configured to be fluidly coupled to the recirculation system of the dishwasher;
at least one sprayer located on the length of the first liquid supply conduit and selectively fluidly coupled to the first liquid supply conduit, the at least one sprayer having a first liquid opening and an extension having a second liquid opening wherein the extension is movable between a first position where treating liquid flows from the first liquid supply conduit through the first liquid opening into the treating chamber and does not flow through the second liquid opening and a second position, which is raised from the first position, where the treating liquid flows from the first liquid supply conduit through the second liquid opening into the treating chamber; and
a rotatable sprayer mounted to an end of the second liquid supply conduit and configured to emit sprays into the treating chamber.

2. The spray assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one sprayer includes a third liquid opening, and when the extension is in the second position, the extension fluidly communicates the third liquid opening with the second liquid opening for flow of the treating liquid from the third liquid opening to the second liquid opening into the treating chamber.

3. The spray assembly of claim 2 wherein when the extension is in the second position, the extension blocks the first liquid opening such that the treating liquid cannot flow through the first liquid opening into the treating chamber.

4. The spray assembly of claim 3 wherein when the extension is in the first position, the extension blocks the third liquid opening such that the treating liquid cannot flow through the third liquid opening into the treating chamber.

5. The spray assembly of claim 4 wherein the at least one sprayer further comprises a seal system mounted to and movable with the extension sealing the first liquid opening when it is blocked by the extension in the second position and sealing the third liquid opening when it is blocked by the extension in the first position.

6. The spray assembly of claim 1 wherein when the extension is in the second position, the treating liquid flows through the first liquid opening to the second liquid opening.

7. The spray assembly of claim 6 wherein the at least one sprayer includes a third liquid opening, and when the extension is in the second position, the extension fluidly communicates the third liquid opening with the second liquid opening for flow of the treating liquid from the third liquid opening, in addition to the flow from the first liquid opening, to the second liquid opening into the treating chamber.

8. The spray assembly of claim 1 wherein the extension is rotated to the second position such that the second liquid opening is located higher than the first liquid opening when the extension is in the second position.

9. The spray assembly of claim 8 wherein the extension comprises an elongated tubular portion and the second liquid opening is located at an end of the elongated tubular portion.

10. The spray assembly of claim 9 wherein the first liquid opening is formed in a portion of the first liquid supply conduit and the elongated tubular portion is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the first liquid supply conduit.

11. The spray assembly of claim 9 wherein the elongated tubular portion is generally vertical when in the second position.

12. The spray assembly of claim 9 wherein the elongated tubular portion forms a handle graspable by a user for moving the extension between the first and second positions.

13. The spray assembly of claim 8 wherein the extension is movable between multiple second positions wherein the second liquid opening is located higher than the first liquid opening when the extension is in any of the multiple second positions.

14. The spray assembly of claim 1 wherein the first liquid opening is formed in a portion of the first liquid supply conduit.

15. The spray assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one sprayer comprises a spray nozzle having an opening that defines the first liquid opening.

16. The spray assembly of claim 15 wherein the spray nozzle is recessed on the first liquid supply conduit.

17. The spray assembly of claim 1 wherein the extension is movable to a third position where the treating liquid does not flow through the first liquid opening or the second liquid opening, thus preventing flow of the treating liquid from the at least one sprayer into the treating chamber.

18. The spray assembly of claim 17 wherein the at least one sprayer includes a third liquid opening, and when the extension is in the second position, the extension fluidly communicates the third liquid opening with the second liquid opening for flow of the treating liquid from the third liquid opening to the second liquid opening into the treating chamber, and the extension comprises a closure element that covers and blocks flow of the treating liquid through the first liquid opening and the third liquid openings when the extension is in the third position.

19. The spray assembly of claim 1 wherein when the extension is in the second position, the treating liquid can flow through the first liquid opening into the treating chamber and through the second liquid opening into the treating chamber.

20. A spray assembly, comprising:
a liquid supply conduit having a length configured to be located adjacent a dish rack within a treating chamber of a dishwasher; and
multiple rotatable sprayers rotatably mounted to the liquid supply conduit, at least two of the multiple rotatable sprayers spaced along the length of the liquid supply conduit and rotatable between at least a first position adjacent a bottom of the dish rack to a second position extending into the dish rack and wherein the multiple rotatable sprayers are fluidly coupled to the liquid supply conduit and emit spray in both the first and second positions.

21. The spray assembly of claim 20 wherein at least some of the multiple rotatable sprayers comprise an elongated extension terminating in a tip.

22. The spray assembly of claim 21 wherein the elongated extension comprises a first outlet at the tip and a second outlet spaced from the first outlet.

23. The spray assembly of claim 22 wherein at least some of the multiple rotatable sprayers further comprise a body mounted to the liquid supply conduit with the elongated extension extending from the body, and the second outlet is in the body.

24. The spray assembly of claim 22 wherein at least some of the multiple rotatable sprayers comprise a first spray nozzle with an opening defining the first outlet and a second spray nozzle with an opening defining the second outlet.

25. The spray assembly of claim 22 wherein the first outlet emits spray only in the second position, and the second outlet emits liquid only in the first position.

26. The spray assembly of claim 20 wherein the spray assembly further comprises non-rotatable sprayers fluidly coupled to the liquid supply conduit.

27. The spray assembly of claim 26 wherein the non-rotatable sprayers comprise outlets in the li

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Beshears Jr Paul E
• Chen David H
• Feddema Mark S
• Gregory Deborah L
• Jozwiak Todd M
• Lee Timothy D
• Rappette Antony M
• Sibley Jason A
• Vanderroest Chad T
• Viswanathan Ameresh B

Classifications

• A47L15/508 Primary

  Hydraulic connections for racks · CPC title

• A47L15/503

  with foldable parts · CPC title

• A47L15/4282

  Arrangements to change or modify spray pattern or direction · CPC title