Dishwasher

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11457792-B2
Application number	US-201916460478-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2019
Priority date	Jan 2, 2017
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a tub, a spray arm, and a spray arm. The spray arm includes an arm body that defines a plurality of channels that are partitioned from each other and that are configured to carry washing water and a plurality of spray holes configured to discharge washing water from the plurality of channels toward the washing objects. The spray arm further includes a chamber disposed vertically below the arm body and configured to communicate with the plurality of channels; a channel guider configured to supply washing water from the spray arm holder to the chamber; and a channel switch unit accommodated in the chamber and configured to open and close at least a portion of the plurality of channels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dishwasher comprising:
a washing tub configured to receive washing objects;
a spray arm rotatably disposed in the washing tub and configured to spray washing water toward the washing objects; and
a spray arm holder that defines a supply channel configured to supply washing water to the spray arm,
wherein the spray arm includes:
an arm body that defines:
a plurality of channels that are partitioned from each other and that are configured to carry washing water, and
a plurality of spray holes configured to discharge washing water from the plurality of channels toward the washing objects,

a chamber disposed vertically below the arm body and configured to communicate with the plurality of channels,
a channel guider configured to supply washing water from the spray arm holder to the chamber, and
a channel switch unit accommodated in the chamber and configured to alternatively open and close the plurality of channels.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the channel guider passes through the arm body and the chamber to couple to the spray arm holder, and is configured to rotatably support the arm body and the chamber.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 , wherein the channel guider includes:
a guider body disposed vertically below the chamber and configured to support the chamber and the arm body;
an extension unit that extends upwardly from the guider body and passes through the chamber, the extension unit defining a plurality of exhaust holes configured to supply washing water into the chamber; and
a coupling unit that is disposed at a top portion of the extension unit, that passes through the arm body to couple to the spray arm holder, and that is configured to receive washing water from the spray arm holder.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3 , wherein the guider body includes a bump that protrudes from a top surface of the guider body and that is configured to distribute washing water entering the extension unit toward the chamber.

5. The dishwasher of claim 3 , wherein the coupling unit includes coupling bumps that protrude from an outer circumferential surface of the coupling unit and that are configured to couple to the spray arm holder.

6. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the channel switch unit is configured to move upward and downward along a longitudinal direction of the channel guider and to rotate within a predetermined angle about the channel guider based on moving upward and downward along the longitudinal direction.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6 , wherein the channel switch unit includes:
a switch body configured to move upward and downward along an outer circumferential surface of the channel guider;
a plurality of radial protrusions that protrude from the switch body in a radius direction of the switch body and that are configured to cause the switch body to move upward based on buoyancy of washing water entering the chamber; and
a plurality of channel openings, each channel opening being defined between the radial protrusions.

8. The dishwasher of claim 7 , wherein the arm body defines a plurality of chamber communication holes that is configured to communicate with the plurality of channels and the chamber, and
wherein the radial protrusions are configured to, based on the channel switch unit moving upward, be inserted into a part of the chamber communication holes and block the part of the chamber communication holes to thereby restrict supply of washing water to the plurality of channels.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 , wherein the radial protrusions define an outflow groove recessed from an outside of the radial protrusions in the radius direction.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9 , wherein the outflow groove is configured to, in a state in which the radial protrusions are inserted into the chamber communication holes, allow a portion of washing water in the chamber to enter the corresponding channel to thereby increase a descending speed of the channel switch unit.

11. The dishwasher of claim 8 , wherein the arm body further includes a hollow tube that extends downwardly from the arm body and that receives the channel guider, and
wherein the switch body further includes a plurality of support bumps that protrude from an inner circumferential surface of the switch body toward an outer circumferential surface of the hollow tube.

12. The dishwasher of claim 8 , wherein the switch body further includes a plurality of spacers that protrude from a bottom surface of the switch body toward the chamber and that define a space between the bottom surface of the switch body and the chamber.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12 , wherein the arm body includes a plurality of upper contact parts, each of the upper contact parts being disposed between the chamber communication holes,
wherein the chamber includes a plurality of lower contact parts that protrude upwardly from a bottom surface of the chamber, and
wherein the channel switch unit includes:
upper bumps that protrude upwardly from the radial protrusions and from the channel openings and that are configured to cause the switch body to rotate based on the upper bumps contacting the upper contact parts; and
lower bumps configured to cause the switch body to rotate based on the lower bumps contacting the lower contact parts.

14. The dishwasher of claim 13 , wherein a width of the upper bumps that protrude upwardly from the channel openings decreases along a rotating direction of the switch body.

15. The dishwasher of claim 13 , wherein the radial protrusions include a settling portion arranged between the upper bumps, and
wherein the upper bumps include:
a first contact portion configured to start to contact the upper contact parts based on the switch body moving upward; and
a second contact portion configured to contact the upper contact parts based on the switch body ceasing rotation.

16. The dishwasher of claim 15 , wherein the upper bumps include:
a first inclined surface, wherein a height of the first inclined surface with respect to a top surface of the settling portion increases in a direction toward the first contact portion along a rotating direction of the switch body; and
a second inclined surface, wherein a height of the second inclined surface with respect to the top surface of the settling portion decreases in a direction from the first contact portion toward the second contact portion.

17. The dishwasher of claim 16 , wherein a gradient of the second inclined surface is less than a gradient of the first inclined surface.

18. The dishwasher of claim 15 , wherein the lower bumps include:
a third contact portion configured to start to contact the lower contact parts based on the switch body moving downward; and
a fourth contact portion configured to contact the lower contact parts based on the switch body ceasing rotation.

19. The dishwasher of claim 18 , wherein the lower bumps include:
a third inclined surface, wherein a height of the third inclined surface with respect to a bottom surface of the settling portion increases in a direction toward the third contact portion along a rotating direction of the switch body; and
a fourth inclined surface, wherein a height of the fourth inclined surface with respect to the bottom surface of the settling portion decreases in a direction from the third contact portion toward the fourth contact portion.

20. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels include:
a first channel configured to supply washing water to a first spray hole amo

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Jongmin
• Ju Byeonghyeon
• Kim Daegyu
• Woo Seyoung
• Lee Taehee
• Pyo Joonho

Classifications

• A47L15/4223

  Devices for water discharge, e.g. devices to prevent siphoning, non-return valves · CPC title

• A47L15/4282 Primary

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

• A47L15/23 Primary

  moved by means of the sprays · CPC title

• A47L15/4278

  Nozzles · CPC title

• A47L2501/20

  Spray nozzles or spray arms · CPC title