Dishwasher and controlling method therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11723511-B2
Application number	US-201916523322-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2019
Priority date	Jul 26, 2018
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

A method for controlling a dishwasher includes: supplying washing water to a sump; rotating an impeller disposed in a washing pump by a washing motor so that the washing water flows into the washing pump from the sump;
operating a heater disposed in the washing pump so as to heat the washing water existing in the washing pump and generate steam to supply to a steam nozzle; and supplying the washing water or steam in the washing pump to the steam nozzle by rotating the impeller at a second set rotational speed lower than a first set rotational speed by the washing motor. The method further includes closing a selector valve, configured to open and close a path between the washing pump and the steam nozzle, when the impeller rotates at the first set rotational speed or higher.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling a dishwasher that includes a tub defining a washing chamber, a sump configured to store washing water, a steam nozzle configured to supply steam to the washing chamber, a spray nozzle configured to supply washing water to the washing chamber, a washing pump including a housing and an impeller rotatably disposed in an upper chamber of the housing, the washing pump being configured to supply steam to the steam nozzle or to supply washing water to the spray nozzle, a heater disposed in the washing pump and configured to heat washing water in the washing pump, a steam supply pipe connecting the upper chamber to the steam nozzle, a washing water supply pipe connecting the upper chamber to the spray nozzle, and a selector valve disposed at the steam supply pipe and configured to open and close a supply path, the selector valve including (i) a valve body that defines the supply path and has an inlet and an outlet disposed higher than the inlet and (ii) a valve ball disposed inside the valve body, the selector valve being configured to close the supply path based on the valve ball being positioned at the outlet of the valve body, wherein the supply path is configured to be closed based on a rotational speed of the impeller being greater than or equal to a first set rotational speed, the method comprising:
supplying washing water to the sump;
rotating the impeller by a washing motor to supply washing water from the sump to the washing pump;
performing a first steam supplying operation that includes operating the heater and supplying steam generated in the washing pump to the steam nozzle through the supply path; and
performing a second steam supplying operation that includes stopping operation of the heater and supplying steam in the washing pump to the steam nozzle by rotating the impeller at a second set rotational speed less than the first set rotational speed by the washing motor, the supply path being configured to be opened based on the rotational speed of the impeller being less than the first set rotational speed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dishwasher further includes a plurality of spray nozzles configured to spray washing water to an inside of the dishwasher, and
wherein the method further comprises:
based on rotating the impeller at a rotational speed greater than or equal to the first set rotational speed by the washing motor, supplying washing water from the sump to an inside of the washing pump and supplying washing water from the washing pump to at least one of the plurality of spray nozzles.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first steam supplying operation further comprises:
rotating the impeller while operating the heater to heat washing water in the inside of the washing pump.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
repeating each of rotating the impeller and operating the heater.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of spray nozzles are vertically arranged in the dishwasher and connected to the washing pump, and
wherein the method further comprises supplying, by rotating the impeller, washing water from the washing pump to all of the plurality of spray nozzles.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
stopping operation of the heater and operation of the washing motor before performing the second steam supplying operation.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the heater comprises:
operating the heater while rotating, by the washing motor, the impeller at the second set rotational speed.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second steam supplying operation is performed based on stopping operation of the heater.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
repeating the first steam supplying operation and the second steam supplying operation.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dishwasher further includes a plurality of spray nozzles vertically arranged in the dishwasher and configured to be connected to the washing pump, and
wherein the first steam supplying operation further comprises connecting the washing pump to an uppermost spray nozzle among the plurality of spray nozzles.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the valve body has a cylindrical shape, and the valve ball is configured to move along the valve body between the inlet and the outlet of the valve body, and
wherein the selector valve is configured to open the supply path by the valve ball moving away from the outlet of the valve body based on the rotational speed of the impeller being less than the first set rotational speed.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the washing motor is disposed above an upper surface of the housing and below the selector valve.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the valve body is inclined upward with respect to the upper surface of the housing and extends from the inlet to the outlet.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the valve ball is configured to:
be positioned at the outlet of the valve body to thereby close the supply path based on the rotational speed of the impeller being greater than or equal to the first set rotational speed, and
be positioned at the inlet of the valve body to thereby open the supply path to the steam nozzle based on the rotational speed of the impeller being less than the first set rotational speed.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selector valve further includes a plurality of valve ribs that are disposed at the inlet of the valve body and protrude radially inward from an inner surface of the valve body, the plurality of valve ribs being spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction of the valve body and configured to contact the valve ball based on the rotational speed of the impeller being less than the first set rotational speed.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Woo Sangwoo
• Kwon Kitae
• Kim Minchul

Classifications

• A47L15/46 Primary

  Devices for the automatic control of the different phases of cleaning {; Controlling devices (A47L15/449 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A47L15/0084

  of drawer-type · CPC title

• A47L15/4202

  Water filter means or strainers · CPC title

• A47L15/428

  Rotary nozzles · CPC title

• A47L15/4217

  Fittings for water supply, e.g. valves or plumbing means to connect to cold or warm water lines, aquastops · CPC title