Dishwasher with spray system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9386903-B2
Application number	US-201213570488-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2012
Priority date	Sep 22, 2011
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and a spraying system for supplying liquid to the treating chamber. The spraying system includes a sprayer having a body with an interior, a liquid passage provided in the interior, and a plurality of outlets extending through the body and in fluid communication with the liquid passage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dishwasher for washing utensils according to an automatic cycle of operation, comprising:
a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving utensils for cleaning;
a spraying system for supplying liquid to the treating chamber and having a sprayer comprising:
a body having an interior;
a liquid passage provided in the interior;
at least one outlet extending through the body and in fluid communication with the liquid passage;
a valve body reciprocally movable along a length of the body to fluidly couple different portions of the at least one outlet to the liquid passage to alter a direction of liquid emitted from the at least one outlet; and
an actuator operably coupled to the valve body and configured to move the valve body during the automatic cycle of operation to control the direction of liquid emitted from the outlet.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the actuator is configured to move the valve body during the automatic cycle of operation to a first position where a first portion of the at least one outlet is fluidly coupled to the liquid passage to effect an emitting of liquid through the at least one outlet in a first direction.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the actuator is configured to move the valve body during the automatic cycle of operation to a second position where a second portion of the at least one outlet, different from the first portion, is fluidly coupled to the liquid passage to effect an emitting of liquid through the at least one outlet in a second direction, different from the first direction.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the first direction is generally opposite the second direction.

5. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the actuator is configured to move the valve body during the automatic cycle of operation to a third position where a third portion of the at least one outlet, different from the first and second portions, is fluidly coupled to the liquid passage to effect an emitting of liquid through the at least one outlet in a third direction, different from the first and second directions.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the valve body comprises: a first edge, which is spaced from a first side of the at least one outlet in the first position to define the first portion between the first edge and the first side; a second edge, different than the first edge, and which is spaced from a second side of the at least one outlet in the second position to define the second portion between the second edge and the second side; and a third edge different than the first and second edges, and which is spaced from a third side of the at least one outlet in the third position to define the third portion between the second edge and the second side.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6 wherein one of the first, second, and third edges is arcuate.

8. The dishwasher of claim 7 wherein one of the first, second, and third edges is linear.

9. The dishwasher of claim 6 wherein the valve body comprises a planar element having a leading edge defining the first edge and a trailing edge defining the second edge.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9 wherein the valve body comprises an opening at least partially defining the third edge.

11. The dishwasher of claim 10 wherein the planar element moves along a direction of travel along the length of the body and the opening is off-center relative to the at least one outlet.

12. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the first direction is generally opposite the second direction and the third direction is generally perpendicular to the first and second directions.

13. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the first direction is in an aft direction, the second direction is in a fore direction, and the third direction is in a sideways direction relative to the fore and aft directions.

14. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the valve body comprises a first edge, which is spaced from a first side of the at least one outlet in the first position to define the first portion between the first edge and the first side, and a second edge, different than the first edge, and which is spaced from a second side of the at least one outlet in the second position to define the second portion between the second edge and the second side.

15. The dishwasher of claim 14 wherein an opening defines the first and second edges.

16. The dishwasher of claim 15 wherein the opening has a periphery, with a first portion of the periphery defining the first edge and a second portion of the periphery defining the second edge.

17. The dishwasher of claim 16 wherein the valve body has a direction of travel along the length of the body and the opening is located on the valve body such that as the valve body moves from the first to second positions, the opening is at least temporarily centered on the at least one outlet.

18. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the valve body is located within the body.

19. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the body comprises a spray arm rotatable about an axis of rotation.

20. The dishwasher of claim 19 wherein the valve body is reciprocally moveably within the spray arm.

21. A dishwasher for washing utensils according to an automatic cycle of operation, comprising:
a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving utensils for cleaning;
a spraying system for supplying liquid to the treating chamber and having a sprayer comprising:
a body having an interior;
a liquid passage provided in the interior;
a plurality of outlets extending through the body and in fluid communication with the liquid passage;
a valve body fluidly coupling the plurality of outlets to the liquid passage and reciprocally moveable along a length of the body between at least two positions, with one of the at least two positions causing the spray from the plurality of outlets to spray in a first spray pattern, and a second of the at least two positions causing the spray from the plurality of outlets to spray in a second spray pattern differing from the first spray pattern; and
an actuator operably coupled to the valve body and configured to move the valve body between the at least two positions during the automatic cycle of operation.

22. The dishwasher of claim 21 wherein the first and second spray patterns differ in at least the direction of the spray emitted from plurality of outlets.

23. The dishwasher of claim 21 wherein the sprayer comprises a rotating spray arm.

24. The dishwasher of claim 23 wherein the actuator moves the valve body between the at least two positions based on the rotation of the rotatable spray arm.

25. A dishwasher for washing utensils according to an automatic cycle of operation, comprising:
a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving utensils for cleaning;
a spraying system for supplying liquid to the treating chamber and having a sprayer comprising:
a body having an interior;
a liquid passage provided in the interior;
an outlet extending through the body and in fluid communication with the liquid passage; and
a valve body located within the liquid passage and having an opening corresponding to the outlet to collectively form an effective opening, with the valve body configured to reciprocally move along a length of the body during the automatic cycle of operation to adjust the relative positions of the outlet and opening to alter the shape of the effective opening

Assignees

• Feddema Mark S
• Miller Kevin B
• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Feddema Mark S
• Miller Kevin B

Classifications

• A47L15/23 Primary

  moved by means of the sprays · CPC title

• A47L15/4282

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