Variable position diverter for an appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9743822-B2
Application number	US-201514849728-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2015
Priority date	Sep 10, 2015
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

A variable position diverter that provides wash fluid to selected combinations of outlet ports and spray assemblies. The diverter includes a housing having four fluid outlet ports, and a valve disk having a three apertures. The valve disk is rotated relative to the housing to align one or more of the three apertures with one or more of the four fluid outlet ports to selectively control the flow of wash fluid through corresponding spray assemblies. Selectively diverting wash fluid in this manner can improve wash performance and reduce cycle time while meeting government regulations regarding water usage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dishwasher appliance, comprising:
a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;
a pump for providing fluid flow for cleaning the articles; and
a diverter for selectively controlling the fluid flow to a plurality of spray assemblies, the diverter defining an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, the diverter comprising:
a housing;
a fluid inlet for receiving fluid flow from the pump;
a fluid outlet comprising a first outlet port, a second outlet port, a third outlet port, and a fourth outlet port, each being spaced apart by 90 degrees along the circumferential direction; and
a valve positioned within the housing, the valve being rotatable along the circumferential direction, the valve comprising:
a disk defining a flange extending around a circumference of the disk and along the axial direction toward the fluid inlet, the disk further defining a first aperture positioned at 0 degrees, a second aperture positioned at 90 degrees, and a third aperture positioned at 225 degrees; and
a positioning assembly configured to rotate the disk incrementally through eight angular positions, each of the eight angular positions being separated by 45 degrees,

wherein when the disk is in a first position, the first aperture is in fluid communication with the third outlet port and the second aperture is in fluid communication with the second outlet port;
wherein when the valve disk is in a second position, the third aperture is in fluid communication with the fourth outlet port;
wherein when the valve disk is in a third position, the first aperture is in fluid communication with the second outlet port and the second aperture is in fluid communication with the first outlet port;
wherein when the valve disk is in a fourth position, the third aperture is in fluid communication with the third outlet port;
wherein when the valve disk is in a fifth position, the first aperture is in fluid communication with the first outlet port and the second aperture is in fluid communication with the fourth outlet port;
wherein when the valve disk is in a sixth position, the third aperture is in fluid communication with the second outlet port;
wherein when the valve disk is in a seventh position, the first aperture is in fluid communication with the fourth outlet port and the second aperture is in fluid communication with the third outlet port; and
wherein when the valve disk is in an eighth position, the third aperture is in fluid communication with the first outlet port.

2. The dishwasher appliance of claim 1 , wherein the positioning assembly comprises:
a cylindrically-shaped well defined by the housing;
a cylindrically-shaped shaft connected to the disk and extending along the axial direction, the shaft slidably received within the well of the housing such that the valve is movable between a first axial position and a second axial position, the shaft further defining an interior channel having a plurality of cams positioned on the shaft near the disk and projecting radially inward from the shaft into the interior channel;
a boss extending along the axial direction from the housing into the interior channel of the valve, the boss defining a plurality of guide elements positioned on the boss near the housing and extending radially outward from the boss; and
a biasing element extending between the boss and the valve and configured to urge the valve towards the first axial position,
wherein the guide elements and the cams are configured to contact each other when the valve moves into the second axial position so as to cause the valve to rotate incrementally through the eight angular positions.

3. The dishwasher appliance of claim 2 , wherein the boss defines a recess into which the biasing element is slidably received, the biasing element comprising:
a plunger comprising a plunger shaft connected with a plunger head, the plunger head having a larger diameter than the plunger shaft; and
a spring received onto the plunger shaft and compressed against the plunger head.

4. The dishwasher appliance of claim 2 , wherein the disk has a first face oriented towards the fluid outlet and an opposing second face, and wherein a plurality of arcuate ribs are disposed on the second face.

5. The dishwasher appliance of claim 1 , wherein each of the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture are disposed at a radially outer perimeter of the disk, such that the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture define a break in the perimeter of the disk.

6. The dishwasher appliance of claim 1 , wherein each of the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture is oblong.

7. The dishwasher appliance of claim 1 , wherein each of the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture is arcuate.

8. The dishwasher appliance of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a honeycomb structure that provides a mating surface where the disk forms a seal with the housing.

9. A diverter for selectively controlling fluid flow to a plurality of spray assemblies in a dishwasher appliance, the diverter defining an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, the diverter comprising:
a housing defining a fluid inlet for receiving fluid flow from a pump and a fluid outlet comprising a first outlet port, a second outlet port, a third outlet port, and a fourth outlet port, each being spaced apart by 90 degrees along the circumferential direction;
a valve disk positioned within the housing, the valve disk being rotatable along the circumferential direction and defining a first aperture positioned at 0 degrees, a second aperture positioned at 90 degrees, and a third aperture positioned at 225 degrees, and
a positioning assembly configured to rotate the valve disk incrementally through eight angular positions, each of the eight angular positions being separated by 45 degrees,
wherein when the valve disk is in a first position, the first aperture is in fluid communication with the third outlet port and the second aperture is in fluid communication with the second outlet port;
wherein when the valve disk is in a second position, the third aperture is in fluid communication with the fourth outlet port;
wherein when the valve disk is in a third position, the first aperture is in fluid communication with the second outlet port and the second aperture is in fluid communication with the first outlet port;
wherein when the valve disk is in a fourth position, the third aperture is in fluid communication with the third outlet port;
wherein when the valve disk is in a fifth position, the first aperture is in fluid communication with the first outlet port and the second aperture is in fluid communication with the fourth outlet port;
wherein when the valve disk is in a sixth position, the third aperture is in fluid communication with the second outlet port;
wherein when the valve disk is in a seventh position, the first aperture is in fluid communication with the fourth outlet port and the second aperture is in fluid communication with the third outlet port; and
wherein when the valve disk is in an eighth position, the third aperture is in fluid communication with the first outlet port.

10. The diverter of claim 9 , wherein the positioning assembly comprises:
a cylindrically-shaped well defined by the housing;
a cylindrically-shaped shaft connected to the disk and extending along the axial direction, the shaft slidably received within the well of the housing such that the valve is movable between a first axial position and a second axial position, the shaft further defining an interior channel having a plurality of cams positioned on

Assignees

• Gen Electric
• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Boyer Joel Charles
• Mersch Matthew David

Classifications

• F16K31/52483

  comprising a multiple-way sliding valve · CPC title

• F16K11/074

  with flat sealing faces · CPC title

• A47L15/4221 Primary

  Arrangements for redirection of washing water, e.g. water diverters to selectively supply the spray arms (A47L15/0078 takes precedence) · CPC title