Bottle washer assembly for dishwasher appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9936854-B2
Application number	US-201514794103-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2015
Priority date	Jul 8, 2015
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

Bottle washer assemblies for dishwasher appliances are provided. A bottle washer assembly includes a main conduit defining a main passage for flowing wash fluid therethrough. The bottle washer assembly further includes a spray tine, the spray tine including a conduit defining a passage for flowing wash fluid therethrough. The passage is in selective fluid communication with the main passage. The conduit is movable between a first position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is permitted and a second position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is restricted relative to the wash fluid flow in the first position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bottle washer assembly for a dishwasher appliance, the bottle washer assembly comprising:
a main conduit defining a main passage for flowing wash fluid therethrough;
a spray tine, the spray tine comprising a conduit defining a passage along an inner surface for flowing wash fluid therethrough, the passage in selective fluid communication with the main passage; and
an auxiliary conduit extending between the main conduit and the conduit, the auxiliary conduit defining an auxiliary passage in fluid communication with the main passage and selective fluid communication with the passage,
wherein the conduit is movable between a first position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is permitted and a second position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is restricted relative to the wash fluid flow in the first position, and
wherein the spray tine includes an outer surface opposite the inner surface and extending from a first end to a second end, at least a portion of the outer surface including a plurality of ribs and being rotatably positioned within the auxiliary conduit at the first end, wherein one or more ribs of the plurality of ribs are in contact with the auxiliary conduit in the second position, wherein the portion of the outer surface including the plurality of ribs is positioned within the auxiliary conduit in the second position, and wherein at least two ribs of the plurality of ribs are positioned at opposite sides of the passage and prevent wash fluid flow into the passage above the auxiliary passage in the second position.

2. The bottle washer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is rotatable between the first position and the second position.

3. The bottle washer assembly of claim 2 , wherein a rotational axis about which the conduit is rotatable extends generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the main conduit.

4. The bottle washer assembly of claim 2 , wherein the conduit is rotatable approximately 90 degrees between the first position and the second position.

5. The bottle washer assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first detent configured to seat the conduit in the first position and a second detent configured to seat the conduit in the second position.

6. The bottle washer assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first detent and second detent are protrusions.

7. The bottle washer assembly of claim 1 , wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is generally prevented in the second position.

8. The bottle washer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one spray tine further comprises a cap, the cap defining a plurality of outlet apertures.

9. The bottle washer assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one clip.

10. The bottle washer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spray tine is a plurality of spray tines.

11. A dishwasher appliance, comprising:
a tub defining a wash chamber;
a rack assembly disposed within the wash chamber of the tub;
a first spray assembly positioned adjacent the rack assembly; and
a second spray assembly positioned adjacent the rack assembly, wherein the second spray assembly is a bottle washer assembly, the bottle washer assembly comprising:
a main conduit defining a main passage for flowing wash fluid therethrough;
a spray tine, the spray tine comprising a conduit defining a passage along an inner surface for flowing wash fluid therethrough, the passage in selective fluid communication with the main passage; and
an auxiliary conduit extending between the main conduit and the conduit, the auxiliary conduit defining an auxiliary passage in fluid communication with the main passage and selective fluid communication with the passage,
wherein the conduit is movable between a first position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is permitted and a second position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is restricted relative to the wash fluid flow in the first position, and
wherein the spray tine includes an outer surface opposite the inner surface and extending from a first end to a second end, at least a portion of the outer surface including a plurality of ribs and being rotatably positioned within the auxiliary conduit at the first end, wherein one or more ribs of the plurality of ribs are in contact with the auxiliary conduit in the second position, wherein the portion of the outer surface including the plurality of ribs is positioned within the auxiliary conduit in the second position, and wherein at least two ribs of the plurality of ribs are positioned at opposite sides of the passage and prevent wash fluid flow into the passage above the auxiliary passage in the second position.

12. The dishwasher appliance of claim 11 , wherein the conduit is rotatable between the first position and the second position.

13. The dishwasher appliance of claim 11 , further comprising a first detent configured to seat the conduit in the first position and a second detent configured to seat the conduit in the second position.

14. The dishwasher appliance of claim 11 , wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is generally prevented in the second position.

15. The dishwasher appliance of claim 11 , wherein the at least one spray tine further comprises a cap, the cap defining a plurality of outlet apertures.

16. The dishwasher appliance of claim 11 , further comprising at least one clip.

17. A dishwasher appliance, comprising:
a tub defining a wash chamber;
a rack assembly disposed within the wash chamber of the tub;
a first spray assembly positioned adjacent the rack assembly; and
a second spray assembly positioned adjacent the rack assembly, wherein the second spray assembly is a bottle washer assembly, the bottle washer assembly comprising:
a main conduit defining a main passage for flowing wash fluid therethrough;
a spray tine, the spray tine comprising a conduit defining a passage for flowing wash fluid therethrough, the passage in selective fluid communication with the main passage; and
an auxiliary conduit extending between the main conduit and the conduit, the auxiliary conduit defining an auxiliary passage in fluid communication with the main passage and selective fluid communication with the passage,
wherein the conduit is movable between a first position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is permitted and a second position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is restricted relative to the wash fluid flow in the first position,
wherein the spray tine includes an outer surface opposite the inner surface and extending from a first end to a second end, at least a portion of the outer surface including a plurality of ribs and being rotatably positioned within the auxiliary conduit at the first end, wherein one or more ribs of the plurality of ribs are in contact with the auxiliary conduit in the second position, wherein the portion of the outer surface including the plurality of ribs is positioned within the auxiliary conduit in the second position, wherein at least two ribs of the plurality of ribs are positioned at opposite sides of the passage and prevent wash fluid flow into the passage above the auxiliary passage in the second position, and

wherein the outer surface includes a radial first detent protrusion configured to seat the conduit in the first position and a radial second detent protrusion configured to seat the conduit in the second position.

Assignees

• Gen Electric
• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Boyer Joel Charles

Classifications

• A47L15/4278

  Nozzles · CPC title

• A47L15/505 Primary

  Inserts, e.g. for holding baby bottles, stemware or cups · CPC title

• A47L15/503

  with foldable parts · CPC title

• B05B1/32

  in which a valve member forms part of the outlet opening {(B05B1/3033 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A47L15/508

  Hydraulic connections for racks · CPC title