Patent ID: 7610923
Filing Date: 2009-11-03
Classification: A47L

Abstract:
1. A dishwasher comprising: a drawer including front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define a washing tub; a dish rack provided in the washing tub for supporting dishware during a washing operation; a sump provided along the bottom wall of the tub, said sump including distinct inlet, recirculation and drain passages; a strainer member arranged in the bottom wall of the washing tub above the sump, said strainer member including a plurality of radially spaced coarse strainer openings; a wash pump interconnected to both the inlet passage and the recirculation passage, said wash pump establishing a flow of washing fluid in the washing tub; a drain pump in fluid communication with the sump, said drain pump being selectively activated to withdraw washing fluid from the washing tub during select portions of the washing operation; a coarse particle collection chamber in fluid communication with the drain pump; a filter assembly arranged above the sump and radially inward of the strainer member, said filter assembly being divided into a filter chamber and a washing fluid manifold, said washing fluid manifold having an inlet for receiving the flow of washing fluid from the inlet passage, an outlet that directs the flow of washing fluid upward into the washing tub and a sampling port that diverts a portion of the washing fluid into the filter chamber, said filter assembly including a cover member mounted above the filter chamber and washing fluid manifold, said cover member including at least one enlarged opening, arranged above the filter chamber and provided with a fine mesh filtering screen for entrapping soil from the washing fluid in the filter chamber while permitting cleansed washing fluid to be directed back into the washing tub, and an opening exposed to the washing fluid manifold; a fine particle collection chamber formed integral with the filter chamber, said fine particle collection chamber including an outlet portion, that leads to the drain pump; a valve arranged at the outlet portion of the fine particle collection chamber, said valve being selectively opened to allow soil particles to flow from the filter chamber, through the fine particle collection chamber and to the drain pump; a wash arm positioned above the filter assembly; said wash arm receiving the flow of washing fluid from the washing fluid manifold to spray onto dishware supported on the dish rack; a bleed valve arranged on the cover member, said bleed valve allowing air to be expelled when the washing tub is being filled with washing fluid; and a stationary hub member positioned in the opening of the cover member for rotatably supporting the wash arm, said stationary hub member including a central passage, a sealing surface and a central shaft, wherein washing fluid flowing into the washing fluid manifold through the hub member into the wash arm forces the sealing surface against the cover member to form a tight seal.