Abstract:
A spray arm feed tube assembly for a dishwasher is provided, comprising an elongate tubular member adapted to extend from a sump of the dishwasher, through an interface, and along a tub wall of a tub portion disposed outwardly of the sump. A banding member is operably engaged with the tubular member about the interface, wherein the banding member is adapted to cooperate with the tub portion and at least one separator member, about the interface, to prevent particulate matter from passing into the sump from the tub portion about the tubular member. An associated apparatus and method are also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/916,218, filed May 4, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to dishwashers and, more particularly, to a feed tube assembly for a dishwasher, and associated apparatus and method. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    A dishwasher typically includes a front-opening wash tub for receiving dishware to be washed therein. Associated with the tub is a sump defined by or otherwise disposed about the lower end of the tub, wherein the sump is configured to collect, under the influence of gravity, the dishwashing fluid circulated in the tub. Typically, the dishwashing fluid, such as water, is circulated from the sump by a circulation pump, and sprayed or otherwise dispensed through one or more spray arms operably arranged within and/or with respect to the tub. The fluid dispensed through the spray arm(s) is directed onto the dishware within the tub for removing food soils and other debris therefrom. After interacting with the dishware, the used dishwashing fluid typically drains under the influence of gravity toward the sump, wherein food soils and debris from the dishware are typically strained and/or filtered from the dishwashing fluid, within or before entering the sump and prior to recirculation through the spray arms. 
         [0006]    The dishwashing fluid is typically directed from the circulation pump (in the sump) to the spray arm(s) disposed in the tub above the sump, via a feed tube extending therebetween. As such, the feed tube typically extends from the circulation pump in the sump, through an interface between the sump and the tub, and along a tub wall up to the level of the spray arm(s). The dishwashing fluid is then directed to the spray arm(s) via a valve and manifold system. However, the feed tube passing through the sump/tub interface may result in an alternate pathway for food soils and debris to enter the sump (i.e., about the feed tube) while possibly bypassing the straining/filtering provisions leading to or disposed within the sump of the dishwasher. Such an occurrence may be undesirable in the dishwasher, where effective filtering/straining of the dishwashing fluid may be an important factor in determining the quality of the dishwashing process and/or the water and energy consumption of the dishwasher. Further, ineffective straining/filtering of the dishwashing fluid may undesirably cause, for example, build-up of food soils within the hydraulic system of the dishwasher and/or clogging of the nozzles of the spray arm, particularly high pressure, low flow nozzles characterized by small nozzle bores. 
         [0007]    Thus, there exists a need for a method and apparatus for effectively and efficiently minimizing or preventing food soils and debris (i.e., particles of greater than 20 thousandths of an inch) from bypassing the straining/filtering provisions of the dishwasher and entering the sump about the feed tube. Such a method and apparatus should desirably simplify tooling requirements for manufacturing such a feed tube assembly, as well as simplify the assembly process for the dishwasher. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The above and other needs are met by the present invention which, in one embodiment, provides a spray arm feed tube assembly for a dishwasher. Such a feed tube assembly comprises an elongate tubular member adapted to extend longitudinally from a sump of the dishwasher, through an interface, and along a tub wall of a tub portion disposed outwardly of the sump. A banding member is operably engaged with the tubular member about the interface. The banding member is adapted to cooperate with the tub portion and at least one separator member, about the interface, to prevent particulate matter from passing into the sump from the tub portion about the tubular member. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the present invention provides a dishwasher comprising a tub portion configured to receive dishware therein. A sump portion is configured to be in association with the tub portion about a lower end thereof so as to form an interface therebetween, wherein the sump portion is configured to collect dishwashing fluid circulated in the tub portion. A separator member is configured to cooperate with the tub portion so as to substantially separate the tub portion and the sump portion. An elongate tubular member is configured to extend longitudinally from the sump portion, through the interface, and along a tub wall disposed outwardly of the sump portion. A banding member is operably engaged with the tubular member about the interface. The banding member is further configured to cooperate with at least one of the tub portion and at least one separator member, about the interface, to prevent particulate matter from passing into the sump from the tub portion about the tubular member. 
         [0010]    Yet another aspect of the present invention comprises a method of a spray arm feed tube assembly for a dishwasher, wherein the spray arm feed tube assembly includes an elongate tubular member extending longitudinally from a sump of the dishwasher, through an interface, and along a tub wall of a tub portion disposed outwardly of the sump. Such a method comprises sealingly engaging a pliable substance with the tubular member about the interface so as to form a banding member, wherein the banding member cooperates with the tub portion and at least one separator member, about the interface, to prevent particulate matter from passing into the sump from the tub portion about the tubular member. 
         [0011]    Embodiments of the present invention this provide significant advantages as disclosed herein in further detail. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0012]    Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale and which do not necessarily illustrate actual geometries, and wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a feed tube assembly installed in a dishwasher, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are magnified schematic perspective views of the feed tube assembly of  FIG. 1  extending through a sump/tub interface of a dishwasher, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are magnified schematic perspective cross-sectional views of the feed tube assembly of  FIG. 1  extending through a sump/tub interface of a dishwasher, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the feed tube assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1-6  schematically illustrate a spray arm feed tube assembly for a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present invention, the feed tube assembly being generally indicated by the numeral  100 . Such a feed tube assembly  100  includes an elongate tubular member  120  defining an interior channel  140 , wherein the tubular member (or fluid delivery tube)  120  extends from sump end  160  ( FIG. 6 ) to a tub end  180  ( FIG. 6 ). The sump end  160  is configured to be in communication with a circulation pump (not shown), which may be disposed within the sump (or “sump portion”)  110  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) of the dishwasher, so as to receive the dishwashing fluid therefrom. From the sump end  160 , the tubular member  120  extends out of the sump  110  and along the lower end  300  of the tub (or “tub portion”) toward one of the walls (i.e., the rear wall  320 ) of the tub, wherein the tubular member  120  then transitions to run upward along the wall  320 . The tubular member  120  may lead to, for example, a valve assembly  200  ( FIG. 6 ) for a middle spray arm (not shown), to which the dishwashing fluid is directed. In some instances, the tubular member  120  may also be configured to extend further up the wall  320  before transitioning to run across the upper end (not shown) of the tub, where the tubular member  120  terminates at the tub end  180  thereof. The tub end  180  is configured to, for instance, further direct the dishwashing fluid to an upper spray arm (not shown), when the dishwasher implements such an upper spray arm. 
         [0019]    In some instances, the dishwasher may include a separator member, such as a coarse filter/strainer assembly  400 , for separating the tub from the sump  110 , wherein the separator member is disposed or otherwise secured at the interface therebetween. The coarse filter/strainer assembly  400  may be, for example, circularly shaped in correspondence with the opening of the sump  110  (i.e., to cover the sump  110 ). However, in some cases, the coarse filter/strainer assembly  400  may only extend over a portion of the circular area, with the remainder being, for example, a solid cover portion  450 . In those instances, the coarse filter/strainer portion and the remaining solid cover portion  450  may still be collectively referred to as the coarse filter/strainer assembly  400 . As such, the circularly-shaped coarse filter/strainer assembly  400  could be sealed or otherwise secured to the sump/tub interface in various manners, such that food soils and debris would have to pass through at least the coarse filter/strainer portion before entering the sump  110 , with no opportunity to bypass this provision. However, the coarse filter/strainer assembly  400  may be required, in some instances, to be modified in order to accommodate other components. For example, a “glass trap”  500  may also be accommodated by a radially inward portion of the coarse filter/strainer assembly  400 , for trapping relatively large debris, such as pieces of glass. The tubular member  120  of the feed tube assembly  100  may also comprise a component which may necessitate modification of the coarse filter/strainer assembly  400 , for example, about the perimeter of the coarse filter/strainer assembly  400  about the sump/tub interface. However, the tubular member  120  generally extends in an intersecting plane with the coarse filter/strainer assembly  400 , and thus may not be readily sealed to either the coarse filter/strainer assembly  400  and/or the sump/tub about the interface. 
         [0020]    As shown, the sump/tub, which may be, in some instances, of monolithic construction (i.e., stamped or molded as one piece), may include a recessed lip  600  about the interface for receiving the coarse filter/strainer assembly  400  such that the coarse filter/strainer assembly  400 , when installed would appear to be flush with the lower end  300  of the tub. Forming the lip  600  would thus result in a lower, generally horizontal portion  620  toward the sump  110 , as well as a generally vertical wall portion  640  disposed about the radially outward edge of the generally horizontal portion  620  and extending upwardly to the tub before transitioning to the generally horizontal lower end  300  of the tub. The tubular member  120  is configured to extend out of the sump  110  and, in some instances, may be configured to extend along an inclined path toward the tub wall (i.e., the rear vertical wall  320 ) through the sump/tub interface. 
         [0021]    According to one aspect of the present invention, in order to seal the tubular member  120  with respect to the coarse filter/strainer assembly  400 , as well as the sump/tub interface, the feed tube assembly  100  may further comprise a circumscribing (banding) member  220  sealingly engaged (i.e., as an “overmold”) with the tubular member  120  about the sump/tub interface, and extending about the tubular member  120  so as to define a plane extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (i.e., the direction of fluid flow). In some instances, the tubular member  120  may be molded from a thermoplastic material such as, for example, a polypropylene material, and may optionally include a filler material such as, for example, a calcium carbonate, glass, talc, and/or any other suitable filler material. In such instances, the circumscribing member  220  may be comprised of, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer such as “Sanoprene™” or other suitable “soft touch” or pliable material. The circumscribing member  220 , in one embodiment, is configured to form a chemical bond with the tubular member  120 , so as to provide the sealing engagement therebetween. In such an embodiment, an appropriate bonding material such as, for example, a polypropylene/polyethylene material, a silicone-type bonding material, and/or any other suitable bonding material, may be disposed between the circumscribing member  220  and the tubular member  120 , so as to provide the sealing engagement therebetween. 
         [0022]    The circumscribing member  220  is applied to an external surface of the tubular member  120  wherein, in some instances, the tubular member  120  may define a recessed channel (not shown) for receiving the circumscribing member  220 . Since the circumscribing member  220  extends about the tubular member  120 , in a plane extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, the circumscribing member  220  defines a sump-side face  240  and a tub-side face  260 , as well as an outer perimetric surface  280 . As such, when the feed tube assembly  100  is installed in the dishwasher (i.e., secured to the tub wall  320  and/or the sump  110 ) so as to extend across the sump/tub interface, the tub-side face  260  may form a sealing engagement with the generally vertical wall portion  640  of the lip  600 . In some instances, the outer perimetric surface  280  may also form a sealing engagement with the lower, generally horizontal portion  620  of the lip  600 . 
         [0023]    Once the feed tube assembly  100  is installed, the coarse filter/strainer assembly  400  is installed. In some instances, the solid cover portion  450  may be configured to follow the inclined path of the tubular member  120 , whereby a covering surface thereof extending up to or over the circumscribing member  220 . In such instances, the solid cover portion  450  may include an end wall  460  associated with the covering surface for forming a sealing engagement with the sump-side face  240  of the circumscribing member  220 , or the covering surface  470  of the solid cover portion  450  may form a sealing engagement with the outer perimetric surface  280  of the circumscribing member  220 . About the vertical sides of the tubular member  120 , the solid cover portion  450  may be configured to sealingly engage the circumscribing member  220  so as to complete the sealing engagement with the coarse filter/strainer assembly  400 . For example, the solid cover member  450  may include a clip assembly or snap feature components  700  engaged therewith and extending across the circumscribing member  220 , along the vertical side walls of the tubular member  120 , and which form a secured engagement (such as a “snap fit”) one of the circumscribing member  220  and the tubular member  120  (i.e., to secure the solid cover portion  450  against vertically upward, horizontal, or rotational movement with respect to the circumscribing member  220  and the tubular member  120 ). In doing so, the snap feature components  700  may also form a sealing engagement with the circumscribing member  220  as well as facilitate a sealing engagement between the circumscribing member  220  and the solid cover portion  450 . As such, a feed tube assembly  100  as disclosed herein in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention effectively and efficiently minimizes or prevents food soils and debris (i.e., particles of greater than 20 thousandths of an inch) from bypassing the coarse filter/strainer assembly  400  of the dishwasher and entering the sump  110  about the feed tube assembly  100 . 
         [0024]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.