Abstract:
A dishwasher is disclosed, which can prevent deformation of a filter due to water pressure from occurring even if the filter is stopped up with dirt. The dishwasher comprises a sump for storing washing water; a drainage chamber provided at a side of the sump and linked with a drainage pump; a dirt chamber including a collection pipe supplying the washing water of the drainage chamber to a dirt storage unit; a filter provided above the dirt storage unit, filtering the washing water; and a bypass path linking the drainage chamber with the sump, provided to pass through a position higher than the filter.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0067941, filed on Jul. 14, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a dishwasher. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A dishwasher is to wash dishes, bowls, spoons, chopsticks, etc., which are used to eat food. 
         [0006]    The dishwasher washes dirt by collecting washing objects such as tableware inside a tub constituting appearance and then spraying washing water including detergent into the tableware. 
         [0007]    Also, the dishwasher circulates the washing water using a circulating pump, and for saving of the washing water, a filter is provided at a circulating path of the washing water to filter the washing water. 
         [0008]    As much dirt is included in the washing water, if the washing water reaches a level not suitable for washing, the washing water is drained out and then resupplied for washing. 
         [0009]    However, the aforementioned dishwasher has several problems. 
         [0010]    Since the dishwasher repeats drainage and resupply of the washing water, even though the clean washing water is periodically supplied to the dishwasher, if the filter is stopped up with dirt before the water is resupplied, a problem occurs in that it is impossible to filter the washing water. 
         [0011]    Also, if the filter is stopped up with dirt, since the circulating pump circulates the washing water at the higher water pressure, a problem occurs in that deformation of the filter may be caused. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a dishwasher that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
         [0013]    An object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher that includes a filtering unit having excellent filtering performance of washing water. 
         [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher that can prevent deformation of a filtering unit due to water pressure from occurring even if the filtering unit is stopped up with dirt. 
         [0015]    Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
         [0016]    To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a dishwasher according to the present invention comprises a sump for storing washing water; a drainage chamber provided at a side of the sump and linked with a drainage pump; a dirt chamber including a main path supplying the washing water supplied from the sump to spray arms, a sub path supplying some of the washing water supplied from the sump to the drainage chamber, a dirt storage unit storing the washing water passed through the drainage chamber, and a collection pipe supplying the washing water of the drainage chamber to the dirt storage unit; a filter provided above the dirt storage unit, filtering the washing water; and a bypass path linking the drainage chamber with the sump, provided to pass through a position higher than the filter. 
         [0017]    In this case, the bypass path includes an inlet provided on the bottom of the drainage chamber. The inlet of the bypass path is protruded from the bottom of the drainage chamber at a predetermined height. 
         [0018]    Also, the dishwasher further comprises a connection pipe linked to the end of the sub path and located inside the drainage chamber. 
         [0019]    In this case, the dishwasher further comprises a path bending unit provided between an outlet of the connection pipe and the inlet of the bypass path, allowing dirt drained from the connection pipe to be precipitated away from the inlet of the bypass path. 
         [0020]    Also, the connection pipe is bent to allow the drained dirt to be precipitated away from the inlet of the bypass path. 
         [0021]    Meanwhile, the bypass path further includes a bypass filter for filtering washing water. 
         [0022]    Also, the pump is linked to the side of the sump. 
         [0023]    Meanwhile, the bypass path includes an inlet provided at a sidewall of the drainage chamber. The inlet of the bypass path is spaced apart from the bottom of the drainage chamber at a predetermined height. 
         [0024]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a conceptional view illustrating a dishwasher according to the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a dishwasher according to the present invention; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view illustrating a drainage chamber of a dishwasher according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0030]    First of all, a structure of a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0031]    The dishwasher according to the present invention includes a tub  110  provided with a receiving space  8  in which the dishes are received, a sump  120  provided below the tub  110  to store washing water, a circulating pump  200  circulating the washing water stored in the sump  120 , upper and lower racks  6  and  7  provided in the tub  110  to receive the dishes therein, upper and lower spray arms  4  and  5  provided above the sump  120  to spray the washing water supplied from the circulating pump  200  to the upper and lower racks  6  and  7 , and guide pipes  2  and  3  supplying the washing water pumped from the circulating pump  200  to the upper spray arm  4  and the lower spray arm  5 . 
         [0032]    The tub  110  forms appearance of the dishwasher, and the receiving space  8  can be selectively opening and closing by a door. 
         [0033]    The sump  120  is provided inside the tub  110 , and the washing water for washing the dishes is stored in the sump  120 . 
         [0034]    The sump  120  is provided with a path and a filtering unit therein, wherein the path is to circulate the washing water and the filtering unit is to filter dirt. The path and the filtering unit will later be described in detail. 
         [0035]    The circulating pump  200  is linked to a side of the sump  120  and supplies the washing water stored in the sump  120  to the upper and lower spray arms  4  and  5  through the guide pipes  2  and  3 . 
         [0036]    The upper and lower spray arms  4  and  5  spray the washing water, which flows from the guide pipes  2  and  3 , from the lower parts of the racks in which the dishes are received. 
         [0037]    The upper and lower spray arms  4  and  5  may be provided above the racks. 
         [0038]    Hereinafter, the linkage relation between the tub  110  and the sump  120  will be described. 
         [0039]    The tub  110  includes a base  100  constituting the bottom of the dishwasher, and a tub lower plate  112  linked to an upper part of the base  100 . 
         [0040]    The tub lower plate  112  includes a hole  111  into which the sump  120  can be inserted. A sealing member  115  can be provided between the hole  111  and the sump  120 . 
         [0041]    The sealing member  115  prevents the washing water of the tub lower plate  112  from flowing to the base  100 . 
         [0042]    Meanwhile, if the tub lower plate is linked to the base  100 , a space of a predetermined size is formed below the tub lower plate  112 . 
         [0043]    Accordingly, a circumferential surface on the sump  120  is supported by the hole  111 , and the lower end of the sump  120  is located in a space between the base  100  and the tub lower plate  112 . 
         [0044]    Hereinafter, the sump  120  and other elements linked to the sump  120  will be described. 
         [0045]    The sump  120  includes a water storage unit  128  storing the washing water, a supply hole  121  connected to the circulating pump  200 , and a control valve receiving groove  122  for receiving a control valve  173 . 
         [0046]    The supply hole  121  is connected with a sump inlet  126  of the circulating pump  200  to flow the washing water supplied from the circulating pump  200  into a washing water inlet  171  of a dirt chamber  170 . 
         [0047]    Some of the washing water stored in the storage unit  128  is supplied to the upper and lower spray arms  4  and  5  by the circulating pump  200  while the other washing water is collected in the water storage unit  128  through a collecting hole  182  of a filter frame  180  after passing through the dirt chamber  170  and the filtering unit  190 . 
         [0048]    The water storage unit  128  may be provided with a heater assembly H. The heater assembly H can improve washing efficiency by using heated washing water when washing the dishes. 
         [0049]    Although the heater assembly H can be linked to the sump  120  by various manners, the circumferential surface of the sump  120  is linked to the water storage unit  128  in FIG.  2 . Namely, the heater assembly H can be inserted into the water storage unit through the circumferential surface of the sump  120 . 
         [0050]    Meanwhile, a sump inlet  126  and a connector  127 , which are connected with the circulating pump  200 , and a drainage chamber  125  are provided at one side of the sump  120 . 
         [0051]    The circulating pump  200  is linked to the circumferential surface of the sump  120  and allows the washing water stored in the water storage unit  128  to flow into the dirt chamber  170 . 
         [0052]    Accordingly, the washing water stored in the water storage unit  128  flows into a pump inlet  212  through the connector  127 , and the washing water flown to the circulating pump  200  flows into the sump inlet  126  through a pump outlet  211 . 
         [0053]    The washing water flown into the sump inlet  126  is supplied to the dirt chamber  170  through the supply hole  121  and the washing water inlet  171 . 
         [0054]    A drainage pump  130  that drains out the washing water stored in the water storage unit  128  is linked to the drainage chamber  125 . The drainage chamber  125  is not only a space to connect the drainage pump  130  but also a space to store dirt included in the washing water. Namely, the dirt included in the washing water is precipitated in the drainage chamber  125  by its own weight while the washing water flown into the drainage chamber  125  through the sub path  175  flows into the dirt storage unit  179  through the collection pipe  178 . 
         [0055]    The drainage chamber  125  has a predetermined volume, and is connected with the water storage unit  128  through a check valve  129  (see  FIG. 3 ). Accordingly, if the drainage pump  130  is actuated, the check valve  129  is opened toward the drainage pump  130  to drain out the washing water, which is stored in the water storage unit, through the drainage hole  131 . 
         [0056]    Accordingly, the circulating pump  200  and the drainage pump  130  are located in a space formed by the tub lower plate  112  and the base  100 , and are linked to the circumferential surface of the sump  120 . 
         [0057]    In this case, if the pumps  200  and  13  are provided on the bottom of the sump  120 , it is effective in that the whole size of the dishwasher can be reduced. 
         [0058]    Meanwhile, the dirt chamber  170  with an opened upper side is linked to the upper part of the sump  120 . 
         [0059]    The dirt chamber  170  includes a washing water inlet  171  connected with the supply hole  121  of the sump, a main path supplying the washing water supplied to the washing water inlet  171  to the spray arms, and a sub path  175  and a dirt storage unit  179 . 
         [0060]    The main path is to supply the washing water supplied from the washing water inlet  171  to the upper and lower spray arms. 
         [0061]    In other words, a spray path  177  connected with the upper spray arm  4  and a spray path  176  connected with the lower spray arm  5  can be forked from the main path. 
         [0062]    Meanwhile, a hole (not shown) into which a control valve  173  located in the control valve receiving groove  122  is inserted is provided at the fork of the main path. 
         [0063]    Accordingly, the control valve  173  is rotatably supported in the control valve receiving groove  122  and is located in the fork of the spray paths  176  and  177 . 
         [0064]    The control valve  173  selectively supplies the washing water flown into the washing water inlet  171  to the spray path  177  connected with the upper spray arm or the spray path  176  connected with the lower spray arm. 
         [0065]    Various valves that can be selected by those skilled in the art can be used as the control valve for implementing the aforementioned function. Accordingly, the detailed description of the control valve will be omitted. 
         [0066]    However, it is to be understood that the control valve  173  does not exclude a structure that the washing water can be supplied to the spray paths  175  and  177  simultaneously. 
         [0067]    The sub path  175  guides some of the washing water supplied to the washing water inlet  171  to the drainage chamber  125 . 
         [0068]    Meanwhile, it is preferable that some of the washing water flown into the washing water inlet  171  is supplied to the sub path  175  regardless of the control valve  173 . 
         [0069]    Accordingly, it is preferable that the control valve  173  is provided between the washing water inlet  171  and the fork of the spray paths  176  and  177  while the sub path  175  is provided between the washing water inlet  171  and the control valve  173 . 
         [0070]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the sub path  175  is extended from the washing water inlet  171  to the drainage chamber  125  along the upper part of the dirt chamber  170 , and includes a connection pipe  1751  at the end, wherein the connection pipe  1751  is connected with the drainage chamber  125 . 
         [0071]    The dirt chamber  170  further includes a collection pipe  178  at the bottom, wherein the collection pipe  178  flows the washing water supplied to the drainage chamber  125  through the sub path  175  into the dirt storage unit  179 . 
         [0072]    Since the washing water flown into the drainage chamber  125  through the sub path  175  flows into the dirt storage unit  179  through the collection pipe  178 , the dirt included in the washing water is precipitated by its own weight. 
         [0073]    Accordingly, the sub path  175 , the drainage chamber  125  and the collection pipe  178  serve to primarily filter the washing water. 
         [0074]    The dirt storage unit  179  is provided separately from the spray paths  176  and  177  and the sub path  175 . The washing water flows into the dirt storage unit  179  through the collection pipe  178 . 
         [0075]    Since a filter  194 , which will be described later, is located above the dirt storage unit  179 , the washing water flown into the collection pipe  179  is collected into the water storage unit  128  of the sump  120  through the collecting hole  182  after passing through the filter  194 . 
         [0076]    Meanwhile, since the dirt filtered by the filter  194  is stored in the dirt storage unit  179 , the dishwasher according to the present invention can secondarily filter the washing water through the dirt storage unit  179  and the filter  194 . 
         [0077]    A filter frame  180  having a through hole  185  is linked to the upper part of the dirt storage unit  179 , and a filter housing  191  having the filter  194  is located above the through hole  185 . 
         [0078]    Accordingly, the dirt included in the washing water flown into the dirt storage unit  179  is stored in the dirt storage unit  179  by the filter  194  when the filter  194  is overflowing. 
         [0079]    Meanwhile, the washing water which has passed through the filter  194  is collected in the water storage unit  128  of the sump  120  through the collecting hole  182  of the filter frame  180 , the dishwasher according to the present invention can supply only the filtered washing water to the spray arms  4  and  5 . 
         [0080]    Hereinafter, the filtering unit  190  linked to the upper part of the dirt chamber  170  will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0081]    The filtering unit  190  supplies the washing water, which is flown into the spray paths  176  and  177  of the dirt chamber  170 , to the upper and lower spray arms  4  and  5 , and filters the washing water supplied to the dirt storage unit  179 . 
         [0082]    The filtering unit  190  includes the filter frame  180  provided to correspond to the dirt storage unit  179  and the filter housing  191  linked to the upper part of the through hole  185  of the filter frame  180 . 
         [0083]    The filter frame  180  includes spray holes  181 ′ and  181  respectively connected with the spray paths  176  and  177 , wherein the spray holes  181 ′ and  181  are respectively connected with the guide pipe  2  (see  FIG. 1 ) and a support member  196 . 
         [0084]    Also, the filter frame  180  includes a through hole  185  provided to correspond to the dirt storage unit  179 , and may further include a plurality of collecting holes  182  outside the through hole  185 . 
         [0085]    The through hole  185  allows the washing water flown into the dirt storage unit  179  to flow to the filter  194  which will be described later. 
         [0086]    Meanwhile, it is preferable that a plurality of collecting holes  182  are provided on the circumference of the filter frame  180  to allow the washing water to be collected in the sump  120  after passing through the filter  194  of the filter housing  191 . Also, it is preferable that the collecting holes  182  are located between the circumference of the sump  120  and the circumference of the dirt chamber  170 . 
         [0087]    The filter housing  191  is linked to the upper part of the filter frame  180 , and includes a support member  196  connected with the spray hole  181  and the filter  194  connected with the through hole  185 . 
         [0088]    The support member  196  is connected with the lower guide pipe  3  of  FIG. 1  to supply the washing water to the lower spray arm. 
         [0089]    The filter  194  is linked to the upper part of the through hole  185 , and filters the dirt included in the washing water when the washing water flown into the dirt storage unit  179  overflows. 
         [0090]    In case of the aforementioned dishwasher, if the dirt stored in the dirt storage unit  179  increases, the filter  194  is stopped up with the dirt, whereby there is difficulty in that the washing water flows into the water storage unit  128  of the sump through the filter  194  and the collecting holes  182 . 
         [0091]    If the washing water collected in the water storage unit after passing through the filter  194  decreases, the dirt included in the washing water stored in the water storage unit increases. In this case, a problem occurs in that washing performance of the dishwasher is deteriorated. 
         [0092]    Also, the increased pressure inside the dirt chamber  170  may deformation of the filter  194 . 
         [0093]    Accordingly, the dishwasher according to the present invention further includes a bypass path  230  provided with an inlet  231  and an outlet  233 , wherein the inlet  231  is connected with the drainage chamber  125  and the outlet  233  is connected with the circumference of the sump  120 . 
         [0094]    The bypass path  230  serves to directly supply the washing water from the dirt storage unit  179  to the sump if the filter  194  is stopped up, thereby preventing the pressure inside the dirt chamber  170  from increasing and preventing washing performance from being deteriorated. 
         [0095]    However, as the filter  194  is stopped up, the dirt remains in the washing water flown into the bypass path  230  without being filtered. Accordingly, to remove the dirt included in the washing water, the bypass path  230  further includes a bypass filter  235  between the inlet  231  and the outlet  233 . 
         [0096]    Preferably, the bypass path  230  includes a bending part P formed at a position higher than the filter  194  so that the washing water flows only if the filter is stopped up. 
         [0097]    If the filter  194  is not stopped up, the washing water flown into the drainage chamber  125  through the connection pipe  1751  does not have any pressure that can reach the bending part P of the bypass path  230 , whereby the washing water flows into the dirt storage unit  179  through the collection pipe  178 . 
         [0098]    However, if the filter  194  is stopped up, since the inner pressure of the dirt storage unit  17  increases, the washing water flows into the sump through the bending part P of the bypass path  230 . 
         [0099]    Accordingly, according to the dishwasher of the present invention, the washing water does not flows to the filtering unit  190  if the filter  194  is stopped up but is bypassed to the water storage unit  128 , whereby deformation of the filter can be prevented from occurring. 
         [0100]    Since the bypass filter  235  is provided between the inlet  231  and the outlet  233  of the bypass path  230 , the bypass filter  235  filters the dirt included in the washing water which flows in the bypass path  230 , if the filter  194  is stopped up. 
         [0101]    The dirt filtered by the bypass filter  235  flows into the drainage chamber  125  through the bypass inlet  231  together with the washing water remaining in the bypass path  230  if the drainage pump  130  is driven, and is drained out through the drainage hole  131 . 
         [0102]    In this case, it is preferable that the bypass filter  235  is provided at a position lower than the bending part P of the bypass path. This is because that the dirt may not be drained easily through the drainage pump  130  if the bypass filter  235  is provided between the bending part P and the outlet  233  of the bypass path. 
         [0103]    Meanwhile, the bypass filter  235  may be provided at the inlet  231  of the bypass path  230 . 
         [0104]    In other words, if the filter  194  is stopped up, the washing water may flow into the bypass path  230  after being filtered by a bypass filter  240  provided at the inlet  231  of the bypass path. 
         [0105]    Accordingly, the dirt filtered by the bypass filter  240  remains in the drainage chamber  125  and is drained out when the drainage pump  130  is driven. 
         [0106]    Preferably, the inlet  231  of the bypass path is protruded at a predetermined height from the bottom of the drainage chamber  125 . This is because that the dirt precipitated in the drainage chamber  125  may flow into the bypass path or may be collected on the inlet  231  of the bypass path if the inlet  231  of the bypass path is provided on the bottom of the drainage chamber  125 . 
         [0107]    Also, the drainage chamber  125  can include a path bending unit  300  on the inlet  231  of the bypass path so that the dirt included in the washing water flown into the connection pipe  1751  is prevented from directly flowing into the inlet  231  of the bypass path. 
         [0108]    The path bending unit  300  is protruded between the end of the connection pipe  1751  and the bypass path  231  and allows the washing water flowing from the connection pipe  1751  to flow with slope toward the drainage pump  130 . 
         [0109]    Accordingly, it is expected that the dirt included in the washing water is precipitated in the front of the drainage pump  130  in accordance with inertia of a flowing direction of the washing water. 
         [0110]    However, it is to be understood that the connection pipe  1751  may be bent to serve as the path bending unit  300 . 
         [0111]    According to another embodiment of the dishwasher of the present invention, the inlet  231  of the bypass path is provided at a side A of the drainage chamber  125 . In this case, the inlet  231  of the bypass path may be spaced apart from the bottom of the drainage chamber  125  at a predetermined height. 
         [0112]    Preferably, the aforementioned path bending unit or bent connection pipe is provided so that the dirt is not precipitated in the inlet  231  of the bypass path. 
         [0113]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention. Thus, the above embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention should be determined by reasonable interpretation of the appended claims and all change which comes within the equivalent scope of the invention are included in the scope of the invention.