Abstract:
A modular exhaust vent for use in venting a wash chamber of a dishwasher, such as during a dry cycle, comprises a housing that forms an exhaust flow path from the wash chamber to the exterior of the dishwasher and a valve operable for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between an opened and closed position for selectively closing the exhaust flow path. An actuator for moving the valve is connected to the valve by a link such that activation of the actuator effects movement of the link to pivot the valve to either the opened or closed position. Further, the valve selectively closes the exhaust flow path at an inlet to impede introduction of sound into the exhaust flow path.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a dishwasher vent. In one aspect, the invention relates to a modular exhaust vent for use in a dishwasher. In another aspect, the invention relates to a dishwasher having a modular exhaust vent. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Household dishwashers for cleaning dishes, such as plates, bowls, utensils, glasses, barware, pots, pans, and the like, typically comprise an open-face cabinet with a wash chamber for holding the dishes and a door for selectively closing the open-face cabinet. During use, dishwashers usually operate according to a preprogrammed cycle having various operating parameters selected according to the type of dishes being washed. Most of the cycles comprise a wash cycle followed by a dry cycle. During the wash cycle, liquid and wash aids are introduced into the wash chamber, and a liquid distribution system recirculates the liquid and wash aids according to the parameters of the wash cycle. After the wash cycle, which can include a rinse cycle, the dishes are dried during the dry cycle. 
     In the dry cycle, after the liquid and wash aids are drained from the wash chamber, a heating element is energized to heat the interior of the wash chamber. Heated, moisture-laden air travels upward within the wash chamber due to convection and exits the wash chamber through an exhaust vent, which is usually located in an upper portion of the door. In some configurations, a blower is provided to force air into the wash chamber and out the exhaust vent to increase the drying speed. 
     Typically, the exhaust vent comprises a valve that closes during the wash cycle and opens during the drying cycle or during a build-up of pressure in the wash chamber. The vent is usually positioned in a duct that leads from an inside surface of the door (i.e., the side facing the wash chamber when the door is closed) to the outside surface of the door (i.e., the side facing the exterior of the dishwasher when the door is closed) such that spaces are formed within the duct upstream and downstream of the vent. While the exhaust vent is very useful during the drying cycle, its presence can increase the noise emitted into the surrounding environment. For example, during the wash cycle, the sprayed wash liquid impinges on the interior of the wash chamber and thereby generates noise that can escape the otherwise sealed wash chamber through the exhaust vent. Noise at specific frequencies can enter the upstream space in the duct and resonate in the space and to the exterior of the dishwasher. Noisy dishwashers can be extremely annoying and are the source of many consumer complaints. Thus, it is desirable to have an exhaust vent that opens during a dry cycle to vent air from the wash chamber but closes during a wash cycle and prevents transmission of noise to the exterior of the dishwasher. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A dishwasher according to the invention comprises an open-face cabinet defining a wash chamber; a door movably mounted to the cabinet for movement between an opened and closed condition to selectively close the open-face cabinet; and a modular exhaust vent. The modular exhaust vent comprises a housing defining a conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet open to the wash chamber, and the outlet open to the exterior of dishwasher to form an exhaust flow path from the wash chamber to the exterior of the dishwasher; a valve operable for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between an opened and closed position for selectively closing the exhaust flow path; an actuator; and a link connecting the actuator to the valve. Activation of the actuator effects movement of the link to move the valve to one of the opened and closed positions. 
     The conduit can comprise a valve seat, and the valve can comprise a valve body that abuts the valve seat when the valve is in the closed position. The valve body can be a resilient disk. The valve seat can be at the conduit inlet. The valve body can be carried by a frame having a hinge that defines the pivot axis. 
     The link can comprise a lever arm having a longitudinal axis transverse to the pivot axis. The hinge can be coupled to the lever arm. The actuator can comprise a shaft operably mounted to the lever arm and movable between an inactive position and an active position for pivoting the lever arm about the pivot axis and moving the valve between the opened and closed positions. 
     The valve can be normally biased to the opened position. The modular exhaust vent can be mounted to the door. 
     A modular exhaust vent according to the invention for use in a dishwasher comprising an open-face cabinet defining a wash chamber and a door moveably mounted to the cabinet for movement between an opened and closed condition to selectively close the open-face cabinet comprises a housing defining a conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet open to the wash chamber, and the outlet open to the exterior of dishwasher to form an exhaust flow path from the wash chamber to the exterior of the dishwasher; a valve operable for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between an opened and closed position for selectively closing the exhaust flow path; an actuator; and a link connecting the actuator to the valve. Activation of the actuator effects movement of the link to move the valve to one of the opened and closed positions. 
     The conduit can comprise a valve seat, and the valve can comprise a valve body that abuts the valve seat when the valve is in the closed position. The valve body can be a resilient disk. The valve seat can be at the conduit inlet. The valve body can be carried by a frame having a hinge that defines the pivot axis. 
     The link can comprise a lever arm having a longitudinal axis transverse to the pivot axis. The hinge can be coupled to the lever arm. The actuator can comprise a shaft operably mounted to the lever arm and movable between an inactive position and an active position for pivoting the lever arm about the pivot axis and moving the valve between the opened and closed positions. 
     The valve can be normally biased to the opened position. The modular exhaust vent can be mounted to the door. 
     A dishwasher according to the invention comprises an open-face cabinet defining a wash chamber; a door movably mounted to the cabinet for movement between an opened condition and a closed condition to selectively close the open-face cabinet and comprising an interior wall that faces the wash chamber when the door is in the closed condition; and a modular exhaust vent comprising: a housing mounted to the door and defining a conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet opening to the wash chamber, and the outlet opening to the exterior of dishwasher to form an exhaust flow path from the wash chamber to the exterior of the dishwasher; and a valve operable between an opened and closed position for selectively closing the conduit at the inlet to impede introduction of sound into the conduit. 
     The door can comprise an opening in the interior wall, and the inlet can be generally coincident with the interior wall of the door so that the valve in the closed position is adjacent to the opening of the interior wall. 
     The conduit can comprises a valve seat at the inlet, and the valve can comprises a valve body that abuts the valve seat when the valve is in the closed position. The modular exhaust vent can further comprise an inlet cover that overlies the inlet opening and forms the valve seat. The inlet cover can comprise a bezel that forms the valve seat. At least a portion of the inlet cover can overlie the interior wall. The valve body can be a resilient disk. At least a portion of the inlet cover can project into the conduit so that the valve seat resides in the conduit near the inlet. 
     The valve can be operable for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between the opened and the closed positions. The modular exhaust vent can further comprise: an actuator; and a link connecting the actuator to the valve; wherein activation of the actuator effects movement of the link to move the valve to one of the opened and closed positions. The valve can be carried by a frame having a hinge that defines the pivot axis. The link can comprise a lever arm having a longitudinal axis transverse to the pivot axis. 
     In a dishwasher comprising an open-face cabinet defining a wash chamber; and a door movably mounted to the cabinet for movement between an opened condition and a closed condition to selectively close the open-face cabinet and comprising an interior wall that faces the wash chamber when the door is in the closed condition; a modular exhaust vent according to the invention comprises a housing mounted to the door and defining a conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet opening to the wash chamber, and the outlet opening to the exterior of dishwasher to form an exhaust flow path from the wash chamber to the exterior of the dishwasher; and a valve operable between an opened and closed position for selectively closing the conduit at the inlet to impede introduction of sound into the conduit. 
     The door can comprise an opening in the interior wall, and the inlet can be generally coincident with the interior wall of the door so that the valve in the closed position is adjacent to the opening. 
     The conduit can comprise a valve seat at the inlet, and the valve can comprise a valve body that abuts the valve seat when the valve is in the closed position. The modular exhaust vent can further comprise an inlet cover that overlies the inlet opening and forms the valve seat. The inlet cover can comprise a bezel that forms the valve seat. At least a portion of the inlet cover can overlie the interior wall. The valve body can be a resilient disk. At least a portion of the inlet cover can project into the conduit so that the valve seat resides in the conduit near the inlet. 
     The valve can be operable for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between the opened and the closed positions. The modular exhaust vent can further comprise: an actuator; and a link connecting the actuator to the valve; wherein activation of the actuator effects movement of the link to move the valve to one of the opened and closed positions. The valve can be carried by a frame having a hinge that defines the pivot axis. The link can comprise a lever arm having a longitudinal axis transverse to the pivot axis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dishwasher with a modular exhaust vent according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the modular exhaust vent of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are enlarged views of portions of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the modular exhaust vent of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are enlarged views of portions of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the modular exhaust vent of  FIG. 1  with an inlet cover removed and a valve in an opened position. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 , with the inlet cover mounted to the modular exhaust vent. 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view similar to  FIG. 6  with the valve in a closed position. 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 , with the inlet cover mounted to the modular exhaust vent. 
         FIG. 10  is a graph illustrating noise reduction achieved by the modular exhaust vent of  FIG. 1  compared to a prior art exhaust vent. 
         FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a modular exhaust vent according to the invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a rear perspective view of the modular exhaust vent of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the modular exhaust vent of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 14  is front perspective view of a housing from the modular exhaust vent of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 15  is rear view of a valve and an actuator from the modular exhaust vent of  FIG. 11 , wherein the actuator is in an inactive position. 
         FIG. 15A  is a side view of the valve and actuator of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 16  is a front perspective view of the modular exhaust vent of  FIG. 11  with an inlet cover removed and the valve in an opened position. 
         FIG. 17  is a front perspective view similar to  FIG. 16  with the valve in a closed position. 
         FIG. 18  is rear view similar to  FIG. 15  with the actuator is in an active position. 
         FIG. 18A  is a side view of the valve and actuator of  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the figures and particularly to  FIG. 1 , a conventional household dishwasher  12  for cleaning dishes, such as plates, bowls, utensils, glasses, barware, pots, pans, and the like, comprises an open-face cabinet  14  that defines a wash chamber  16  and a door  18  for selectively closing the cabinet  14  and, thus, wall the wash chamber  16 . The door  18  is movable from an opened position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the wash chamber  16  is accessible to a user, and a closed position, wherein the door  18  abuts the cabinet  14  so that the cabinet  14  and the door  18  enclose the wash chamber  16 . The door  18  comprises a generally hollow cavity formed between an interior wall  15  and an exterior wall (not shown) and supports various components, such as one or more wash aid dispensers (not shown) and a control system  17  for controlling the dishwasher  12  and executing preprogrammed wash cycles and dry cycles. The interior wall  15  includes an opening  19 , which is preferably located at an upper portion of the door  18  (when the door  18  is in the closed position), for exhausting air from the wash chamber  16  during a dry cycle. The dishwasher  12  further comprises a modular exhaust vent  10  according to the invention mounted to the door  18  and preferably mounted within the door  18  such that the exhaust vent  10  is in fluid communication with the opening  19 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-5B , the modular exhaust vent  10  comprises a housing  20  that defines a conduit, a valve  130  mounted within the conduit in the housing  20 , an actuator  160  supported on the housing  20  for operating the valve  130 , and a link  150  that connects the actuator  160  to the valve  130 . Movement of the valve  130  by the actuator  160  opens and closes an exhaust flow path  41  ( FIG. 7 ) formed by the conduit for selectively venting air from the wash chamber  16 . 
     The housing  20  comprises a housing body  22  having a rear wall  30 , opposing first and second side walls  32 ,  34 , an inclined top wall  36 , and a curved bottom wall  38 , which together define a chamber  40 , which forms part of the exhaust flow path  41 . The chamber  40  is closed by a housing cover  24  that functions as a front wall for the housing  20 . Depending upper and lower flanges  42 ,  44  extend from the top and bottom walls  36 ,  38 , respectively, to facilitate mounting the housing cover  24  to the housing body  22 . The first and second side walls  32 ,  34 , include generally horizontal indentations  46  that form laterally aligned U-shaped grooves  48 . 
     Additionally, the housing body  22  comprises an outwardly protruding cylindrical, hollow projection  50  that is substantially orthogonal to the first side wall  32  and aligned with the grooves  48 . The housing body  22  further includes a generally U-shaped rear flange  52  that surrounds an upper portion of the first and second side walls  32 ,  34  and the top wall  36  and includes rearwardly extending and generally rectangular outer and inner rims  54 ,  56 . The rear flange  52  and the outer and inner rims  54 ,  56  form a rectangular channel  58  sized to receive a seal  62 , and the inner rim  56  defines an outlet  60  for the conduit. An actuator support  70  formed integrally with the rear flange  52  and the first side wall  32  comprises a rear wall  72  in the same plane as the rear flange  52 , an inclined bottom wall  74  having an arcuate groove  76 , and a pair of braces  78  that project forward from the rear wall  72  and are spaced from the bottom wall  74 . The braces  78  include opposing detents  79  that retain the actuator  160  between the braces  78  when the actuator  160  is mounted to the actuator support  70 . 
     The housing cover  24  that forms the front wall of the housing  20  comprises a generally flat panel  80  having a horizontal upper edge  82 , a curved lower edge  84 , and opposing first and second side edges  86 ,  88 . When the housing cover  24  abuts the housing body  22 , the upper edge  82  abuts the upper flange  42 , and the lower edge  84  abuts the lower flange  44 . Two circular flanges, an inner flange  90  and an outer flange  92 , on the panel  80  form a recess  91  therebetween sized to receive a seal  102 , and the inner flange  90  defines an inlet  100  for the conduit. The housing cover  24  also includes circumferentially spaced detents  94  that project radially inward from the inner flange  90  for removably mounting an inlet cover  110  thereto. 
     The inlet cover  110  is a generally circular member with an annular body  112  and a circular wall  116  generally perpendicular to the annular body  112  and having a forward portion  117  on one side of the annular body  112  and a rearward portion  114  on an opposite side of the annular body  112 . The forward portion  117  surrounds a plurality of louvers  118 , which define a plurality of apertures  120 , while the rearward portion  114  terminates at a bezel  115  and includes circumferentially spaced detents  122  extending radially outward from the circular wall  116  and sized for receipt between the detents  94  of the housing cover  24 . The bezel  115  on the rearward portion  114  of the circular wall  116  functions as a valve seat for the valve  130 . 
     The valve  130 , which is mounted inside the housing  20 , comprises a frame  132  that carries or supports a resilient, flexible annular valve disk or body  148  having an inner perimeter  147  and an outer perimeter  149 . The frame  132  has a hinge  134  with a first end  136  and a second end  138  sized for receipt within the grooves  48  on the first and second side walls  32 ,  34  of the housing body  22 . The first end  136  of the hinge  134  is generally cylindrical and hollow and includes a key  137  that extends axially along the interior of the hinge  134 . The hinge  134  defines a pivot axis X and is joined to a valve body support  142  by a generally V-shaped connector  140 . The valve body support  142  comprises a circular body  144  and two sets of circumferentially spaced and offset radial fingers  146 . The sets of fingers  146  are spaced from one another a distance sufficient to receive and retain the valve body  148  therebetween. In particular, the inner perimeter  147  of the valve body  148  is situated between the sets of the fingers  146  and adjacent the circular body  144 , while the outer perimeter  149  extends radially outward beyond the sets of fingers  146 . 
     The actuator  160  for operating the valve  130  is preferably a conventional push-style wax motor comprising a generally rectangular motor body  162  with an electrical connection  164  for coupling the actuator  160  to a source of power. At one end of the motor body  162 , side flanges  166  project from opposite sides thereof to facilitate mounting the actuator  160  to the actuator support  70 . The actuator  160  further includes a nipple  168  that surrounds a movable shaft  170  having a terminal ball  172 . The shaft  170  is movable between an inactive position, wherein the shaft  170  is retracted towards the motor body  162 , and an active position, wherein the shaft  170  is displaced in a direction away from the motor body  162 . 
     The actuator  160  is coupled to the valve  130  by the link  150 , which comprises a cylindrical, tubular lever arm  152  and an extension  154  integral with and generally orthogonal to the arm  152 . The arm  152  has a hollow interior  156  along a longitudinal axis Y and includes an axial slot  158  with a slot inlet  159  at one end thereof. The diameter of the hollow interior  156  is greater than that of the terminal ball  172 , while width of the slot  158  is less than the diameter of the terminal ball  172  but greater than the diameter of the shaft  170 . The extension  154  has an axial channel  155  formed therein and sized to mate with the key  137  on the hinge  134  of the frame  132  that carries the valve body  148 . 
     An exemplary description of the assembly of the modular exhaust vent  10  follows. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill that the operation can proceed in any logical order and is not limited to the sequence presented below. The following description is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention in any way. 
     To assemble the modular exhaust vent  10 , the valve body  148  is attached the frame  132  by inserting the inner perimeter  147  between the sets of fingers  146  so that the outer perimeter  149  extends radially outward beyond the fingers  146 . Next, the valve  130  is mounted to the housing body  22  by sliding the first and second ends  136 ,  138  of the hinge  134  into the grooves  48  in the first and second side walls  32 ,  34 , respectively. The hinge  134  can rotate within the grooves  48  so that the valve  130  can pivot within the chamber  40 . 
     After the valve  130  is properly positioned, the housing cover  24  is attached to the housing body  22  to enclose the chamber  40 . To mount the housing cover  24  to the housing body  22 , the upper and lower edges  82 ,  84  of the housing cover  24  are aligned with the upper and lower flanges  42 ,  44  of the housing body  22 , and the housing cover  24  and the housing body  22  are joined by an adhesive, a conventional joining process, mechanical fasteners, or other suitable joining methods. When the housing cover  24  is mounted to the housing body  22 , the housing  20  defines the conduit, which extends from the inlet  100 , through the chamber  40 , and to the outlet  60 . 
     After the the housing cover  24  is mounted to the housing body  22 , the extension  154  of the link  150  is inserted into the hollow projection  50  and into the open first end  136  of the hinge  134  so that the key  137  on the hinge  134  mates with the channel  155  on the extension  154 . As a result, the longitudinal axis Y of the arm  152  is generally perpendicular to the pivot axis X defined by the hinge  132 . Next, the actuator  160  is simultaneously mounted to the actuator support  70  and to the link  150 . The terminal ball  172  is inserted into interior  156  of the arm  152  at the slot inlet  159  such that the shaft  170  extends upward through the slot  158 . The actuator  160  is then slid rearward (i.e., the shaft  170  slides rearward along the slot  158 ) until the motor body  162  abuts the braces  78 . The actuator  160  is then pushed onto the actuator support  70  so that the nipple  168  is received by the groove  76  in the bottom wall  74 , the side flanges  166  are positioned between the bottom wall  74  and the braces  78 , and the motor body  62  is situated between the braces  78  and held in place by the detents  79 . Finally, the seal  62  is inserted into the channel  58  around the outlet  60  of the housing  20 . 
     After the modular exhaust vent  10  is assembled (except for the inlet cover  110 ), it is mounted to the door  18 , and preferably inside the door  18 . First, the seal  102  is placed between the inner and outer flanges  90 ,  92  of the housing cover  24 , and the modular exhaust vent  10  is positioned within the door  18  with the housing cover  24  abutting the interior wall  15  of the door  18  and the inlet  100  aligned with the opening  19 . Next, the inlet cover  110  is attached to the housing cover  24  by positioning the inlet cover  110  on the opposite side of the opening  19  in the interior wall  15 , aligning the detents  122  on the inlet cover  110  with the spaces between the detents  94  on the housing cover  24 , and inserting the inlet cover  110  into the inlet  100  until the annular body  112  abuts and overlies the interior wall  15 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 . In this position, the detents  122  project into the inlet  100  beyond the detents  94 , and the rearward portion  114  of the circular wall  116  projects through the inlet  100  so that the inlet  100  is defined by the circular wall  116 . Thereafter, the inlet cover  110  is rotated about 60-degrees so that the detents  94  are disposed between the detents  122  and the annular body  112  to thereby retain the inlet cover  110  on the housing cover  24 . 
     When the modular exhaust vent  10  is mounted to the door  18 , the wash chamber  16  is in fluid communication with the inlet  100  through the inlet cover  110 . The outlet  60  is in communication with an area that is exterior to the door  18  so that air can flow from the modular exhaust vent  10  to the exterior of the dishwasher  12 . Because the modular exhaust vent  10  is positioned directly adjacent the interior wall  15 , the air flows directly from the wash chamber  16  and into the modular exhaust vent  10  rather than into an upstream space within the door  18  prior to entering the modular exhaust vent  10 , as in prior art dishwasher vents. Further, the electrical connection  164  of the actuator  160  is coupled to a power source, preferably through the control system  17 . 
     The conduit in the housing  20  forms the exhaust flow path  41  for venting air from the wash chamber  16  and through the modular exhaust vent  10  to the exterior of the dishwasher  12 . The valve body  148  is disposed near yet spaced from the inlet  100 , and the valve  130  and is pivotable about the pivot axis X between an opened position, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , wherein the valve body  148  is spaced from the bezel  115  (the valve seat) and the inlet  100  is in fluid communication with the outlet  60 , and a closed position, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , wherein the valve body  148  abuts the bezel  115  (the valve seat) to close the inlet  100  to prevent air from flowing though the inlet  100  and, thus, through the exhaust flow path  41 . When the valve  130  is in the closed position, the valve body  148  seals against the bezel  115  and prevents noise from escaping the dishwasher  12  through the modular exhaust vent  10 . The inlet cover  110  is omitted in  FIGS. 6 and 8  in order to better illustrate the position of the valve  130  within the housing  20 . 
     An exemplary description of the operation of the modular exhaust vent  10  follows. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill that the operation can proceed in any logical order and is not limited to the sequence presented below. The following description is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention in any way. 
     The valve  130  of the modular exhaust vent  10  is normally in the opened position shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In this position, the shaft  170  of the actuator  160  is in the inactive position, wherein the shaft  170  is retracted within the nipple  168 . Consequently, the arm  52  is generally orthogonal to the housing cover  24 , and the hinge  134  is oriented such that the valve body  148  is spaced from the bezel  115  (the valve seat) and the inlet  100 . As a result, the inlet  100  of the exhaust flow path  41  is in fluid communication with the outlet  60 , and, therefore, the wash chamber  16  is in fluid communication with the exterior of the dishwasher  12 . 
     After a user loads the dishwasher  12  with dishes, moves the door  18  to the closed position, and instructs the control system  17  to begin an operational cycle, such as by depressing a button or other switch on the door  18 , the control system  17  of the dishwasher  12  begins a wash cycle and sends a signal, preferably in the form of an electric current, to the actuator  160  of the modular exhaust vent  10  to move the valve  130  to the closed position to thereby prevent transmission of noise generated during the wash cycle through the opening  19  and the modular exhaust vent  10  to the exterior of the dishwasher  12 . Upon receipt of the signal, the shaft  170  moves to the active position. As the shaft  170  extends away from the motor body  162  and towards the link  150 , the terminal ball  172  pushes the arm  152  and thereby forces the arm  152  pivot about the pivot axis X and the extension  154  to rotate along the pivot axis X. The slot  158  accommodates movement of the shaft  170  along the longitudinal axis Y as the arm  152  rotates. Because the extension  154  is keyed into the hinge  132  through the key  137 , the rotation of the extension  154  induces rotation of the hinge  132 . As the hinge  132  rotates, the valve body support  142  and the valve body  148  pivot about the pivot axis X and towards the inlet  100  until the valve  130  reaches the closed position, wherein the valve body  148  abuts the bezel  115  (the valve seat) to close the exhaust flow path  41  at the inlet  100 . In this position, the valve body  148  prevents transmission of noise along the exhaust flow path  41 . Additionally, because the modular exhaust vent  10  is positioned directly adjacent the interior wall  15  and the opening  19  in the door  18  and the valve body  148  selectively closes the inlet  100 , the upstream space between the wash chamber  16  and the inlet  100  commonly present in prior art dishwashers  12  is eliminated, which reduces the transmission of noise to the exterior of the dishwasher  12  even when the valve  130  is in the closed position. In prior dishwashers, the upstream space created a resonance chamber that permitted the sound at certain frequencies in the chamber to effectively bypass the valve  130 . 
     The sound reduction achieved by the modular exhaust vent  10  is graphically illustrated in  FIG. 10 . The solid line in the graph depicts the amplitude of sound transmitted through the dishwasher  12  equipped with the modular exhaust vent  10  over a range of frequencies, while the dashed line indicates the amplitude of sound transmitted through a dishwasher equipped with a prior art modular exhaust vent. The particular prior art exhaust vent employed in the test is the vent disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,289 to Hapke et al. (Hapke &#39;289), which is incorporated herein by reference. The Hapke &#39;289 vent comprises a valve that selective closes an opening in a wall positioned between the vent inlet and the vent outlet. As a result, an upstream space is created between the valve and the vent inlet. Conversely, the valve body  148  of the modular exhaust vent  10  is positioned to directly close the inlet  100  and thereby prevent formation of an upstream space. The dot-dash-dot line represents a control dishwasher wherein the opening in the interior wall of the door is blocked without a vent. 
     The amplitude is a measurement of the magnitude of the sound, and a larger amplitude corresponds to louder noise. As seen in the graph, the sound transmitted by the prior art dishwasher has a significant increase in amplitude at frequencies around 800 Hz, which is within a range of audible frequencies. At these frequencies, the sound resonates within the space in the door and upstream of the prior art vent. The frequency that resonates in the upstream space depends on the volume of the space and, thus, the position of the modular exhaust vent within the door. However, the amplitude of the sound transmitted by the dishwasher  12  equipped with the modular exhaust vent  10 , which creates a seal generally coincident with the interior wall  15  of the door  18 , is significantly reduced at these frequencies. Additionally, a comparison of the amplitude of the sound transmitted by the dishwasher  12  equipped with the modular exhaust vent  10  with the sound transmitted by the control dishwasher reveals that the modular exhaust vent  10  and its position relative to the door  18  effectively eliminates the resonation problems associated with the prior art modular exhaust vent. 
     When the wash cycle is complete, the control system  17  begins a dry cycle and terminates the signal previously sent to the actuator  160  during the wash cycle to return the valve  130  to the opened position. Upon termination of the signal, the shaft  170  retracts into the motor body  162  to the inactive position and, because the diameter of the terminal ball  172  is larger than the width of the slot  158 , thereby pulls the link  150  towards the actuator support  70  to the position generally orthogonal to the housing cover  24 . As the shaft  170  pulls the link  150 , the arm  152  pivots about the pivot axis X, and the hinge rotates along to the pivot axis X to pivot the valve body support  142  and the valve body  148  about the pivot axis X and away from the inlet  100  until the valve  130  reaches the opened position, wherein the valve body  148  is spaced from the bezel  115  (the valve seat). Moisture-laden air within the wash chamber  16  exits the wash chamber  16  and enters the modular exhaust vent  10  through the apertures  120  in the inlet cover  110 . At this point, the air enters the inlet  100  and travels through the exhaust flow path  41  in the chamber  40  and past the valve body  148  before exiting the modular exhaust vent  10  through the outlet  60 . Upon leaving the modular exhaust vent  10 , the air flows to the exterior of the dishwasher  12 . 
     The valve  130  of the modular exhaust vent  10  described above is normally in the opened position and moves to the closed position upon receipt of a signal. However, it is within the scope of the invention for the valve  130  to operate in an opposite manner, wherein the valve  130  is normally in the closed position and moves to the opened position upon receipt of a signal. In the latter case, the actuator  160  can be a pull-type wax motor comprising a shaft  170  that is extended in the inactive position and retracts in the active condition to pull the arm  152  of the link  150  and open the valve  130 . 
     Further, the link  150  for connecting the actuator  160  to the valve  130  can comprise an arm  152  that is keyed to mate with the hinge  134  directly, rather than being coupled thereto by an extension  154 . Alternatively, the arm  152  can be coupled to the hinge  134  by a mechanism or member other than the extension  154  described above. 
     An alternative embodiment of a modular exhaust vent  10 ′ according to the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 11-18A , where components similar to those of the first embodiment modular exhaust vent  10  are identified with the same reference numeral bearing a prime (′) symbol. The modular exhaust vent  10 ′ comprises a housing  20 ′ that defines a conduit, a valve  130 ′ mounted within the conduit in the housing  20 ′, and an actuator  160 ′ supported on the housing  20 ′ and in direct communication with the valve  130 ′ for operating the valve  130 ′. Movement of the valve  130 ′ by the actuator  160 ′ opens and closes an exhaust flow path  41  formed by the conduit for selectively venting air from the wash chamber  16 . 
     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 11-14 , the housing  20 ′ is preferably a unitary body with an upper portion  20 A′ and a lower portion  20 B′. The upper portion  20 A′ comprises opposing, inclined rear and front walls  30 A′,  24 A′ joined by opposing first and second side walls  32 A′,  34 A′. The upper portion  20 A′ further includes a generally rectangular rear flange  52 ′ around the upper ends of the rear and front walls  30 A′,  24 A′ and the first and second side walls  32 A′,  34 A′. The rear flange  52 ′ includes rearwardly extending and generally rectangular outer rim  54 ′. The rear flange  52 ′ and the outer rim  54 ′ form a rectangular channel  58 ′ that is sized to receive a seal  62 ′ and defines an outlet  60 ′ for the conduit. 
     The lower portion  20 B′ comprises opposing rear and front walls  30 B′,  24 B′ joined by an arcuate side wall  33 B′. Two circular flanges, an inner flange  90 ′ and an outer flange  92 ′, on the front wall  24 B′ form a recess  91 ′ therebetween sized to receive a seal  102 ′, and the inner flange  90 ′ defines an inlet  100 ′ for the conduit. The front wall  24 B′ also includes circumferentially spaced detents  94 ′ that project radially inward from the inner flange  90 ′ for removably mounting an inlet cover  110 ′ thereto. Further, the lower portion  20 B′ includes a pair of laterally aligned indentations  46 ′ in a lower portion of the side wall  33 B′ and an inwardly protruding projection  50 ′ that extends forward from the rear wall  30 B′ and radially inward from the lower portion of the side wall  33 B′. The projection  50 ′ is hollow and comprises an opening  51 ′ sized to receive a portion of the actuator  70 ′, as will be described in further detail hereinafter. The upper and lower portions  20 A′ and  20 B′ together form an inner chamber  40 ′, and the conduit defined by the housing  20 ′ extends from the inlet  100 ′ to the outlet  60 ′. 
     An actuator support  70 ′ formed integrally with lower portions of the rear wall  30 B′ and the side wall  33 B′ comprises spaced rear and front walls  72 ′,  71 ′ joined by substantially vertical first and second side walls  73 ′,  75 ′ and a bottom wall  74 ′. A horizontally oriented, cylindrical actuator recess  77 ′ within the actuator support  70 ′ joins with the hollow interior of the projection  50 ′ and opens through the first side wall  73 ′. Further, the actuator support  70 ′ comprises a pair of braces  78 ′, an upper brace  78 A′ and a lower brace  78 B′, spaced from the first side wall  33 ′ by integral ligaments  66 ′. The ligament  66 ′ on the lower brace  78 B′ includes a stop  68 ′ at a rearward portion of the lower brace  78 B′. 
     The inlet cover  110 ′, which is best viewed in  FIGS. 11 and 13 , is identical to the inlet cover  110  of the first embodiment modular exhaust vent  10  (see  FIGS. 3B and 5B ). The inlet cover  110 ′ is a generally circular member with an annular body  112 ′ and a circular wall  116 ′ generally perpendicular to the annular body  112 ′ and having a forward portion  117 ′ on one side of the annular body  112 ′ and a rearward portion  114 ′ on an opposite side of the annular body  112 ′. The forward portion  117 ′ surrounds a plurality of louvers  118 ′, which define a plurality of apertures  120 ′, while the rearward portion  114 ′ terminates at a bezel  115 ′ and includes circumferentially spaced detents  122 ′ extending radially outward from the circular wall  116 ′ and sized for receipt between the detents  94 ′ of the front wall  24 B′. The bezel  115  on the rearward portion  114 ′ of the circular wall  116 ′ functions as a valve seat for the valve  130 ′. 
     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 13 and 15 , the valve  130 ′, which is mounted inside the housing  20 ′, comprises a frame  132 ′ that carries or supports a resilient, flexible annular valve disk or body  148 ′ having a plurality of apertures  151 ′. The frame  132 ′ has a hinge  134 ′ with a first end  136 ′ and a second end  138 ′ sized for receipt within the indentations  46 ′ on the side wall  33 B′ on the lower portion  20 B′ of the housing  20 ′. Each of the first and second ends  136 ′,  138 ′ terminates at a nub  139 ′ for pivotally mounting the frame  132 ′ in the indentations  46 ′ of the housing  20 ′. The hinge  134 ′ defines a pivot axis X′ and is joined to a valve body support  142 ′ by a connector  140 ′. The valve body support  142 ′ comprises a circular body  144 ′ and a plurality of protruding hooked fingers  146  sized to be received within the apertures  151 ′ on the valve body  148 ′ for retaining the valve body  148 ′ on the valve body support  142 ′. The connector  140 ′ includes a groove  141 ′ defined between a first cam surface  143 ′ and a second cam surface  145 ′ spaced from the first cam surface  143 ′. The first cam surface  143 ′ comprises a first horizontal section  143 A′ and a laterally offset second horizontal section  143 B′ joined by a diagonal section  143 C′, while the second cam surface  145 ′ comprises a horizontal section  145 A′ spaced from and parallel with the first horizontal section  143 A′ and a diagonal section  145 C′ spaced from and parallel with the diagonal section  143 C′. 
     Similar to the actuator  160  of the first embodiment modular exhaust vent  10 , the actuator  160 ′ for operating the valve  130 ′ is preferably a conventional push-style wax motor comprising a generally rectangular motor body  162 ′ with an electrical connection  164 ′ for coupling the actuator  160 ′ to a source of power. At one end of the motor body  162 ′, side flanges  166 ′ project from opposite sides thereof to facilitate mounting the actuator  160 ′ to the actuator support  70 ′. The actuator  160 ′ further includes a nipple  168 ′ that surrounds a movable shaft  170 ′ having a terminal ball  172 ′ sized for receipt within the groove  141 ′ of the connector  140 ′. The shaft  170 ′ is movable between an inactive position, wherein the shaft  170 ′ is retracted towards the motor body  162 ′, and an active position, wherein the shaft  170 ′ is displaced in a direction away from the motor body  162 ′. 
     An exemplary description of the assembly of the modular exhaust vent  10 ′ follows. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill that the operation can proceed in any logical order and is not limited to the sequence presented below. The following description is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention in any way. 
     To assemble the modular exhaust vent  10 ′, the valve body  148 ′ is attached the frame  132 ′ by aligning the apertures  151 ′ with the hooked fingers  146 ′ and pushing the valve body  148 ′ onto the circular body  144 ′ of the valve body support  142 ′. Next, the valve  130 ′ is mounted to the housing  20 ′ by sliding the first and second ends  136 ′,  138 ′ of the hinge  134 ′ into the indentations  46 ′ in the side wall  33 B′ so that the nubs  139 ′ abut the housing  20 ′. Because the hinge  134 ′ can rotate within the indentations  46 ′, and the valve  130 ′ can pivot about the pivot axis X′ within the chamber  40 ′. 
     After the valve  130 ′ is properly positioned, the actuator  160 ′ is mounted to the actuator support  70 ′ and operably coupled to the valve  130 ′. To accomplish this, the nipple  168 ′ is inserted into the actuator recess  77 ′ with the side flanges  166 ′ oriented laterally (i.e., parallel with the bottom wall  74 ′). In this position, the terminal ball  172 ′ extends into the chamber  40 ′ through the opening  51 ′ in the projection  50 ′. In particular, the terminal ball  172 ′ resides in the groove  141 ′ of the connector  140 ′ between the first horizontal section  143 A′ and the horizontal section  145 A′, as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 15A . Next, the actuator  160 ′ is rotated about 90-degrees so that the side flanges  166 ′ pass through the spaces between the braces  78 ′ and the first side wall  73 ′ until further rotation is prevented by the stop  68 ′ on the ligament  66 ′ of the lower brace  78 B′. When rotation ceases, the side flanges  166 ′ are positioned such that they generally vertical and are held between the braces  78 ′ and the first side wall  73 ′ to retain the actuator  160 ′ on the actuator support  70 ′. Finally, the seal  62 ′ is inserted into the channel  58 ′ around the outlet  60 ′ of the housing  20 ′. 
     After the modular exhaust vent  10 ′ is assembled (except for the inlet cover  110 ′, it is mounted to the door  18 , and preferably inside the door  18 . First, the seal  102 ′ is placed between the inner and outer flanges  90 ′,  92 ′ of the front wall  24 A′, and the modular exhaust vent  10 ′ is positioned within the door  18  with the front wall  24 A′ abutting the interior wall  15  of the door  18  and the inlet  100 ′ aligned with the opening  19 . Next, the inlet cover  110 ′ is attached to the housing  20 ′ by positioning the inlet cover  110 ′ on the opposite side of the opening  19  in the interior wall  15 , aligning the detents  122 ′ on the inlet cover  110 ′ with the spaces between the detents  94 ′ on the front wall  24 A′, and inserting the inlet cover  110 ′ into the inlet  100 ′ until the annular body  112 ′ abuts and overlies the interior wall  15 . In this position, the detents  122 ′ project into the inlet  100 ′ beyond the detents  94 ′, and the rearward portion  114 ′ of the circular wall  116 ′ projects through the inlet  100 ′ so that the inlet  100 ′ is defined by the circular wall  116 ′. Thereafter, the inlet cover  110 ′ is rotated about 60-degrees so that the detents  94 ′ are disposed between the detents  122 ′ and the annular body  112 ′ to thereby retain the inlet cover  110 ′ on the housing  20 ′. 
     When the modular exhaust vent  10 ′ is mounted to the door  18 , the wash chamber  16  is in fluid communication with the inlet  100 ′ through the inlet cover  110 ′. The outlet  60 ′ is in communication with an area that is exterior to the door  18  so that air can flow from the modular exhaust vent  10 ′ to the exterior of the dishwasher  12 . Because the modular exhaust vent  10 ′ is positioned directly adjacent the interior wall  15 , the air flows directly from the wash chamber  16  and into the modular exhaust vent  10 ′ rather than into an upstream space within the door  18  prior to entering the modular exhaust vent  10 , as in prior art dishwasher vents. Further, the electrical connection  164 ′ of the actuator  160 ′ is coupled to a power source, preferably through the control system  17 . 
     The conduit in the housing  20 ′ forms the exhaust flow path  41 ′ ( FIG. 16 ) for venting air from the wash chamber  16  and through the modular exhaust vent  10 ′ to the exterior of the dishwasher  12 . The valve body  148 ′ is disposed near yet spaced from the inlet  100 ′, and the valve  130 ′ is pivotable about the pivot axis X′ between an opened position, as shown in  FIG. 16 , wherein the valve body  148 ′ is spaced from the bezel  115 ′ (the valve seat) of the inlet cover  110 ′, and the inlet  100 ′ is in fluid communication with the outlet  60 ′, and a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 17 , wherein the valve body  148 ′ abuts the bezel  115 ′ (the valve seat) of the inlet cover  110 ′ to close the inlet  100 ′ to prevent air from flowing through the inlet  100 ′ and, thus, through the exhaust flow path  41 ′. When the valve  130 ′ is in the closed position, the valve body  148 ′ seals against the bezel  115  and prevents noise from escaping the dishwasher  12  through the modular exhaust vent  10 ′. The inlet cover  110 ′ is omitted in  FIGS. 16 and 17  in order to better illustrate the position of the valve  130 ′ within the housing  20 ′. 
     The operation of the modular exhaust vent  10 ′ is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment modular exhaust vent  10 , except for the interaction between the actuator  160 ′ and the valve  130 ′ to move the valve  130 ′ between the opened and closed positions. As in the first embodiment, the valve  130 ′ of the modular exhaust vent  10 ′ is normally in the opened position shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . In this position, the shaft  170 ′ of the actuator  160 ′ is in the inactive position, shown in  FIGS. 15 and 15A , wherein the shaft  170 ′ is retracted within the nipple  168 ′. Consequently, the terminal ball  172 ′ resides in the groove  141 ′ of the connector  140 ′ between the first horizontal section  143 A′ and the horizontal section  145 A′, and the hinge  134 ′ is oriented such that the valve body  148 ′ is spaced from the rearward wall  116 ′ and the inlet  100 ′. As a result, the inlet  100 ′ of the exhaust flow path  41 ′ is in fluid communication with the outlet  60 ′, and, therefore, the wash chamber  16  is in fluid communication with the exterior of the dishwasher  12 . 
     When the control system  17  sends a signal to the actuator  160 ′ to move the valve  130 ′ to the closed position, such as during a wash cycle, the shaft  170 ′ extends away from the motor body  162 ′ to move to the active position, as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 18A . As the shaft  170 ′ extends away from the motor body  162 ′, the terminal ball  172 ′ rides along the first cam surface  173 ′. When the terminal ball  172 ′ rides along the diagonal section  173 C′, the actuator  160 ′ forces the hinge  134 ′ to rotate about the pivot axis X′. As the hinge  132 ′ rotates, the valve body support  142 ′ and the valve body  148 ′ pivot about the pivot axis X′ and towards the inlet  100 ′ until the valve  130 ′ reaches the closed position, wherein the valve body  148 ′ abuts the bezel  115 ′ to seal the exhaust flow path  41 ′ at the inlet  100 ′. Additionally, because the modular exhaust vent  10 ′ is positioned directly adjacent the interior wall  15  and the opening  19  in the door  18  and the valve body  148  selectively closes the inlet  100 , the upstream space between the wash chamber  16  and the inlet  100 ′ is eliminated, which reduces the transmission of noise to the exterior of the dishwasher  12  even when the valve  130 ′ is in the closed position. When the shaft  170 ′ is fully extended, the terminal ball  172 ′ is adjacent the second horizontal section  143 B′, and interaction between the second horizontal section  143 B′ and the terminal ball  172 ′ holds the valve  130 ′ in the closed position. 
     When the control system  17  terminates the signal sent to the actuator  160 ′, such as during a dry cycle, the shaft  170 ′ retracts into the motor body  162 ′ to the inactive position. As the shaft  170 ′ retracts, the terminal ball  172 ′ rides along the second cam surface  145 ′. When the terminal ball  172 ′ rides along the diagonal section  145 C′, the actuator  160 ′ rotates the hinge  134 ′ in an opposite direction to pivot the valve body support  142 ′ and the valve body  148 ′ about the pivot axis X′ and away from the inlet  100 ′ until the terminal ball  172 ′ is adjacent the horizontal section  145 A′ and the valve  130 ′ reaches the opened position, wherein the valve body  148 ′ is spaced from the bezel  115 ′ to open the exhaust flow path  41 ′. 
     As described above, a major difference between the alternative embodiment modular exhaust valve  10 ′ and the first embodiment exhaust valve  10  is that manner in which the actuator  160  communicates with the valve  130  for opening and closing the valve. In the former, the actuator  160 ′ is directly coupled to the valve  130 ′ to move the valve between the opened and closed positions. Conversely, in the latter, the link  150  couples the actuator to the valve  130  to transfer movement of the actuator between the inactive and active positions into movement of the valve  130  between the opened and closed positions. 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.