Patent Publication Number: US-2017354306-A1

Title: Method for controlling water supply of dishwasher

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0072196, filed in Korea on Jun. 10, 2016, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     A dishwasher and a method for controlling a dishwasher by controlling a drainage pump in a water supply so as to prevent cavitation of the drainage pump provided in the dishwasher are disclosed herein. 
     2. Background 
     Generally, a dishwasher is an electric appliance configured to wash dishes held therein by injecting wash water at a high pressure to the dishes and dry them. More specifically, wash water is injected into a washing tub, in which the dishes are held, at a high pressure in the dishwasher and the injected wash water is configured to contact with the dishes so as to remove food scraps from surfaces of the dishes. 
     Such a dishwasher is capable of filtering the food scraps or contaminants contained in the wash water using a filter and re-using the filtered water. Also, detergent is dissolved in the wash water and supplied mixedly together with the wash water. 
     Recently, dishwashers a motor of which raises a temperature of the wash water or generates steam to enhance efficiency of a washing performance have been broadly developed. Such a conventional dishwasher includes a case that defines an external appearance; a washing tub provided in the cabinet and defining a washing space for the dishes; a door coupled to a front of the washing tub to open and close the washing tub; a sump provided under the washing tub and configured to supply, collect, circulate and drain wash water for washing&gt;the dishes; lower and upper arms that inject the wash water supplied by the sump to the dishes; and lower and upper racks slidingly provided in the tub and selectively disposed according to kinds and sizes of the dishes. 
     To wash dishes, using the dishwasher, a user has to open the door and draw out the rack from the washing tub. Then, the user puts dishes to be washed on the drawn out rack and pushes the rack back into the washing tub. Finally, the user closes the door. Once the user thereafter puts the dishwasher into operation, the dishes disposed on the lower and upper rack start to be washed while wash water is independently or simultaneously supplied to the upper/lower arm. 
     For the washing of the dishes, wash water has to be supplied and drained. The supplied wash water is guided into the sump and supplied to the lower and upper arms by an auxiliary pump. The wash water having been used in the washing is drained outside of the dishwasher by a drainage pump. 
     The drainage pump is typically located below the sump and the wash water is suctioned into a drainage space defined in the drainage pump, as wash water is supplied. Air remaining in the drainage space has to be exhausted via a drainage pipe as the wash water is drawn into the drainage space. Because of differences between the drainage pipe and the drainage space in height and pressure, the air might fail to be exhausted. 
     An auxiliary air outlet hole may be provided in the drainage space to exhaust the air remaining in the drainage space. Such an air outlet hole might be blocked by contaminants drained together with the wash water during the wash water drainage. In a case in which the air outlet hole is blocked, the drainage of the drainage pump might be performed smoothly and the drained wash water might counter-flow disadvantageously. 
     Accordingly, there is a disadvantage that smooth and efficient operation of the drainage pump might fail, because an exhaustion pressure not formed by the drainage pump in a case in which air remaining in the drainage space of the drainage pump is not exhausted. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein; 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a dishwasher in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a drainage unit of the dishwasher in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of the drainage unit In accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a side sectional view illustrating the internal structure of the drainage unit n accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating operation of the dishwasher in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating operation of the drainage pump to remove an air pocket in accordance with an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating operation of the drainage pump to remove an air pocket in accordance with another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to, the accompanying drawings, embodiments will be described Use of such terminology for structures and control methods herein is merely intended to facilitate description of the specification, and the terminology itself is not intended to give any special meaning or function. That which is well-known to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art has generally been omitted for the sake of brevity. Regardless of numeral references, the same or equivalent components may be provided with the same reference numbers and description thereof will not be repeated. 
     Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings, a dishwasher in accordance with an embodiment will be described. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a dishwasher in accordance with an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the dishwasher  100  may include a cabinet  110  that defines an external appearance; a washing tub  120  provided in the cabinet  110  and defining a washing, space in which one or more washing objects or dishes may be washed; a plurality of racks  130   a  and  130   b  detachably mounted in the washing tub  120  and having the washing objects or dishes disposed thereon; a plurality of injection arms  122  and  124  that injects wash water to the washing objects disposed on the racks  130   a  and  130   b;  and a sump  140  that calculates and supplies wash water to the injection arms  122  and  124  and collects and receives the wash water supplied to the washing space. 
     An opening may be formed in the washing tub  120 , with a closable front side, to allow the washing tub  120  to communicate with the outside of the cabinet  110 . The opening may be opened and closed by a door  113  rotatably coupled to the cabinet  110 . Accordingly, a user may draw the racks  130   a  and  130   b  from the washing tub  120  after opening the opening by rotating the door  113 . 
     The plurality of racks  130   a  and  130   b  on which the washing objects may be disposed may be provided in the washing tub  120 . The plurality of racks  130   a  and  130   b  may include an upper rack  130   a  provided in an upper portion of the washing tub, and a lower rack provided under the upper rack  130   a.  In a case in which the plurality of racks  130   a  and  130   b  is configured of the upper rack  130   a  and the lower rack  130   b,  the injection arms  122  and  124  may include an upper arm  122  that injects water to the upper rack  130   a,  and a lower arm  124  that injects water to the lower rack  130   b.  The wash water (the water remaining in the washing tub  120 ) injected to the washing objects from the injection arms  112  and  124  may be collected in the sump  140 . 
     The sump  140  may be provided underneath the washing tub  120  and function as a means for storing water. The sump  140  may be partitioned off from the washing tub  120  by a sump cover  142 . One or more hole  144  may be provided in the sump cover  12  to suction the water into the sump  140  from the washing tub  120  into a sump collection chamber  143 . 
     The sump  140  may be connected to a water supply source (not shown) via a water supply unit  150 . The water supply unit  150  may be opened and closed by a water supply valve  152 . In addition, the water supply unit  150  may include a water flow sensor (not shown) that senses an amount of the wash water supplied through the water supply valve  152 . 
     A drainage unit  160  may be provided in a lower portion of the sump  140  to exhaust the wash water and food scraps drawn into the sump  140 . An outlet hole  146  through &gt; which the wash water and food scraps suctioned into the sump  140  may be exhausted may be provided in a lower portion of the sump  140  and communicate with the drainage pipe. 
     The drainage unit  160  may include a drainage chamber  61  in which the drainage pump  165  may be installed, and, a drainage pipe  183  that guides the wash water and food scraps exhausted from the drainage chamber  161  by the drainage pump  165 . Referring to the accompanying drawings, the drainage unit  160  will be described hereinafter. 
     The water stored in the sump  140  may be supplied to the injection arms  122  and  124  via a water supply path  170  by a pump  180 . The water supply path  170  may include a connection path  172  connected to the pump  180 ; an upper path  174  that connects the connection path  172  and the upper arm  122  with each other; and a lower path  176  that connects the connection path  172  and the lower arm  174  with each other. 
     The upper arm  122  may be rotatably connected to the upper path  174  and the lower arm  124  may be rotatably connected to the lower path  176 . The upper path  174  and the lower path  176  may be formed by a branching of the connection path  172 . transfer valve  178  that controls opening/closing of the paths  174  and  176  may be provided in or at a branched point between the upper path  174  and the lower path  176 . 
     The pump  180  may include a pump body  82  fixed in the cabinet  110 ; a partition wall  183  that defines a pumping chamber  184  and a heating chamber  186  by portioning off an internal space of the pump body  182 ; a partition through hole  183   a  provided in the partition wall  183  to allow the pumping chamber  184  and the heating chamber  186  to communicate with each other; and an impeller  181   a  provided in the pumping chamber  184 . 
     The heating chamber  186  may be connected with the sump  140  by a pump inlet  187  that penetrates the pump body  182 , and the pumping chamber  184  may be connected with the connection path  172  by a pump outlet  185  that penetrates the pump body  182 . The impeller  181   a  may be rotated by a motor  181  fixed to an upper surface of the pump body  182 . A shaft of the motor  181  may be connected to the impeller  181   a  located in the pumping chamber  184  through an upper surface of the pump body  182 . 
     A heating unit  188  may be provided in a bottom surface of the heating chamber  186 . When the pump body  182  is cylindrical-shaped with an open bottom surface, the heating unit  188  may define the bottom surface of the heating chamber  186 . 
     The heating unit  188  may include a heating plate  188   a  defining the bottom surface of the heating chamber  186 , and a heater  189  fixed to a bottom surface of the heating plate  188   a  and located outside of the heating chamber  186 . The heating plate  188   a  may be formed, for example of a metal which is easily to transmits heat. In addition, the heating unit  188  may be configured to define the bottom surface of the heating chamber  186 , to provide the pump  180  which is capable of performing the function of water supply to the, injection arms  122  and  124  and the function of water heating simultaneously. 
     The dishwasher  100  including the pump  180  discussed above may supply steam to the washing tub  120  using the heating unit  188  provided in the pump  180 . For that, a steam supply unit  190  may be further provided in the dishwasher  100 . 
     The steam supply unit  190  may include a nozzle  192  that injects steam into the washing tub  120 ; a steam supply pipe  194  that connects the nozzle  192  to the heating chamber  186 ; and a steam valve  196  that opens d closes the steam supply pipe.  FIG. 1  illustrates the nozzle  192  provided&#39;in the door  113  as one example. In this instance, the nozzle  192  may be installed or provided&#39;in or at a lower portion of an inner surface of the door  113 . 
     Hereinafter, a drainage unit will be described, referring to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective diagram illustrating a drainage unit of the dishwasher in accordance with an embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of the drainage unit in accordance with an embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a side sectional view illustrating the internal structure of the drainage unit in accordance with an embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , drainage unit  160  in accordance with an embodiment may include drainage chamber  161  provided in a lower portion of the sump  140  and defining a predetermined pumping space for pumping the drained wash water, in communication with the outlet hole  146  of the, sump  140 ; drainage pump  165  connected to the drainage chamber  171  and including a drainage impeller  166  that drains the wash water; an outlet pipe  162  that exhausts wash water and food scraps along with rotation of the impeller  166 , in communication with one side of the drainage chamber  161 ; and drainage pipe  163  connected to the outlet pipe  162  and guiding the exhausted wash water. 
     The drainage pump  165  may include a motor  168  that defines one surface of the drainage chamber  161  and coupled to the drainage chamber  161 ; a sealing member  167  provided between the motor  168  and, the drainage chamber  161  and preventing leakage of wash water; and impeller  166  coupled to a shaft of the motor  168  and configured to forcibly exhausting the wash water from the drainage chamber  161  to the outlet pipe  162  by a centrifugal force. 
     The outlet hole  146  of the sump  140  in communication with the drainage chamber  161  is related to a location of the impeller  166  provided in the drainage pump  165 . The outlet hole  146  may be provided at a center of rotation performed by the impeller  166  to exhaust the wash water along with the rotation of the impeller  166 . The outlet pipe  162  provided in the drainage chamber  161  may be connected to or at a predetermined portion of the drainage chamber  161  to exhaust the wash water along the rotation of the impeller  166  and the wash water and food scraps drawn into the drainage chamber  161  simultaneously. 
     The drainage pipe  163  may be connected to the outlet pipe  162  to guide the wash water containing food scraps drained by the drainage pump  165  outside of the dishwasher  100 . A check valve  164  may be further provided in a predetermined region of the drainage pipe  163  to prevent the exhausted rash water and food scraps from counter-flowing. 
     Next operation of the dishwasher  100  will be described referring to the accompanying drawings. Each of the components which will be discussed hereinafter, with reference to the description and drawings discussed above. 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating operation of the dishwasher in accordance with an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a user may place dishes on upper rack or lower rack  130   a  or  130   b  of dishwasher  100  and then select a wash start button (not shown) to, start the washing for the dishes. 
     Once operation of the dishwasher  100  starts, a water supply step or operation (S 110 ) for supplying water to washing tub  120  may be performed. After the water supply step (S 110 ) is complete, a preliminary washing step or operation (S 120 ) for soaking contaminants or food scraps which are stuck on the dishes may be performed. 
     After the preliminary washing step (S 120 ) a main washing step or operation (S 130 ) for spraying the wash water mixed with detergent may be performed to remove the contaminants and food scraps. Once the main washing step (S 130 ) is complete, a rinsing step or operation (S 140 ) may be performed and then a drying step or operation (S 150 ) for drying the dishes may be performed after the rinsing step (S 140 ). 
     Before the main washing step (S 130 ) starts after the preliminary washing step (S 120 ), water drainage for collecting the wash water injected in the preliminary washing step (S 120 ) may be performed. Wash water ay be pumped by the pump  180  and injected into the washing tub  120  via upper arm  122  and lower arm  124 . The wash water injecting process may be repeated for a preset or predetermined time period. 
     The wash water injection may be performed a preset or predetermined number of times and the main washing step (S 130 ) may be performed the preset number of times. The main washing step (S 130 ) may be completed and the rinsing step (S 140 ) may then be performed. The wash water supplied in the main washing step (S 130 ) may be drained before the rinsing step (S 130 ) starts. 
     After the rinsing step (S 140 ), a drying step or operation (S 150 ) may be performed to remove moisture contained on the dishes. In the drying step (S 150 ) hot air may be supplied to the washing, tub  120  and the moisture evaporated from the dishes. Air changed into high-temperature humid air may be exhausted outside of the dishwasher  100  by an auxiliary dry module (not shown). 
     The water supply step (S 110 ), the preliminary washing step (S 120 ), the main washing step (S 130 ), the rinsing step (S 140 ) and the drying step (S 150 ) discussed above may be similar to corresponding steps provided in a conventional dishwasher. Detailed description regarding these steps has been omitted accordingly. 
     The wash water supplied in those steps may be drawn into the drainage chamber  161  via the outlet hole  146  from the sump  140 . As it is being drawn into the drainage chamber  161 , the wash water fills a drainage space  161   a  defined in the drainage chamber  161  so that the air not exhausted via the drainage pipe  163  may form an air pocket  161   b  in an upper portion of the drainage chamber  161   a.  In other words, the wash water drawn into the drainage chamber  161  is filled to a height (H 1 ) which reaches an upper end of the outlet hole  146  located in the center of the drainage chamber  161  Alternatively, the wash water may be filled in the drainage chamber  167  to a height (H 2 ) which reaches an upper end of the outlet pipe  162  according to an arrangement of the drainage pipe  163 . 
     At this time, a maximum water level the wash water drawn into the drainage chamber  161  in the drainage space  161   a  may be between the height (H 1 ), that is, the upper end of the outlet hole  146 , and the height (H 2 ), that is, the upper end of the outlet pipe  162 . The air pocket  161   b  may be formed above the wash water level stored in the drainage chamber  161  by the air not exhausted outside of the drainage chamber  161 . Accordingly, the air pocket  161   b  formed in the drainage chamber  161  may interfere with water currents formed by the impeller  166  of the drainage pump  165  and then interfere with smooth drainage from the drainage chamber  161 . 
     Thus, embodiments disclosed herein are provided to facilitate operation of the impeller  166  of the drainage pump  165  by removing the air pocket formed in the drainage chamber  161  of the drainage unit  160 . A process of removing the air pocket may be repeatedly performed in the water supply step (S 110 ), the preliminary washing step (S 120 ), the main washing, step (S 130 ) and the rinsing step (S 140 ) during which water supply is performed Alternatively, the process of removing the air pocket may be performed only in the water supply step (S 110 ), for example, during which wash water is initially supplied. 
     Hereinafter, a process of removing air pocket  161   b  will be described which is performed only in the water supply step (S 110 ) for supplying the wash water initially. Referring to the drawings, operation of the drainage unit in accordance with an embodiment will be described. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating operation of the drainage pump to remove an air pocket in accordance with an embodiment. As discussed above, the water supply step (S 110 ) starts to be performed, and the supplied wash water is drawn into the drainage chamber  161  via the outlet hole  146  of the sump  140 . The supplied wash water may fill in the internal space of the drainage chamber  161 . 
     In this instance, the wash water supplied to the drainage chamber  161  may fill to the height (H 1 ), that is, to the upper end of the outlet hole  146  located in the center of the drainage chamber  161 . Alternatively, the supplied wash water may fill to the height (H 2 ), that is, to the upper end of the outlet pipe  162  according to the arrangement of the drainage pipe  163 . 
     A control unit or controller may determine whether a water level of the wash water after the water supply step (S 110 ) starts is located between the height (H 1 ), that is, the upper end of the outlet hole  146 , and the height (H 2 ), that is, the upper end of the outlet pipe  162  (S 210 ). The determination of the water level may be performed based on a water supply time. In other words, it may be determined that the wash water level in the drainage chamber  161  is between the height (H 1 ), that is, the upper end of the outlet hole  146 , and the height (H 2 ), that is the upper end of the outlet pipe  162 , when a preset or predetermined time passes after the water supply starts. 
     The control unit may operate the motor  168  intermittently to exhaust the air remaining in the drainage chamber  161  via the outlet pipe  162  (S 220 ). The motor  168  may be rotated in a same direction as the wash water is drained. The impeller  166  may be rotated along with the rotation of the motor  168  and the wash water together with air inside of the drainage chamber  161  may be exhausted along with the rotation of the impeller  166 . 
     The rotation of the motor  168  may be performed intermittently. The intermittent rotation may be performed for approximately 1˜2 sec. and then paused for approximately 1.5˜2.5 sec. and the intermittent rotation may be repeatedly performed two through four times. The wash water in the drainage chamber  161  may fluctuate and be partially drained together with air by the intermittent rotation at the same time, so that the air pocket formed in the drainage chamber  161  may be minimized. 
     Next, referring to the accompanying drawings, operation, of the drainage unit in accordance with another embodiment will be described. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating operation of the drainage pump to remove an air pocket in accordance with another embodiment. As discussed above, the water supply step (S 110 ) may be performed and the supplied wash water drawn into the drainage chamber  161  via the outlet hole  146  of the sump  140 . The wash water drawn into the drainage chamber  161  may fill the drainage chamber  161 . 
     The wash water supplied to the drainage chamber  161  may fill up to height (H 1 ) which reaches the upper end of the outlet hole  146  located in the center of the drainage chamber  161  or the height (H 2 ) which reaches the upper end of the outlet pipe  162  according, to the arrangement of the drainage pipe  163 . The control unit may determine whether a water level of the wash water after the water supply step (S 110 ) starts is located between the height (H 1 ), that is, the upper end of the outlet hole  146 , and the height (H 2 ), that is, the upper end of the outlet pipe  162  (S 310 ). 
     The determination of the wash water level may be performed based on an accumulation of the supplied wash water amount. In other words, once the wash water supply starts, a water flow sensor provided in the water supply unit may determine whether the wash water level, in the drainage chamber  161  is located between the height (H 1 ), that s, the upper end of the outlet hole  146 , and the height (H 2 ) that is, the upper end of the outlet pipe  162 . 
     Thus, the control unit operates the motor  168  intermittently to exhaust the air remaining in the drainage chamber  161  via the outlet pipe  162  (S 320 ). The motor  168  may be rotated in the same direction as the wash water drained. The impeller  166  may be rotated along with the rotation of the motor  168  and the wash water together with air inside of the drainage chamber  161  may be exhausted along with the rotation of the impeller  166 . 
     The rotation of the motor  168  may be performed intermittently. The intermittent rotation may be performed for approximately 1˜2 sec. and then paused for approximately 1.5˜2.5 sec. and the intermittent rotation may be repeatedly operated two through four times. The wash water in the drainage chamber  161  may fluctuate and be partially drained together with air by the intermittent rotation at the same time, so that the air pocket formed in the drainage chamber  161  may minimized. 
     Accordingly, embodiments disclosed herein address the above-noted and other problems and provide a method for controlling a dishwasher which is capable of securing operational environments for a drainage pump by facilitating exhaustion of air remaining in a drainage pump, while water is supplied to the dishwasher. 
     Embodiments disclosed herein provide a method for controlling a dishwasher that may include a water supply step or operation for supplying wash water to the dishwasher; an air exhausting step, or operation for exhausting the air remaining in a path of the wash water in the water supply step; a washing step or operation for washing dishes by injecting wash water tea the dishes; a rinsing, step or operation for rinsing the dishes; and a drying step or operation for drying the dishes. The air exhausting step may be performed in a preset or predetermined time period when the water supply step starts to be performed. 
     The exhausting step may be performed after a preset or predetermined amount of wash water is supplied in the water supply step. The air exhausting step may operate a drainage pump for draining the wash water. 
     The drainage pump may include a drainage pump, in which wash water may be stored; an impeller that drains the wash water from the drainage chamber; and a drainage path connected to the drainage chamber. The air exhausting step may rotate the impeller in a preset or predetermined direction in which the air is rotated to move toward the drainage path. 
     The air exhausting step may repeatedly and intermittently operate the drainage pump for a preset or predetermined time period. The air exhausting step may repeat the intermittent operation process in which the drainage pump operates for approximately 1˜2 seconds and pause the drainage pump for approximately 1.5˜2.5 seconds. 
     Embodiments disclosed herein may also provide a method for controlling a dishwasher including a washing tub that defines a washing space in which one or more dishes may be placed; an injection unit that injects wash water to the dishes; a sump provided underneath the washing tub; a driving unit or drive that supplies and circulates the wash water stored in the sump to the injection unit; and a drainage pump that drains the wash water from the sump. The, method for controlling the dishwasher may include a water supply step or operation for supplying wash water to the dishwasher; a washing step or operation for washing dishes using the wash water; a rinsing step or operation for rinsing the washed dishes; and a drying step or operation for drying the dishes. The method may further include an air exhausting step or operation for operating the drainage pump for a preset or predetermined time period to exhaust air from the drainage pump after the water supply step. 
     The drainage pump may include a drainage pump in which wash water may be stored; an impeller that drains the wash water from the drainage chamber; and a drainage path connected to the drainage chamber. The air exhausting step may rotate the impeller in a preset or predetermined direction in which the air is rotated to move toward the drainage path. The air exhausting step may repeatedly and intermittently operate the drainage pump for a preset or predetermined time period. 
     The air exhausting step may repeat the intermittent operation process in which the drainage pump operates for approximately 1˜2 seconds and pause the drainage pump for approximately 1.5˜2.5 seconds. The air exhausting step may be performed in a preset or predetermined time period when the water supply step starts to be performed. The air exhausting step may be performed after a preset or predetermined amount of wash water is supplied in the water supply step. 
     The embodiments have at least the following advantageous effect. The method for controlling a dishwasher is capable of securing operational environments for a drainage pump by facilitating exhaustion of air remaining in a drainage pump, while water is supplied to the dishwasher. 
     Further scope of applicability will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments, are given by illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     The embodiments are merely exemplary and are not to be considered as limiting. The teachings, can be readily applied to other types of methods and apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative embodiments. As the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be considered broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds, are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims. 
     Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various, variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.