Patent Abstract:
A household appliance includes a water inlet configured to connect the appliance to an external water supply; a pressure control device configured to prevent water entering the appliance from the water inlet from exceeding atmospheric pressure; a treatment container configured to treat household items with water; and a seal between the pressure control device and the treatment container configured to prevent gas flowing from the treatment container to the pressure control device.

Full Description:
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
     The present technology relates to a home appliance with a water inlet system and a method of operating a home appliance. More particularly, the present technology relates to a home appliance with a water inlet system and a method of operating the home appliance with the water inlet system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Water conducting household appliances need to admit water into the interior of the appliance and maintain operating conditions of the interior of the appliance at certain acceptable levels. For example, pressure in the interior of the appliance may have a maximum acceptable level and admitting pressurized water could potentially exceed the maximum acceptable pressure level. In a similar manner, heat generated inside the appliance may cause a pressure increase, e.g., by way of water turning into steam or heating gas in the interior. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     In order to avoid excessive pressures, it is desirable to prevent pressure in the interior of the appliance from exceeding acceptable levels. For example, it may be desirable to control or otherwise reduce water inlet pressure to acceptable levels, e.g., to atmospheric pressure. Likewise, it may be desirable to prevent steam or other heated gas in the interior of the appliance from increasing. It is also desirable to achieve these goals in a relatively low cost manner. 
     One way to control both the water inlet pressure and pressure generated from heated gases is to provide a vent to atmosphere. Such a vent is relatively inexpensive and reliable because no moving parts are required. 
     However, venting steam or other heated gas may be undesirable to the user of the home appliance because the steam or heated gas could cause damage to surrounding objects or cause other unwanted results. 
     An aspect of the present technology solves one or more problems of the prior art. 
     Another aspect of the present technology includes a device and method that prevents water entering an appliance from exceeding a predetermined level and prevents gas from escaping the appliance to the surroundings in an undesirable manner. 
     Another aspect of the present technology includes a water conducting household appliance comprising: a water inlet; a pressure reducer downstream of and in fluid communication with the water inlet; a water trap downstream of and in fluid communication with the pressure reducer; an expansion device downstream of and in fluid communication with the water trap; a treatment container downstream of and in fluid communication with the expansion device; and a condensation device downstream of and in fluid communication with the expansion device. 
     In examples, (a) the pressure reducer comprises a chamber with a vent connected to atmosphere; (b) the chamber comprises: a top with a flow passage connected to the water inlet; and a conduit extending downwards from the flow passage to an interior of the chamber, the conduit being smaller than a surrounding portion of the chamber and having an open, unconnected end, wherein the vent is above the open, unconnected end; (c) the water trap is below the open, unconnected end; (d) the condensation device comprises an expansion hose; (e) the expansion hose extends upwards from the expansion device; (f) the water trap forms a lowest portion of the chamber; (g) wherein the chamber is configured so that water entering the chamber from the inlet impinges on a side wall of the chamber at an acute angle before flowing into the water trap; (h) the acute angle is less than or equal to 45°; (i) the acute angle is less than or equal to 15°; (j) the treatment container is configured to wash dishes, (k) the treatment container comprises a rack for the dishes and a spray device to spray the dishes; and/or (l) the water trap comprises a water trap inlet, a water trap outlet and an intermediate flow passage and the water trap inlet and the water trap outlet are higher than the intermediate flow passage such that when water flows through the water trap a predetermined amount of water remains in the water trap to fill the intermediate flow passage and prevent gas from flowing through the water trap. 
     Another aspect of the present technology includes a household dishwasher comprising: a water inlet configured to connect the dishwasher to an external water supply; a pressure control device configured to prevent water entering the dishwasher from the water inlet from exceeding atmospheric pressure; a dish washing chamber configured to wash dishes; and a seal between the pressure control device and the dish washing chamber configured to prevent gas from flowing from the dish washing chamber to the pressure control device. 
     In examples, (a) the seal is a water trap in fluid communication between the pressure control device and the dish washing chamber; (b) the water trap comprises a water trap inlet, a water trap outlet and an intermediate flow passage and the water trap inlet and the water trap outlet are higher than the intermediate flow passage such that when water flows through the water trap a predetermined amount of water remains in the water trap to fill the intermediate flow passage and prevent gas from flowing through the water trap; (c) the pressure control device comprises a vent to atmosphere; (d) the seal is configured to prevent steam in the dish washing chamber from passing through the vent to atmosphere; (e) the pressure control device comprises a chamber with an opening connected to the water inlet and with a fluid connection to the seal; (f) the chamber comprises a wall that forms an acute angle with a central axis of the opening; (g) the opening is formed on an end of a tube extending into the chamber; (h) the tube extends from a top interior wall of the chamber; (i) the vent to atmosphere comprises a second opening in the chamber that is located above the opening; and/or (j) the pressure control device is configured to fluidly connect water in the pressure control device to atmospheric conditions surrounding the household dishwasher but prevent liquid water from passing through the vent to atmosphere. 
     Another aspect of the present technology includes a method of operating a water conducting household appliance, the method comprising: adding water to the appliance from a household water supply connected to the appliance; fluidly connecting the water to atmospheric conditions surrounding the appliance to control pressure of the water to be equal to atmospheric pressure while the water is added to the appliance; trapping a predetermined amount of the water; maintaining a connection between the predetermined amount of water and the atmospheric conditions; and using the predetermined amount of the water to prevent steam generated in the appliance from escaping the appliance to the surrounding atmosphere through the connection. 
     Another aspect of the present technology includes a household appliance comprising: a water inlet configured to connect the appliance to an external water supply; a pressure control device configured to prevent water entering the appliance from the water inlet from exceeding atmospheric pressure; a treatment container configured to treat household items with water; and a seal between the pressure control device and the treatment container configured to prevent gas flowing from the treatment container to the pressure control device. 
     Other aspects, features, and advantages of this technology will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this disclosure and which illustrate, by way of example, principles of this technology. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a water conducting household appliance; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a water conducting household appliance with a door in a closed position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a water conducting household appliance with a door and interior components omitted; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of an inlet device with a cover omitted to view the interior of the inlet device; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an inlet device with a water trap and with a cover omitted to view the interior of the inlet device; 
         FIG. 6A  is a front view of an inlet device with a water trap and with a cover omitted to view the interior of the inlet device; 
         FIG. 6B  is a front view of an inlet device with a water trap and with a cover omitted to view the interior of the inlet device; 
         FIG. 6C  is a front view of an inlet device with a water trap and with a cover omitted to view the interior of the inlet device; 
         FIG. 6D  is a front view of an inlet device with a water trap and with a cover omitted to view the interior of the inlet device; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of an inlet device with a cover in place. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is provided in relation to several examples which may share common characteristics and features. It is to be understood that one or more features of any one example may be combinable with one or more features of the other examples. In addition, any single feature or combination of features in any of the examples may constitute additional examples. 
     Throughout this disclosure, terms such as first, second, etc. may be used. However, these terms are not intended to be limiting or indicative of a specific order, but instead are used to distinguish similarly described features from one another, unless expressly noted otherwise. Terms such as substantially and about are intended to allow for variances to account for manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances, or variations from ideal values that would be accepted by those skilled in the art. 
     Throughout this disclosure, the terms left side and right side are used. These terms are only intended to provide relational orientation with respect to one another. Any two opposed sides can be a right side and a left side and by changing to an opposed viewpoint, right versus left will be changed. Thus, right side and left side should not be considered limiting and are used only to distinguish their relationship to one another. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a water conducting household appliance (e.g., a dishwasher  10 ) with a treatment container  15  and a door  20 . Inside the treatment container  15  there may be a device for holding dishes (e.g., a rack  25 ) and a device for treating items inside the treatment container  15  (e.g., a spray device  30 ). Any number of racks and spray devices can be included, but only one spray device  30  and two racks  24  are illustrated for simplicity. The spray device  30  is illustrated as a rotary arm, but any type of spray device may be included. The treatment container  15  is thus configured to wash dishes. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the dishwasher  10  from a side perspective view with the door  20  in a closed condition and a water inlet device  100  mounted on an exterior side wall  35 . An inlet hose  105  and an expansion hose  110  are connected to the water inlet device  100 . A first end  115  of the expansion hose  110  is illustrated as connected to the water inlet device  100 . A second end  120  of the expansion hose  110  is open to atmosphere and may be connected to a water collection tray (not illustrated). The water collection tray may be provided to collect any water that may flow out of the second end  120 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the dishwasher  10  from another side perspective view where the door  20 , rack  25  and spray device  30  are omitted to more clearly view an outlet  125  of the water inlet device  100 . The outlet  125  provides fluid communication between the water inlet device  100  and the treatment container  15 . The outlet  125  is approximately one-third of the way up an interior wall  40  of the treatment container  15 . The outlet  125  may be located at any height that is convenient. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a related water inlet device  100 . The water inlet device  100  is illustrated with a cover removed so that the internal features are visible. 
     The water inlet device  100  includes a fluid inlet  130  illustrated as a hose barb. Any connection suitable for fluid such as water may be provided. The fluid inlet  130  fluidly connects to a flow passage  135  downstream of the fluid inlet  130 . The flow passage  135  extends upwardly and may be substantially vertical along a first section  140 , although the first section  140  may be positioned other than vertically. At a top end of the first section  140 , the flow passage  135  includes a bend  145 . The bend  145  is illustrated as an approximately 180° bend. Other bend angles may be included and may depend on the orientation of the first section  140 . Extending from the bend  145  is a conduit  150  extending into a first chamber  155  through a top wall  160  of the first chamber  155 . Thus the first chamber  155  is downstream of the flow passage  135 . The conduit  150  is illustrated as relatively short, but other relatively longer conduits may be employed. As illustrated, the flow passage  135  is in the form of an inverted “J.” 
     A first vent opening  165  and a second vent opening  170  are illustrated within the first chamber  155 . The first vent opening  165  and the second vent opening  170  are illustrated on opposite sides of the conduit  150 , with a lowest portion of the vent openings  165 ,  170  being at the same height as an end  175  of the conduit  150 . The conduit  150  may extend lower than a lowest portion of the vent openings  165 ,  170 . As illustrated, the conduit  150  is smaller than a portion of the first chamber  155  immediately surrounding the conduit  150 . The vent openings  165 ,  170  may be located in other locations that tend to prevent water from flowing out of the vent openings  165 ,  170  but allow communication with atmospheric conditions. Although two vent openings  165 ,  170  are illustrated, a single vent opening or three or more openings may be provided. When water flows into the first chamber  155 , the vent openings  165 ,  170  control the water pressure to be the same as the surrounding atmosphere. In this way, the first chamber  155  and the vent openings  165 ,  170  function as a pressure regulating device. 
     The first chamber  155  includes an angled wall  180  that is angled with respect to a central axis  185  of the end  175 . The angled relationship between the angled wall  180  and the central axis  185  may help to reduce noise generated when water enters the first chamber  155 . When water impinges at an acute angle, any noise generated may be decreased. 
     An opening  190  is provided towards a lowest point of the first chamber  155  so that the first chamber  155  is in fluid communication with a second chamber  195  downstream of the first chamber  155 . The second chamber  195  may function as an expansion device or expansion chamber. The second chamber  195  is in fluid communication with the outlet  125  (not illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) which provides fluid communication with the treatment container  15  downstream of the second chamber  195 . The second chamber  195  is illustrated as substantially circular in cross-section, although any convenient shape may be used. 
     A condensation port  200  is illustrated as extending upwards substantially vertically, although other orientations are possible. For example, the condensation port  200  could be oriented to form an angle with vertical, e.g., any angle that allows fluid to flow downwards to the second chamber  195 . The condensation port  200  is thus downstream of the second chamber  195 . The condensation port  200  provides fluid communication with the second chamber  195  and connects with the first end  115  of the expansion hose  110 . By way of the outlet  125  and the second chamber  195 , steam that forms in the treatment container  15  is allowed to rise upwards into the expansion hose  110 , cool, condense and drain back into the treatment container  15 . This configuration may prevent excessive pressure from being generated in the treatment container  15 . 
     The vent openings  165 ,  170  may also allow steam to exit the treatment container  15 , but steam exiting at the vent openings  165 ,  170  may not be desirable. 
       FIG. 5  is largely similar to  FIG. 4 , so like reference numbers may be assumed to be the same as described with reference to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 5  differs from  FIG. 4  in two ways. 
     First, angled wall  180   a  forms a smaller angle with central axis  185 . For example, the angled wall  180   a  may form an acute angle that may be 30°, 15°, or less with the central axis  185 . As illustrated, the angle is about 10°. 
     Second, a water trap  205  is illustrated in fluid communication between the first chamber  155  and the second chamber  195 . Alternatively, the water trap  205  may be considered a lowest portion of the first chamber  155 . Viewed another way, the water trap  205  may be considered to have an inlet, an intermediate flow passage and an outlet downstream of the first chamber  155 . 
     The water trap  205  may act as a seal that prevent steam from exiting through the vent openings  165 ,  170 . When water flows in through the water inlet device  100 , a predetermined amount of water remains in the water trap  205 . The predetermined amount of water is defined based upon a volume of the water trap that is below a lowest point of the outlet  125 . When water is trapped in this manner, the water in the water trap  205  is able to resist pressure generated in the treatment container  15  and prevent steam or other gases from flowing backwards through the water trap  205  and out of the vent openings  165 ,  170 . Due to the condensation port  200  being open to atmospheric conditions by way of the expansion hose  110 , the water trap  205  only has to provide resistance to back pressure generated by the amount of pressure drop in the expansion hose  110  in order to prevent steam or other gases from flowing out of the vent openings  165 ,  170 . However, the amount of back pressure may be substantially zero because the only flow through the expansion hose  110  under normal operating conditions should be due to expansion from heating in the treatment container  15 , which should be minimal. Gas may also flow outwards through the expansion hose  110  when water flows into the treatment container  15  via the water inlet device  100 . However, the water trap  205  may not need to resist back pressure per se in this scenario because water flowing through the trap should overcome any pressure resistance in the expansion hose  110 . 
     The relative locations of the water trap  205  and the angled wall  180   a  may provide for an arrangement that prevents or reduces noise generated by water entering the water inlet device  100 . For example, when water impinges on the angled wall  180   a  after exiting the conduit  150 , the water may enter the water trap in a relatively quiet manner. If the water impinges on water in the water trap directly instead of on the angled wall  180   a , splashing may occur that generates more noise than if water impinges on the angled wall  180   a.    
       FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D  illustrate alternate configurations of the water inlet device  100 . These alternate configurations are similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 5  except for the location of the water trap  205 . In each of these figures, the water trap  205  is in a central portion of the first chamber  155 . As a result of this location, water entering the first chamber  155  impinges on a second angled wall  210  before flowing through the water trap  205 , along the angled wall  180  and through the opening  190 . 
     In  FIG. 6A  the water trap  205  is similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 5  in that the water trap  205  includes only a single outlet. The water trap  205  as illustrated in  FIGS. 6B, 6C and 6D  has two outlets on the left and right sides, respectively. The water trap  205  illustrated in  FIGS. 6C and 6D  is further differentiated by a raised portion that effectively creates a water trap for both of the left and right outlets. The configurations illustrated in  FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D  were tested and found to have a lower flow rate capability than that illustrated in  FIG. 5 , which can accommodate a flow rate of 2.5 liters per minute or more. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the water inlet device  100  with a cover  215  in place. The cover  215  encloses the various open passages illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6D . Alternatively, the water inlet device  100  could be fabricated without the cover  215 , i.e. as a single unitary piece with internal flow passages. The number of components used to fabricate the water inlet device  100  should be chosen for convenience and ease of manufacture. The water inlet device  100  could be made out of any number of components and still be within the spirit of the technology described herein. 
       FIG. 7  also illustrates a first hose support  220  and a second hose support  225 . These hose supports may be omitted or included as convenient. For example, the second hose support  225  may support the expansion hose  110  in the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     While the present technology has been described in connection with several practical examples, it is to be understood that the technology is not to be limited to the disclosed examples, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the technology.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3