Patent ID: 7104269

Claim:
A dishwasher comprising: (A) means for receiving power from a 110–120 volt, 15–20 amp power supply; (B) a washing chamber including at least one spray head and a recirculatory and reheating sump; (C) a rack configured and dimensioned to be received within said washing chamber for holding kitchenware to be bathed, washed, rinsed and optionally cooled; (D) preheatable heat sink means substantially disposed beneath said washing chamber for heating water passing therethrough on the fly; (E) first means for providing communication between a fresh water supply providing water at no more than 140° F. and said washing chamber via said heat sink means, and second means for providing communication between the fresh water supply and said washing chamber during selected ones of the bathe, wash, rinse and optional cooling cycles; (F) actuatable preheat means for using power from the power supply to preheat said heat sink means such that any water passing through said heat sink means is heated to at least 190° F. prior to discharging thereof into said washing chamber during selected ones of the bathe, wash and rinse cycles; and (G) passing means for passing heated water from said heat sink means into said washing chamber for spraying the heated water onto the kitchenware on said rack via said at least one spray head; said dishwasher having at least one of two alternative post-preheat cleaning modes as follows: (i) a first cleaning mode including washing the kitchenware with water at at least 150° F. during a wash cycle, and rinsing the washed kitchenware with water at at least 180° F. during a rinse cycle, and (ii) a second cleaning mode including washing the kitchenware with water at at least 165° F. during a wash cycle, and rinsing the washed kitchenware with water at at least 165° F. during a rinse cycle.