Patent ID: 7252101

Claim:
In a dishwasher including a tub having bottom, opposing side, rear and top walls which collectively define a washing chamber adapted to receive and cleanse soiled kitchenware by spraying washing fluid onto the kitchenware from at least one wash arm, a pump and filtration assembly comprising: a housing mounted at an opening provided in the bottom wall of the tub, said housing including an intake chamber and a pumping chamber; a conduit leading from the housing and fluidly interconnecting the pumping chamber with the wash arm; a sampling port fluidly connected to the conduit for sampling a portion of the washing fluid being delivered to the at least one wash arm; a filter chamber connected to the conduit for receiving the portion of the washing fluid flowing through the sampling port; a drain passage positioned below the sampling port in the filter chamber; and means for sealing the drain passage during select portions of a washing operation.