Patent ID: 7332041

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) a vented water tank disposed substantially externally of said washing chamber; (E) first means for providing communication between a fresh water supply providing water at no more than 140° F. and said tank, 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 introducing water from said fresh water supply into said tank and for using power from the power supply to heat the received water in said tank to at least 170°-190° F. prior to commencement of selected ones of the bathe, wash and rinse cycles; and (G) pump means using power from the power supply for forcing heated water from said tank 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.