Patent ID: 8578954

Claim:
A dishwasher, comprising: a tub defining a washing chamber, the tub comprises a bottom wall having a downwardly-sloped sump formed therein, a number of dish racks positioned in the washing chamber, a rotating spray arm assembly positioned in the washing chamber to spray wash fluid on the dish racks, the rotating spray arm assembly comprising: a center arm that rotates relative to the bottom wall of the tub, a corner arm coupled to the center arm so as to rotate relative thereto, the corner arm having an input gear, an upper transfer gear coupled to the center arm and intermeshed with the input gear of the corner arm so as to drive rotation of the corner arm, the upper transfer gear having a downwardly extending drive shaft with a cam surface formed thereon, a lower transfer gear coupled to the center arm, the lower transfer gear having an upwardly extending drive shaft with a cam surface formed thereon, the cam surface of the drive shaft of the lower transfer gear is engaged with the cam surface of the drive shaft of the upper transfer gear such that rotation of the lower transfer gear causes rotation of the upper transfer gear, wherein the lower transfer gear is movable between a drive position in which the cam surface of the drive shaft of the lower transfer gear is engaged with the cam surface of the drive shaft of the upper transfer gear, and a slip position in which the cam surface of the drive shaft of the lower transfer gear is disengaged from the cam surface of the drive shaft of the upper transfer gear, wherein the upper transfer gear is driven by the lower transfer gear when the lower transfer gear is positioned in the drive position, and the upper transfer gear rotates freely of the lower transfer gear when the lower transfer gear is positioned in the slip position.