Patent ID: 7862665

Claim:
A dishwasher comprising: a frame; a tub slidably mounted in the frame, said tub including front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define a wash chamber; at least one wash arm for directing a flow of washing fluid onto clishware placed in the wash chamber for a washing operation; and a combination recirculation and drain pump system including: a flow housing provided at a rear portion of the tub, said flow housing including an inlet portion, an outlet portion fluidly leading to the at least one wash arm, a drain port connected to the outlet portion with a valve therebetween, and a pump portion; a pump provided in the pump portion wherein, during a washing operation, operation of the pump causes the flow housing to receive the flow of washing fluid through the inlet portion and thereafter to expel the flow of washing fluid from the outlet portion to the at least one wash arm; and a drain conduit fluidly connected to the drain port, said drain conduit including a venturi portion wherein, during a drain operation, washing fluid is drawn out from the wash chamber to the inlet portion by operation of the pump and guided downstream of the outlet portion and through the drain port into the drain conduit, with said venturi portion creating a siphoning action that decreases an overall drain time.