Patent ID: 8113222

Claim:
An automatic dishwasher comprising: a tub defining a wash chamber for receiving utensils to be washed; a first rack located within the wash chamber; a second rack located within the wash chamber above the first rack and selectively moveable between a loading position where at least a portion of the second rack extends exteriorly of the wash chamber and a wash position where the second rack is located entirely within the wash chamber; a spray arm carried by the second rack, with the spray arm being movable within a range of motion and having at least one outlet for introducing liquid into the wash chamber; and a drive system having a power unit accessible from the wash chamber and a drive unit carried by the second rack and operably coupled to the spray arm for moving the spray arm within the range of motion where the drive unit includes a drive gear carried by the second rack and rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to a spray arm axis of rotation and has a periphery extending beyond the second rack and where the power unit has an output gear adjacent the tub; wherein the drive gear and spray arm form a wheel and spokes configuration, with the drive gear forming the wheel and the spray arm forming the spokes and the output gear selectively enmeshes with an outer periphery of the drive gear when the second rack is in the wash position and the drive gear and the spray arm have the same axis of rotation and whereby the power unit provides an operating force to the drive unit to effect the rotation of the spray arm.