Patent ID: 7409961

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 drain 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 pumping unit arranged in the pumping chamber, said pumping unit including an impeller for directing washing fluid to the at least one wash arm; a conduit leading from the housing and fluidly interconnecting the pumping chamber with the at least one wash arm; a filter chamber adapted to receive washing fluid and entrap soil particles from the washing fluid in the filter chamber while permitting cleansed washing fluid to be directed back into the washing chamber, said filter chamber including an exit port; a drain exposed to the filter chamber; a drain pump fluidly connected to the drain for selectively performing a drain operation; a collection chamber having an inlet portion fluidly connected to the filter chamber and an outlet portion open to the drain, said collection chamber receiving the soil particles; a flapper valve operatively positioned between the washing chamber, the filter chamber and the drain for regulating flow to the drain from the washing chamber, the flapper valve including an upper rim portion and a plurality of flaps extending from the upper rim portion into the collection chamber; and a sealing member arranged at the exit port of the filter chamber for selectively sealing the filter chamber from the drain during portions of the drain operation.