EP2941169B1

EP2941169B1 - A dishwasher comprising a filter

Info

Publication number: EP2941169B1
Application number: EP13814582.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Orhan Atabey; Mete UNLUSOY; Songul Bayraktar; Hasret GURSOY
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2012-12-31
Filing date: 2013-12-30
Publication date: 2018-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2033-12-30
Also published as: EP2941169A1; WO2014102364A1

Description

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a filter.
Filters used in dishwashers clog due to the dirt adhering thereon after consecutive washings. In the course of time, the clogging of the filter decreases the washing performance of the dishwasher and makes the filtration system dysfunctional. In order to prevent the filter from clogging, the user is required to remove and clean the filter at certain periods. But many users either never clean the filter or cannot replace it properly after the cleaning. The filter not being cleaned or its erroneous mounting causes the washing performance to decrease.
In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2011039253 , an additional water inlet hole is disclosed, that is situated in almost the same vertical direction as the suction hole and at a higher level that the suction hole and that sprays water onto the outer surface of the filter.
United States Patent Application US 2006/0237049 A1 discloses a dishwasher with a filter that is situated over the top of a sump. A stationary manifold is situated about the upper periphery of the sump and has multiple spaced spray nozzles being aligned for spray contact with the filter. When water is pumped from the sump to the manifold, the water is sprayed across the filter to remove any food debris on the filter.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher comprising a filter which can be cleaned without requiring user intervention.
The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention and explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof comprises a sump that is situated at the lower side of the washing tub and wherein the water in the washing tub accumulates during washing, and a filter that is situated inside the sump, that has a framework and a sieve mounted onto the framework and that holds the dirt carried by the water. The filter has at least one channel that is situated on the framework and that at least partially surrounds the framework. The channel that partially surrounds the hollow cylindrical framework is arc-shaped. The channel has at least one inlet port and at least one nozzle. The wash water filling into the sump is delivered to the channel through the inlet port by means of the pump and sprayed onto the sieve through the spraying port. Like a shower head integrated with the framework, the channel thoroughly washes the filter surface with the wash water sprayed through the spraying port. By means of the water washing the sieve surface thoroughly, the dirt accumulating on the inner surface of the sieve is removed from the filter. Since cleaning the filter increases the filtration quality, the washing performance of the dishwasher is improved. Moreover, since the channel is integrated with the framework, when the filter is removed and washed, the channel is washed as well.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the filter comprises at least one linear channel that is situated on the framework in an upright manner, that provides the transfer of the water from the sump to the channel, one end of the linear channel being connected to the sump and the other to the channel. The linear channel facilitates the transfer of the wash water towards the channel through the filter.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the sump comprises at least one opening arranged thereon and that enables the wash water to fill into the linear channel. The water is received into the linear channel through the opening on the sump. Thus, the water is facilitated to fill into the linear channel.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the channel completely surrounds the wall of the hollow cylindrical framework like a ring. Thus, the spraying ports arranged on the channel that surrounds the filter all around enables the filter to be washed homogeneously.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the spraying port is close to the end of the channel opening to the wash tub so as to enable the water to wash the filter thoroughly. Thus, the water sprayed from the spraying port completely sweeps the filter surface by flowing from top to bottom over the filter.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the spraying ports are situated along the channel. Consequently, by means of the spraying ports arranged one after the other more water is sprayed onto the filter, and filter washing efficiency is improved.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the vertical cross-sectional area of the channel narrows from the inlet port towards the spraying port. The speed of the water passing through the channel increases towards the spraying port along the channel, thus the filter cleaning performance is improved.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cross-sectional area of the spraying port is shaped so as to narrow in the flow direction of the water. Thus, by increasing the flowing speed of the water sprayed, the filter cleaning performance is improved.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the channel and the linear channel are produced as a single piece with the filter, for example by the plastic injection method. Thus, ease of production is provided and the number of production errors is decreased.
By means of the present invention, thanks to the channel situated at the filter wall, the filter is washed and cleansed of the dirt accumulating thereon and thus the filter is enabled to be cleaned without requiring user intervention.
A dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a dishwasher.
Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the filter, the channel and the linear channel relating to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the sump relating to an embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Dishwasher
2. Washing tub
3. Sump
4. Filter
5. Pump
6. Channel
7. Inlet port
8. Spraying port
9. Linear channel
10. Opening
11. Framework

The dishwasher (1) comprises a washing tub (2), a sump (3) situated at the lower side of the washing tub (2) and wherein the water in the washing tub (2) accumulates during the washing process, a filter (4) that is situated in the sump (3), that has a framework (11) and a sieve mounted onto the framework (11) and that allows the wash water to pass from the washing tub (2) into the sump (3) and holding the dirt carried with the water, and a pump (5) that delivers the wash water accumulating in the sump (3) back to the washing tub (2).
The filter (4) has at least one channel (6) that is situated on the framework (11) and that at least partially surrounds the framework (11). The channel (6) comprises at least one inlet port (7) that is arranged thereon and that enables the water to be taken into the channel (6), and at least one spraying port (8) that provides the spraying of the water onto the filter (4) surface. The wash water in the sump (3) is delivered to the inlet port (7) by means of the pump (5) and fills into the channel (6) that at least partially surrounds the framework (11), then sweeps the sieve by being sprayed from the spraying port (8) onto the sieve surface and pours back into the sump (3). Thus, by washing the filter (4), the dirt accumulating on the inner surface of the filter (4) is removed from the filter (4).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the filter (4) comprises at least one linear channel (9) that is situated on the framework (11) in the vertical direction and that provides the transfer of the water from the sump (3) to the channel (6). By means of the linear channel (9), the transfer of the water into the channel (6) is facilitated.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the sump (3) comprises at least one opening (10) arranged thereon and that enables the water to fill into the linear channel (9). The linear channel (9) extends between the opening (10) and the channel (6). The wash water fills into the linear channel (9) by being pumped towards the opening (10).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the channel (6) completely surrounds the hollow cylindrical framework (11). Thus, the channel (6) almost completely surrounds the outer wall of the filter (4). By means of the channel (6) surrounding the filter (4) all around, the filter (4) can be washed homogeneously.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the spraying port (8) is positioned close to the portion of the filter (4) that opens to the washing tub (2). Thus, the water sprayed from the spraying port (8) is enabled to wash the filter (4) thoroughly.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the spraying ports (8) are situated along the channel (6). By means of the multiple spraying ports (8) arranged along the channel (6), the filter (4) washing performance is improved.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cross-sectional area of the channel (6) narrows from the inlet port (7) towards the spraying port (8). The water received from the inlet port (7) speeds up while flowing towards the spraying port (8), thus the filter (4) is cleaned effectively.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cross-sectional area of the spraying port (8) is shaped so as to narrow in the flow direction of the water. Thus, by increasing the flowing speed of the water sprayed, the filter (4) washing performance is improved.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the filter (4) is produced with the channel (6) and the linear channel (9) as a single piece. Thus, the amount of waste in production is decreased, providing cost advantage in production.
By means of the present invention, thanks to the channel (6) situated on the filter (4), the filter (4) is enabled to be washed homogeneously and to be cleaned without requiring user intervention.

Claims

A dishwasher (1) comprising a washing tub (2), a sump (3) situated at the lower side of the washing tub (2) and wherein the water in the washing tub (2) accumulates during the washing process, a hollow cylindrical filter (4) that is situated in the sump (3), that has a framework (11) and a sieve mounted onto the framework (11) and that allows the wash water to pass from the washing tub (2) into the sump (3) and holding the dirt carried with the water, and a pump (5) that delivers the wash water accumulating in the sump (3) back to the washing tub (2), charcterised in that
- the filter (4) has at least one channel (6) that is situated on the framework (11) and that at least partially surrounds the framework (11),

- the channel (6) comprises at least one inlet port (7) that is arranged thereon and that enables the water to be taken into the channel (6), and at least one spraying port (8) that provides the spraying of the water onto the filter (4) surface,

- the filter (4) comprises at least one linear channel (9) that is situated on the framework (11) in the vertical direction and that provides the transfer of the water from the sump (3) to the channel (6).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the sump (3) comprising at least one opening (10) arranged thereon and that enables the water to fill into the linear channel (9).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the channel (6) that completely surrounds the hollow cylindrical framework (11).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the spraying port (8) that is positioned close to the portion of the filter (4) that opens to the washing tub (2).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the spraying ports (8) arranged successively along the channel (6).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the channel (6), the cross-sectional area of which narrows from the inlet port (7) towards the spraying port (8).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the spraying port (8), the cross-sectional area of which narrows in the flow direction of the water.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the channel (6) and the linear channel (9) that are produced as a single piece with the filter (4).