IL104637A - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

A DISHWASHER AMCOR LTD.

C: 16216 16216PUL.SE HB-9301 24/1/93 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to dishwashers generally.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional dishwashers employ one or more rotating arms which have openings formed therein so as to spray water in continuous pressurized jets onto dishes so as to provide washing thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide an improved dishwasher .

There is thus provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a dishwasher comprising a pulsed water spray mechanism providing pulsed pressurized jets of liquid onto dishes to be washed.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a spray device for a dishwasher including a pulsed water spray mechanism which comprises a rotating arm from which pulsed pressurized jets emerge .

Preferably, there are provided on the rotating arm a plurality of pulsed jet sources. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each pulsed jet source includes a housing with one or more water outlet apertures and water driven turbine apparatus for intermittently blocking the water outlet apertures to provide a pulsed pressurized jet of water .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a simplified illustration of a dishwasher, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a dishwasher water spray unit constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an exploded view illustration of a water pulse generating assembly forming part of the unit of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a partially cut away illustration of a portion of the unit of Fig. 2 showing part of the water pulse generating assembly of Fig. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to Figs. 1 - 4, which illustrate a dishwasher constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The dishwasher may be of conventional configuration and overall construction, including a housing 10 and associated door 12, racks 14 for holding dishes and a water spray mechanism 16 which is operative to provide pressurized water sprays onto the dishes for washing thereof. It is appreciated that alternatively, any other suitable dishwasher configuration, such as, for example, a conveyor configuration, may be employed in the present invention.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the water spray mechanism 16 comprises a rotating arm assembly 20 having a base 22 defining a rotation ax.is 24 and a rotatable water input connection (not shown) to a rotatable arm 26 which has mounted thereon a plurality of water pulse generating assemblies 28. Arm 26 is arranged for preferably water driven rotation, as indicated by arrows 30.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 it is seen that arm 26 includes a hollow portion 32 which receives a pressurized flow of water via base 22 and which supplies pressurized water to water pulse generating assemblies 28 via apertures 34 formed in a base portion 36 of each assembly. The base portion 36 is preferably integrally formed with arm 26 and defines, in addition to apertures 34, a peripheral wall portion 38 and a raised central support portion 40 having a threaded recess 42.

Each water pulse generating assembly 28 preferably also includes a water inlet direction defining plate element 44 which is secured in non-rotating engagement with respect to base 36 and which has a peripheral rim 45 formed with angled side water ingress openings 46. Fixed in non-rotatable engagement with base 36 and plate 44 is a cover element 47 including a top surface 48 having typically three pairs of water outlet apertures 50 distributed therein, an outer cylindrical surface 51 which generally sealingly seats onto a top surface of rim 45 and an inner cylindrical surface 52. A screw 54 extending along an axis 56 threadably engages socket 42 in base 36 and secures cover element 47 and plate element 44 in a desired relationship with respect to base 36.

Disposed for rotation about axis 56 inside a housing defined by plate element 44 and cover element 47 is a turbine element 58 having a plurality of outwardly extending angled vanes 60 which are engaged by water entering via apertures 46 and having a rotational component of force with respect to axis 56. Turbine element 58 is formed with a top surface 62 which is formed with a central aperture 64 to accommodate central cylindrical surface 52, which serves as a rotation axle therefor.

Top surface 62 is also formed with one or more apertures 66 which are arranged to pass intermittently underneath apertures 50 and thus permit the intermittent egress therethrough of pressurized jets of water.

It is appreciated that the dishwasher arm assembly 20 described hereinabove provides a plurality of pulsed jets of pressurized water in response to rotation of plural turbine elements 58 each in a water pulse generating assembly 28.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow:

Claims (14)

1. A dishwasher comprising a pulsed water spray mechanism providing pulsed pressurized jets of liquid onto dishes to be washed .

2. A dishwasher according to claim 1 and wherein said pulse water spray mechanism includes a rotating arm having a water inlet.

3. A spray device for a dishwasher comprising: a base; and a pulsed water spray mechanism mounted on said base and including a rotating arm from which pulsed pressurized jets emerge .

4. Apparatus according to either of the preceding claims and wherein said rotating arm comprises a plurality of pulsed jet sources .

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 and wherein each pulsed jet source includes a housing with at least one water outlet aperture and water driven turbine apparatus for intermittently blocking the at least one water outlet aperture to provide a pulsed pressurized jet of water.

6. A dishwasher arm comprising: a water dispensing member including outlet means; and means associated with said outlet means for providing a pulsating outflow of water therethrough.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 , and wherein said outlet means comprises at least one water outlet port and said means for providing a pulsating flow comprises means for momentarily preventing outflow of water through said at least one outlet port.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, and wherein said means for momentarily preventing outflow comprises water driven means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, and wherein said water outlet means further comprises: a housing defining at least one water inlet port and further defining said at least one outlet port; a water driven turbine member adapted for rotation about a turbine axis by water entering into said housing via said at least one inlet port; and a baffle member adapted for rotation with said turbine member and further adapted to momentarily obscure said at least one outlet port, thereby to cause the outflow of water therethrough to be pulsating.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, and wherein said baffle member is integrally formed with said turbine member.

11. A dishwasher arm according to any of the preceding claims 6 - 10 and wherein said water dispensing member has an elongate configuration and is mounted for rotation about a rotation axis.

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 2 11 and wherein said arm includes a pressurized water conduit.

13. Apparatus substantially as shown and described hereinabove .

14. Apparatus substantially as shown in any of the drawings . Advocates & Patent Attorneys C:16216 HB-9301