US3266518A

US3266518A - Dishwasher drain valve

Info

Publication number: US3266518A
Application number: US299387A
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard L Erickson; Robert J Brooks
Original assignee: Dole Valve Co
Current assignee: Dole Valve Co
Priority date: 1963-08-01
Filing date: 1963-08-01
Publication date: 1966-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-16

Description

1956 H. L. ERICKSON ETAL 3,266,518

DISHWASHER DRAIN VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.. 1, 1963 16, 1966 H. L. ERICKSON ETAL 3,266,518

DISHWASHER DRAIN VALVE Filed Aug. 1, 1963 2 Sheets$heet 2 IVENTOR5 fizuardieeiz z'cfrsazz zfaer Jo/zzz firooffs United States Patent 3,266,518 DISHWASHER DRAIN VALVE Howard L. Erickson, Bensenville, and Robert J. Brooks,

Mount Prospect, 11]., assignors to The Dole Valve Company, Morton Grove, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 299,387

2 Claims. (Cl. 137-577) This invention relates generally to a drain assembly and more particularly to a drain assembly unit which is adapted for use in an automatic dishwasher.

This invention encompasses, in substance the formation of compact one-piece drain assembly casing and attached solenoid actuable valve which can be easily installed in an automatic dishwasher.

In accordance with this invention the drain assembly includes a molded plastic casing having a plurality of inlets formed therein which communicate with a single outlet that is adapted to be connected, through a suitable fitting, to a conventional drainpipe.

The drain assembly unit is dimensioned so that it can be mounted at the bottom portion of a Washing chamber in an automatic dishwasher and has an upwardly projecting standpipe inlet for maintaining a predetermined liquid level in the washing chamber. Complete removal of the liquid in the chamber is accomplished by means of a disposal-drain inlet which is positioned at the lowermost portion of the chamber for effecting thorough drainage. A plurality of nippled inlets are provided for independent removal of certain separate waste liquids, such as detergent overflow and splash water. The disposal-drain inlet opens directly into a conduit that terminates in a sharply defined open end. Selective control of the flow through the disposal-drain inlet is maintained by solenoid actuable valve having a resilient, round-ended valve head which seats on the sharply defined opening in line contact fashion, thereby minimizing particle entrapment and valve chatter.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved drain assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved compact drain assembly for use in an automatic dishwasher.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved one-piece drain assembly unit which can be quickly and easily installed in an automatic dishwasher.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved drain assembly unit for an automatic dishwasher which can be quickly and easily removed, thereby minimizing shutdown time when repairs to the unit are necessary.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved, automatically controlled, solenoid actuable drain assembly unit for an automatic dishwasher.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved valve head and seat arrangement wherein particle entrapment andvalve chatter are minimized.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which, by way of preferred example only, illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of a drain assembly unit constructed in accordance wtih the principles of the present invention. I

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the drain assembly unit shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of the drain assembly unit shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a partial cross sectional view, taken along lines IV-IV of the drain assembly shown in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along lines V-V of the drain assembly unit shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an end view, shown in elevation, of the drain assembly unit casing from which the solenoid actuable valve has been removed.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 there is provided a drain assembly unit 11 having a pressure molded casing 12 composed of a suitable thermoplastic material such as nylon and an encapsulated solenoid valve 13 mounted to said casing 12.

In order to insure complete drainage the casing 12 is mounted to the base of a Washing chamber in an automatic dish washer by means of holes 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d which are formed in the casing 12 during the molding operation and which are adapted to receive selfthreading screws to thereby facilitate installation. A foursided, vertically projecting standpipe inlet 16 is provided in the casing 12 for maintaining a predetermined liquid level in the washing chamber. At the upper end 16a of the standpipe inlet 16 a pair of grooves 17a and 17b are provided to facilitate flow by breaking of surface tension and thereby providing greater flow area. Also, if desired a screen member (not shown) can be retained in these grooves to prevent food particles from entering the drain assembly unit 11.

Complete evacuation of all the liquid in the chamber is accomplished through a disposal-drain inlet 18 that is positioned to occupy the lowermost portion of the wash ing chamber. If desired, a screen member covering the disposal-drain inlet 18 can be inserted between the upper face of the casing 12 and the base of the washing cham- Nippled

inlets

19 and 21 are outwardly projected from the casing and are adapted to be connected by means of a flexible tubing or the like to separate Waste collectors such as detergent overflow and splash water trays. Of course, any number of nippled inlets can be formed, depending on the requirements of the particular automatic dishwasher. If the exact number of nippled inlets that are to be required is not known at the time of manufacture, it maybe desirable during the molding operation to provide a large number of these inlets. If this is done however, a thin film-like layer of the thermoplastic material should also be formed covering the inner end of the inlets. Then, if the particular nippled inlet is to be used, the film-like layer covering its inner end can easily be removed by puncturing.

Each of the above described inlets communicate with a single outlet 22, rearwardly projecting from the casing 12. The outlet 22 is adapted to be connected through a suitable fitting to a conventional drainpipe for disposal of the Waste liquids from the dishwasher.

Internal stresses in the casing '12 which arise by reason of uneven cool-ing can be eliminated by the forming of a pair of slots 23 and 24 in the casing 12 during the molding operation. These slots act to provide uniform wall thickness and therefore, corresponding even cooling throughout the casing.

Screw receiving flanges 26, 27 and 28 are formed around the perimeter of one end of the casing and are adapted to receive

valve mounting screws

29, 31 and 32 respectively, which rigidly secure a retaining plate 33 to the casing 12. Securement of the retaining plate 33 to the valve 13 is accomplished by means of a U-shaped bracket 34 having a pair of

legs

36 and 37 with a slot 38 formed in each. The slot 38 is sized for insertion over one of a pair of lips that laterally extend from the retaining :plate, as is shown at 39. When the slots formed Patented August 16, 1966 in the legs of the U-shaped member are press fitted over the laterally extending lips a rigid attachment of the bracket 34 to the plate 33 results. The U-sha-ped bracket 34 itself is secured to the valve 1 3 by means of a locknut 41 that embraces a threaded stud member 42 which passes through a hole in the bight portion 43 of the U- shaped bracket 34.

Activation of the solenoid valve 113 is accomplished through

terminals

44 and 46 which extend outwardly from the rear of the encapsulated solenoid valve 13.

The internal structure of the drain assembly unit .11 is shown in FIGURES 4, and 6. The standpipe inlet 16 and nippled

inlets

19 and 21 open directly into a channel 48, through which they communicate with outlet 22 for removal of waste liquids. The disposal drain inlet 18 is integrally connected to a conduit 49 that terminates in a sharply defined open end 51, which serves as a seat for a round-ended valve head 52. The valve head 52 is preferably composed of a flexible, resilient material such as a soft rubber and has an outwardly projecting flexible skirt 5 3. Leakage from the end of the casing 12 adjacent the solenoid valve 13 is prevented by means of a lip 54 formed at the outer periphery of the flexible skirt '53 which is adapted to sealingly engage with a circular groove 56 formed in the casing 12. The resilient valve 52 is snap fitted over a round-ended portion 57 of an armature 58 that is slidably mounted in a cylindrical hole 59, defined by a coil 61 of the solenoid valve 13. If desired, an encapsulated covering 6' 2 over the coil can be provided.

A helically wound spring 63 bottoms on an inner portion 6 4 of retaining plate 33 and is compressed against a disc member 66 which is fixedly secured to armature '58. The force exerted by the spring 6 3 on the disc member 66' urges the resilient valve head 52 into a seated position against the open end 51, thereby closing off conduit 49 from outlet 22. When complete evacuation of the washing chamber is desired the coil 61 is activated and armature 58 is drawn against a plate member 67, thereby unseating the valve head 52 and permitting waste liquids tollow from disposal-drain inlet 18a through conduit 19 into outlet 22.

It will be understood that this embodiment of the invention has been used 'for illustrative purposes only and that other modifications and variations in the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts hereof.

We claim as our invention:

1. A drain assembly for use in an automatic dishwasher having a chamber for receiving dishes to be washed comprising:

a plastic casing positionable at the lowermost portion of said chamber,

a tubular outlet formed in said casing outwardly projecting from said casing and connectible to a waste disposal system,

a tour-sided standpipe inlet outwardly projecting from said casing communicating with said outlet for maintaining a predetermined liquid level in said chamber,

a plurality of nipple-shaped auxiliary inlets formed in said casing communicating with said tubular outlet,

a disposal-drain inlet communicating with said outlet and opening to the lowermost portion of said. chamber for complete removal of the dishwater from said chamber,

a tubular conduit having one end integrally connected to said disposal-drain inlet and terminating in a sharply defined open end opposite said disposal-drain inlet and communicating with said outlet,

a flexible, round-ended, resilient valve head positioned within said casing and seatable on the sharply defined open end of said conduit,

said resilient valve head having a flexible skirt outwardly projecting therefrom and sealingly engaged to said casing for preventing leakage from said casmeans for moving said valve head,

said round-ended valve head having line contact with said sharply defined open end when in its seated position thereby minimizing entrapment of waste particles carried by said dishwater between said open end and said valve head.

2. A drain assembly for use in an automatic dishwasher having a chamber for receiving dishes to be washed comprising:

a casing positionable at the lowermost portion of said chamber,

a standpipe inlet outwardly projecting from said casingcommunicatin-g with said outlet for maintaining a predetermined liquid level in said chamber,

a disposal-drain inlet communicating with said outlet and opening to the lowermost portion of said chamber for complete removal of the dishwater from said chamber,

a tubular conduit having one end integrally connected to said disposal-drain inlet and terminating in a valve seat and communicating with said outlet,

a resilient valve head engageable with said seat to control the passage of waste liquid therethrough,

said resilient valve head having a flexible skirt outwardly extending therefrom and sealingly engaged to said casing for preventing leakage from said casing, and

means for moving said valve head into and out of engagement with said valve seat.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,470,775 10/1923 Stephen -s l58-46.5 1,844,528 2/ 1932 Smith 251-331 2,603,445 7/ 1952 Marc'hant 251331 .X 2,672,293 3/ 1954 Ludlow 25 l33l X 3,033,274 5/ 1962 Webb 15 846-.5 3,102,711 9/ 196 3 Filliung 251-335 M. OARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

W. CLINE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

2. A DRAIN ASSEMBLY FOR THE USE IN AN AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER HAVING A CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING DISHES TO BE WASHED COMPRISING: A CASING POSITIONABLE AT THE LOWERMOST PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER, A TUBULAR OUTLET FORMED IN SAID CASING OUTWARDLY PROJECTING FROM SAID CASING AND CONNECTIBLE TO A WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM, A STANDPIPE INLET OUTWARDLY PROJECTING FROM SAID CAS ING COMMUNICATING WITH SAID OUTLET FOR MAINTAINING A PREDETERMINED LIQUID LEVEL IN SAID CHAMBER, A PLURALITY OF NIPPLE-SHAPED AUXILIARY INLETS FORMED IN SAID CASING COMMUNICATING WITH SAID TUBULAR OUTLET, A DISPOSAL-DRAIN INLET COMMUNICATING WITH SAID OUTLET OPENING TO THE LOWERMOST PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER FOR COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THE DISHWATER FROM SAID CHAMBER, A TUBULAR CONDUIT HAVING ONE END INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO SAID DISPOSAL-DRAIN INLET AND TERMINATING IN A VALVE SEAT AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID OUTLET, A RESILIENT VALVE HEAD ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SEAT TO CONTROL THE PASSAGE OF WASTE LIQUID THERETHROUGH, SAID RESILIENT VALVE HEAD HAVING A FLEXIBLE SKIRT OUTWARDLY EXTENDING THEREFROM AND SEALINGLY ENGAGED TO SAID CASING FOR PREVENTING LEAKAGE FROM SAID CASING, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID VALVE HEAD INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID VALVE SEAT.