US3355111A - Dishwasher power unit housing and mounting means - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1967 J. w. BARNSTEAD 3,355,111

DISHWASHER POWER UNIT HOUSING AND MOUNTING MEANS Filed Dec. 20, 1965 F'lG 4 51 53 as f 5 I 58 I i 79 10 F IG.3

L s\ ,1 a. 59 so 71 L Ha. INVENTOR. 73 JOHN \M BARNSTEAD 56 BYWFW H \s ATTORNEY United States Patent Filed Dec. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 514,784 Claims. (Cl. 239-251) This invention relates to appliances of the character having a motor driven impeller for circulating wash and rinse water in a wash chamber of the appliance, and more particularly to mounting arrangements for supporting a housing of a power unit relative to a wall of the wash chamber.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a mounting arrangement wherein the housing of a power unit is removably mounted in suspended relationship from the bottom wall of a wash chamber and extends below an opening in the bottom wall.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mounting arrangement of the character mentioned wherein the positioning of the housing in the opening in the bottom wall for mounting is achieved by introducing the housing through the opening from within the wash chamber.

A further object is the provision of a mounting arrangement of the character mentioned wherein the housing in the chamber wall opening is resiliently sealed to the chamber wall and mounted in place by manual operations which may be confined to within the wash chamber.

Yet another object is to provide a mounting arrange ment of the character mentioned wherein the housing is adapted to be securely interconnected with the bottom wall by actuation of clamp components of the arrangement-s from within the wash chamber, which clamp components of the arrangements from within the wash cham ber, which clamp components are further adapted to be actuated from within the wash chamber to release the housing from interconnection with the bottom wall to permit retraction of the housing into the wash chamber for removal.

Another object herein is the provision of an interconsils and other articles, a wash chamber accommodated cleaning liquid at "least during certain stages of operation of the apparatus for performing washing, rinsing and other cleaning functions on the work inethe wash chamber. To effect thorough cleaning and rinsing ofthe work anyone of a variety of power mechanisms is provided-to communicate with the work chamber through a bottom opening in the wash chamber. The power unit may for example :by simply an electric motor having a housing with the motor shaft being entrant through the opening and connected with an impel'ler 'in the chamber for directing a cleaning fluid in the wash chamber against the articlestobeucleaned. In some instances a pump having vanimpeller for this purpose is housed directly with the motor, the resulting power unit having the pump intake and outlet sides connected with the wash chamber, placing the motorin power output communication with the wash chamber through-the pump impeller output; There areproblems appurtenant to installing'a power unit hous- Patented Nov. 28, 1967 'ice ing, such as directly with the motor therein, in the production of dishwashing apparatus in the sense of the fact that. it is desirable to expedite and facilitate the necessary operations for the purpose, just as it is important to provide mountings which simplify the removal of the housing for such purposes .as repair or replacement of parts.

In accordance with the present invention, a mounting arrangement is provided whereby the housing of a power unit is installed or removed by operations which have reference to a bottom opening through the bottom wall of a wash chamber of the appliance. The housing is such that an outer end and a peripheral wall thereof are both insertable from within the wash chamber through the bottom opening. Moreover, the housing mounting arrangement includes means to position and physically support the drive motor in the mounted position relative to the bottom wall of the wash chamber and the opening therein during an assembly or disassembly operation, thus greatly increasing the facility with which installation of the motor and impeller and their removal can be achieved. Still further, the mounting arrangement comprises elastomeric means which function to seal the joint between the wash chamber wall and housing and provides a resilient vibration absorbing and noise damping releasable interconnection between the wash chamber wall and housing. The elastomeric means includes compressible lip means adapted to be distorted into and released from interconnecting engagement with the wash chamber bottom wall about the opening therein by clamping means adapted to be actuated from within the wash chamber.

In the accompanying drawing in which two exemplary embodiments of the present invention are represented:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view, partially in section, illustrating a motor and impeller unit housing in fully mounted relationship with the bottom wall of a dishwashing machine wash chamber, and illustrating one embodiment of the mounting arrangement of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a clamp component of the mounting arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional view of a second embodiment of a mounting arrangement still within the present invention, and further illustrating the arrangement in conjunction with a motor and impeller unit housing modified somewhat with respect to the housing illustrated in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a portion of the clamping ring of the mounting arrangement in FIGURE 3 and further depicting rotation detain-ing guide arm means associated with the ring component.

Referring now' to the illustrative embodiment of the present invention represented in FIGURE 1 of the drawing, a motor and impeller unit designated generally by the numeral 10 is depicted in mounted reltaionship with respect to an opening 11 in a sheet metal member 12 representing the bottom wall of a wash chamber of a dishwashing device. Opening 11 ha a peripheral edge defined by the bottom wall and a peripheral flange 12a formed fromthe material of the bottom wall to extend outwardly of opening 11 under the outer surface of the bottom wall. Housing means 13 includes an outer or lower end 14 and a peripheral wall means 15 of a configuration and size permitting insertion of outer end 14 through opening 11 in bottom wall 12. The housing encloses an electric motor 16 which is suitably supported within wall 15.

Mounting means are provided for releasably interconnecting housing means 13 with bottom wall 12 and includes rim means 17 connectedwith the housing means and projecting outwardly from peripheral wall'means 15.

Rim means 17 preferably is a peripheral rim extending about wall and thus includes inner and outer rim portions 18 and 19, respectively. The outer diameter of rim means 17 is greater than the diameter of opening 11 in bottom wall 12. Thus, when outer end 14 of housing means 13 is inserted through opening 11 from within the wash chamber, the outer portion 19 of flange means 17 overlies bottom wall 12 in the area of the bottom wall surrounding opening 11, to position housing means 13 relative to bottom wall 12 of the wash chamber. Peripheral wall 15 of the housing means is spaced inwardly of the periphery of opening 11, thus to define a peripheral space between the wall and opening underlying inner portion 18 of rim means 17.

The mounting means further includes elastomeric means 20, carried by rim means 17, which seals against fluid leakage from the wash chamber through opening 11 and releasably and resiliently interconnects housing means 13 with bottom wall 12 of the wash chamber. More particularly, elastomeric means 20 includes compressible lip means 21 preferably in the form of a continuous ring extending about peripheral wall 15 and underlying inner portion 18 of rim means 17. Lip means 21 is disposed in the space between wall 15 and the periphery of opening 11 and extends through opening 11 when housing means 13 is positioned relative to bottom wall 12, as set forth above. Lip means 21 has an outer end 21a project- 'ing egressively from opening 11 in the direction of the opening and outwardly beyond the periphery of the opening into engagement with bottom wall 12 when compressed, as set forth more fully hereinafter. Lip means 21 when uncompressed has an outer periphery adapted to pass through opening 11, whereby the outer periphery of 'the lip means is disposed adjacent the peripheral edge of opening 11 when housing means 13 is in the supported position thereof relative to bottom wall 12 and prior to compression of the lip means. The radial width of lip means 21 preferably is such that the inner periphery thereof extends axially adjacent to or in engagement with peripheral wall 15 when the lip means is uncompressed. The elastomeric means further includes flange means 22 integral with and extending radially outwardly from the inner end of lip means 21. Flange means 22 is disposed under outer portion 19 of rim means 17 and between the rim means and bottom wall 12 to provide a fluid seal therebetween.

Inner end wall means 23 of housing means 13 of the present embodiment is provided with axially extending flanged passageways 24 and 25, and the elastomeric means includes an outer sealing portion 26 which include a portion covering the outer surface of wall means 23 and portions lining the inner surfaces of flanged passageways 24 and 25. Outer sealing portion 26 extends radially outwardly of end wall 15 across rim means 17 and preferably is integrally joined with the flange means 22 about the outer periphery of rim means 17.

Motor 16 is operatively associated with shaft means 27 extending vertically through passageway 24. A sleeve of suitable sealing material is disposed in passageway 24 about shaft means 27 and between the shaft means and the passageway lining to provide a seal against fluid leakage along the shaft means from the wash chamber. The

'upper end of shaft means 27 is connected to a main pump .per chamber wall defined by recessing the lower inner .surface of a plate or block element 31 which seats and is suitably secured in a recess provided in outer sealing portion 26 of the elastomeric means. Pump chamber 30 is provided with an inner annular inlet in which blades 32 of impeller 29 are disposed for rotation by motor 16 througlrshaft means 27. The bottom wall of pump chamber 30 intersects passageway 25 in end wall means 23 of housing means 13, which passageway defines a pump output passageway for fluid entering pump chamber 30 from the wash chamber through a pump inlet (not illustrated). A tubular drain conduit 33 leads from passageway 25 through peripheral wall 15 of the housing means for connection with suitable drain means.

It will be noted at this point that lip means 21, flange means 22 and outer sealing portion 26 of the elastomeric means preferably are integrally associated at the juncture therebetween, and that the elastomeric means is engaged with and supported by rim means 17. The elastomeric means may be molded or otherwise formed about the rim means 17 and inner end wall means 23, or may be formed as a separate component to be connected with rim means 17. In either event, flange means 22 and outer sealing portion 26 are coextending portions reentrant outwardly into a space therebetween which is adapted to receive rim means 17, and the base or inner end of lip means 21 has juncture with the inner end of flange means 22 under rim means 17 whereby said rim means extends behind the latter juncture.

Housing means 13 includes an inner end 34 providing a casing for main pump impeller 28 disposed in the wash chamber. Inner end 34 of the housing means has a substantially vertically extending peripheral wall 35 surrounding main pump impeller 28 and providing a passageway for fluid to be pumped. In this respect, the lower end of wall 35 is flared outwardly and together with a shroud collar 36 carried by pump plate 31 defines inlet passageways 37 below the main impeller and leading into inner end 34 of the housing'means from the wash chamber. Peripheral wall 35 extends upwardly past main pump impeller 28 and rotatably supports a hollow fluid distributor or reaction spray head 37 extending transversely of wall 35 on the output side of the main pump. Spray head 37 is adapted to be rotated relative to wall 35 by the fluid output pressure of the main pump and, in this respect, arms 37a and 37b of head 37 are provided with oppositely directed substantially horizontally extending fluid outlet ports .(not illustrated) through which fluid pumped into the head by impeller 28 is discharged under pressure to produce rotation of the arm relative to wall portion 35 in a Well known manner. Outer end 14 and inner end 34 of housing means 13 preferably are separable sections, and inner end 34 accordingly includes means to facilitate interconnection thereof with outer end 14 and to position peripheral wall 35 relative to main pump impeller 28. In this respect, inner end 34 is provided with base or support leg means 38 integral with and extending radially outwardly from wall 35 and overlying rim means 17 of outer end 14. Leg means 38 include lower edges contoured to engage the upper surface of outer sealing portion 26 of 'the elastomeric means, and the outer ends of the leg means extend across the inner portion 18 of rim means 17.

The mounting means for housing means 13 further includes anti-rotationally detained clamp means adjacent outer end 21a of lip means 21 and movable toward inner portion 18 of rim means 17 for compressing lip means 21 toward rim means 17 and bulging outer end 21a of the lip means outwardly into frictional engagement with bottom wall 12 of the wash chamber at the periphery of opening 11. In the present embodiment, the anti-rotationally detained clamp means includes a plurality of clamp components 40 peripherally spaced apart about lip means 21 and aligned with outer end 21a of the lip means.

.Clamp components 40, as illustrated in detail in FIG- vURE 2 of the drawing, each include a horizontally disposed base'plate 41, an upstanding inner side plate 42,

and a boss 43. Boss 43 is disposed intermediate the opposite ends of plates 41 and 42 and extends vertically along upstanding plate 42 from plate 41 to a point adjacentthe top edge of plate 42. The boss is provided with an internally threaded axially extending aperture 44 which preferably extends only a predetermined distance thereinto for the purpose set forth hereinafter. Preferably, plate 42 of clamp component 40 is of a contour which conforms substantially to the contour of peripheral wall 15 of housing means 13.

Clamp components 40 are associated with lip means 20 in a manner whereby base plate 41 engages under the bead portion and inner side plate 42 engages the inner surface of the lip means adjacent peripheral wall 15 of housing means 13. The lip means may be recessed in the areas thereof where bosses 43 are disposed; however, the clamp components preferably are embedded in the material of the lip means to be carried and anti-rotationally detained by the lip means.

The mounting means further includes means for imparting movement to the clamp means to compress the lip means. In this respect, individually rotatable fastenings 45 are provided having head means disposed in the wash chamber and shanks extending through corresponding openings in peripherally spaced apart regions of rim means 17 and lip means 21. More particularly, the head means includes upper head means 46 engaging above leg means 38 of inner end 34 of housing means 13 and lower head means 47 extending through corresponding openings in leg means 38 and outer sealing portion 26 and engaging the upper surface of inner portion 18 of rim means 17, thus limiting axial movement of fasteners 45 downwardly relative to flange means 17. The shanks 48 of the fasteners extend axially downward from lower head means 47 and the lower ends of shank portions are threaded for cooperative threaded association with threaded aperture 44 of the corresponding clamp component 40.

When the lower ends of shank portions 48 of rotatable fasteners 45 are in threaded engagement with apertures 44 in bosses 43 of clamp components 40, rotation of a shank portion imparts axial movement to the corresponding nut component relative to rim means 17. In this respect, lower head means 47 of the fastener engages the upper surface of rim means 17 to axially position shank portion 48 relative thereto. Further, clamp components 40 are detained against rotation by being embedded in the material of lip means 21 or by engagement of the inner side plate of the nut component with peripheral wall 15 of housing means 13. Thus, when a shank portion of a fastener is rotated the correspnoding nut component is compelled to move axially along the shank portion, and if the nut component is moved toward rim means '17 thrust is transmitted to lip means 21 to bulge outer end 21a of the lip means outwardly into frictional engagement with bottom wall 12 and against the peripheral edge of openingll.

' In order to provide for adequate compression of lip means 21 in response to minimum displacement of a clamp component toward rim means 17, inner side plate 42 of the clamp component extends upwardly adjacent the inner surface of the lip means to provide lateral support therefor and base plate 41 of the clamp component is of a radial width sufiicient to provide adequate contact between the plate and lip means to minimize expansion of outer end 21a of the lip means outwardly and downwardly about plate 41 when under compression. Thus, compression-of lip means 21 between rim means 17 and a clamp component 40 by movement of the latter component axially toward the rim means causes outer end 21a of the lip means to bulge outwardly. Accordingly, when outer end 14 of housing means 13 is inserted through opening 11 in bottom wall 12 of the wash chamber for rim means 17 to position housing means 13, rotatable fasteners 45 can be manipulated from within the wash chamber to actuate the corresponding clamp components 40 and thus cause lip means 21 to be compressed and 'outer end 21a thereof to be bulged outwardly into frictional engagement with the peripheral edge of opening 11 to releasably interconnect housing means 13 with bottom wall 12. At the same time, advancement of clamp components 40 toward rim means 17 and against the re silience of lip means 21 causes lower heads 47 of the fasteners to be biased downwardly by lip means 21 into firm engagement with rim means 17 whereby leg means 38 of inner end 34 of housing means 13 are biased downwardly into engagement with outer sealing portion 26 of the elastomeric means to interconnect the inner and outer ends of housing means 13. v

Preferably, as mentioned above, apertures 44 in bosses .43 of the clamp components extend a predetermined distance into the bosses. Further, shank portions 48 of fasteners preferably are of a predetermined length such that when the bottom ends, of the shanks are in engagement with the bottoms of apertures 44 the most desirable degree of compression has been applied to lip means 21 to adequately bulge outer end 21a thereof into interconnecting engagement with the peripheral edge of opening 11. Thus, lip means 21 is equally compressed in each of the areas thereof associated with a clamp component to assure substantially uniform clamping pressure of rim means 17 against flange means 22 in the direction of bottom wall 12 and to prevent damaging the lip means by unnecessary overcompression thereof.

Many modifications of the structural association between the lip means and the peripheral edge of the opening to facilitate interconnection of housing means 13 and bottom wall 12 are, of course, possible and the disclosed arrangement is intended only to be illustrative of a preferred arrangement. It will be appreciated too that the clamp means cooperating with rim means 17 may, for example, be in the form of a unitary ring element as opposed to a plurality of independent clamp components. In such case the ring would be provided at peripherally spaced locations thereabout with threaded apertures for receiving the lower ends of the shank portions of fasteners 45.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URE 3 of the drawing, a motor and impeller unit 50 is illustrated in interconnected relationship with sheet metal member 51 defining a bottom wall of the wash chamber of a dishwashing appliance. In a manner similar to that described above with regard to bottom wall 12 in FIG- URE 1, bottom wall 51 of the wash chamber is provided with an opening 52 having a peripheral edge defined by bottom wall 51 and a peripheral flange 51a formed from the material of the bottom wall and extending outwardly of opening 11 under bottom wall 51. Motor and impeller unit 50 includes housing means 53 having an outer end 54 and a peripheral wall 55. End 54 and wall 55 are of a size and configuration adapted to be inserted through opening 52 from within the wash chamber. Peripheral wall 55 is spaced inwardly of the periphery of opening 52 and encloses a drive motor (not illustrated) having shaft means 56' operatively associated with a main impeller 57 disposed in the wash chamber for circulating fluid therein. Further, shaft means 56 is connected to a drain pump impeller 58 of a drain pump assembly similar to the pump assembly described above in conjunction with the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1. In this respect, the drain pump assembly includes an inlet passageway opening from the wash chamber and an outlet passageway opening through inner end wall means 59 of housing means 53 and leading to a drain conduit 60. In the present embodiment, peripheral wall 55 of housing means 53 terminates at the upper end thereof in a substantially flat top edge 61, and the inner end wall means 59 of housing means 53 includes an end wall plate 62 of sheet metal having a peripheral flange 63 overlying top edge 61 of wall 55. Housing means 53 includes an inner end 64 disposed in the wash chamber and having an annular wall 65 enclosing main pump impeller 57 to define a casing for the main pump impeller. Annular wall 65 is open below impeller 57 to provide an intake passageway for communicating with the wash chamber and is provided above impeller 57 with a rotatable reaction spray head (not illustrated) similar to spray head 37 and through which the fluid output of impeller 57 is introduced back into the wash chamber.

Mounting means is provided for releasably interconnecting housing means 53 with bottom wall 51 and includes rim means 66 connected to and projecting outwardly from peripheral wall 55 and having an inner portion 67 extending across the space between wall 55 and the peripheral edge of opening 52 and an outer portion 68 ex tending beyond the peripheral edge of opening 52 and overlying bottom wall 51 in the area thereof about the opening. In this embodiment, rim means 66 is integral with housing end wall flange 63, but it will be appreciated that the rim means may be a separate component connected to peripheral wall 55 of housing means 53. The mounting means further includes elastomeric means preferably carried by rim means 66 and including an upper sealing portion 69 overlying housing end wall 62 and the upper surface of flange 63 and rim means 66. The elastomeric means further includes flange means 70 under the outer portion 68 of rim means 66 and lip means 71 under the inner portion 67 of rim means 66 and having an outer end 71a. Sealing portion 69, flange means 70 and lip means 71 are similar in disposition and function to sealing portion 26, flange means 22 and lip means 21 described hereinbefore in conjunction with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1. Similarly, upper sealing portion 69 underlies inner end 64 of housing means 53, and support leg means 64a of the inner end of the housing means engage sealing portion 69 above top edge 61 of peripheral wall 55. In the present embodiment, the inner and outer ends of housing means 53 are interconnected by fasteners 72 having headed ends engaging above leg means 64a and shanks extending through openings in leg means 64a, sealing portion 69 and flange 63 of end wall 62 and into threaded interengagement with apertures extending axially into peripheral wall 55 of the housing. Fasteners 72 further facilitate interconnection of inner end wall 62, and accordingly rim means 66, with housing means 53.

The mounting means further includes anti-rotationally detained clamp means 73 adjacent to outer end 71a of lip means 71 and movable toward inner portion 67 of rim means 66 for compressing lip means 71 toward rim means 66 and bulging outer end 71a of the lip means outwardly into frictional engagement with bottom wall 51 at the periphery of opening 52 in the bottom wall. The clamp means includes an anti-rotationally detained ring means 74 (see FIGURE 4) disposed about peripheral wall 55 and having internal threads 75 and an upwardly and inwardly inclined outer surface 76 adapted to engage outer end 71a of lip means 71. Further, the ring is disposed beneath inner portion 67 of rim means 66 in alignment with end 71a of the lip means. The outer peripheral edge of ring 74 is notched to provide an axially extending follower slot 77 through the ring adapted to receive free or guide end 78a of rotation detaining guide arm means 78, which free end is contoured to be slidably associated with slot 77. The other end 79 of arm means 78 is suitably 'secured to bottom wall 51 such as by welding. Thus, ring 74 is movable axially with respect to peripheral wall 55 but is detained against rotation relative to bottom wall 51 by arm means 78.

The mounting means further includes means engaging the clamp means and operable from within the wash chamber to impart movement to the clamp means. In this respect, an external portion of peripheral wall 55 below rim means 66 is provided with thread means 80 rotatable with housing means 53 and which in. this instance is defined by cutting or otherwise forming threads in the material of the housing means. Thread means 80 cooperatively interengage with internal threads 75 of ring 74, whereby relative rotation between the ring and the external portion of peripheral wall 55 provides for the relative positions of the external portion and ring to be varied between relaxed and coupling positions. In the coupling position, lip means 71 is compressed and outer end 71a thereof bulges outwardly into frictional engagement with the peripheral edge of opening 52, thus to interconnect housing means 73 with bottom wall 51.

In a mounting operation of housing means 53, ring 74 is threaded onto peripheral wall 55 in an axial position relative to rim means 66 wherein lip means 71 is not so compressed as to prevent insertion thereof through opening 52, and the outer end 54 and peripheral wall 55 of the housing means are then introduced through opening 52 for rim means 66 to support housing means 53 relative to bottom wall 51. Slot 77 in ring 74 is positioned to receive guide end 78a of arm means 78 when housing means 53 is moved into the supported position thereof. Thereafter, housing means 53 may be rotated to rotate thread means on peripheral Wall 55 to cause ring 74 to advance along wall 55 toward rim means 66, whereby outer end 71a of lip means 71 is engaged by ring 74 and compressed toward rim means 66 and bulged out wardly into frictional engagement with the peripheral edge of opening 52. Housing means 53 may be rotated from within the wash chamber in a number of ways such as, for example, by grasping and rotating inner end 64 of the housing means disposed in the wash chamber. A suitable lubricant may be applied to the underside of flange means 70 and lip means 71 and to bottom Wall 51 and the outer surface of ring 74 to facilitate sliding movement therebetween upon rotation of the housing means. As many possible embodiments of the present invention may be made and as many possible changes may be made in the embodiments herein set forth, it will be distinctly understood that all matter described herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not as a limitation.

I claim:

1. In a dishwashing appliance having a wash chamber, a motor and housing means for housing said motor to be in power output communication with said chamber through an opening in a bottom wall of said chamber, the improvement which includes said housing means having an outer end and a peripheral wall, mounting means for said housing means to be releasably interconnected with said bottom wall of said chamber, said mounting means including rim means connected with said housing means and projecting outwardly from said peripheral Wall for said outer end and said peripheral wall of said housing means to be installed through said bottom wall and an inner portion of said rim means to extend between said peripheral wall and the periphery of said opening and an outer portion of said rim means to extend outwardly overlying said bottom wall beyond the periphery of said opening, said mounting means further including elastomeric means having flange means extending under said outer portion of said rim means and along the inside surface of said bottom wall, said elastomeric means further including lip means disposed under said inner portion of said rim means and extending from said flange means, said lip means being in said opening and having an outer end, said mounting means further including antirotationally detained clamp means adjacent to said outer end of said lip means and movable toward said inner portion of said rim means for compressing said lip means toward said rim means and bulging said outer end of said lip means outwardly into frictional engagement with said bottom wall of said Wash chamber at the periphery of said opening, said mounting means further including means engaging said clamp means and operable from within said wash chamber for imparting movement to said clamp means.

2. In a dishwashing appliance as set forth in claim 1, the feature of said clamp means including an anti-rotationally detained ring and said means for imparting movement to said clamp means including an external portion of said peripheral wall of said housing means and rotatable With said housing means, said external portion and ring having interengaging threads for said external portion and ring to be varied in relative positions axially between relaxed and coupling positions.

3. In a dishwashing appliance as set forth in claim 1, the feature of said clamp means including a plurality of anti-rotationally detained portions aligned with the outer end of said lip means and detained for transmitting thrust to said lip means and said means for imparting movement to said clamp means including a plurality of individually rotatable fastenings having heads in said wash chamber and shanks extending through openings in peripherally spaced apart region-s of said rim means and through openings in peripherally spaced apart regions of said lip means, and said shanks and detained portions having interengaging threads for said fastenings and detained portions to be varied in relative positions axially of said shanks between relaxed and coupling positions.

4. In a dishwashing appliance as set forth in claim 3, the feature of said anti-rotationally detained portions including portions embedded in the lip means of said elastomeric means.

5. In a dishwashing appliance as set forth in claim 1, the feature of said elastomeric means being engaged with said rim means and installed through said opening in said bottom wall with said outer end and peripheral wall of said housing means.

6. In a dishwashing appliance as set forth in claim 5, the feature of said flange means of said elastomeric means having coextending portions and being re-entrant outwardly into a space between said coextensive portions, one

of said portions having juncture with the base of said lip means of said elastomeric means, and said elastomeric means receiving said rim means in said space with said rim means extending behind said juncture.

7. In a dishwashing appliance as set forth in claim 1, the feature of said lip means extending through said opening in said bottom wall and said outer end of said lip means projecting egressively from said opening in the axial direction of said opening and outwardly beyond said opening into engagement with said bottom wall when said outer end of said lip means is compressed by operation of said clamp means.

8. In a dishwashing appliance as set forth in claim 1, the feature of said appliance having a pump, an impeller of said pump in driven connection with said motor and having said housing means for a casing, and said pump having a passageway for fluid to be pumped, and said passageway communicating with said impeller and being open into said wash chamber.

9. In a dishwashing appliance as set forth in claim 8, the feature of said passageway being open into said wash chamber on intake and output sides of said impeller.

10. In a dishwashing appliance as set forth in claim 9, the feature of said housing means having a spray head extension, said passageway being open from said output side of said impeller into the wash chamber through said spray head extension.

No references cited.

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

H. NATTER, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A DISHWASHING APPLIANCE HAVING A WASH CHAMBER, A MOTOR AND HOUSING MEANS FOR HOUSING SAID MOTOR TO BE IN POWER OUTPUT COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER THROUGH AN OPENING IN A BOTTOM WALL OF SAID CHAMBER, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH INCLUDES SAID HOUSING MEANS HAVING AN OUTER END AND A PERIPHERAL WALL, MOUNTING MEANS FOR SAID HOUSING MEANS TO BE RELEASABLY INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID BOTTOM WALL OF SAID CHAMBER, SAID MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING RIM MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID HOUSING MEANS AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID PERIPHERAL WALL FOR SAID OUTER END AND SAID PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID HOUSING MEANS TO BE INSTALLED THROUGH SAID BOTTOM WALL AND AN INNER PORTION OF SAID RIM MEANS TO EXTEND BETWEEN SAID PERIPHERAL WALL AND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID OPENING AND AN OUTER PORTION OF SAID RIM MEANS TO EXTEND OUTWARDLY OVERLYING SAID BOTTOM WALL BEYOND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID OPENING, SAID MOUNTING MEANS FURTHER INCLUDING ELASTOMERIC MEANS HAVING FLANGE MEANS EXTENDING UNDER SAID OUTER PORTION OF SAID RIM MEANS AND ALONG THE INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID BOTTOM WALL, SAID ELASTOMERIC MEANS

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