US3779258A

US3779258A - Rotating silverware basket for dishwasher

Info

Publication number: US3779258A
Application number: US00225503A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Brenner; V Cuthbert
Original assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Current assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Priority date: 1972-02-11
Filing date: 1972-02-11
Publication date: 1973-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-18

Abstract

A dishwasher having a holder for holding silverware to be washed rotatably mounted on a dish holding rack in the washing chamber. The silverware basket is rotated on the dish holding rack so as to permit subjecting silverware carried thereby to a spray of washing liquid, with the spray striking the silverware in different angular positions as the silverware basket revolves. The spray itself may have movement relative to the dish holding rack and silverware holding basket, and in the illustrated embodiment is provided by a rotating spray arm. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the rotation of the silverware basket is effected by a supplemental spray acting against vanes on the rotatable silverware basket.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Brenner et a1.

1 1 ROTATING SILVERWARE BASKET FOR DISHWASHER [75] Inventors: Robert A. Brenner, St. Joseph;

Victor W. Cuthbert, Sodus, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich.

[22] Filed: Feb. 11, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 225,503

[ Dec. 18, 1973 3,288,155 11/1966 Swetnam 134/176 1,435,212 11 1922 Connor 134/139 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge Art0rneyJames S. Nettleton et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A dishwasher having a holder for holding silverware to be washed rotatably mounted on a dish holding rack in the washing chamber. The silverware basket is rotated on the dish holding rack so as to permit subjecting silverware carried thereby to a spray of washing liquid, with the spray striking the silverware in different angular positions as the silverware basket revolves. The spray itself may have movement relative to the dish holding rack and silverware holding basket, and in the illustrated embodiment is provided by a rotating spray arm. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the rotation of the silverware basket is effected by a supplemental spray acting against vanes on the rotatable silverware basket.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENIEIJHEB 1 ms 3; 779.258

SHEET 16F 23 PAIENTH] DEC 1 8 I975 SHEET 2 EF 2 ROTATING SILVERWARE BASKET FOR DISHWASHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to dishwashers, and, in particular, to dishwashers having silverware holding means.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the conventional dishwasher, a receptacle is provided for holding the silverware separately from the dishes. Usually'the silverware holding means comprises a separate basket having wall means for supporting the silverware in an upright position. It is desirable in such dishwashers to provide improved washing action relative to the silverware, which in many cases has difficult to remove matter thereon. A problem arises in that the supporting walls tend to hinder the washing action of the conventional spray means provided for contacting the silverware with the washing liquid.

To provide such improved washing action, it has heretofore been proposed to utilize a moving silverware basket carried by the dish holding rack. One example of such a dishwashing apparatus is shown in the Maloney U. S. Pat. No. 1,540,793. Therein, the silverware holder is pivotally mounted on a horizontal shaft so as to be swung back and forth about the axis of the shaft as the result of the impingement of washing liquid spray against a pair of vanes extending oppositely outwardly away from the shaft axis. The washing liquid is delivered onto the vanes from a sprinkler head, which is in turn rocked back and forth to wash the silverware in the holder. Thus, the holder and spray are synchronized to move back and forth together, with the center of the spray being selectively directed toward different ones of the two vanes on the silverware holder.

In the Schleyer et al. U. S. Pat. No. 2,712,826, a dishwashing machine is shown to utilize a silverware holding basket which rotates with the dish holding rack about the center axis of the spray means. In this case, the spray means is stationary and the basket rotates as a result of dish reaction from the spray streams.

In the Swetnam U. S. Pat. No. 3,288,155, a pair of spray arms is provided, cooperating with a fixed silverware holding means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates an improved dishwasher structure wherein the silverware basket is rotatably mounted on the dish holding basket. Means are provided for rotating the silverware basket, and in the illustrated embodiment comprise spray means acting against vanes on the silverware basket. Silverware in the silverware basket is washed by sprays of washing liquid delivered from a pair of spray arms, herein one under and one over the silverware basket, so that a changing relationship of the silverware in the silverware basket to the direction of washing liquid spray is provided for improved washing of the silverware.

Thus, the present invention comprehends means for moving the silverware basket relative to the dish holding means independently of the action of the washing spray directed thereagainst by the washing spray means. Resultingly, the silverware holding means has two different movements relative to the spray means for providing such improved efficiency in the washing of the silverware. One relative movement is effected by the movement of the silverware holding means bodily,

and the second relative movement is effected by the rotation of the spray arms.

The rotation of the silverware holding basket herein is about a vertical axis, and the reaction means on the silverware holding means comprises vanes extending downwardly from the holding means. The force means may comprise a jet of washing liquid different from the spray means jets directed upwardly toward the vanes from the supply of washing liquid under pressure. The spray arms may rotate about a vertical axis spaced from the vertical axis of the silverware holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial vertical section of a dishwasher having a silverware washing means embodying the invention, with the rack thereof shown in broken lines in a loading position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged front elevation thereof, with portions broken away to facilitate illustration of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section illustrating the relationship of the spray means and silverware holder, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of a modified form of a dishwasher embodying the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the exemplary embodiments of the invention as disclosed in FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawing, a dishwasher generally designated is shown to comprise a cabinet 11 defining a dishwashing chamber 12. The cabinet is provided with a front opening 13 selectively closed by a front door 14 provided with a suitable handle 15 for swinging the door about a lower horizontal pivot 16 between an upright chamber-closing position and a forwardly extending horizontal chamber-opening position. Dishes to be washed are placed on a pair of racks, including a lower rack 17 and an upper rack 18, which are selectively movable from an operative position in the chamber 12, as shown in full lines in FIG. 1, to a loading position at least partially outwardly of the chamber 12, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. The dishwasher 10 further includes a pump 19 driven by a suitable electric motor 20 for forcibly pumping washing liquid into the chamber 12 by means of a pair of

spray arms

21 and 22. Spray arm 21 is rotatably mounted on a bearing 23 carried on the pump 19 for rotation subjacent to the lower rack 17, so as to permit spraying of the washing liquid forcibly upwardly through the rack 17 onto the dishes carried thereon during the dishwashing operation. The bearing 23 further includes an outlet element 24 for directing a stream of washing liquid upwardly into a receiver 26 associated with the upper spray arm 22, with the force of the stream effecting a rotation of the spray arm 22 and a forcible delivery of the liquid from the spray arm onto the lower rack 17 and upwardly into the upper rack 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the spray arm 22 is rotatably mounted on the upper basket 18. The washing liquid is returned to pump 19 upon falling from the

baskets

17 and 18 as a result of the collection thereof in a sump 27. Thus, the dishwashing liquid may be circulated continuously dur ing the dishwashing operation to provide a forceful washing action in chamber 12.

The invention comprehends providing a silverware basket generally designated 28 mounted for improved washing of silverware placed therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the silverware basket 28 is carried on an upright post 29 mounted on a bottom wire 30 of the lower rack 17. The basket 28 includes a central socket member 31 rotatably fitted on the upper end of the post 29 to permit rotation of the basket about the vertical axis of post 29. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the socket member 31 may be formed of molded plastic, and in the illustrated embodiment, the entire basket 28 comprises a plastic molding for facilitated manufacture and minimum cost. The basket may include a foraminous outer wall 32 and a plurality of radially extending dividing walls 33 cooperating with the socket element 31 to define a plurality of silverware holding spaces or compartments 34 opening upwardly from the basket to receive the silverware to be washed. The silverware rests in the basket on a bottom wall 35. Depending from bottom wall 35 are a plurality of vanes 36 comprising reaction members arranged to cause rotation of the basket about the vertical axis of post 29 as a result of the impingement of fluid under pressure thereagainst. As shown in FIG. 3, such action may be effected by a nozzle 37 provided on spray arm 21. Thus, the stream 38 of dishwashing liquid under pressure ejected from nozzle 37 impinges on the vanes 36 as the spray arm 21 rotates about the vertical axis of bearing 24. As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle 37 provides a jet stream against the vanes 36 once during each revolution of the spray arm 21. The stream 38 reacts against the vanes to rotate the basket 28 about the axis of post 29 so that, in effect, the basket is spun on the dish holding rack 17 for movement relative to the dish holding rack. At the same time, the dishwashing liquid is sprayed upwardly by washing liquid nozzles 39 on spray arm 21 and downwardly by washing liquid nozzles 40 on spray arm 22 to enter the silverware basket and effectively wash the silverware disposed therein. As a result of the double relative movement between the basket and the washing means, an improved efficient washing of the silverware is effected. in a the spray from washing

nozzles

39 and 40 moves ina large circle toward the bottom and top of the silverware basket, while at the same time the basket is rotated about a vertical axis so as to present different of the compartments 34 and different surfaces of the silverware therein to the spray streams. The provision of the spray nozzle 37 on the spray arm provides an intermittent rotational force to the basket for providing improved variation in the presentation of the silverware surfaces to the dishwashing streams. Further, the weight of the silverware and the effective balance thereof effects the speed and uniformity of rotation so as to provide a further variable in the washing action, effecting further improved cleaning of the silverware.

The washing liquid from nozzles 39 passes into the basket through a plurality of apertures 41 in the bottom wall 35 as well as through the foraminous side wall 32, to provide a washing of the silverware both from the bottom and from the side. Further, the bottom apertures 41 permit a rapid draining of the washing liquid from the spaces 34 between the passes of the

spray arms

21 and 22, to provide further improved washing of the silverware on the basket 28.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the delivery of the stream of washing liquid under pressure against the vanes 36 may alternatively be effected by a nozzle 42 connected directly to the bearing 24 so as to remain stationary and provide a constant rotation of the basket 28 as a result of the impingement of the stream 38' seriatim against the vanes 36. As shown in FIG. 5, the nozzle 42 may comprise an elongated tube extending from the bearing 24 to closely adjacent the bottom of the basket 28 so that the stream 38 is directed forcibly against the vanes 36 as they move successively to adjacent the discharge end of the nozzle. Here, again, the basket is caused to have two movements relative to the spray, namely, a rotational movement about the axis of the post 29 and an intermittent relative movement effected by the swinging of the spray arms therepast.

As the silverware in the basket 28 is exposed constantly at different angles to the washing liquid streams, improved washing of the silverware is effected. As different portions of the basket are exposed to the washing liquid streams, the location of the basket in the chamber 12 may be varied in accordance with the requirements of the dishwashing rack loading arrangement. The invention contemplates alternatively providing an intermittent rotation of the basket or a generally constant rotation in combination with the swinging movement of the spray arms to provide the desired improved silverware washing action.

Having described the invention, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a dishwasher having a washing chamber, dishrack means for holding dishes to be washed in said chamber, and movable spray means for spraying dishwashing liquid in said chamber for washing the dishes, silverware washing means comprising:

means for holding silverware to be washed and having reaction means thereon;

means for rotationally mounting said silverware holding means on said dishrack means for subjecting silverware held by said silverware holding means to the spray of said dishwashing liquid from said spray means; and

a fixed nozzle directing a fluid stream against the reaction means of said silverware holding means for moving said silverware holding means relative to said dishrack means and independently of the action of spray directed thereagainst by said spray means whereby said silverware holding means has two different movements relative to said spray means for washing of silverware in said silverware holding means.

2. The dishwasher means of claim 1 wherein said spray means and dishrack means have relative rotational movement about a first axis and said silverware holding means has rotational movement about a second axis.

3. The dishwasher means of claim 1 wherein said silverware holding means is mounted on said dish holding means for rotation about a vertical axis.

4. The dishwasher means of claim 1 wherein said spray means is rotatable about a first axis, and said silverware holding means is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis noncoincident with said first axis.

5. The dishwasher means of claim 1 wherein said fixed nozzle is means for moving said silverware holding means comprises hydraulic means including reaction means on said silverware holding means and means for directing a hydraulic jet carried by a stationary portion of said movable spray means.

6. In a dishwasher including dishrack means for supporting dishes within said dishwasher, silverware washing means comprising: a basket; means for rotatably mounting the basket on said dishrack means for rotation about a substantially vertical axis; reaction means on the basket; means for directing a fluid stream against the reaction means to rotate the basket; and rotatable spray means for spraying silverware in the basket with a washing liquid in a moving distribution independently of the movement of the basket by the fluid stream and reaction means, said reaction means comprising a plurality of vanes on said basket, and said fluid stream directing means comprising a fixed nozzle.

7. The dishwasher silverware washing means of claim 6 wherein said reaction means comprises a plurality of vanes on said basket, and said dishwasher includes a single pump for providing said fluid stream and for spraying said washing liquid.

8. The dishwasher silverware washing means of claim 6 wherein said silverware spray means comprises a spray arm rotatable about a fixed axis and said basket is mounted for rotation about a second axis spaced from and parallel to said first axis.

Claims

1. In a dishwasher having a washing chamber, dishrack means for holding dishes to be washed in said chamber, and movable spray means for spraying dishwashing liquid in said chamber for washing the dishes, silverware washing means comprising: means for holding silverware to be washed and having reaction means thereon; means for rotationally mounting said silverware holding means on said dishrack means for subjecting silverware held by said silverware holding means to the spray of said dishwashing liquid from said spray means; and a fixed nozzle directing a fluid stream against the reaction means of said silverware holding means for moving said silverware holding means relative to said dishrack means and independently of the action of spray directed thereagainst by said spray means whereby said silverware holding means has two different movements relative to said spray means for washing of silverware in said silverware holding means.

4. The dishwasher means of claim 1 wherein said spraying means is rotatable about a first axis, and said silverware holding means is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis noncoincident with said first axis.

8. The dishwasher silverwarE washing means of claim 6 wherein said silverware spraying means comprises a spray arm rotatable about a fixed axis and said basket is mounted for rotation about a second axis spaced from and parallel to said first axis.