A dishwasher appliance is provided. The dishwasher appliance includes a first spray assembly and a second spray assembly. A pressure actuated valve is coupled to a supply conduit. The pressure actuated valve selectively permits wash fluid from the supply conduit to flow to the second spray assembly. A related method for operating a dishwasher appliance is also provided.

A dishwasher appliance includes a first spray assembly and a second spray assembly disposed within a wash chamber of a tub. A hydraulic switch of the dishwasher appliance has a first outlet conduit that extends towards the first spray assembly and a second outlet conduit that extends towards the second spray assembly. A plug of the hydraulic switch is movable between the first outlet conduit and the second outlet conduit. The hydraulic switch may permit a flow of wash fluid to either the first spray assembly or the second spray assembly. A related method for operating a dishwasher appliance is also provided.

A dishwasher includes a tub, a first dish rack, and a second dish rack disposed above the first dish rack in the tub. The second dish rack includes a frame configured to couple to and adjust in a vertical position relative to a plurality of mounting rails in the tub. The second dish rack also includes a collapsible portion coupled to the frame and configured to adjust in a vertical position relative to the frame. In some embodiments, the second dish rack further includes a feed pipe coupled to the collapsible portion, the feed pipe having at least one connection point configured to align with at least one water supply point, wherein each vertical position of the collapsible portion corresponds to a different alignment of the at least one connection point and the at least one water supply point.

A dishwasher for treating dishes according to an automatic cycle of operation can include a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber receiving dishes for treatment and a spray system providing treating liquid to the treating chamber. A dish rack is located in the tub and has a bottom wall and at least a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall. A depending portion extends downwardly from the bottom wall and is oriented at an angle to the bottom wall to define an incline angle. At least one spray tube is carried by the dish rack.

A dishwasher may utilize a multi-level dishwasher rack that in some instances may be reconfigurable into different configurations to optimize the rack for different types and/or combinations of utensils. A movable divider may be used in some instances to selectively expose a deep portion of a rack, and a drawer may be used in some instances to provide access utensils stored underneath a divider. A movable portion of a bottom of a rack may also be used in some instances to provide different support surfaces in the rack at different elevations. A tubular spray element or another rotatable spray tube may also be positioned relative to a multi-level dishwasher rack in some instances to facilitate concentrated washing of different facing surfaces of different utensils stored in the rack.

A dishwashing appliance or variable spray assembly, as provided herein, may include a manifold body, a diverter valve, and a driver. The manifold body may define a fluid inlet, a first flow path, a second flow path, a first spray outlet, and a second spray outlet. The first and second flow paths may be downstream from the fluid inlet. The second flow path may be in fluid parallel to the first flow path. The second spray outlet may be spaced apart from the first spray outlet. The diverter valve may be mounted within manifold body and movable between a first zone position directing wash fluid to the first flow path and a second zone position directing wash fluid to the second flow path. The driver may be disposed outside of the manifold body to motivate the diverter valve between the first zone position and the second zone position.

A dishwasher with a tub that at least partially defines a treating chamber with an access opening, a closure moveable relative to the tub to selectively open and close the access opening, a lower dish holder located within the treating chamber, a middle dish holder located within the treating chamber above the lower dish holder, and an upper dish holder located within the treating chamber above the middle dish holder and having container supports defining a support surface.

A dishwasher and method for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation, wherein the dishwasher can include a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a dish rack movably received within the treating chamber and a spray system fluidly connected to the water supply. The dish rack is configured for receiving dishes or utensils for treatment during the cycle of operation. The spray system can include a set of sprayers located within the treating chamber that are configured to selectively emit spray from the water supply onto dishes or utensils on the dish rack.

A method and a dishwasher utilize a dock detection system to determine when a connector of a spray device is docked to a docking port provided on a manifold of the dishwasher. A dock detector is coupled to the docking port and is electrically coupled to a controller of the dishwasher through electrical conductors that extend along the manifold, thereby enabling a dishwasher controller to detect when spray devices are coupled to the manifold, e.g., to optimize a wash cycle to use a particular spray device docked to the docking port.

A dishwasher assembly may include a dishwasher rack including at least one drinkware row configured to hold drinkware along a length of the rack, a sprayer configured to provide at least one stream of liquid into the drinkware, and a paddle wheel assembly arranged between the drinkware row and the sprayer and including at least one paddle configured to rotate responsive to force of the at least one stream of liquid against the at least one paddle, such that during rotation the at least one paddle is configured to variably deflect at least a portion of the stream onto a plurality of portions of an interior surface of the drinkware.