Dishwasher spray arm

Abstract

A spray arm for a dishwasher is described in which the spray arm may include an inlet for a cleaning liquid, at least one spray nozzle and a feed channel for feeding the cleaning liquid from the inlet to the spray nozzle. In order to prevent larger dirt particles from reaching any of the spray nozzles, a filter may be provided within the feed channel between the inlet and the spray nozzle.

Claims

1. A spray arm for a dishwasher, the spray arm comprising: an inlet for a cleaning liquid, at least one spray nozzle and a feed channel for feeding the cleaning liquid from the inlet to the spray nozzle, and at least one filter located within the feed channel between the inlet and the spray nozzle, wherein the at least one filter comprises a filter spanning substantially an entire cross-section of the feed channel, and wherein the filter comprises two lateral sides within the feed channel that are located at angles to the longitudinal direction of the feed channel and a central portion within the feed channel protruding towards the upstream side of the filter.

2. The spray arm of claim 1, comprising a plurality of spray nozzles, wherein the at least one filter is provided in proximity of at least one of the spray nozzles.

3. The spray arm of claim 2, wherein each spray nozzle is provided with one or more of the at least one filter.

4. The spray arm of claim 1, wherein the at least one filter is located at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the feed channel.

5. The spray arm of claim 4, wherein the spray arm is a substantially flat elongate member, wherein the at least one filter is oriented substantially vertically.

6. The spray arm of claim 1, wherein at least the central portion of the filter is substantially V-shaped or convex.

7. The spray arm of claim 1, wherein the at least one filter comprises a grate, sieve or screen.

8. The spray arm of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a plurality of flow orifices the size of which is smaller than the opening size of the at least one spray nozzle.

9. The spray arm of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a plurality of flow orifices defining elongated slots.

10. The spray arm of claim 1, wherein the spray arm is a molded plastic part.

11. The spray arm of claim 1, wherein the filter is integrally formed with the spray arm.

12. The spray arm of claim 11, wherein the spray arm comprises a substantially flat lower member and a substantially flat upper member connected to the lower member so as to form the feed channel, wherein the filter comprises a plurality of posts protruding from at least one of the lower member or the upper member.

13. The spray arm of claim 12, wherein the lower member is connected to the upper member in an at least partially releasable manner.

14. The spray arm of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a filter insert mounted at the inlet and protruding into the flow channel.

15. The spray arm of claim 1, wherein each of the lateral side portions is linear.

16. The spray arm of claim 1, wherein the spray arm is configured to be rotated about a central axis.

17. A spray arm for a dishwasher, the spray arm comprising: an inlet for a cleaning liquid, at least one spray nozzle and a feed channel for feeding the cleaning liquid from the inlet to the spray nozzle, and a filter located within the feed channel between the inlet and the spray nozzle, the filter extending substantially across the feed channel relative to a longitudinal direction of the spray arm, wherein the filter comprises a plurality of posts extending from a surface of the spray arm into the feed channel.

18. The spray arm of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of posts extend perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the feed channel and perpendicular to a flow direction in the feed channel.

19. The spray arm of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of posts extends parallel to the remaining posts of the plurality of posts.

20. The spray arm of claim 17, wherein the spray arm comprises a substantially flat lower member and a substantially flat upper member connected to the lower member so as to form the feed channel, wherein the plurality of posts protrude from at least one of the lower member or the upper member.

21. The spray arm of claim 20, wherein the lower member is connected to the upper member in an at least partially releasable manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present invention will be explained in further detail by reference to the drawings in which

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a spray arm made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a filter means provided in the spray arm of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of a filter means provided in the spray arm of FIG. 1; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a filter means provided in the spray arm of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) In FIG. 1 there is illustrated the lower member of a spray arm made in accordance with the present invention. The spray arm 10 (see also FIG. 3) is a molded plastic part which comprises a substantially flat lower member 12 and a correspondingly shaped substantially flat upper member 14. When assembled, lower member 12 and upper member 14 form a first and a second feed channel 16, 17 via which water can be fed from an inlet 18 to a plurality of spray nozzles provided in the lower and/or the upper members 12, 14.

(7) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in which the spray arm 10 is designed for use as a lower spray arm that is provided at the floor of a dishwasher washing compartment so as to eject a plurality of water jets in an upward direction, the upper member 14 is provided with a plurality of spray nozzles that are fed by the feed channels 16, 17. While one or more of such spray nozzles can be designed to eject a water jet at an angle to the axis of rotation of the spray arm so as to provide for a momentum to cause rotation of the spray arm, the spray arm additionally or alternatively can be provided with one or more nozzles that specifically are designed as a driving nozzle. Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, spray arm 10 is provided with a nozzle 20 which is formed by assembly of the lower member 12 and the upper member 14, wherein nozzle 20 which provides for a lateral outlet is located near one of the ends of the spray arm. By ejecting water through the driving nozzle 20 thus formed, a momentum is applied onto spray arm 10 which in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 would set the spray arm into rotation in the clockwise direction.

(8) FIG. 1 further illustrates two embodiments for providing for filter means to prevent that larger dirt particles which have passed the filters provided in the sump of the washing compartment, reach any of the spray nozzles provided in the spray arm. A first filter means 22, which in further detail is shown in FIG. 2, is provided near the inlet 18 so as to filter the entire flow through feed channel 17. A second filter means 24 is provided in feed channel 16 so as to surround nozzle 20.

(9) In the embodiment shown in the drawings which illustrate a plastic spray arm that is produced by injection molding, filter means 22 and 24 both comprise a plurality of posts 26 which are integrally formed in the lower member and/or the upper member so as to protrude from the lower member and the upper member in a substantially vertical direction.

(10) When assembled, the posts 26 thus form a fence for retaining dirt particles that are larger than the gaps between posts 26. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in embodiments where the filter means 22 spans substantially the entire cross-section of the feed channel 17, the filter means 22 preferably has an overall V-shape or convex shape which has two lateral side portions that are located at angles to the longitudinal direction of the feed channel 17, and a central portion protruding towards the upstream side of the filter means. In this manner, any dirt particles that are retained by the filter means will be flushed towards the side walls of the spray arm, whereas the central region of the flow channel 17 is kept unobstructed.

(11) FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of filter means 24 which provides for a local protection of nozzle 20. The filter means 24 can be formed by a plurality of posts 28 that are provided at only one of the lower and upper members 12, 14 and which have a length to span the entire height of the feed channel 16 formed between the lower member 12 and the upper member 14.

(12) Alternatively, filter means 24 can be formed by a plurality of posts 30, 32 that are provided at both the lower and the upper members 12, 14, wherein posts 30 provided at the lower member 12 are arranged to coincide with posts provided at the upper member 14, so that the combined lengths of posts 30 an 32 spans the height of the feed channel 16 between the lower member 12 and the upper member 14.

(13) FIG. 4 is a view similar FIG. 3 of the filter means 22 which in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is formed of a first set of posts 26 formed integrally with the lower member 12 and a second set of posts 34 integrally formed at the upper member 14.

(14) As will be understood from the above description, the spray arm suggested herein provides for a simple and easy to manufacture, but yet effective means to prevent larger dirt particles that have escaped any of the filters provided in the sump of the washing compartment, from reaching and thus blocking any of the nozzles provided in the spray arm.

(15) Although not shown in the drawings, a similar effect can be achieved by providing for a filter means, such as a sieve element, which is installed at the inlet of the spray arm and which protrudes into the flow channels. Considering that such sieve element necessitates additional manufacturing steps for assembly with the spray arm, providing for integral filter means as shown in the drawings is preferred.