Abstract: A dishwasher rack which includes a basket supporting a plurality of fences rotatably about a common axis. The basket has a plurality of wires forming a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a front and back wall. The bottom wall has a plurality of upwardly oriented tines connected to and extending from the bottom wall in a first area and further has an open area without upwardly oriented tines. A first fence is provided having an axle wire and a plurality of support wires. The axle wire is rotatably supported adjacent the bottom wall such that the first fence may be rotated between a front position and a back position. A second fence is provided having a connection wire and a plurality of support wires. The connection wire is rotatably connected to axle wire such that the second fence may rotate about the axle wire between a front position and a back position.

Abstract: A pyrolytic self-cleaning oven having a catalytic composition positioned in the oven cavity or exhaust gas passage in order to complete the combustion and/or the oxidation of gases produced by a process carried out inside the oven. The catalytic composition is supported by a ceramic coating on a metal wire. The metal wire is electrically connected to a control system of the oven for controlling the cooking and/or pyrolytic cleaning process. The catalytic composition carried on the metal wire may be part of a net-shaped catalytic element.

Abstract: A soil sensing system is provided for a dishwasher having an interior wash chamber receiving soiled dishes wherein during a wash cycle wash liquid is sprayed throughout the wash chamber through an upper wash arm and a lower wash arm and soils are collected in a soil collector. The soil collector includes a filter screen which is backwashed by the wash arm. A pressure sensor measures the pressure within the soil collector to provide an input which corresponds to the presence of soils. In order to improve the sensitivity of the pressure based soil sensing, the lower wash arm is deactivated. Deactivating the lower wash arm ceases the backflushing of the collection chamber's filter screen and allows pressure to build within the soil collector in the presence of only light or oily soils. A response is activated if the actual pressure within the collection chamber is greater than a predetermined limit pressure.

Abstract: A dishwasher having a wash chamber or tub including a sump and a side wall. A pump is fluidly connected with the sump and a supply tube is supported adjacent the tub side wall and receives wash liquid from the pump, the supply tube has a manifold portion including a plurality of outlet openings. A coupling retainer is connected to the supply tube and has a plurality of funnel shaped coupling ports corresponding in number and spacing to the outlet openings of the supply tube. Each of the coupling ports includes a center opening which is provided with a sealing surface. A valve member supports a plurality of valve elements for sealing the outlet openings and is captured between the coupling retainer and the supply tube such that the valve elements generally align with the coupling ports. At least one adjustable height basket is supported within the tub and a spray arm is associated with the adjustable height basket and has a feed tube extending toward the supply tube.

Abstract: A removable ice bucket for an ice making system for a refrigerator and more particularly a removable ice bucket disposable in a refrigerator for receipt of ice pieces from an ice maker disposed in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. The ice bucket has a base and a plurality of upwardly extending side walls cooperating to form a storage bin. A first handle is formed in an upper portion of a first side walls and a second handle is formed in a lower portion of a second of said side walls. A spout is formed above the first handle. The handles facilitate quick and sanitary removal of the ice bucket from the freezer and dispensing of the ice pieces.

Abstract: A water dispenser for a refrigerator door having a water delivery port. The dispenser includes a base mounted to the door for forming a compartment enclosing the water delivery port. The base has an aperture for accessing the interior of the compartment and the water delivery port. A cover is pivotably supported by the base and is biased for closing the aperature. The cover pivots inwardly into the e compartment for accessing the water delivery port.

Abstract: A wash liquid recirculation system for a dishwasher is provided including a unique soil separating system. The recirculation system includes a wash pump which is provided with an internal filter plate to concentrate soils. The wash pump includes an impeller disposed within a pump housing or casing. When energized, the wash pump draws wash liquid from a sump area and pumps wash liquid through the impeller into the pump housing or casing. The filter plate is disposed within the casing for dividing the casing into a first and second region and for concentrating soils in the second region. Concentrated soils are delivered from the second region to a soil collection system. The filter plate is disposed radially outwardly from the impeller, substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the impeller.

Abstract: A modular ice maker having a frame formed from a base, a tub resting on the base, and a pair of opposing side panels affixed to opposing sides of side tub and base assembly. The ice maker has a refrigerated compartment with a ice forming and dispensing device and an ice storage bin receiving and storing ice from the ice forming and dispensing device. An inner door or chute rotates about a horizontal axis to provide access to the ice storage bin and to provide a surface extending outwardly of the refrigerated compartment to redirect and guide dropped ice back into the ice storage bin. An outer door sealingly closing the refrigerated compartment is provided with a surface adapted for providing a camming action to drive the inner door upwardly when the outer door is closed.

Abstract: A method for sensing overheating of a food container positioned on a glass ceramic cooking hob, for example during the preparation of a food contained in said container, electrical heating elements being provided for predefined regions of said hob. The method includes continuously measuring the variation in temperature of the region of the cooking hob during the activation of a corresponding heating element on which the container is positioned on the hob. The method further includes halting said activation when said temperature undergoes a sudden increase relative to a temperature value maintained substantially constant with time during activation of the heating element.

Abstract: An oven capable of being operated in a self-cleaning cycle wherein the time period of the self clean cycle is responsive to the amount of soil accumulation in the oven. The oven includes a cooking chamber, a heating device for supplying heat into the cooking chamber and an exhaust flue extending from the cooking chamber leading to atmosphere. A heat control device is provided for controlling the operation of the heating device and an input device is used for signaling the heat control device to initiate the self-cleaning cycle. A gas sensor communicates with the exhaust flue for measuring a concentration of a gas component produced from combustion of food soils within the cooking chamber. The gas sensor has a signal output indicative of the measured concentration of the gas component during the self-cleaning cycle. The heat control device receives successive gas concentration signals from the gas sensor and calculates a gas concentration versus time curve.

Abstract: The invention includes a liquid pumping system. The liquid is preferably condensate and the condensate pumping system may include a tank having an upper reservoir and a sump disposed below the upper reservoir. The upper reservoir may include an orifice and may be positioned to receive condensate from an evaporator. The condensate pumping system may also include a device to seal the orifice, a condensate tube connected to the sump, and an air pump attached to the sump through an air tube.

Abstract: A low cost method and apparatus for indicating when to replace a water filter in a water and ice delivery system for a refrigerator. The invention uses a low cost microprocessor and senses the operational condition of an ice maker water valve, a water dispenser valve to monitor and track water usage. The microprocessor has a built-in memory to retain water usage and other data during a power outage, The invention also senses the status of a door switch to permit user input of a reset message indicating that the filter has been changed as well as an input indicating a different type of filter has been installed. The microprocessor controls a tri-color light emitting diode to display the status of the filter as “good”, “order” or “change” which is determined based on the selection of the type of filter system, the amount of time since the last filter change, and the amount of water usage since the last filter change.

Abstract: A mesh bag for holding small items in a dishwasher. The bag preferably includes a top frame having a resilient front rail member and a resilient rear rail member. Each rail member has opposite ends. The rail members are pivotably joined at their ends such that the rail members are disposed adjacent each other. A mesh body depends from the top frame and has a substantially flat, rectangular shape. The mesh body includes a first mesh side wall and a second mesh side wall joined together along opposite side edges and a bottom edge. The top edge of the first mesh side wall is connected to the front rail member and the top edge of the second mesh side wall is connected to the rear rail such that the frame forms a closure mechanism for the bag.

Abstract: A gas valve assembly for forming a plurality of valves is provided which includes a unitary valve body having a gas supply passage interconnected to a plurality of flow control chambers wherein the gas supply passage is interconnected with a supply of gas. A plurality of valve plugs corresponding in number to the number of flow control chambers are provided wherein each of the valve plugs is rotatably disposed in one of the flow control chambers. A plurality of gear train assemblies operate for rotating the valve plugs within the flow control chambers. A valve cover encloses the plurality of gear trains and mounts to the valve body. A plurality of motors, secured to the valve cover, operate to rotate the valve plugs within the flow control chambers, wherein the plurality of flow control chambers and corresponding valve plugs form a plurality of valves provided in a single valve body.

Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub which includes a bottom sump and a side wall wherein a first dishware rack is supported within the tub and a second dishware rack is supported within the tub above the first dishware rack. A pump is provided for drawing wash liquid from the sump for pumping wash liquid through a pump outlet. A hub member is attached to the spray arm and extends downwardly from the spray arm. The hub member includes a bearing flange surface. A cap member which is connectable to the pump outlet has an annular bearing surface arranged between the bearing flange surface and the spray arm. The cap member is connectable to a housing wall provided about the pump outlet without the use of fasteners such that the spray arm may be readily connected to the pump outlet. The cap member is further provided with a discharge conduit. A supply line extends from the discharge conduit and is secured to the tub.

Abstract: A soil separator for a dishwasher includes a centrifugal soil collection wall surrounded by a spill over guide channel, surrounded by a shallow annular soil accumulator channel. The soil accumulator channel is open to the dishwasher chamber but covered by a filter screen. The accumulator channel is shallow beneath the screen and empties downwardly into an accumulator sump where accumulated soil is periodically drained. The shallow accumulator channel allows water to flush an inside of the screen to carry soil to the accumulator sump.