Abstract: A thermal input system is provided for a dishwasher having an interior wash chamber receiving soiled dishes and wash liquid. A heater is disposed in a sump region of the wash chamber along with a wash pump which operates to recirculate wash liquid through out the wash chamber. A soil collection chamber receives a portion of recirculating wash liquid from the wash pump wherein soils entrained in the wash liquid are captured within the soil collection chamber. A pressure sensor senses fluid pressure within the soil collection chamber. Control means are provided for energizing the heater during a thermal hold period in response to the pressure within the soil collector exceeding a predetermined limit pressure. In particular, the control means operates to sequence the dishwasher through a predetermined period of operation but bypasses the thermal hold cycle when the pressure within the soil collector does not exceed the predetermined limit pressure.

Abstract: A pump system for a dishwasher including a pump housing defining a pump chamber having an inverted frustroconical shape including an upwardly angled annular outer wall. An impeller is disposed within the pump chamber. An annular soil collection chamber is disposed partially above the pump chamber such that the bottom wall of the soil collection chamber forms the top wall of the pump chamber. Wash liquid is supplied into the soil collection chamber from the pump chamber through an opening provided in the bottom wall of the soil collection chamber located at the upper, peripheral portion of the pump chamber. The upwardly angled annular wall of the pump chamber promotes soil movement into the soil collection chamber by directing soils toward the upper portion of the pump chamber. The soil collection chamber is formed by an annular soil collector housing and a cover.

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.

Abstract: A soil separator for a dishwasher includes soil accumulator channels open to the dishwasher chamber but covered by a filter screen having a fine filter region and a coarse filter region. Accumulator sumps are arranged below the accumulator channels. The shallow accumulator channels allow water to flush soil from an inside of the screen to the accumulator sumps. The channel below the fine filter region is flow connected through a pressure control valve or standpipe to the channel below the coarse filter region. If the fine filter region becomes clogged, the soil laden water can be passed into the coarse filter region for coarse screening.

Abstract: A soil separator and water distributor for a dishwasher having an annular screen facing into the dish compartment for screening wash water, and a rotating flush arm above the annular screen for flushing soil from an underside of the screen, and a separate wash water arm above the flush arm for spraying the dishes. The wash water arm can thus be flow separated from the flush water arm. Thus, the wash water arm can be operated intermittently while the flush water arm can be operated continuously.

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 accumulator channel. The soil accumulator channel is open to the dishwasher chamber but covered by a filter screen. An accumulator sump is arranged below the accumulator channel. The accumulator channel is partially formed by a plate or grating provided with spaced radial slots to allow soil to drop into the accumulator sump as it progresses around the accumulator channel. The shallow accumulator channel allows water to flush soil from an inside of the screen to the accumulator sump.

Abstract: A domestic blender having a blade carried on a shaft, with the shaft being supported for rotation within a sleeve shape bearing is provided with a seal to prevent passage of liquid into an area between the blade shaft and the bearing. The seal is an annular member having a central opening sized to snugly fit around the blade shaft and with a perpendicularly extending flange having an inner diameter size to snugly fit around an outer circumferential surface of the bearing. Preferably the seal rotates with the shaft and slides along the bearing which may be accomplished by providing the shaft with a non-circular cross section and the seal with a complementarily shaped opening. Preferably the seal is formed of a lubricated plastic material to reduce friction and wear.

Abstract: A jar, preferably for a domestic blender, is provided with an external thread at a lower end for engaging with an internally threaded base member. The threads have a varying radial position along the axial length of the threaded area to assist in the assembly of the two parts and to prevent cross threading. In the disclosed embodiment, the jar has a frusto-conically shaped lower portion on which a constant height thread is formed. The base member has a cylindrical wall with a thread having a varying radial height to complement the position of the jar thread.

Abstract: A wash arm assembly for a dishwasher includes a plurality of wash arms extending radially from a hub. The hub includes an interior fluid passageway, and is rotatably mounted on a dishwasher soil separator. Each wash arm includes a plurality of apertures for permitting wash liquid to flow therethrough, at least one of which on each spray arm is directed downwardly to provide a downwardly directed cleansing spray of wash liquid. Mounted to the wash arms is a disc-shaped filter guard which includes a plurality of elongate apertures, each of which apertures corresponds to a downwardly directed wash arm aperture. Disposed within each elongate aperture is an elongate tab having a planar surface, which is disposed adjacent to and partially overlying the corresponding wash arm aperture. The soil separator includes an upward-facing cover, which cover includes an annular fine filter coaxially located with the wash arm assembly axis.