Abstract: A dishwasher having a removable filtration system includes a main coarse filter screen having a central opening for removably fitting the filter screen around a water distribution manifold. The filter screen includes an outer circumferential rim portion have an elastomeric seal over-molded thereto which is press-fit into a channel in a lower sump unit such that the filter screen is suspended over a sump enclosure. A finer, secondary strainer extends through the filter screen and provides secondary filtering of washing fluid entering the sump enclosure through the filter screen. Preferably, the filtration system also includes a non-removable or backup strainer which provides coarse straining of washing fluid should a user fail to properly reinstall the removable filter screen and/or the secondary strainer.

Abstract: A household dishwasher with a bulk wash aid dispenser for metering individual charges of wash aid from a bulk wash aid supply.

Abstract: A household dishwasher with a bulk wash aid dispenser for metering individual charges of wash aid from a bulk wash aid supply.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dishwasher having a wash chamber including a sump. A pump having a rotating element is supported within a pump housing wherein the pump is adapted to draw liquid from the sump through an inlet area and then pump liquid to the wash chamber. A particle chopping assembly is supported in the inlet area upstream of the rotating element, the particle sizing assembly including a particle screen rotatably supporting drive shaft which drivingly supports a chopping blade adjacent the particle screen. The drive shaft has a coupling end which detachably couples to the rotating element. The coupling between the chopping blade and the rotating element is capable of accommodating axial tolerance with regard to the axial position of the rotating element.

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 trim assembly for a dishwasher tub having a U-shaped front flange disposed about a front opening. The front flange has radiused upper corners to minimize material stretching during tub forming. The trim assembly connects to the front flange of the tub and includes a pair of corner trim member, a plurality of straight trim members and a pair of tub trim spacers wherein the trim assembly forms a continuous frame of trim disposed about the peripheral edge of the front flange. The straight trim members frictionally engage the straight edge portions of the tub front flange. The pair of corner trim members snap connect to the tub flange upper corners such that the tub front flange is provided with square upper corners. The pair of bottom trim spacers are disposed at the bottom edges of the side trim members and complete the trim assembly. The bottom trim spacers function to deflect wash liquid running off from the dishwasher door back into the tub and serves as structural spacers in the tub support assembly.

Abstract: An automatic dishwasher comprising a metal wash tub mounted to a structural frame. The metal tub comprises multiple sides, which are welded together to form a weldment. The structural frame comprises a rear leg that is positioned beneath the bottom wall of the metal tub adjacent the weldment formed by the sidewall and the bottom wall. A retainer is mounted to the face of the leg and abuts the sidewall to mount the rear of the metal tub to the structural frame. The retainer conforms to the shape of the leg, weldment, and the sidewall to apply a clamping pressure thereto to clamp the weldment and the corner of the metal tub formed by the junction of the sidewall and the bottom wall between the retainer and the leg. The retainer and the leg have positioning means and alignment means to position and align the retainer relative to the leg for quick and easy assembly.

Abstract: A dishwasher is provided having a rotatable spray arm. The spray arm has a circular flange for rotatably mounting the spray arm to a hub. The flange has a varying vertical contour around the hub. Food particles that may become interposed between the flange and the hub can roll out from under the flange or can be broken down in size by an up and down action caused by the flange.

Abstract: A motor mount is provided for a dishwasher for preventing transmission of vibration generated by a motor through a pump to the dishwasher tub. The motor mount is secured at its base to the pump and includes a plurality of arms extending radially from the base for mounting the motor thereto. The arms are separate along their length from the pump, and are torsionally resilient, permitting the motor to vibrate torsionally with respect to the pump. The arms are radially and axially rigid, thereby preventing radial or axial motion of the motor.

Abstract: A silverware basket for use in a dishwasher, the silverware basket having a rear wall, a water previous front wall spaced from the rear wall, a water pervious bottom wall connecting the front and rear walls and a plurality of upper and lower dividers extending between the rear wall and the front wall to provide a substatially solid upper and lower barrier between the front and rear walls. The combination of the upper divider and lower divider define a substantially vertical plane or wall bounded by the rear wall, the bottom wall, the front wall and a top of the front wall, wherein a minority of an area of the plane or wall is solid. In the preferred embodiment, the dividers are formed integrally with and project from the rear wall toward and engage with the front wall. The lower divider is also formed integrally with the bottom wall.

Abstract: Water deflector member removably mountable to the base of a dishwasher tub in a preselected fixed position near the side edge of the door of the dishwasher such as to deflect into the tub water running down the corner between the tub side wall and the door. The preferred deflector member includes a resilient plug portion inserted into a vertical socket formed in the lower wall of the tub, a flat resilient deflector portion extending horizontally from the plug towards the door in a cantilever fashion, and a webbed portion extending in a vertical plane between the plug and the deflector portion. The webbed portion extends through a slot formed in the lower wall of the tub which further serves to drain the socket of water.

Abstract: A soil removal apparatus for a dishwashing machine including a stilling zone located in the sump of the dishwasher, and a receptacle located below the stilling zone for collecting and storing soil particles. The receptacle is also provided with a check valve and a second inlet as well as an outlet so that, upon operation of the dishwasher in the drain mode, drain water is routed through the receptacle for flushing soil particles from the receptacle to the outlet of the receptacle. During the draining operation, a check valve closes the first inlet of the receptacle.

Abstract: According to the invention, a fixed bolt is provided on the door of a dishwashing apparatus and cooperates with a strike plate on a cabinet, against which the door seats in a closed position, to latch the door in the closed position. The strike plate in addition to latching the door, concurrently activates a switch that is fixedly mounted on the door.

Abstract: A dishwasher structure having a centrifugal pump for providing dishwashing liquid to a spray arm thereof. The swirling motion of the dishwashing liquid effected by operation of the pump is utilized to divert a portion of the liquid to an accumulator wherein soil material is collected from the liquid. The cleansed liquid is returned to the pump chamber to be repumped with additional dishwashing liquid. The soil accumulating chamber is arranged concentrically about a guide chamber, in turn arranged concentrically about the pump chamber to provide a compact coaxial liquid cleansing structure. A drain is provided for draining the dishwashing liquid and collected soil at the end of the dishwashing cycle. A filter screen is provided at the inlet to the pump and an improved chopper is provided for comminuting solid soil matter at the upstream side of the filter screen.

Abstract: A dishwasher structure having a centrifugal pump for providing dishwashing liquid to a spray arm thereof. The swirling motion of the dishwashing liquid effected by operation of the pump is utilized to divert a portion of the liquid to an accumulator wherein soil material is collected from the liquid. The cleansed liquid is returned to the pump chamber to be repumped with additional dishwashing liquid. A drain is provided for draining the dishwashing liquid and collected soil at the end of the dishwashing cycle and is controlled by a pressure-responsive drain valve which is operated by differing pressure conditions automatically during dishwashing and drain cycles respectively.

Abstract: A dishwasher structure having a centrifugal pump for providing dishwashing liquid to a spray arm thereof. The swirling motion of the dishwashing liquid effected by operation of the pump is utilized to divert a portion of the liquid to an accumulator wherein soil material is collected from the liquid. The cleansed liquid is returned to the pump chamber to be repumped with additional dishwashing liquid. The soil accumulating chamber is arranged concentrically about a guide chamber, in turn arranged concentrically about the pump chamber to provide a compact coaxial liquid cleansing structure. A drain is provided for draining the dishwashing liquid and collected soil at the end of the dishwashing cycle.

Abstract: A self-aligning water jet receiver for a rotary spray arm rotatable about an axis of rotation on a dishwasher dish rack in which the rotatable spray arm is mounted on the dish rack and is rotated by the reaction force of water exiting through spray nozzles in the spray arm. An upwardly projected water jet supplies the water to the hollow spray arm. In this invention the liquid jet is received in a jet receiver that is mounted on the spray arm along the axis of rotation and is shiftable laterally by the force of the jet on the receiver to align the receiver coaxially with the jet.

Abstract: A dishwasher apparatus having an improved soil separator arranged to bypass a portion of the dishwashing liquid being circulated by the circulation impeller and to separate from the bypass portion of the dishwashing liquid soil which may have been entrained therein. The cleansed dishwashing liquid is then returned to the circulation system for reuse in effecting the dishwashing operation. The soil separator is further arranged to separate from the dishwashing liquid delivered thereto air which may have been entrained in the liquid and return the air to the dishwashing liquid being circulated for washing the dishes. The structure for collecting the soil is arranged to collect the soil from a relatively slowly moving portion of the bypassed liquid. The soil separator structure is arranged to effectively discharge the collected soil to drain upon initiation of a drain operation.

Abstract: A liquid swirler arranged to comminute relatively large solids so as to permit the comminuted solids to pass through openings in the swirler with a liquid flow induced therethrough. In the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus is utilized in a dishwasher having a pump for flowing dishwashing liquid through a flow passage of a centrifuge-type separator. The swirler effects a swirling movement of the liquid in the separator to permit the separator to remove the solids from the liquid before passing the liquid on to the pump. The swirler is arranged to provide the further function of breaking solids down to a small enough size to permit them to pass satisfactorily through the pump and dishwashing liquid circulation system. A resilient member is disposed adjacent the swirler to assist in breaking up relatively large solids by holding them suitably for comminuting action by the rotating swirler.

Abstract: A dishwasher having improved structure for separating food soil and the like from dishwashing liquid. The soil separating structure is associated with a suction passage leading to a circulation pump of the dishwasher provided for effecting circulation of the dishwashing liquid from a lower sump portion of the dishwasher receptacle back to the dishwashing space for washing dishes and the like therein. The soil separator includes an accumulator wherein the soil is collected for subsequent discharge as desired and structure responsive to a swirling action in the suction passage for effecting a circulation of a portion of the dishwashing liquid between the suction passage and the accumulator. The structure is arranged to utilize the combined swirling and longitudinal movement of the dishwashing liquid in the suction passage for effecting the desired soil separation by centrifugal action. Discarding of the collected soil may be effected by a suitable drain pump connected to the accumulator.