DISH WASHER

Abstract

The spray nozzle of a dish washer comprises a nozzle port and a guide unit provided on an outside of the nozzle port, the guide unit being provided with a slide surface extended at an inner circumferential surface of the nozzle port. Water flow having a water screen shape can be sprayed from the spray nozzle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0160744, filed on Nov. 16, 2015 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a dishwasher, and more particularly to a dishwasher having a spray nozzle which is improved to allow washing water to be widely spread so as to improve washing efficiency.

2. Description of Related Art

A dishwasher is a home appliance configured to automatically wash food slop remained on a dishware, a spoon and a variety of utensils (hereinafter referred to as “dishware”) by using detergent and washing water.

In a conventional manner, a dishwasher includes a body in which a washing tub is provided, a rack assembly disposed to be withdrawable in the washing tub, and a spray device configured to spray washing water. A dishware is stored in the rack assembly and then washing water that is sprayed from the spray device washes the dishware.

The spray device includes a rotary method to spray washing water while a spray nozzle is rotated by a water pressure and a linear method in which a spray nozzle is not fixed and a reflection panel reflecting washing water sprayed from the spray nozzle is linearly moved back and forth.

A spray nozzle in the rotary method typically sprays linear water flow via a circular nozzle port, but the rotary method has a limitation in improving the washing efficiency since the linear water flow has relatively small area of a dishware with which washing water is in direct contact.

There may be a structure to convert the linear water flow into a face-type water flow by reflecting the linear water flow, but it will cause the energy loss when water flow sprayed from the nozzle port is hit by a reflection member.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a spray nozzle for a dishwasher having an improved structure to allow a spray range of washing water to be wider.

It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a spray nozzle for a dishwasher having an improved structure to minimize a pressure loss while widely spreading washing water.

Additional aspects of the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present disclosure.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a dish washer includes a body, a washing tub provided inside of the body and a spray nozzle rotatably coupled to a water supply pipe to spray washing water in the washing tub, wherein the spray nozzle comprises a body unit provided with a main flow path configured to receive water from the water supply pipe and a nozzle port configured to spray water in the main flow path to the outside and a guide unit provided on an outside of the nozzle port to guide washing water sprayed from the nozzle port, and provided with a slide surface extended at an inner circumferential surface of the nozzle port.

Washing water sprayed from the nozzle port may flow along the slide surface as soon as being sprayed from the nozzle port

When viewed in a cross section of the spray nozzle taken along a vertical direction, an angle between a tangent line of a start point of the slide surface and a tangent line of an end point of the slide surface may be larger than approximately 90 degree

When viewed in a cross section of the spray nozzle taken along a vertical direction, the tangent line of the end point of the slide surface may be tilted with respect to a vertical line.

When viewed in a cross section of the spray nozzle taken along a vertical direction, the tangent line of the start point of the slide surface may be tilted with respect to a horizontal line.

When viewed in a cross section of the spray nozzle taken along a vertical direction, the nozzle port may be tilted with respect to a horizontal line.

An outlet of the nozzle port may have a square shape having an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge and a right edge.

The slide surface may be extended from the lower edge.

The body unit may comprise a main body connected to the water supply pipe and a cover body coupled to the main body.

The main flow path may be formed between the cover body and the main body.

The nozzle port may be formed in the main body.

The nozzle port may be formed between the cover body and the main body.

The guide unit may be integrally formed with the main body.

The cover body and the main body respectively may comprise a coupling unit o be coupled to each other.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a dish washer comprise a body, a washing tub provided inside of the body and a spray nozzle rotatably coupled to a water supply pipe to spray washing water in the washing tub, wherein the spray nozzle comprises a main body connected to the water supply pipe, a cover body coupled to the main body, a main flow path formed between the main body and the cover body, a nozzle port configured to spray water in the main flow path, and a guide unit provided on an outside of the nozzle port to guide washing water sprayed from the nozzle port, and provided with a slide surface extended at an inner circumferential surface of the nozzle port.

The nozzle port may be formed in the main body.

The nozzle port may be formed between the cover body and the main body.

The guide unit may be integrally formed with the main body.

The cover body and the main body respectively may compris a coupling unit to be coupled to each other.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a dish washer comprise a body, a washing tub provided inside of the body, a spray nozzle rotatably coupled to a water supply pipe to spray washing water in the washing tub, wherein the spray nozzle comprises a nozzle port configured to spray washing water, and a guide unit provided with a slide surface configured to allow washing water sprayed from the nozzle port to flow therealong as soon as the washing water is sprayed from the nozzle port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a dishwasher in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a spray nozzle in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of illustrating the spray nozzle in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating a surrounding of a nozzle port of the spray nozzle in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are side cross sectional views illustrating the spray nozzle in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a motion of the spray nozzle in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a spray nozzle in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view illustrating a surrounding of a nozzle port of the spray nozzle in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are side cross sectional views illustrating the spray nozzle in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification, and the size and thickness of each component illustrated in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for understanding and ease of description, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Thicknesses of several portions and regions are enlarged for clear expressions.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, but elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element.

The term of “and/or” includes a plurality of combinations of relevant items or any one item among a plurality of relevant items.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “in a front side”, “in a rear side”, “ in an upper side”, “in a lower side”, “in a left side”, or “in a right side” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present.

The present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a dishwasher in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, a dishwasher 1 may include a body 10; a washing tub 11 provided in the body 10 to form a space for washing a dishware; a spray device configured to spray washing water to wash a dishware disposed in the washing tub 11; and a sump assembly 20 configured to store washing water and configured to supply the washing water to the spray device.

A front surface of the body 10 may be opened to store a dishware in the washing tub 11 and to withdraw the dishware from the washing tub 11. A door 12 may be provided in the front surface of the body 10, wherein a lower end of the door is hinge-coupled to a lower portion of the front surface of the body 10 so that the door 12 is rotated to open and close the washing tub 11.

A dishware basket 14 having an accommodation unit in which a dishware is stored may be provided in the washing tub 11. The dishware basket 14 may be moved back and forth in the washing tub 11. The dishware basket 14 may be supported by a rack in a slide manner.

The dishware basket 14 may be formed by a wire disposed in a grid shape so that a dishware stored therein is exposed to the outside and then washed.

The dishware basket 14 may be provided in plural and each dishware basket may be disposed one on top of another. That is, the dishware basket 14 may include an upper dishware basket 14a and a lower dishware basket 14b. The upper dishware basket 14a may be supported by an upper rack 15a and the lower dishware basket 14b may be supported by a lower rack 15b. However, the number of the dishware basket 14 is not limited thereto.

The spray device may include a water supply pipe 16 and 17 connected to the sump assembly 20 to be supplied with water and a spray nozzle 30 and 31 rotatably connected to the water supply pipe 16 and 17 to spray washing water.

An upper spray nozzle 31 may receive water from an upper water supply pipe 17 to spray the water toward the upper dishware basket 14a, and a lower spray nozzle 30 may receive water from a lower water supply pipe 16 to spray the water toward the lower dishware basket 14b. A detail structure of the upper spray nozzle 31 and the lower spray nozzle 30 will be described later.

A heater 24 configured to heat washing water may be provided in the washing tub 11. A heater installation groove 25 may be formed on a bottom of the washing tub 11 wherein the heater 24 may be installed in the heater installation groove 25.

The dishwasher may include a sump assembly configured to collect washing water to supply the washing water to the spray device. The sump assembly 20 may include a sump 23 provided in the middle of the bottom of the washing tub 11 to store washing water, a pump 22 configured to pump the washing water to the spray device, and a motor 21 configured to drive the pump 22.

The sump assembly 20 may include a turbidity sensor (not shown) configured to detect a pollution level of washing water. A controller (not shown) of the dish washer 1 may detect a pollution level of washing water using the turbidity sensor (not shown), and control the number of washing cycle or rinsing cycle. That is, when the pollution level is high, the controller (not shown) may increase the number of washing cycle or rinsing cycle, but when the pollution level is low, the controller (not shown) may reduce the number of washing cycle or rinsing cycle.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a spray nozzle in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of illustrating the spray nozzle in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating a surrounding of a nozzle port of the spray nozzle in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 5 and 6 are side cross sectional views illustrating the spray nozzle in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a motion of the spray nozzle in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

The spray nozzle according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7.

The structure of the upper spray nozzle 31 is the same as the structure of the lower spray nozzle 30, and thus only the lower spray nozzle 30 will be described.

The spray nozzle 30 may be rotatably coupled to an end portion of the water supply pipe 17. The spray nozzle 30 may be rotated by a reaction generated by washing water sprayed from the spray nozzle 30. At least one coupling member 71 and 72 may be disposed between the spray nozzle 30 and the water supply pipe 17 to rotatably couple the spray nozzle 30 to the water supply pipe 17.

The spray nozzle 30 may include a body unit. The body unit may be formed such that a plurality of bodies 40 and 50 are coupled to each other. That is, the body unit may include a main body 50 connected to the water supply pipe 17 and a cover body 40 connected to the main body 50.

According to one embodiment, when the spray nozzle 30 is configured to spray water to an upper direction, the cover body 40 may be disposed on an upper side of the main body 50. In contrast, when the spray nozzle 30 is configured to spray water to a lower direction, the cover body 40 may be disposed on a lower side of the main body 50.

A nozzle port 61 described later and a main flow path 32 may be formed on the body unit. However, the embodiment is an exemplary embodiment and thus the body unit of the spray nozzle 30 may be formed such that three or more bodies are coupled to each other or the body unit of the spray nozzle 30 may be formed by a single body as needed.

The cover body 40 and the main body 50 may respectively include a coupling unit so that the cover body 40 and the main body 50 are coupled to each other. For example, a coupling protrusion 41 and a coupling groove 52 may be formed on the cover body 40 and the main body 50, respectively. That is, the cover body 40 and the main body 50 may be coupled to each other such that the coupling protrusion 41 is inserted into the coupling groove 52. The coupling method is not limited thereto. A coupling groove may be formed on the cover body 40 and a coupling protrusion 41 may be formed on the main body 50, and there may be no limitation in the number and the shape of the coupling protrusion 41 and the coupling groove 52.

The cover body 40 and the main body 50 may be coupled to each other by a thermal bonding method or an ultrasonic bonding method as well as the above mentioned insertion method. Using the thermal bonding method or the ultrasonic bonding method, the cover body 40 and the main body 50 may more strongly coupled to each other, and a bonding surface of airtightness may be improved so that a leakage is prevented.

In the main body 50, a rotation axis 51 connected to the water supply pipe 17, a nozzle port 61 configured to spray washing water, and a guide 65 configured to guide washing water to be sprayed to the nozzle port 61 may be integrally formed with each other.

The cover body 40 may be coupled to an upper side of the main body 50. The main flow path 32 configured to guide water, which is introduced from the water supply pipe 17, to the nozzle port 61 may be formed between the cover body 40 and the main body 50. The main flow path 32 may be mostly formed to be long in a longitudinal direction of the spray nozzle 30. The nozzle port 61 may be formed on the main body 50. At least one nozzle outlet 61 may be provided. The nozzle port 61 may be communicated with the main flow path 32 so that water is sprayed to the outside. A plurality of the nozzle ports 61 may be apart from each other with a certain interval in the longitudinal direction of the main flow path 32.

An outlet 63 of the nozzle port 61 may be formed in an approximately square shape other than a circle. That is, the outlet 63 of the nozzle port 61 may include an upper edge 63a, a lower edge 63b, a left edge 63c and a right edge 63d, wherein the edges may form a certain angle.

The guide 65 may be formed on an outside of the nozzle port 61 to guide washing water sprayed from the nozzle port 61. The guide 65 as a slide surface 66 may be integrally formed with the main body 50, but is not limited thereto. The guide 65 as a guide unit may be separately formed from the main body 50 and then assembled to the main body 50.

The guide unit 65 may include a slide surface 66 configured to change a direction of washing water sprayed from the nozzle port 61 and to allow the washing water sprayed from the nozzle port 61 to be spread.

The slide surface 66 may change the direction of washing water sprayed from the nozzle port 61 to an upper direction. The slide surface 66 may be formed in a curved shape, and a curvature thereof may be constant or variable between a start point 66a and an end point 66b of the slide surface 66.

The direction of the washing water sprayed from the nozzle port 61 may be changed into the upper direction while flowing along the slide surface 66, and in this process, the washing water may be widely spread by a resistance due to the slide surface 66.

Particularly, the slide surface 66 may be extended at an inner circumferential surface 62 of the nozzle port 61. That is, the slide surface 66 may be directly connected to the inner circumferential surface 62 of the nozzle port 61 without a break. Particularly, the slide surface 66 may be extended from the lower edge 63b of the outlet 63 of the nozzle port 61.

Therefore, as soon as the washing water is sprayed from the nozzle port 61, the washing water sprayed from the nozzle port 61 may flow along the slide surface 66 of the guide unit 65.

As mentioned above, since the washing water sprayed from the nozzle port 61 flows along the slide surface 66 of the guide unit 65, as soon as being sprayed from the nozzle port 61, the washing water may not hit on the slide surface 66. Therefore, since the loss of kinetic energy due to collision will not occur, the washing water may be changed into an even surface shape along the slide surface 66 without being scattered in various directions.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the spray nozzle 30 that is cut in a vertical direction in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a relationship between angles of FIG. 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, according to one embodiment, in order to reduce the loss of the pressure of the washing water sprayed from the spray nozzle 30, the slide surface 66 may be provided such that an angle (θ1) between a tangent line (T1) of the start point 66a and a tangent line (T2) of the end point 66b is larger than 90 degree.

In this case, the tangent line (T1) of the start point 66a of the slide surface 66 may be tilted by a certain angle (θ2, 0 degree<θ2<90 degree) about the horizon (H). Therefore, in comparison with the spray nozzle 30 formed to be horizontal or vertical, a size of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the spray nozzle 30 may be reduced. In addition, since the size of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the spray nozzle 30 is reduced, a washing space in which a dishware is stored may be relatively increased, but is not limited thereto. According to another embodiment, a tangent line (T1) of a start point 266a of a slide surface 266 may be formed to be horizontal, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

The tangent line (T2) of the end point 66b of the slide surface 66 may be tilted by a certain angle (θ3, 0 degree<θ3<90 degree) about the vertical (V). Therefore, since a reaction force generated when the washing water is sprayed from the spray nozzle 30 has a horizontal direction component, the spray nozzle 30 may be rotated without an additional rotation device.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, when water is supplied to the spray nozzle 30 from the sump assembly 20 through the water supply pipe 17, washing water sprayed from the nozzle port 61 of the spray nozzle 30 may be guided through the guide unit 65 and then changed into a water flow (C) having a face shape. Accordingly, the spray nozzle 30 may be rotated by the reaction force of the washing water without an additional rotation device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a spray nozzle in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 9 is an enlarged view illustrating a surrounding of a nozzle port of the spray nozzle in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are side cross sectional views illustrating the spray nozzle in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter a spray nozzle of a dishwasher according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11. Like reference numerals to those used in the above mentioned embodiment denote like features in the dishwasher according to another embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

A spray nozzle 230 may be formed such that a cover body 240 and a main body 250 are assembled to each other.

Between the cover body 240 and the main body 250, a nozzle port 261 configured to spray washing water and a main flow path 232 configured to guide water introduced from a water supply pipe to the nozzle port 261 may be formed. A guide unit 265 configured to guide washing water sprayed from the nozzle port 261 may be formed in the main body 250.

The nozzle port 261 may be provided in plural. An outlet 263 of the nozzle port 261 may be formed in an approximately square shape other than a circle. That is, the outlet 263 of the nozzle port 261 may include an upper edge 263a, a lower edge 263b, a left edge 263c and a right edge 263d, wherein the edges may form a certain angle.

The guide unit 265 may be formed on an outside of the nozzle port 261 to guide washing water sprayed from the nozzle port 261. The guide unit 265 may include a slide surface 266 configured to change a direction of washing water sprayed from the nozzle port 261 and to allow the washing water sprayed from the nozzle port 261 to be spread.

Particularly, the slide surface 266 may be extended at an inner circumferential surface 262 of the nozzle port 261. That is, the slide surface 266 may be directly connected to the inner circumferential surface 262 of the nozzle port 261 without a break. Particularly, the slide surface 266 may be extended from the lower edge 263b of the outlet 263 of the nozzle port 261.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the proposed dishwasher, since water flow having a water screen shape is sprayed from the spray nozzle, it may be possible to increase an area in which water flow is in direct contact with a dishware and to increase mechanical energy of water flow so that the washing force is improved.

Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A dish washer, comprising:

a body;

a washing tub provided inside of the body; and

a spray nozzle rotatably coupled to a water supply pipe to spray water inside the washing tub,

wherein the spray nozzle comprises a body unit provided with a main flow path to receive water from the water supply pipe and a nozzle port to spray the water received in the main flow path to outside of the body unit towards the inside of the washing tub; and a guide unit including a slide surface disposed outside of the nozzle port and extended at an inner circumferential surface of the nozzle port to guide the spray of the water from the nozzle port.

2. The dish washer of claim 1, wherein

the water sprayed from the nozzle port further flows along the slide surface while the water is sprayed from the nozzle port.

3. The dish washer of claim 1, wherein

the guide unit is disposed such that when viewed in a cross section of the spray nozzle taken along a vertical direction of the dish washer, an angle between a tangent line of a start point of the slide surface and a tangent line of an end point of the slide surface is larger than approximately 90 degree.

4. The dish washer of claim 1, wherein

the guide unit is disposed such that when viewed in a cross section of the spray nozzle taken along a vertical direction of the dish washer, the tangent line of the end point of the slide surface is tilted with respect to a vertical line of the vertical direction.

5. The dish washer of claim 1, wherein

the guide unit is disposed such that when viewed in a cross section of the spray nozzle taken along a vertical direction of the dish washer, the tangent line of the start point of the slide surface is tilted with respect to a horizontal line of the dish washer.

6. The dish washer of claim 1, wherein

the guide unit is disposed such that when viewed in a cross section of the spray nozzle taken along a vertical direction of the dish washer, the nozzle port is tilted with respect to a horizontal line of the dish washer.

7. The dish washer of claim 1, wherein

an outlet of the nozzle port has an approximate square shape having an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge and a right edge.

8. The dish washer of claim 7, wherein

the slide surface is extended from the lower edge.

9. The dish washer of claim 1, wherein

the body unit comprises a main body connected to the water supply pipe and a cover body coupled to the main body.

10. The dish washer of claim 9, wherein

the main flow path is formed between the cover body and the main body.

11. The dish washer of claim 9, wherein

the nozzle port is formed in the main body.

12. The dish washer of claim 9, wherein

the nozzle port is formed between the cover body and the main body.

13. The dish washer of claim 9, wherein

the disposed guide unit is integrally formed with the main body.

14. The dish washer of claim 9, wherein

the cover body and the main body respectively comprise a coupling unit to be coupled to each other.

15. A dish washer, comprising:

a body;

a washing tub provided inside of the body; and

a spray nozzle rotatably coupled to a water supply pipe to spray water inside the washing tub,

wherein the spray nozzle comprises a main body coupled to the water supply pipe; a cover body coupled to the main body; a main flow path formed between the main body and the cover body; a nozzle port to spray the water received in the main flow path; and a slide surface disposed outside of the nozzle port to extend at an inner circumferential surface of the nozzle port to guide a spray of the water on the slide surface towards the inside of the washing tub.

16. The dish washer of claim 15, wherein

the nozzle port is formed in the main body.

17. The dish washer of claim 15, wherein

the nozzle port is formed between the cover body and the main body.

18. The dish washer of claim 15, wherein

the disposed slide surface is integrally formed with the main body.

19. The dish washer of claim 15, wherein

the cover body and the main body respectively comprise a coupling unit to be coupled to each other.

20. A dish washer, comprising:

a body;

a washing tub provided inside of the body; and

a spray nozzle rotatably coupled to a water supply pipe to spray water inside the washing tub,

wherein the spray nozzle comprises a nozzle port configured to spray the water; and a slide surface corresponding to the nozzle port to guide the spray of the water on the slide surface from the nozzle port.