Fluid Coupling Assembly for a Dishwasher

Abstract

A fluid coupling assembly is provided for releasably connecting a wash fluid supply line of a dishwasher to an upper spray arm assembly of the dishwasher. The fluid conduit assembly includes an extensible tower that is moved into an extended position, engaging the coupling of a feed tube for the upper spray arm assembly for the dishwasher when wash fluid is passed therethrough, and is automatically disconnected and moves to a retracted, non-engaging position when the flow of wash fluid is discontinued so as not to interfere with the sliding movement of the upper and lower dish racks of the dishwasher for loading and unloading of dishes therefrom.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention generally relates to dishwashers, and in particular to a flexible fluid coupling assembly for connecting a wash fluid supply line of a dishwasher to an upper spray arm assembly of the dishwasher.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A significant majority of dishwashers being manufactured today typically have an upper and a lower rack or basket in which dishware to be cleaned by the dishwasher are loaded. The lower rack of the dishwasher generally is positioned at the lowest practical level within the wash chamber, while the upper rack generally is positioned above the lower rack and adjacent the upper portion or top of the wash chamber of the dishwasher so as to provide the maximum amount of useful volume inside the wash chamber of the dishwasher for loading dishes. Jets of water or other cleaning fluids are directed at dishes contained within the upper and lower racks at various angles so as to pass through the racks and strike the surf...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]Briefly described, the present invention generally relates to a fluid coupling assembly for a dishwasher to facilitate formation of a substantially water-tight connection between a wash fluid supply line and an upper spray arm assembly for the dishwasher, which coupling will be disconnected upon the drop in fluid pressure when the flow of wash fluid through the fluid supply line is shut off for opening and

Problems solved by technology

However, providing an efficient, enhanced washing action to the upper rack of dishwashers has traditionally proven to be a more difficult task.

In addition, it is often desirable to make the upper rack vertically adjustable to provide more flexibility in loading larger items into the dishwasher, which adjustment of the upper rack further limits the design of the water supply system.

Problems that have been observed with such a system have included limited wash action and coverage provided by the tower, as opposed to a rotating spray arm located directly beneath the upper rack, the loss of rack space due to the positioning of the tower in the center of the rack, which thus limits the available space for loading dishes, as was well as the potential for one or more of the spray nozzles to be partially or completely blocked by large dishes placed into the lower rack by the user, thus preventing efficient cleaning of the dishes loaded in the upper rack.

Such a system, however, still suffers from many of the same drawbacks of the fixed tower system, because even though the retractable tower collapses when the pump is off, the user still cannot load dishes within the area where the tower extends, as doing so would block the extension of the tower.

The challenge presented by such a system is, however, designing an efficient washer distribution system that supplies water to the spray arm without interfering with or consuming space in the lower rack that is needed for loading dishes, while at the same time, avoiding an unacceptable large loss of head pressure in the wash water being supplied thereto.

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