EP4368094A1

EP4368094A1 - A dishwasher comprising a filtering mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP4368094A1
Application number: EP23207204.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet DIKSAN; Orhan Atabey
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2022-11-07
Filing date: 2023-10-31
Publication date: 2024-05-15

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a washing tub wherein the dishes to be washed are loaded; a sump which is disposed at the lower side of the washing tub and wherein the water in the washing tub is collected during the washing process; and a filtering mechanism (1) which is disposed in the sump, which is cylindrical and which has a micro filter (3) collecting the dirt in the water, a coarse filter (2) placed on the micro filter (3) and a conical guiding member (4) hung at the base of the coarse filter (2) so as to extend into the micro filter (3) and guiding the water passing through the coarse filter (2) towards the lateral wall of the micro filter (3). The water reaching the filtering mechanism (1) passes through the coarse filter (2), then hits the lateral surface of the guiding member (4) disposed at the lower side of the coarse filter (2) and is directed towards the lateral wall of the micro filter (3).

Description

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a filtering mechanism with improved dirt retention performance.
Dishwashers comprises a sump which is disposed at the bottom of the washing tub, where the water in the washing tub is collected during the washing process, and a filtering mechanism which is disposed in the sump and which has a coarse filter and a micro filter. The filtering mechanism becomes clogged due to dirt adhering thereto, especially after consecutive washings. Loss of function of the filtering mechanism causes the performance of the dishwasher to decrease. In order to prevent the filtering mechanism from losing its function, the user is requested to remove and clean the filters periodically. However, many users either never clean the filtering mechanism or cannot replace the same properly after the cleaning. Therefore, in the state of the art, various solutions have been developed where especially the micro filter cleans itself.
In the state of the art embodiments, the coarse filter retains dirt large enough to prevent discharge, and allows the passage of dirt not large enough to prevent discharge, thus ensuring that the inside of the washing tub remains clean. Preventing the movement of dirt accumulated in the micro filter positively affects washing performance. In the standard or self-cleaning state of the art filtering mechanisms, a spacer called "Chinese hat" is used between the coarse filter and the micro filter, which is positioned so as to remain above the coarse filter. However, due to the structure and the positioning of thereof, said spacer does not have a structure which prevents the dirt accumulated in the micro filter from moving.
In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP0855165 , a dishwasher is disclosed, comprising a filtering mechanism which has a coarse filter and a micro filter.
In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP1386575 , a dishwasher is disclosed, having a self-cleaning filtering mechanism.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher comprising a filtering mechanism with improved dirt retention performance.
The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a washing tub wherein the dishes to be washed are loaded; a sump which is disposed at the lower side of the washing tub and wherein the water in the washing tub is collected during the washing process; and a filtering mechanism which is disposed in the sump, which is cylindrical and which has a micro filter collecting the dirt in the water, a coarse filter placed on the micro filter and a conical guiding member hung at the base of the coarse filter so as to extend into the micro filter and guiding the water passing through the coarse filter towards the lateral wall of the micro filter. The water reaching the filtering mechanism passes through the coarse filter, then hits the lateral surface of the guiding member disposed at the lower side of the coarse filter and is directed towards the lateral wall of the micro filter. Thus, since the movement inside the micro filter is reduced, the performance of the filtering mechanism and hence the washing performance are increased.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the guiding member is a right circular cone. The lateral surface of the guiding member extends at a certain angle towards the lateral wall of the micro filter.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher comprises a spacer which enables the guiding member to be attached to the coarse filter and which has a ring-shaped base and two opposite, parallel arms extending vertically upwards from the base. The spacer is attached to the coarse filter by means of the two arms so as to be coaxial with the coarse filter.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher comprises at least two hanging means which are placed opposite to each other and which extend perpendicularly between the base of the spacer and the base of the guiding member so as to remain under the spacer, and the guiding member is attached to the spacer so as to extend from the base downwards by means of said hanging means. The spacer and the guiding member can be a single piece or two separate pieces. In the embodiment of the present invention, the spacer is attached to the filtering mechanism together with the guiding member, to the coarse filter disposed above the micro filter. In this case, the guiding member extends from the base of the spacer which forms the base of the coarse filter, downwards into the micro filter, as if suspended in air, so as to be coaxial with the micro filter and the coarse filter. When the assembly is completed, the lateral surface of the guiding member extends towards the lateral wall of the micro filter in a manner inclined from top to bottom. Thus, the clogging occurring between the guiding member and the coarse filter caused by the guiding member extending into the coarse filter in the state of the art embodiment is prevented, and by directing the water to the center of the micro filter by means of the guiding member, movement in the micro filter is prevented from increasing.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the filtering mechanism comprising a spraying member which enables the micro filter to self-clean. In this embodiment of the present invention, the micro filter, the coarse filter, the spraying member and the guiding member are placed coaxially.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher comprises four hanging means.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the guiding member comprises at least one slit on the lateral surface thereof, which extends from top to bottom so as to enable water and dirt to leave the lateral surface more easily. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are eight slits placed at certain intervals on the lateral surface.
By means of the present invention, the movement in the micro filter is reduced by directing the water and dirt separated from the coarse filter to the lateral walls of the micro filter rather than to the center. Moreover, it can be used in both standard filtering mechanisms and filtering mechanisms where the micro filter has the ability to self-clean. Since the movement of the water in the micro filter is reduced, the water and dirt are distributed towards the lateral walls of the micro filter, thus preventing the movement of accumulated dirt and dirty water.
A dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the cross-sectional view of a filtering mechanism.
Figure 2 - is the cross-sectional view of another filtering mechanism.
Figure 3 - is the top perspective view of the guiding member and the spacer.
Figure 4 - is the sideways view of the guiding member and the spacer.
Figure 5 - is the sideways perspective view of the guiding member and the spacer.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Filtering mechanism
2. Coarse filter
3. Micro filter
4. Guiding member
5. Spacer
6. Base
7. Arm
8. Hanging means
9. Lateral surface
10. Slit
11. Spraying member

The dishwasher comprises a washing tub wherein the dishes to be washed are loaded; a sump which is disposed at the lower side of the washing tub and wherein the water in the washing tub is collected during the washing process; and a filtering mechanism (1) which is disposed in the sump, which is cylindrical and which has a micro filter (3) collecting the dirt in the water, a coarse filter (2) placed on the micro filter (3) and a conical guiding member (4) hung at the base of the coarse filter (2) so as to extend into the micro filter (3) and guiding the water passing through the coarse filter (2) towards the lateral wall of the micro filter (3). The water reaching the filtering mechanism (1) passes through the coarse filter (2), then hits the lateral surface of the guiding member (4) disposed at the lower side of the coarse filter (2) and is directed towards the lateral wall of the micro filter (3). Thus, since the movement inside the micro filter (3) is reduced, the performance of the filtering mechanism (1) and hence the washing performance are increased (Figure 1).
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the guiding member (4) is a right circular cone. The lateral surface (9) of the guiding member (4) extends at a certain angle towards the lateral wall of the micro filter (3).
In the embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher comprises a spacer (5) which enables the guiding member (4) to be attached to the coarse filter (2) and which has a ring-shaped base (6) and two opposite, parallel arms (7) extending vertically upwards from the base (6). The spacer (5) is attached to the coarse filter (2) by means of the two arms (7) so as to be coaxial with the coarse filter (2) (Figure 3, Figure 4 and Figure 5).
In the embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher comprises at least two hanging means (8) which are placed opposite to each other and which extend perpendicularly between the base (6) of the spacer (5) and the base of the guiding member (4) so as to remain under the spacer (5), and the guiding member (4) is attached to the spacer (5) so as to extend from the base (6) downwards by means of said hanging means (8). The spacer (5) and the guiding member (4) can be a single piece or two separate pieces. In the embodiment of the present invention, the spacer (5) is attached to the filtering mechanism (1) together with the guiding member (4), to the coarse filter (2) disposed above the micro filter (3). In this case, the guiding member (4) extends from the base (6) of the spacer (5) which forms the base of the coarse filter (2), downwards into the micro filter (3), as if suspended in air, so as to be coaxial with the micro filter (3) and the coarse filter (2). When the assembly is completed, the lateral surface (9) of the guiding member (4) extends towards the lateral wall of the micro filter (3) in a manner inclined from top to bottom. Thus, the clogging occurring between the guiding member (4) and the coarse filter (2) caused by the guiding member (4) extending into the coarse filter in the state of the art embodiment is prevented, and by directing the water to the center of the micro filter (3) by means of the guiding member (4), movement in the micro filter (4) is prevented from increasing.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the filtering mechanism (1) comprising a spraying member (11) which enables the micro filter (3) to self-clean. In this embodiment of the present invention, the micro filter (3), the coarse filter (2), the spraying member (11) and the guiding member (4) are placed coaxially (Figure 2).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher comprises four hanging means (8).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the guiding member (4) comprises at least one slit (10) on the lateral surface (9) thereof, which extends from top to bottom so as to enable water and dirt to leave the lateral surface (9) more easily. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are eight slits (10) placed at certain intervals on the lateral surface (9).
By means of the present invention, the movement in the micro filter (3) is reduced by directing the water and dirt separated from the coarse filter (2) to the lateral walls of the micro filter (3) rather than to the center. Moreover, it can be used in both standard filtering mechanisms (1) and filtering mechanisms (1) where the micro filter (3) has the ability to self-clean. Since the movement of the water in the micro filter (3) is reduced, the water and dirt are distributed towards the lateral walls of the micro filter (3), thus preventing the movement of accumulated dirt and dirty water.

Claims

A dishwasher comprising a washing tub wherein the dishes to be washed are loaded; a sump which is disposed at the lower side of the washing tub and wherein the water in the washing tub is collected during the washing process; and a filtering mechanism (1) which is disposed in the sump, which is cylindrical and which has a micro filter (3) collecting the dirt in the water, and a coarse filter (2) placed on the micro filter (3), characterized by the filtering mechanism (1) having a conical guiding member (4) hung at the base of the coarse filter (2) so as to extend into the micro filter (3) and guiding the water passing through the coarse filter (2) towards the lateral wall of the micro filter (3).
A dishwasher as in Claim 1, characterized by the guiding member (4) which is a right circular cone.
A dishwasher as in Claim 1, characterized by a spacer (5) which enables the guiding member (4) to be attached to the coarse filter (2) and which has a ring-shaped base (6) and two opposite, parallel arms (7) extending vertically upwards from the base (6).
A dishwasher as in Claim 3, characterized by the spacer (5) which is attached to the coarse filter (2) by means of the two arms (7) so as to be coaxial with the coarse filter (2)
A dishwasher as in Claim 3, characterized by at least two hanging means (8) which are placed opposite to each other and which extend perpendicularly between the base (6) of the spacer (5) and the base of the guiding member (4) so as to remain under the spacer (5).
A dishwasher as in Claim 5, characterized by the guiding member (4) which is attached to the spacer (5) so as to extend from the base (6) downwards by means of said hanging means (8).
A dishwasher as in Claim 5 or Claim 6, characterized by four hanging means (8).
A dishwasher as in Claim 1, characterized by at least one slit (10) on the lateral surface (9) of the guiding member, which extends from top to bottom so as to enable water and dirt to leave the lateral surface (9) more easily.
A dishwasher as in Claim 8, characterized by eight slits (10) placed at certain intervals on the lateral surface (9).