US2790451A - Wall-hung cabinet dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

April 30, 1957 H. M. RUMBAUGH 2,790,451

WALL-HUNG'CABINET DISHWASHER Filed Jan. 4, 1955 Y 6 Sheets-Sheet l ill W F's I D 2 INVENTOR.

April 30, 1957 H. M. RUMBAUGH WALL-HUNG CABINET DISHWASHER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 4, 1955 pril 30, 1957 H. M. RUMBAUGH 2,790,451

WALL-HUNG CABINET DISHWASHER Filed Jan. 4, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4

l I l I I l l l l I INVENT OR. HUGH M. RUMBAUG H ATTORNEYS April 30, 1957 H. M. RUMBAUGH 2,790,451

WALL-HUNG CABINET DISHWASHER Filed Jan. 4, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet. 4

, FIG. 4A

INVEN TOR. HUGH M. RUMBAUGH ATTOR N EYS H. M. RUMBAUGH 2,790,451

WALL-HUNG CABINET DISHWASHER I 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. I HUGH M. RUMBAUGH WW, T \i.

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ATTORNEYS M f ll l DJ.

April 30, 1957 Filed Jan. 4, 1955 FIG.7

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April 30, 1957 H. M. RUMBAUGH WALL-HUNG' CABINET DISHWASHER Filed Jan. 4, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

\ATTORNEYS III, I. Fl \zw D? NM HUGH MJRUMBAUGH United States Patent WALL-HUNG CABINET DISHWASHER Hugh Rumbaugh, Bath, Ohio Application January 4, 1955,.Serial No. 479,724

6 Claims. (Cl. ISA-+186) The present invention relates to dishwasher structure and particularly to a wall-hung cabinet dishwasher de signed for domestic use.

Certain design problems are particularly acute in the design of a wall-hung cabinet dishwasher intended to be hung or installed at normal wall-hung cabinet height. These include the problem of noise andvibration and the space problem.

This application is, in part, a continuation of my co-" pending application Serial No. 315,454 for Dishwasher filed October'l8', 1952.

Noise and vibration are, of course, problems to be met in the design of any domestic dishwasher appliance. Conventional floor appliances are given a heavy frame and rugged. mounting or supporting structure intended to' rest or to be secured squarely on the floor at four points of support. One reason for providing double walls in such appliances, as is usually done, is to minimize the noise of splashing and surging water against the sides of the washing chamber. These expedients are impractical in a washer designed for wall mounting. At the same time, the wall-mounted cabinet, adjacent to other cabinets and directly supported on the wall, involves a noise and vibration problem more acute than that encountered in floor-supported washers.

The space problem in connection with wall-supported cabinet washers is more critical than in the case of floorsupported washers. The space problem includes not only the obvious problem of providing. adequate washing capacity within a definitely limited volume, but also the problem of accessibility. In floor-mounted washers, the impeller drive mechanism and flow-control mechanism including pump, valves and solenoids may be mounted near the floor under the washing chamber. Such ele-' ments similarly arranged at the bottom of a wall' hung cabinet washer would either elevate the washing chamber out of convenientreach or necessitate a depending sub? structure which would defeat the very purpose of the cabinet washer to provide a unit self-contained within a standard cabinet package. 7 i

The broad object of the invention is to provide a superior, compact, economical means for washing and Patented Apr. 30, 195 7 2 means which may be so constructed and arranged. as to eliminate or counteract surgingefl'ects as described below. A further object of the invention is to eliminate costly automatic drain valves and to provide for automatic drainage of' the dishwasher by extremely simple and economical means which operates in such a way that retention and drainage of water in properly timed sequence is inherent in the very continua-nee or cessation of the washing. operation in the manner fully explained below. Another object of the invention is to reduce necessary spacing between the floor or bottom deck of the dishwasher cabinet and the sump of the washing chamber to an absolute minimum through the provision of novel drainage means.

These and other objects and advantages of the in-. vention will become apparent from the following, description of a prototype of my invention which has" been built and successfully tested. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise details of this prototype, but is to be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1. illustrates the prototype of the invention in wall hung, positionin a kitchen;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the dish- Washer. shown in Figure 1, taken on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the dishwasher shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion. of the dishwasher, taken online 4 -4 in Figure 3;

Figure 4A is a vertical cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the dishwasher, taken on line 4- -4 in Figure 3;.line a,-a in Figure 4is equivalent to line a-a in Figure 4A;

Figure 5 is a partially broken away bottom view of the dishwasher, taken on a scale smaller than that of Figures 1-4;

Figure 6 is. a vertical cross-sectional view of the dish-v washer taken on the same scale as Figure 5, taken on line 6-6 in. Figure 3;

Figure 6A is a fragmentary view similar to parts of Figure 6 and showing an alternative structure;

Figure 7 is: a ra mentary cross-sectional view in el'evation of the lower right portion of the dishwasher as. seen in Figure 6, taken on line 7-7 in Figure 3'.

Figure Sis a fragmentary view similar to Figure 4A v and showing a-portion thereof on an enlarged scale with drying dishes, which means may also be. employed for storing dishes in a location similar to that inwhich dishes are normally stored. Another object of the present invention is to overcome the problem of noise and vibration and the space prob.- lem, both of which have not heretofore been satisfactorily solved in the design of wall-hung cabinetdishwashers.

Many, if not all, features of the present invention may be advantageous in floor-supported washers as well as wall-hung cabinet models. For example, space economies and cost reductions accomplished by these'features' are obviously generally desirable goals, no matter whether the dishwasher in question he a floor-supported type or a wall-hungtype. Among the objects of the. invention is the provision of a self-contained powered" impeller certain additional elements being. shown in section.

The. illustrated dishwasher,,. generallyindicated at'1 0,I maybe supplied in a standard size and style for wallhung cahinetsand may-be mounted in a. kitchen as shown in Figure l. The dishwasher. may have permanent plumbing connections. or it may be providedwith flexiblc. quick-disconnect lines, as shown. The input line It is connected. to the sink tap, and the drain line 12' is simply dropped. into the sink. I

The dishwasher is hung. on a. suitable hanger bracket or bar (not shown) fixed to the kitchen wall. This bracket is received in the notches 15 cut in the. rear frame-members 16. and is engagedby the hooked flange 17 which forms partoil the top frame assembly of the dishwasher (.FiguresZ-and4). 1

The. wall-hung cabinet includes a washing chamber generally indicated at. 2.0.and an accessory spaceZJ. dew fined between the sump wall 22'- and the-floor or cover- 23 of the: cabinet (Figure 6-). Provided within the wash in-g chamber are suitable ware racks 24. Also provided;

within the chamber is a water-throwing means having" smooth cylinder '30which is *supportedon the rear wall...

of the cabinet by a mounting which, as seen from the outside of the dishwasher, is shown in Figure 2 and generally indicated by the reference numeral 31. The details of this mounting will be described below.

The dishware is supported by the racks 24 and is positioned around a majority of the periphery of the waterthrowing means 30. It will be noted that even without were in the washing chamber, impingement of water does not occur against the front and back of the washing chamber because the water is predominantly thrown in parallel planes rather than in all directions. Little or no direct impingement of thrown water against any outer walls of the washing chamber occurs when the washer is loaded with ware. This, coupled with the anti-surging action of p the mounting for the cylinder 30, to be described below,

minimizes noise to such an extent that it is frequently diflicult to determine by ear whether the washer isrunning, despite the fact that the doublewall construction which is conventional for floor-type washers is not employed. J

' The mounting 31 for the water-throwing means 30 is shown in detail in Figure 8. A cap or motor housing 33 is fixed to the rear cabinet wall, a gasket 34 (Figure 4A) being provided to assure a watertight closure. A reversible motor 45 is received within the motor housing 33. Fixed to a transverse plate 35 is a flanged receptacle 36 in which is received a relatively soft and resilient rubber or rubber-like mounting ring 37 which, in turn, receives the idle end of the motor shaft or a fixed shaftbearing projection 38 on the end of the motor 45. At the inner end of the housing 33 another flanged receptacle 39 is provided which receives another mounting ring 40 similar to the mounting ring 37. An -ring 41 may be received on the motor shaft, as shown. Mounted on the end of the motor shaft are the concentric hubs 42 and 43, to the outer of which is fixed the cylinder 30. If desired, a cover 42A (Figure 4A) may be provided for the end of the cylinder toward the front of the machine to give the assembly a trim appearance. The dimensions of the parts are such that when the plate 35 is tightened down, the resilient mounting rings 37 and 40 are squeezed tightly within the flanged receptacles 36 and 39 to resiliently grip the motor members which they surround and to provide a floating mount for the cylinder 30. The rings 37 and 40 are soft enough so that the cylinder 30 can be tilted or laterally translated with a light touch of the fingers.

With the water-throwing means distributing water from points throughout its length, an extremely dense throw of wash water or rinse water is achieved. Under normal operating conditions with the structure shown, twothirds or more of the water within the washing chamber 20 is above sump level at any given moment, only onethird or less of the water remaining in the sump. The level of this sump water during operation of the waterthrowing means is shown at 51. Leading from the bottom of the sump is a drain connection 52 to which is connected a'drain line 12. A quick-disconnect coupling 53 may be interposed in the drain line. The drain line 12 is carried over a high point indicated at 54. When the water-throwing means stops operating, the water level quickly rises to above the level of 54 establishing a siphon through the line 12. Thereupon the water is completely drained from the washing chamber 20.

The supply line 11 is connected to a valve 55 which is operated by a solenoid 56. A short line 57 leads from the valve 55'to the washing chamber. The lines 11 and 12 pass through an access hole 58 provided in the lower cover 23. The washer is provided with a water and air heating element 59 which extends along/the side of the water-throwing means andis located low enough to be immersed in normal sump water. Supported on extension of the ware racks 24 are the dispensers 60, each of which comprises a body open at top and bottom and provided with a cover61 and an internal detergent re- 2,790,451. r p p 4 taining screen 62. It will be noted that when the waterthrowing means is rotating in one given direction, detergent will be washed only out of one of the members 60 and will be retained in the other member 60 until such time as the water-impelling means throws water in the opposite direction.

The several electrically-operated components are controlled by a conventional timer switch 65 in any desired sequence. The timer switch is preferably coupled with a switch 66 (Figures 5 and 7) which is closed by contact of a button 67 (Figures 4A and 5) on the last-closing cabinet door so that the washer will operate only when the cabinet doors are closed.

One space-saving attribute of the invention is perhaps more clearly indicated in Figure 6A. Here the connection 52 is replaced by a shorter connection 52a, and the valve 55 is moved outwardly and upwardly. The solenoid 56 and timer switch 65 are also shifted closer to the sump wall 22. It should be borne in mind that every small vertical amount by which the dead space at the bottom of the housing is reduced is significant from the point of view of convenience because of the intended high wall-hung location of the washer.

Significant economies may be realized by avoiding the use of rubber or plastic moldings for sealing the cabinet doors. The provision of such moldings represents an additional fabrication cost that may be eliminated by the provision of the illustrated type of closure structure. As shown, the cabinet doors 70 and 71, hinged at points 72, are provided with inwardly spaced plates 73 supported by the spacers 74. The doors 70'and 71 close against a lower front cabinet panel 75 (Figures 3 and 4A) inwardly from which is spaced a plate 76 which depends into the washing chamber sump but is positioned above the sump floor as shown in Figure 4A. Side flanges 78 associated with each of the cabinet doors fit behind the side flanges 79 associated with the cabinet frame when the cabinet doors are closed, and the plates 73 fit against or near the top cabinet flange 77 (Figure 4). Because the water-throwing means throws water in parallel transverse planes which are parallel to the cabinet doors, direct impingement of high velocity water against the closure structure is minimized. Splashing of water through the bottom of the closure is prevented by the plate 76. Any slight amount of water which may find its way around the reversing path defined between the flanges 78 and 79 collects on theflange 79 or on the edge of the associated plate 73 and drips back into the space between the plates 75 and 76. Any water which penetrates past the top cabinet flange 77 collects on the plates 73 and runs down the inside or outside of these plates back into the space between the plates 75 and 7 6.

At the top of the washer side flanges 80 are provided on which is supported a plate 81. The support is preferably by means of resilient buttons 82. A gap for the passage of warm air is left at 83. After final emptying of wash water, the cylinder 30 is actuated to act as an air impeller, drawing air through the door closure structure and pumping it through the gap 83. During this drying operation, the air is warmed by the heating element 59.- Moisture is condensed from warm air above the plate 81 by contact with the cool top of the cabinet, and condensed moisture runs back into the sump to the washing chamber. Relatively dry air is exhausted through the opening 84.

I A typical cycle of operation is as follows: Detergent is placed in the members 60, ware to be washed is racked, the timer is set in starting position, and the doors are closed- The timer is arranged to perform all susequent operations automatically. Upon starting, the heating element turns on, the motor 45 is caused to operate in a first direction, and the solenoid 56 is actuated to admit water into the washer. When sufiicient water is admitted, the solenoid 56 operates to close the-valve 55. A prewashf cycle,then. subjects the ware to a detergent wash,

detergent being picked up from only one of the dispensers 60. The motor then stops, causing the sump water level to rise above point 54. A siphon is established and the chamber is drained. The motor then starts in the same direction, and the valve 55' is opened for sufficient time to admit a suitable amount of fresh water. A prerinse cycle then occurs. The motor then stops and drainage occurs automatically, as explained above. 7 The motor is then started in the opposite direction and the valve 55 is opened for suflicient time to admit a new supply of water. Because of the opposite direction of rotation, detergent is washed out of the dispenser 60 which has, up to this time, remained full. This is the wash cycle. If desired, the motor can be quickly reversed several times during this cycle, the re-establishment of water distribution after each reversal occurring before siphoning can be established. Finally, the motor is stopped and drainage occurs. Then one or several rinsing cycles occur in a manner which will now be clear. Following final drainage of rinse water, the motor is again actuated to cause the cylinder 30 to act as an air pump for drying air.

Finally, the motor is stopped, the heating element 59 is turned oif, and all operation is terminated. The dried dishes may remain in the wall-hung cabinet until further use. Thus, the housewife need only fill and start the dishwasher. Even though she does nothing more, the dishes, after washing and drying, remain stored in a wallhung kitchen cabinet for convenient re-use.

Such self-storing use is practical because of the unpsual capacity of the dishwasher in terms of its size. A washer built to' the standard cabinet size of 30 inches height, 13 inches depth, and 24 inches width can accommodate and effectively wash a service for 6, including 6 large dishes of 11-inch diameter, 6 cups and saucers, 6 dessert dishes, 6 glasses up to 8 inches in height, 2 vegetable dishes and silverware. Floor model dishwashers now on the market will not receive 11-inch dishes tog'e'ther with 8-inch glasses. If the top of the standard size cabinet washer referred to' above is located at the standard 84 inches above floor level, the washer remains convenient to load and use.

The small size of the dishwasher in terms of its capacity and the elimination of double walls does not result in excess noise and vibration. In fact, noise and vibration are so minimized that it is difhcult under ordinary conditions to determine by ear whether the dishwasher is operating. During washing or rinsing in conventional washers, water within the sump tends to surge against or into the impeller causing the cylinder to load up and discharge sporadically at least to some degree. This action is particularly acute during washing cycles when the water is sudsy. Such intermittent loading up subjects the impeller motor to uneven loading causing laboring and vibration. Sporadic discharge of water also results in noisy pounding and thumping against the sides of the washing chamber. In the present washer, surging water against the cylinder 30 is accommodated by movement of the cylinder away from the surge, thus evening out of the load on the motor and the discharge of water from the cylinder and results in a smooth, steady, even action.

The floating action of the water throwing member 30 may be accomplished by other specific structure. For example, an annular portion of the radial web of the pulley 43 might comprise a rubber or rubber-like resilient material which would allow the member 30 to float in response to surging of water as described above.

All the features of my invention may not each be vitally important to the other. For example, the siphon exhaust might be replaced with a conventional solenoidcontrolled valve at sacrifice of cost and convenience and yet an unusually effective dishwasher with unusual capacity in terms of size would still be obtained. Many features of the invention may be applicable to floor models as well as wall hu'ng dishwashers. Many changes and variations in the'details of the" invention, some of which have been suggested above, may be made with the benefit of my disclosure. The scope-of the: invention is not l-imited'to such details-burn defined in the follow ingclaims.

What is claimed is:

1'. A dishwashing' uni-t comprising a washing chamber, rack means in said chamber, a horizontal substantially smooth cylindrical roll extending transversely across said chamber, a motor within said roll and concentric therewith andlinked thereto for co-rot'ation, mounting means supported on and associated with the walls of said chamber; to' supports'aid motor within said roll while sealing said motor from" water within said chamber, said roll being supported on the shaft of said'motor, resilient means between said roll and'said mounting means whereby said rolI may be yieldingly displaced in response to surges of water against it, means to supply water in said chamber to partially. immerse said roll whereby water is impelled by said roll against ware held in said rack means and surging of'water is accommodated by said displacement of said roll to minimize noise and vibration, and means to exhaust water from said chamber.

2. A dishwashing unit comprising a washing chamber, the front side of said chamber having a door opening occupying the majority of its area, hinged door means to close said opening, door plate means supported on said door means in inwardly spaced relation therewith, said door plate means extending through said opening when said door means is'in closed position, frame flanges around the top andsides of said opening and cooperating with the corresponding edges of said door plate means when said doors are in closed. position to define reversely curved paths through which water splashed from said chamber must pass to leave said chamber, bathe plate m'e'a'ns extending" along said front wall from side to side of said opening, said hafile plate means extending from near the bottom of said. chamber to above the bottom of said door opening" and being located just inwardly of said door plate means when said door means is in closed position, whereby Water which finds its way through said reversely curved paths or over said baflle plate means runs down said door plate means and drips back into said chamber, means to supply water to said chamber, and means to sling said water throughout said chamber in planes parallel to said front side of said chamber and against ware held in said chamber.

3. A dishwashing unit comprising a washing cham ber, rack means in said chamber, a substantially horizontal smooth cylinder extending transversely across said chamber, means to admit a given supply of water to said chamber whereby when said cylinder is rotating a fraction of said supply of wateris at any given moment pro jected in air to establish a relatively low first sump-water level and when said cylinder is stopped a second relatively high sump-water level is established, outlet means communicating with the bottom of said chamber, said outlet means comprising conduit means extending upwardly to a level between said first and second sump-water levels and thereupon downwardly to a drain end remote from said chamber, whereby when said supply of water is supplied to said chamber while said cylinder is rotating, said relatively low first sump-water level is established and maintained, and when rotation of said cylinder is thereupon stopped, said relatively high second sump-water level is momentarily established causing a siphoning flow to commence through said conduit means whereupon said supply of water is exhausted from said chamber.

4. A dishwashing unit comprising a washing chamber, rack means in said chamber, means to admit a given supply of water to said chamber, rotatable Water slinging means within said chamber to throw water outwardly against ware held in said rack means and to maintain a fraction of said supply of water projected in air at any '7 given moment during rotation of said water slinging means to establish a relatively low first sump-water level and to cause establishment of a relatively high second sump-water level upon stopping of said water slinging means, outlet means communicating with the bottom of said chamber, said outlet means comprising conduit means extending upwardly to a level between said first and second sump-water levels and thereupon downwardly to a drain end remote from said chamber, whereby when said supply of water is supplied to said chamber while said water slinging means is rotating, said relatively low first sump-water level is established and maintained, and when rotation of said water slinging means is thereupon stopped, said relatively high second sump-water level is momentarily established causing a siphoning how to commence through said conduit means whereupon said supply of water is exhausted from'said chamber.

5. A dishwashing unit comprising a rectangular'washing chamber, rack means within said chamber, a horizontal substantially smooth cylinder extending transversely in said chamber, a motor within said cylinder and linked thereto for rotation therewith, mounting means to support said motor and cylinder and to seal said motor from Water Within said chamber, rack means within said chamber, said mounting means including resilient means to allow yielding resilient displacement of said cylinder during rotaton thereof, means to supply a given amount of water to said chamber to partially immerse said cylinder whereby when said cylinder is rotating said water is thrown throughout said chamber but only toward two of the four sides thereof and surging of water is accommodated by yielding displacement of said cylinder to minimize noise and vibration, and means to exhaust said water from said chamber.

6. A Wall-hung dishwashing unit having means for eifectively drying dishes washed therein and for avoiding excess discharge of steam comprising a washing chamber, rack means in said chamber, the tront side of said chamber having a door opening occupying the majority of its area, hinged door means to close said opening, rotatable water slinging means extending transversely across said chamber along an axis of rotation generally normal to said front side of said chamber, the outer radius of said water slinging means being substantially constant in any given plane of rotation, means to admit a given supply of water to said chamber whereby said Water is thrown by said water slinging means against ware held in said racks along planes generally parallel to said front side of said chamber, means to exhaust water from said washing chamber, door bafile'means associated with said door opening to allow passage of air therethrough while sealing said opening against leakage of thrown water when said door means is closed, a vent opening in the top of said front wall, a top baflle plate means within said chamber extending over the majority of the top wall of said chamber to define between said top baffle plate means and said top wall a steam condensing chamber, said vent opening communicating with said steam condensing chamber, said top baflle plate means being formed to allow condensed moisture to empty back into said washing chamber, and heating means within said washing chamber, whereby upon conclusion of washing operations and emptying of wash water from said washing chamber said Water slinging means and heating means may be operated to draw air inwardly through said door bafile means, heat said air andpump it through said steam condensing chamber to exhaust through said vent opening.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rumbaugh Jan. 4, 1955

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