Wash fluid distribution system for a dishwasher

Abstract

A wash fluid distribution system for dishwashers includes a spray arm mounted in one of four quadrants of a chamber floor. The spray arms can have lengths that maintain full rotation within their respective quadrant. Spray arms can also have lengths that impinge or overlap into an adjacent quadrant during full rotation of the spray arms. Each spray arm operates with a corresponding, independently controlled wash pump system. Adjacent spray arms can rotate at a same speed in opposing clockwise or counter-clockwise directions. Spray arms can also rotate in different rotation planes. A slanted surface on the chamber floor terminates at a shared particle collection area, which is centered on the chamber floor.

1 . A wash fluid distribution system for dishwashers having a chamber having a chamber floor having a width equal to or greater than a depth, said fluid distribution system comprises:
 a plurality of spray arms;   a particle collection area shared by said plurality of spray arms;   wherein the chamber floor comprises four quadrants, one of each of said spray arms is mounted in an associated one of said four quadrants of said chamber floor.   
     
     
         2 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein said depth is about 24-inches and said width is greater than 24-inches. 
     
     
         3 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein said width is about 30-inches. 
     
     
         4 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of spray arms comprises a length that is no greater than one-half of said width of the dishwasher chamber floor. 
     
     
         5 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein a clearance between a distal end of each of said spray arms and an adjacent dishwasher sidewall is a maximum of two-inches. 
     
     
         6 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 4 , wherein each of said spray arms comprises a length such that a distal end of each of said spray arms remains within its associated quadrant throughout a full rotation. 
     
     
         7 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 4 , wherein each of said four spray arms comprises a length that causes the spray arms to protrude into an adjacent quadrant during a full rotation of said spray arm. 
     
     
         8 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein said spray arms each run by a corresponding wash pump system independently controlled to provide flexible duty cycles. 
     
     
         9 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein said spray arms are each mounted to a respective tower each of which is fixed to said chamber floor. 
     
     
         10 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein said spray arms each rotates in a clockwise direction. 
     
     
         11 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein said spray arms each rotates in a counter-clockwise direction. 
     
     
         12 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said spray arms rotates in a clockwise direction and at least one of said spray arms rotates in a counter-clockwise direction, and wherein said spray arms rotating in opposite directions are mounted on a same side of said chamber floor. 
     
     
         13 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 1  further comprising a slanted surface in said chamber floor, said slanted surface is oriented towards and terminates at said particle collection chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 13 , further comprising a conical section area that surrounds said particle collection chamber, said conical section area partially formed by said slanted surface, wherein wash fluid that falls into said conical collection area is directed into said particle collection chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein said particle collection chamber is centrally positioned on said chamber floor adjacent to where innermost corners of said quadrants abut. 
     
     
         16 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 7 , wherein said spray arms are vertically offset in at least two rotation planes to avoid collision with each other. 
     
     
         17 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein said spray arms rotate at a same speed. 
     
     
         18 . The wash fluid distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of said spray arms comprises four spray arms.