Dishwasher with filter cleaning assembly

Abstract

A dishwasher having a filter system to remove soils from the recirculated liquid and a heating element for pyrolytically cleaning the soils from the filter system.

1 . A dishwasher configured to treat utensils according to an automatic cycle of operation, comprising:
 a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber in which utensils are received for treatment;   at least one rack located within the treating chamber for supporting the utensils within the treating chamber;   at least one sprayer providing a spray of liquid into the treating chamber;   a liquid recirculation system for recirculating liquid from the treating chamber to the at least one sprayer;   a filter having a housing defining an interior in fluid communication with the liquid recirculation system to filter the recirculated liquid; and   a pyrolytic heating element extending into the interior of the filter;   wherein an operation of the heating element pyrolyzes soil material caught on the filter.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  wherein the housing has a body axis and the pyrolytic heating element extends along the body axis. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher of  claim 2  wherein the housing comprises a screen filter that is spaced from the body axis. 
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher of  claim 2  wherein the housing comprises a cylinder having a longitudinal axis defining the body axis. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher of  claim 2  wherein the filter comprises a closed end and the pyrolytic heating element extends upwardly into the interior from the closed end. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  wherein the filter comprises an open top and the pyrolytic heating element extends downwardly into the interior through the open top. 
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher of  claim 6  further comprising a wash liquid heating element located within the treating chamber to heat the recirculated liquid and the pyrolytic heating element comprises part of the wash liquid heating element. 
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher of  claim 7  wherein the wash liquid heating element comprises a downwardly extending folded portion forming the pyrolytic heating element. 
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher of  claim 8  wherein the tub comprises a bottom wall and the wash liquid heating element overlies the bottom wall, with a portion extending into the interior of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  wherein the filter rotates about a rotational axis. 
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher of  claim 10  wherein the pyrolytic heating element extends along the rotational axis. 
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher of  claim 10  wherein the liquid recirculation system further comprises a sump housing and the filter is located in a sump housing. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher of  claim 12  wherein the sump housing is remote from the tub. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher of  claim 10  wherein the liquid recirculation system comprises a pump with an impeller and the filter has one end operably coupled to the impeller such that rotation of the impeller rotates the filter. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  wherein the tub comprises a filter recess forming part of the liquid recirculation system and the filter is located within the filter recess. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher of  claim 15  wherein the filter is removably mounted within the filter recess.