Pump device for dishwasher appliance

Abstract

Dishwasher appliances are provided. A pump device of a dishwasher appliance may include a first centrifugal pump in fluid communication with a drain and a second centrifugal pump in fluid communication with a fluid circulation assembly. The pump device further includes a motor, the motor including a driveshaft, the driveshaft rotatable in a first direction and a second opposite direction. The pump device further includes a first one-way bearing connecting the first centrifugal pump to the driveshaft, the first one-way bearing operable to rotate the impeller of the first centrifugal pump when the driveshaft is rotating in the first direction, and a second one-way bearing connecting the second centrifugal pump to the driveshaft, the second one-way bearing operable to rotate the impeller of the second centrifugal pump when the driveshaft is rotating in the second direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher appliance, comprising:
 a tub that defines a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;   a sump for collecting fluid from the wash chamber;   a fluid circulation assembly in fluid communication with the sump for circulating fluid in the tub;   a drain for draining fluid from the sump; and   a pump device in fluid communication with the sump, the pump device comprising:
 a first centrifugal pump, the first centrifugal pump comprising an impeller and in fluid communication with the drain; 
 a second centrifugal pump, the second centrifugal pump comprising an impeller and in fluid communication with the fluid circulation assembly; 
 a motor, the motor comprising a driveshaft, the driveshaft rotatable in a first direction and a second opposite direction; 
 a first one-way bearing connecting the first centrifugal pump to the driveshaft, the first one-way bearing operable to rotate the impeller of the first centrifugal pump when the driveshaft is rotating in the first direction; and 
 a second one-way bearing connecting the second centrifugal pump to the driveshaft, the second one-way bearing operable to rotate the impeller of the second centrifugal pump when the driveshaft is rotating in the second direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first centrifugal pump, the second centrifugal pump, and the motor are enclosed in a common housing. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 2 , further comprising a first bulkhead and a second bulkhead disposed in the common housing, the first bulkhead partitioning the first centrifugal pump from the motor, the second bulkhead partitioning the second centrifugal pump from the motor. 
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 3 , further comprising a first seal disposed in the first bulkhead and a second seal disposed in the second bulkhead, the first centrifugal pump connected to the motor through the first seal, the second centrifugal pump connected to the motor through the second seal. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the driveshaft extends through the first seal and the second seal. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 3 , further comprising a first coupling shaft and a second coupling shaft, the first coupling shaft extending through the first seal and connecting the impeller of the first centrifugal pump to the driveshaft, the second coupling shaft extending through the second seal and connecting the impeller of the second centrifugal pump to the driveshaft. 
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the first one-way bearing is press-fit into the first coupling shaft and the second one-way bearing is press-fit into the second coupling shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the first one-way bearing and second one-way bearing are disposed in a motor compartment of the common housing defined by the first bulkhead and second bulkhead. 
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the first one-way bearing is disposed in a first pump compartment of the common housing defined by the first bulkhead and the second one-way bearing is disposed in a second pump compartment defined by the second bulkhead. 
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the first one-way bearing and second one-way bearing are sealed. 
     
     
         11 . A dishwasher appliance, comprising:
 a tub that defines a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;   a sump for collecting fluid from the wash chamber;   a fluid circulation assembly in fluid communication with the sump for circulating fluid in the tub;   a drain for draining fluid from the sump; and   a pump device in fluid communication with the sump, the pump device comprising:
 a first pump, the first pump in fluid communication with the drain; 
 a second pump, the second pump in fluid communication with the fluid circulation assembly; 
 a motor, the motor comprising a driveshaft, the driveshaft rotatable in a first direction and a second opposite direction; 
 a common housing enclosing the first pump, the second pump, and the motor; 
 a first bulkhead and a second bulkhead disposed in the common housing, the first bulkhead partitioning the first pump from the motor, the second bulkhead partitioning the second pump from the motor; and 
 a first seal disposed in the first bulkhead and a second seal disposed in the second bulkhead, the first pump connected to the motor through the first seal, the second pump connected to the motor through the second seal. 
   
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the pump device further comprises:
 a first one-way bearing connecting the first pump to the driveshaft, the first one-way bearing operating the first pump when the driveshaft is rotating in the first direction; and   a second one-way bearing connecting the second pump to the driveshaft, the second one-way bearing operating the second pump when the driveshaft is rotating in the second direction.   
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the first one-way bearing and second one-way bearing are disposed in a motor compartment of the common housing defined by the first bulkhead and second bulkhead. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the first one-way bearing is disposed in a first pump compartment of the common housing defined by the first bulkhead and the second one-way bearing is disposed in a second pump compartment defined by the second bulkhead. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the first one-way bearing and second one-way bearing are sealed. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the first pump and the second pump are centrifugal pumps. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the driveshaft extends through the first seal and the second seal. 
     
     
         18 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising a first coupling shaft and a second coupling shaft, the first coupling shaft extending through the first seal and connecting the first pump to the driveshaft, the second coupling shaft extending through the second seal and connecting the second pump to the driveshaft. 
     
     
         19 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 15 , wherein a first one-way bearing is press-fit into the first coupling shaft and a second one-way bearing is press-fit into the second coupling shaft.