Systems for wash feature inlets of dishwashing appliances

Abstract

A dishwasher appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber and a wash conduit in the wash chamber. A third rack assembly is slidably positioned in the wash chamber above a second rack assembly with a third spray assembly positioned within the third rack assembly. The third spray assembly is configured to direct wash fluid at articles located in the third rack assembly. The third spray assembly includes an inlet nozzle that is removably couplable to the wash conduit. The inlet nozzle is offset in the lateral direction from a water jet lane of the third spray assembly and is offset in the vertical direction from a washing plane of the third spray assembly. A flow diverter is disposed at the inlet nozzle. The flow diverter is configured to direct flow in at least two directions within the third spray assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the dishwasher appliance comprising:
 a tub defining a wash chamber;   a wash conduit in the wash chamber;   a first rack assembly slidably positioned within the wash chamber;   a first spray assembly positioned in the wash chamber and configured to direct wash fluids at the first rack assembly;   a second rack assembly slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the first rack assembly;   a second spray assembly positioned in the wash chamber and configured to direct wash fluids at the second rack assembly;   a third rack assembly slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the second rack assembly; and   a third spray assembly positioned within the third rack assembly and configured to direct wash fluid at articles located in the third rack assembly, the third spray assembly comprising,
 an inlet nozzle removably couplable to the wash conduit, the inlet nozzle offset in the lateral direction from a water jet lane of the third spray assembly and offset in the vertical direction from a washing plane of the third spray assembly, and 
 a flow diverter disposed at the inlet nozzle, the flow diverter configured to direct flow in at least two directions within the third spray assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the water jet lane of the third spray assembly is a center flow line of a perimeter of the third spray assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the washing plane of the third spray assembly is a top surface of the third spray assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet nozzle comprises an insert configured to engage with the wash conduit and removably couple the inlet nozzle with the wash conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the insert comprises one of a triangular, pyramidical, and arrowhead shape. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the third spray assembly comprises a plurality of jet holes at the washing plane of the third spray assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 6 , wherein at least some of the plurality of jet holes are positioned on one or more of a plurality of lateral tracks. 
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the offset of the inlet nozzle in the lateral direction is configured to slow incoming wash fluid from the wash conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the third rack assembly comprises a sliding wire insert. 
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the offset of the inlet nozzle in the vertical direction positions the inlet nozzle above, in the vertical direction, the sliding wire insert. 
     
     
         11 . A dishwasher appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the dishwasher appliance comprising:
 a tub defining a wash chamber;   a wash conduit in the wash chamber;   a first rack assembly slidably positioned within the wash chamber;   a first spray assembly positioned in the wash chamber and configured to direct wash fluids at the first rack assembly;   a second rack assembly slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the first rack assembly;   a second spray assembly positioned in the wash chamber and configured to direct wash fluids at the second rack assembly;   a third rack assembly slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the second rack assembly, the third rack assembly comprising a sliding wire insert and   a third spray assembly positioned within the third rack assembly and configured to direct wash fluid at articles located in the third rack assembly, the third spray assembly comprising,
 an inlet nozzle removably couplable to the wash conduit, the inlet nozzle offset in the lateral direction from a water jet lane of the third spray assembly and offset in the vertical direction from a washing plane of the third spray assembly, and 
 a flow diverter disposed at the inlet nozzle, the flow diverter configured to direct flow in at least two directions within the third spray assembly, 
 wherein the third spray assembly comprises a plurality of jet holes at the washing plane of the third spray assembly. 
   
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the water jet lane of the third spray assembly is a center flow line of a perimeter of the third spray assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the washing plane of the third spray assembly is a top surface of the third spray assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the inlet nozzle comprises an insert configured to engage with the wash conduit and removably couple the inlet nozzle with the wash conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the insert comprises one of a triangular, pyramidical, and arrowhead shape. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 11 , wherein at least some of the plurality of jet holes are positioned on one or more of a plurality of lateral tracks. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the offset of the inlet nozzle in the lateral direction is configured to slow incoming wash fluid from the wash conduit. 
     
     
         18 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the offset of the inlet nozzle in the vertical direction positions the inlet nozzle above, in the vertical direction, the sliding wire insert.