Soil separation channel for dishwasher pump system

Abstract

A soil separator for a dishwasher includes a centrifugal soil collection wall surrounded by a spill over guide channel, surrounded by a shallow annular soil accumulator channel. The soil accumulator channel is open to the dishwasher chamber but covered by a filter screen. The accumulator channel is shallow beneath the screen and empties downwardly into an accumulator sump where accumulated soil is periodically drained. The shallow accumulator channel allows water to flush an inside of the screen to carry soil to the accumulator sump.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
       1. A soil separator for a dishwasher comprising: 
       a cylindrical wall;  
       a water impeller arranged for rotation within said cylindrical wall;  
       a shallow arcuate channel covered by a screen and flow connected to the area within the cylindrical wall;  
       a guide channel surrounding said cylindrical wall between said cylindrical wall and said shallow arcuate channel and said cylindrical wall comprises a height providing a spill over into said guide channel:  
       an inlet tube from said guide channel into said shallow arcuate channel; and  
       a soil accumulation area for collecting soil from the water, flow connected to said shallow arcuate channel.  
     
     
       2. The soil separator according to  claim 1 , wherein said shallow arcuate channel comprises a substantially annular horizontal plate surrounding said guide channel elevated from a bottom of said guide channel, and said screen comprises a substantially annular horizontal screen arranged above said plate. 
     
     
       3. The soil separator according to  claim 1 , wherein said guide channel comprises an outer wall surrounding said cylindrical wall with an aperture flow connected to said inlet tube, said inlet tube located at one end of said shallow arcuate channel and said accumulator sump located at an opposite end. 
     
     
       4. A centrifugal soil separator, comprising: 
       a rotating element;  
       a surrounding wall;  
       an outlet water conduit receiving water flow from said rotating element;  
       a soil/water flow channel receiving water with entrained soil from adjacent said surrounding wall;  
       a soil screening channel having a screen element on a top side thereof for passing water therethrough while retaining soil below, said screening channel surrounding said surrounding wall, said soil/water flow channel flow connected to a first end of said screening channel; and  
       a soil accumulator sump flow connected to a second end of said screening channel; and  
       means for draining soil from said accumulator sump.  
     
     
       5. The soil separator according to  claim 4 , wherein said soil/water flow channel comprises an outer wall surrounding said surrounding wall and an open top annular gap provided between said surrounding and outer walls, and a vertical tube connecting said annular gap and said screening channel. 
     
     
       6. The soil separator according to  claim 5 , wherein said screening channel is formed by a substantially annular shaped plate mounted beneath an annular screening member, said substantially annular shaped plate having an aperture connected to said vertical tube, and a opening above said accumulation sump. 
     
     
       7. The soil separator according to  claim 6 , wherein said means for draining comprises a drain port closed by a ball check valve. 
     
     
       8. A dishwasher soil separator comprising: 
       a rotating wash impeller;  
       a circular surrounding wall;  
       a outlet water conduit receiving water flow from said rotating impeller;  
       a soil/water flow channel receiving water with entrained soil from adjacent said surrounding wall;  
       a soil screening channel with a soil/water inlet end having an end wall and outlet end having a discharge opening, and having a screen element on a top side thereof for passing water therethrough while retaining soil below, said screening channel surrounding said surrounding wall, said soil/water flow channel flow connected to said inlet end of said screening channel; and  
       a soil accumulator sump flow connected to said outlet end of said screening channel; and  
       means for draining soil from said accumulator sump.  
     
     
       9. The soil separator according to  claim 8 , wherein said soil/water flow channel comprises an outer wall surrounding said surrounding wall forming a guide channel therebetween and a spill over water path provided between said surrounding and outer walls, and a vertical tube connecting said guide channel and said screening channel. 
     
     
       10. The soil separator according to  claim 9 , wherein said screening channel is formed by a substantially annular shaped plate mounted beneath an annular screening member holding said screen clement, said substantially annular shaped plate having an aperture connected to said vertical tube, and said discharge opening is located above said accumulation sump allowing soil to pass downwardly through said opening. 
     
     
       11. The soil separator according to  claim 8 , wherein said means for draining comprises a drain port closed by a ball check valve. 
     
     
       12. A centrifugal soil separator, comprising: 
       
         a rotating element;  
       
       
         a surrounding wall;  
       
       
         an outlet water conduit receiving water flow from said rotating element;  
       
       
         a soil screen channel having a screen element on a top side thereof for passing water therethrough while retaining soil below, said soil screen channel having a first end and a second end wherein said first end of said soil screen channel receives water flow from said rotating element;  
       
       
         a soil accumulator sump flow connected to said second end of said soil screen channel; and  
       
       
         means for draining soil from said accumulator sump. 
       
     
     
       13. The soil separator according to  claim 12 , further comprising a channel flow connected between said surrounding wall and said first end of said soil screen channel. 
     
     
       14. The soil separator according to  claim 12  comprising an inlet tube connected to said first end of said soil screen channel and wherein water flow from said rotating element is directed into said soil screen channel through said inlet tube. 
     
     
       15. A centrifugal soil separator, comprising: 
       
         a pump cavity;  
       
       
         a wash impeller arranged for rotation within said pump cavity;  
       
       
         an outlet water conduit receiving water flow from said pump cavity;  
       
       
         a soil screen channel having a screen element on a top side thereof for passing water therethrough while retaining soil below, said soil screen channel having a first end and a second end wherein said first end of said soil screen channel receives water flow from said pump cavity;  
       
       
         a soil accumulator sump flow connected to said second end of said soil screen channel; and  
       
       
         means for draining soil from said accumulator sump. 
       
     
     
       16. The centrifugal soil separator according to  claim 15 , further wherein 
       
         said pump cavity has an inlet through which liquid is drawn by said wash impeller and a secondary outlet,  
       
       
         wherein wash liquid is pumped out of said pump cavity through said outlet water conduit and through said second outlet, said soil screen channel receiving water flow passing from the pump cavity through said secondary outlet. 
       
     
     
       17. The centrifugal soil separator according to  claim 15 , further comprising a channel flow connected between said pump cavity and said first end of said soil screen channel. 
     
     
       18. The centrifugal soil separator according to  claim 15  further wherein an inlet tube is connected to said first end of said soil screen channel and wherein water flow from said pump cavity is directed into said soil screen channel through said inlet tube. 
     
     
       19. A centrifugal soil separator, comprising: 
       
         a pump cavity having an inlet, a primary outlet and a secondary outlet;  
       
       
         a wash impeller arranged for rotation within said pump cavity;  
       
       
         a soil screen channel having a screen element on a top side thereof for passing water therethrough while retaining soil below, said soil screen channel having a first end and a second end wherein said first end of said soil screen channel receives water flow from said pump cavity through the second outlet;  
       
       
         a soil accumulator sump flow connected to said second end of said soil screen channel, said soil accumulator sump having a bottom drain port closed by a check ball;  
       
       
         a drain pump chamber fluidly connected to said drain port of said soil accumulator sump; and  
       
       
         a drain impeller disposed within said drain pump chamber for drawing water with entrained soils from said soil accumulator sump through said drain port. 
       
     
     
       20. The soil separator according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
       
         a conduit extending between said drain port of said soil accumulator sump and said drain pump chamber,  
       
       
         wherein said check ball is disposed within said conduit, said check ball is seated in said drain port when said drain impeller is operated in a first direction and falls away from said drain port when said drain impeller is operated in a second direction. 
       
     
     
       21. The soil separator according to  claim 19  further wherein an inlet tube is connected to said first end of said soil screen channel and wherein water flow through said secondary outlet is directed into said soil screen channel through said inlet tube. 
     
     
       22. A centrifugal soil separator, comprising: 
       
         a rotating element;  
       
       
         a surrounding wall;  
       
       
         an outlet water conduit flow connected to said rotating element;  
       
       
         a soil screen channel surrounding the surrounding wall and having a screen element on a top side thereof, said rotating element flow connected to an inlet of said soil screen channel;  
       
       
         a soil accumulator sump flow connected to an outlet of said soil screen channel; and  
       
       
         a drain port in said accumulator sump. 
       
     
     
       23. The centrifugal soil separator according to  claim 22 , further comprising a channel flow connected between said rotating element and said first end of said screening channel. 
     
     
       24. The centrifugal soil separator according to  claim 23 , wherein said channel has an arcuate shape and extends around an outside of said surrounding wall. 
     
     
       25. A dishwasher soil separator, comprising: 
       
         a pump cavity;  
       
       
         a wash impeller arranged for rotation within said pump cavity;  
       
       
         a soil accumulation channel flow connected to receive liquid from said pump cavity and having a fluid filter at a fluid outlet and further having a floor;  
       
       
         a sump fluidly connected to the soil accumulation channel and extending below said floor of said soil accumulation channel; and  
       
       
         a drain opening in said sump. 
       
     
     
       26. The dishwasher soil separator of  claim 25 , wherein a first end of said soil accumulation channel is fluidly connected to said pump cavity, and a second end of said soil accumulation channel is fluidly connected to said sump. 
     
     
       27. A dishwasher soil accumulator, comprising: 
       
         an arcuate top wall having a filter outlet;  
       
       
         an arcuate bottom wall below said top wall;  
       
       
         inner and outer walls connected to said top and bottom walls;  
       
       
         a soil accumulating space defined by said top, bottom, inner side and outer side walls;  
       
       
         an accumulator inlet flow connected to said soil accumulating space;  
       
       
         a soil outlet open to the soil accumulating space; and  
       
       
         a chamber flow connected to said soil outlet and extending downward from the soil outlet, said chamber having a drain port. 
       
     
     
       28. The dishwasher soil accumulator of  claim 27 , further comprising an upstanding wall inside of said dishwashing soil accumulator, said accumulator inlet and said soil outlet being on opposite sides of said upstanding wall. 
     
     
       29. A method of separating soil from water in a dishwasher comprising the steps of: 
       
         drawing soil entrained water into a pump cavity;  
       
       
         flowing soil entrained water into a channel from said pump cavity;  
       
       
         filtering the soil entrained water and flowing the filtered water out of said channel;  
       
       
         moving at least some of the soil retained in said channel from said channel to a sump; and  
       
       
         preventing removal of soil and water from said sump and said channel through a drain opening in said sump by closing said drain opening. 
       
     
     
       30. A method of flowing water having soil through a dishwasher soil separator, comprising the steps of: 
       
         drawing soil entrained water into a pump cavity;  
       
       
         passing soil entrained water from said pump cavity into a soil accumulation channel;  
       
       
         flowing water and soil inside of said soil accumulation channel in a horizontal path;  
       
       
         flowing water out of said soil accumulation channel while removing at least some soil from the water and retaining the removed soil inside of said soil accumulation channel;  
       
         flowing at least some water and heavier - than - water soil from inside of said soil accumulation channel vertically downwardly into a chamber having a drain; and    
         holding the at least some heavier - than - water soil inside said chamber until said dishwasher soil separator is placed in a drain mode.   
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30 , wherein the flowing vertically downward step further comprises the step of flowing the at least some water and heavier- than - water - soil through a lower outlet in said accumulation channel and into said chamber, said chamber having a closed drain port.   
     
     
       32. A dishwasher soil separator comprising: 
       
         a pump having a primary outlet and a secondary outlet;  
       
         a soil accumulator having an inlet fluidly connected to the secondary outlet of the pump, the soil accumulator having a filtered outlet and a non - filtered outlet:    
         a drain port fluidly connected to the non - filtered outlet of the soil accumulator and spaced vertically downward away from the non - filtered outlet of the soil accumulator; and    
       
         a ball check valve below the drain port. 
       
     
     
       33. The dishwasher soil separator of  claim 32 , further comprising a sump fluidly connected to the non- filtered outlet of the soil accumulator, the drain port located at a lower portion of the sump.   
     
     
       34. The dishwasher soil separator of  claim 32 , further comprising a wall which extends from the non- filtered outlet downward to a floor having the drain port.   
     
     
       35. The dishwasher soil separator of  claim 32 , wherein the inlet and the non- filtered outlet are located at opposite end portions of the soil accumulator.   
     
     
       36. A centrifugal soil separator according to  claim 12 , further comprising a channel having an inlet opening adjacent said surrounding wall and an outlet opening at said first end of said soil screen channel. 
     
     
       37. A centrifugal soil separator according to  claim 15 , further comprising a channel having an inlet opening at said pump cavity and an outlet opening at said first end of said soil screen channel. 
     
     
       38. A dishwasher soil separator according to  claim 25 , further comprising a channel having an in let opening at said pump cavity and an outlet opening at said soil accumulation channel. 
     
     
       39. A dishwasher solid accumulator according to  claim 32 , further comprising a channel having an inlet opening at said secondary outlet and an outlet opening at said soil accumulator inlet.