US2572935A - Dishwashing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 30, y lDLE DISK- WASHING APPARATUS Filed April 17, 1950 INVENTOR WITNESSES:

JAMES G. |D LE ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 30, 1951 DISHWASHING APPARATUS James Gale Idle, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 17, 1950, Serial No. 156,321 Claims. (Cl. l3721) My invention relates to apparatus for supplying water under pressure from a main to a vat. such as the tub of a dishwasher, and,has for an object to provide improved apparatus of this kind.

As is well understood, the plumbing codes of many municipalities require the provision of a vacuum breaker in the conduit supplying water from the city water mains to an appliance in which contaminated water may collect. The purpose of this requirement is, of course, to prevent the reverse flow of contaminated water to the mains in the event that a sub-atmospheric pressure is produced in the mains. Many of these codes require that the bottom of the vacuum breaker which is employed must be installed at least six inches above the overflow rim of the fixture which it serves. This six-inch requirement in the specification is a safety factor to allow water to drain from the vacuum breaker and to prevent vacuum conditions in the water supply line from sucking any waste water from the fixture to the breaker.

This requirement, in the case of a dishwasher installed beneath the work surface of a kitchen sink, necesitates the installation of the breaker above such work surface because the top of the dishwasher vat is usually considered as the point of overflow even though an overflow outlet may be located in the vat at a lower elevation. For reasons such as manufacturing and installation costs, convenience and appearance in the home, it is advantageous to install the vacuum breaker below the work surface of the sink.

In accordance with the present invention, improved means is provided for supplying water to a dishwashing machine vat, including a vacuum breaker which may be installed, at least in part, below the top of the vat or below a sink work surface from which the vat depends. As set forth hereinafter, the water after flowing through the vacuum breaker employed passes downwardly and upwardly through a U-shape conduit to the inlet opening of the vat. A restricted opening in the bottom of said conduit discharges a portion of the water across an air gap to a funnel which drains to a lower region of the vat. The majority of the water conveyed through the conduit flows under line pressure to the primary inlet of the vat so that it may be sprayed throughout the washing chamber within the vat.

In the event that a sub-atmospheric pressure obtains in the system set forth above, the vacuum breaker elevated above the bottom of the U- shaped conduit, in conjunction with the orifice at the bottom of the latter, would prevent contaminated water splashed from the vat into the inlet opening thereof from entering the vacuum breaker; Any water entering the inlet openingof the vat in this manner would pass down the U-shape conduit, through the orifice and funnel and return to the vat. The air gap intervening between the funnel and said conduit would prevent water from rising in the vat, because of some abnormal condition, to the primary inlet of the vat to which the U-shape conduit is connected.

Accordingly, it is a further object of my invention to provide improved water supply apparatus for a vat installed beneath the work surface of a conventional sink, wherein all portions of said apparatus are disposed below the work surface. The foregoing and other objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which the single figure of the drawing shows a water supply system for a dishwasher vat and constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention.

Reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein I have elected to show my invention applied for the delivery of water under pressure to a vat structure, generally indicated at I0, such as, for example, the vat of a conventional open top dishwasher. The vat l0 includes a side Wall H, the upper end of which is provided with a flange l2 supported by a resilient gasket I3. The latter is carried by a collar l4 which is supported by a kitchen sink, the work board of which is indicated at l5. Water is supplied from a suitable source under pressure to the dishwasher structure by means of a conduit 16 having a control valve CV connected therein which may be of any suitable construction. As is well understood, the conduit [6 is connected to a water heater (not shown) which is supplied with water under pressure from city water mains. The conduit It delivers water to a conventional vacuum breaker, generally indicated at I1 and which may be of any well-understood construction.

The vacuum breaker which I have elected to show includes a casing I8, the water inlet and outlet ports being indicated at l9 and 2|, respectively. The upper end of the casing is provided with a vent 22 communicating with the ambient atmosphere, which vent 22 is formed in a suitable valve seat 23. A valve 24 is arranged within the casing l8 for upward and downward movement therein, which valve is actuated in accordance with the pressure obtaining in the inlet port I9. The valve member 24 is spaced from the interior of the casing I8 to provide an air passage 25 and the valve member 24 is positioned within the casing I! by radially extending fins 26 which engage the casing l8. A tube 21 carried by the casing l8 positions the valve 24 in its open position, as shown, and forms a substantially fluid-tight connection with the valve, as indicated at 28. As will be understood, the position of the valve 24 as shown in the drawing is the position assumed when the water pressure within the casing I0 is below a predetermined value or when a subatmospheric pressure obtains within the casing it. Under these circumstances, the outlet port 2| communicates with the ambient atmosphere through the passages 25 and the vent 22. When the control valve CV is open, the increase in aavaoas pressure within the casing 18 and tube 2'! rapidly engages the valve member 24 and the seat 23 for closing the vent 22. It will be understood that any suitable form of vacuum breaker I! may be employed in accordance with my invention and the particular breaker which I have disclosed is one of several now available in the market.

In accordance with my invention, the discharge port 2| of the vacuum breaker ll connects by means of a U-shape conduit 3| with a. water inlet fitting 32 carried by the side wall H of the vat. In the case of a dishwasher, the water inlet fitting 32 defines a. nozzle for directing sprays of water at high velocity within the vat 10. As shown, the U-shape conduit extends downwardly from the vacuum breaker l1 and the inlet fitting 32 and is provided at its lowermost point with a restricted orifice, indicated at 33. The latter is spaced above a funnel structure 34 to define an air gap, indicated at 35, across which a small portion of the water conveyed by the U-shape conduit 3| is discharged. The funnel 34 is provided with a drain conduit 36 which communicates with the lower portion of the vat ID for the drainage of water from the funnel 34 to the vat l0.

The funnel 34 is arranged at an elevation on the vat wall ll above the normal level of water contained in the vat I and overfilling of the vat I0 is precluded as the rim of the funnel 34 defines an overflow. If during periods of operation of the dishwasher, some contaminated water is driven through the nozzle fitting 32 into the U-shape tube 3|, it will drain through the orifice 33 and funnel 34 and return to the vat ID. This contaminated water cannot find its way to the water vacuum breaker I! or the supply conduit l6 even though a sub-atmospheric pressure should prevail in the conduit l6 because at this time the breaker and U-shape tube 31 are vented to atmosphere. Furthermore, even though the valve 24 of the breaker H remained closed for some reason, no water will pass from the U- shape tube 3| to the breaker l8 as air will enter the orifice 33 and pass to the breaker I].

As set forth heretofore, many plumbing codes require that a vacuum breaker, when connected to a fitting in which contaminated water may be stored, must be installed at least six inches above the overflow rim of the fitting in order that no contaminated water be drawn into the breaker or the water pipe serving the breaker. This requirement is a hardship in many cases, for example, in dishwasher sink combinations because the breaker in such installations would have to be located somewhere above the work surface of the sink. This requirement not only increases the cost of the installation but would be unsightly. In order to conceal the breaker and piping, further expense would be necessary.

The water supply system which I have provided should comply with all requirements of the code, as the breaker even though located beneath the sink and the top rim of the vat I0 is elevated with respect to the overflow rim of the funnel 34 the required amount. Furthermore, by providing a vented U-tube between the breaker and the vat, no contaminated water splashed through the primary inlet or nozzle 32 of the vat can flow to the breaker under any circumstances. While I have shown my invention inbut one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for conveying water under pressure to a vat for storing water, the combination of a U-shape conduit having one end thereof connected to the vat for the discharge of water thereto, a vacuum breaker connected to the other end of the U-shape conduit and adapted for connection to a source of water under pressure, a funnel spaced below the lowermost portion of the U-shape conduit and defining an air gap therewith, said lowermost portion of the U-shape conduit being provided with an orifice for the discharge of water across the air gap to the funnel, and conduit means connecting the funnel to a lower region of the vat, said funnel being elevated with respect to the level of water stored within the vat.

2. In apparatus for conveying water under pressure to a vat, the combination of a vacuum breaker having a casing provided with an inlet opening for receiving water under pressure, an outlet opening for the water and a vent providing communication between the interior of the casing and the ambient atmosphere, valve means responsive to the pressure of the water in said casing for controlling the vent, said valve means closing the vent when the pressure within said casing is above a predetermined value and opening the vent when the pressure within the casing is below said value, a U-shape conduit connecting said outlet opening of the casing and the vat. said U-shape conduit having a restricted orifice formed in a lower portion thereof, a funnel spaced below the U-shape conduit for receiving water discharged by the orifice and means for draining water from the funnel to the vat, said funnel being elevated with respect to the normal level of water in the vat.

3. In apparatus for conveying water under pressure to an open top vat, the combination of a vacuum breaker adapted for connection to a source of water under pressure, a U-shape conduit connected to the vacuum breaker and the vat for the delivery of water to the latter, said conduit depending from the vacuum breaker and having an orifice formed in the lower portion thereof, a funnel spaced below said lower portion of said conduit for receiving water discharged from the orifice and means for discharging water from the funnel to the vat, said funnel being elevated with respect to the level of water stored in the vat.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein said vacuum breaker is disposed, at least in part, below the top of the vat.

5. In apparatus for conveying water under pressure to a sink structure having a work platform and a vat depending therebelow, the combination of a vacuum breaker adapted for connection to a source of water under pressure, said vacuum breaker being disposed below said work platform, a U-shape conduit connecting the vacuum breaker and the vat and depending from the vacuum breaker, said conduit having an orifice in a lower portion thereof, a funnel spaced below the conduit for receiving water discharged by said orifice and means for draining water from the funnel to a lower portion of the vat, said funnel being elevated with respect to the level of water stored in the vat.

JAMES GALE IDLE.

No references cited.

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