Dishwasher pump apparatus with a sound absorbing layer

Abstract

A dishwasher pump apparatus includes a liquid pump member, a motor operably connected to the liquid pump member and a cooling fan configured to cool the motor. The cooling fan includes an outer fan housing. Example dishwasher pump apparatus can further include an outer sound absorbing layer at least partially encapsulating at least one of an outer motor housing and the outer fan housing. Further examples, the outer fan housing can include an exhaust portion defining an exhaust path. An inner sound absorbing layer can line an inner area of the exhaust portion.

1 . A dishwasher pump apparatus configured to pump liquid during a dishwasher operation, the dishwasher pump apparatus including:
 a liquid pump member;   a motor operably connected to the liquid pump member, the motor including an outer motor housing;   a cooling fan configured to cool the motor, the cooling fan including an outer fan housing; and   an outer sound absorbing layer at least partially encapsulating at least one of the outer motor housing and the outer fan housing.   
   
   
       2 . The dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an exhaust portion of the outer fan housing defines an exhaust path, wherein the outer sound absorbing layer at least partially encapsulates the exhaust portion. 
   
   
       3 . The dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising an inner sound absorbing layer lining an inner area of the exhaust portion. 
   
   
       4 . The dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the exhaust path is circumscribed by the inner sound absorbing layer. 
   
   
       5 . The dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the inner sound absorbing layer comprises a porous material. 
   
   
       6 . The dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cooling fan includes a fan rotor and the outer fan housing includes a shroud with a circumferential portion and a side portion that cooperate to at least partially shroud the fan rotor, wherein the outer sound absorbing layer at least partially encapsulates the shroud of the outer fan housing. 
   
   
       7 . The dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outer sound absorbing layer comprises a porous material. 
   
   
       8 . The dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fan includes a fan rotor and the outer fan housing includes a shroud with a circumferential portion and a side portion that cooperate to at least partially shroud the fan rotor. 
   
   
       9 . The dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the outer sound absorbing layer at least partially encapsulates the shroud. 
   
   
       10 . A dishwasher including the dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 1 , the dishwasher including an inner area configured to receive articles, wherein the dishwasher pump apparatus is operatively connected to the inner area of the dishwasher. 
   
   
       11 . A dishwasher pump apparatus configured to pump liquid during a dishwasher operation, the dishwasher pump apparatus including:
 a liquid pump member;   a motor operably connected to the liquid pump member; and   a cooling fan configured to cool the motor, the cooling fan including an outer fan housing including an exhaust portion defining an exhaust path, and an inner sound absorbing layer lining an inner area of the exhaust portion.   
   
   
       12 . The dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the exhaust path is circumscribed by the inner sound absorbing layer. 
   
   
       13 . The dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the inner sound absorbing layer comprises a porous material. 
   
   
       14 . A dishwasher including the dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 11 , the dishwasher including an inner area configured to receive articles, wherein the dishwasher pump apparatus is operatively connected to the inner area of the dishwasher. 
   
   
       15 . A dishwasher pump apparatus configured to pump liquid during a dishwasher operation, the dishwasher pump apparatus including:
 a liquid pump member;   a motor operably connected to the liquid pump member, the motor including an outer motor housing;   a cooling fan configured to cool the motor, the cooling fan including an outer fan housing with an exhaust portion defining an exhaust path; and   an outer sound absorbing layer at least partially encapsulating the outer motor housing and the outer fan housing.   
   
   
       16 . The dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising an inner sound absorbing layer lining an inner area of the exhaust portion. 
   
   
       17 . The dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the exhaust path is circumscribed by the inner sound absorbing layer. 
   
   
       18 . The dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the outer sound absorbing layer at least partially encapsulates the exhaust portion. 
   
   
       19 . The dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the cooling fan includes a fan rotor and the outer fan housing includes a shroud with a circumferential portion and a side portion that cooperate to at least partially shroud the fan rotor, wherein the outer sound absorbing layer at least partially encapsulates the shroud. 
   
   
       20 . A dishwasher including the dishwasher pump apparatus of  claim 15 , the dishwasher including an inner area configured to receive articles, wherein the dishwasher pump apparatus is operatively connected to the inner area of the dishwasher.