Dishwasher with single pump and filter unit for multiple compartments

Abstract

A dishwasher with multiple, physically separate treating chambers includes a pump and filter unit and a system for coupling the separate treating chambers to the pump and filter unit.

1 . A dishwasher system comprising:
 a first tub at least partially defining a first treating chamber with a first liquid inlet and a first liquid outlet;   a second tub at least partially defining a second treating chamber, which is physically separate from the first treating chamber, and having a second liquid inlet and a second liquid outlet;   a pump and filter unit comprising:
 a housing defining an interior and having an inlet; 
 a wash pump having an inlet fluidly coupled to the housing and an outlet; 
 a filter located within the housing and fluidly separating the housing inlet from the wash pump inlet; and 
 a liquid diverter system selectively coupling the first and second tub liquid outlets to the housing inlet and the first and second tub liquid inlets to the wash pump outlet to selectively control liquid movement within and between the first and second treating chambers. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , further comprising a chassis defining an interior, with both the first and second tubs being located within the interior. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher of  claim 2 , further comprising a first drawer defining the first tub and a second drawer defining the second tub, with both the first and second drawers slidably mounted to the chassis. 
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  wherein the housing is physically separate from the first and second tubs. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher of  claim 4  wherein the housing defines a remote sump for both the first and second tubs. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  wherein the wash pump further comprises an impeller rotatably mounted within the wash pump and expelling liquid from the housing interior through the wash pump outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher of  claim 6  wherein the filter is rotatably mounted in the housing and driven by the impeller. 
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher of  claim 7  wherein the filter is mounted to the impeller. 
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher of  claim 7 , further comprising a motor operably coupled with the impeller to rotate the impeller and wherein the rotation of the impeller by the motor also rotates the filter. 
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , further comprising a drain pump having an inlet fluidly coupled to the housing to draw liquid from the housing interior for draining. 
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher of  claim 10  wherein the filter does not fluidly separate the housing from the drain pump inlet. 
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  wherein the diverter system comprises a first diverter selectively fluidly coupling the first and second outlets to the housing inlet and a second diverter selectively fluidly coupling the first and second inlets to the wash pump outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the first and second diverters comprises a valve. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher of  claim 13  wherein the valve is a flapper valve. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  wherein the liquid diverter system selectively establishes a recirculation path between the wash pump and each of the first and second treating chambers. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  wherein the liquid diverter system fluidly couples one of the first and second inlets to one of the second and first liquid outlets, respectively, to establish a fluid path between the first and second treating chambers. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  wherein the liquid diverter system fluidly couples both the first and second liquid inlets to the pump outlet simultaneously.