Dishwasher appliance and method for operating same

Abstract

Dishwasher appliances and methods are provided. A dishwasher appliance includes a chamber and a door, the door having an interior wall and a bottom. The dishwasher appliance further includes a conduit disposed within the door, the conduit defining a passage extending between a first end and a second end, the first end defined in the interior wall for the egress of fluid from the chamber, the second end defined in the door for the egress of fluid from the conduit. The dishwasher appliance further includes a vent for controlling the egress of fluid from the chamber through the first end, the vent received into the door, and a fan disposed within the passage, the fan operable to flow fluid from the chamber into the conduit. The dishwasher appliance further includes a controller in communication with the fan, the controller operable to activate the fan during a wet cycle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher appliance, comprising:
 a chamber for the receipt of articles for cleaning;   a door for selectively opening and closing the dishwasher appliance, the door having an interior wall and a bottom;   a conduit disposed within the door, the conduit defining a passage extending between a first end and a second end, the first end defined in the interior wall for the egress of fluid from the chamber, the second end defined in the door for the egress of fluid from the conduit;   a vent for controlling the egress of fluid from the chamber through the first end, the vent received into the door;   a fan disposed within the passage, the fan operable to flow fluid from the chamber into the conduit; and   a controller in communication with the fan, the controller operable to activate the fan during a wet cycle and upon receiving a signal that the door has been closed during the wet cycle after receiving a signal that the door has been opened during the wet cycle, wherein the controller activates the fan for a predetermined time period during the wet cycle upon receiving the signal that the door has been closed during the wet cycle after receiving the signal that the door has been opened during the wet cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the vent is a passive vent. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further in communication with the door. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to activate the fan upon initiation of the wet cycle. 
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the controller activates the fan for a predetermined time period upon initiation of the wet cycle. 
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the second end is defined proximate the bottom. 
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein a port is defined in the conduit. 
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the dishwasher appliance further has an exterior wall, and wherein a door interior is defined between the interior wall and the exterior wall, and wherein the port is defined in the conduit for the egress of fluid front the door interior. 
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the fan is positioned downstream of the port. 
     
     
         12 . A method for operating a dishwasher appliance, the method comprising:
 initiating a wet cycle; and   receiving a signal during the wet cycle that a door of the dishwasher appliance has been opened;   receiving a signal during the wet cycle that the door of the dishwasher appliance has been closed after receiving the signal during the wet cycle that the door of the dishwasher appliance has been opened;   activating, as a consequence of receiving the signal during the wet cycle that the door of the dishwasher appliance has been closed, a fan disposed within the door during the wet cycle, the fan in fluid communication with a chamber of the dishwasher appliance,   wherein upon activation of the fan, fluid from the chamber is flowable from the chamber through a conduit disposed within the door.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fan is disposed within the conduit. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fan is activated for a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the activating step occurs as a consequence of the initiating step. 
     
     
         17 . A method for operating a dishwasher appliance, the method comprising:
 initiating a wet cycle;   receiving a signal during the wet cycle that a door of the dishwasher appliance has been opened;   receiving a signal during the wet cycle that the door of the dishwasher appliance has been closed after receiving the signal during the wet cycle that the door of the dishwasher appliance has been opened;   actively flowing fluid from a chamber of the dishwasher appliance through a conduit disposed within the door during the wet cycle as a consequence of receiving the signal during the wet cycle that the door of the dishwasher appliance has been closed; and   exhausting the fluid from the conduit externally of the dishwasher appliance.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising mixing within the conduit the fluid from the chamber with fluid from an interior of the door. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a fan is operable to actively flow the fluid from the chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid is flowed from the chamber past a vent to the conduit.