Spray arm assemblies for dishwasher appliances

Abstract

Spray arm assemblies for dishwasher appliances are provided. In some embodiments, a spray arm assembly includes a first spray arm, the first spray arm including an inner arm member and an outer arm member, the inner arm member defining an interior and extending along a longitudinal axis, the outer arm member generally concentric with and surrounding the inner arm member. The inner arm member is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The inner arm member defines an inner slot extending helically along the longitudinal axis. The outer arm member defines an outer slot extending generally linearly along the longitudinal axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spray arm assembly for a dishwasher appliance, the spray arm assembly comprising:
 a first spray arm, the first spray arm comprising an inner arm member and an outer arm member, the inner arm member defining an interior and extending along a longitudinal axis, the outer arm member generally concentric with and surrounding the inner arm member, the inner arm member rotatable about the longitudinal axis, the inner arm member defining an inner slot extending helically along the longitudinal axis, the outer arm member defining an outer slot extending generally linearly along the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a central housing defining a central axis, the central axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the outer arm member is mounted to the central housing. 
     
     
         4 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the central housing is rotatable about the central axis. 
     
     
         5 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a gear assembly disposed within the central housing, the gear assembly configured to rotate the inner arm member about the longitudinal axis when the central housing rotates about the central axis. 
     
     
         6 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the gear assembly is a bevel gear assembly, the bevel gear assembly comprising a drive gear and an axle gear, the axle gear mounted to the inner arm member. 
     
     
         7 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the bevel gear assembly further comprises an idler gear. 
     
     
         8 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the number of gear teeth of the axle gear is less than the number of gear teeth of the drive gear. 
     
     
         9 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first spray arm is a plurality of first spray arms. 
     
     
         10 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second spray arm, the second spray arm comprising an arm member defining an interior, the arm member defining an aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the aperture is disposed proximate a tip of the arm member of the second spray arm. 
     
     
         12 . A spray arm assembly for a dishwasher appliance, the spray arm assembly comprising:
 a first spray arm, the first spray arm comprising an inner arm member and an outer arm member, the inner arm member defining an interior and extending along a longitudinal axis, the outer arm member generally concentric with and surrounding the inner arm member, the inner arm member rotatable about the longitudinal axis;   a central housing defining and rotatable about a central axis, the central axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and   a bevel gear assembly disposed within the central housing, the bevel gear assembly configured to rotate the inner arm member about the longitudinal axis when the central housing rotates about the central axis, the bevel gear assembly comprising a drive gear, an axle gear, and an idler gear, the axle gear mounted to the inner arm member.   
     
     
         13 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the outer arm member is mounted to the central housing. 
     
     
         14 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the number of gear teeth of the axle gear is less than the number of gear teeth of the drive gear. 
     
     
         15 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the inner arm member defines an inner slot extending helically along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the outer arm member defines an outer slot extending generally linearly along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first spray arm is a plurality of first spray arms. 
     
     
         18 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a second spray arm, the second spray arm comprising an arm member defining an interior, the arm member defining an aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the aperture is disposed proximate a tip of the arm member of the second spray arm. 
     
     
         20 . The spray arm assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the second spray arm is mounted to the central housing.