Sump and filter flushing in dishwashing appliances

Abstract

Dishwashing appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include features or steps such as, in a standalone sump and filter flush mode, measuring a water level in the sump of the dishwashing appliance. The sump and filter flush mode also includes comparing the measured water level in the sump to a preset value and draining water from the sump when the measured water level in the sump is greater than the preset value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a dishwashing appliance, the dishwashing appliance comprising a sump and a filter assembly in the sump, the method comprising:
 measuring a water level in the sump of the dishwashing appliance;   comparing the measured water level in the sump to a preset value; and   draining water from the sump when the measured water level in the sump is greater than the preset value;   wherein the method is performed after an end of a wash cycle of the dishwashing appliance and before a beginning of a subsequent wash cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is performed automatically after a user-selected cycle of the dishwashing appliance and is not performed in response to a user input. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reiterating the method until a user input is received. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is a standalone mode separate and independent from any user-selectable cycles of the dishwashing appliance. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising waiting for a delay period when the measured water level in the sump is less than the preset value and returning to the step of measuring the water level in the sump after the delay period. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring a turbidity level in the sump when the measured water level in the sump is greater than the preset value, and comparing the measured turbidity level to a preset turbidity level. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising proceeding directly to the step of draining the water from the sump after comparing the measured turbidity level to the preset turbidity level when the measured turbidity level is less than the preset turbidity level. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising draining water from the sump after comparing the measured turbidity level to the preset turbidity level when the measured turbidity level is greater than the preset turbidity level, followed by filling the sump with a predetermined volume of water, and then proceeding to the step of draining water from the sump. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising waiting for a delay period after draining the water from the sump and returning to the measuring step after the delay period. 
     
     
         10 . A dishwashing appliance, comprising:
 a tub defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;   a sump positioned at a bottom of the wash chamber for receiving fluid from the wash chamber;   a filter assembly in the sump; and   a controller, the controller configured to perform a sump and filter flush mode, the sump and filter flush mode comprising:
 measuring a water level in the sump of the dishwashing appliance; 
 comparing the measured water level in the sump to a preset value; and 
 draining water from the sump when the measured water level in the sump is greater than the preset value; 
   wherein the controller is configured to perform the sump and filter flush mode after an end of a wash cycle of the dishwashing appliance and before a beginning of a subsequent wash cycle.   
     
     
         11 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to perform the sump and filter flush mode automatically after a user-selected cycle of the dishwashing appliance and without a user input. 
     
     
         12 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured for reiterating the sump and filter flush mode until a user input is received. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the sump and filter flush mode is a standalone mode separate and independent from any user-selectable cycles of the dishwashing appliance. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the sump and filter flush mode further comprises waiting for a delay period when the measured water level in the sump is less than the preset value and returning to the step of measuring the water level in the sump after the delay period. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the sump and filter flush mode further comprises measuring a turbidity level in the sump when the measured water level in the sump is greater than the preset value, and comparing the measured turbidity level to a preset turbidity level. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the sump and filter flush mode further comprises proceeding directly to the step of draining the water from the sump after comparing the measured turbidity level to the preset turbidity level when the measured turbidity level is less than the preset turbidity level. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the sump and filter flush mode further comprises draining water from the sump after comparing the measured turbidity level to the preset turbidity level when the measured turbidity level is greater than the preset turbidity level, followed by filling the sump with a predetermined volume of water, and then proceeding to the step of draining water from the sump. 
     
     
         18 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the sump and filter flush mode further comprises waiting for a delay period after draining the water from the sump and returning to the measuring step after the delay period.