Wash and rinse arm system for dish washer

Abstract

A dish washer assembly with wash and rinse arms in a configuration that rotate using a hub assembly. A dish washer for washing dishes, including a single wash and rinse arm assembly comprising a first set of nozzles configured for washing the dishes with wash water and a second set of nozzles configured for rinsing the dishes with rinse water; and a hub comprising a first channel to provide wash water to the first set of nozzles of the arm assembly and a second channel to provide rinse water to the second set of nozzles of the arm assembly, wherein the arm assembly rotates on the hub to spray wash and rinse water on the dishes in the machine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dish washing machine for washing dishes in the machine, comprising:
 a single wash and rinse arm assembly comprising a first set of nozzles configured for washing the dishes with wash water and a second set of nozzles configured for rinsing the dishes with rinse water; and   a hub comprising a first channel to provide wash water to the first set of nozzles of the arm assembly and a second channel to provide rinse water to the second set of nozzles of the arm assembly,   wherein the arm assembly rotates on the hub to spray wash and rinse water on the dishes in the machine.   
     
     
         2 . The dish washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the wash and rinse arm assembly is configured to rotate based on the propulsion of water through nozzles located on the wash and rinse arms. 
     
     
         3 . The dish washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the hub includes a stationary hub that receives input from two separate liquid sources and directs the flow to an attached wash/rinse arm. 
     
     
         4 . The dish washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a sump and a pump system configured to recirculate liquid within the dish washer, and wherein the sump includes a sump pan and a sump well, the sump well configured to collect liquid from the sump pan. 
     
     
         5 . The dish washing machine of  claim 4 , wherein the sump pan includes an inclined wall to facilitate drainage of liquid into the sump well. 
     
     
         6 . The dish washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a service compartment housing components including at least a pump and a reservoir, and wherein the components within the service compartment are moveably coupled to facilitate access for service. 
     
     
         7 . The dish washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein nozzles on the wash arms are larger than nozzles on the rinse arms to provide a greater volumetric flow of wash solution. 
     
     
         8 . The dish washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the wash and rinse arm assemblies are configured to rotate in opposite directions when pressurized. 
     
     
         9 . The dish washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the wash and rinse arm assemblies are configured to rotate at different relative rates to randomize the application of wash and rinse water. 
     
     
         10 . The dish washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to control operation of the dish washer, including timing and duration of wash and rinse cycles, wherein the controller is configured to monitor electrical characteristics of a pump to determine fluid flow characteristics. 
     
     
         11 . The dish washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the wash and rinse arm assembly includes a dual hub system with separate channels for wash and rinse water. 
     
     
         12 . The dish washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein the dual hub system includes upper and lower hubs that distribute wash and rinse water to corresponding upper and lower wash and rinse arms. 
     
     
         13 . The dish washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the machine includes a plurality of sensors configured to optimize the washing and rinsing process based on load size and soil level. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a dish washing machine, comprising: providing wash water to a first set of nozzles of a wash and rinse arm assembly; providing rinse water to a second set of nozzles of the wash and rinse arm assembly; and rotating the arm assembly on a hub to spray wash and rinse water on dishes in the machine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising receiving inputs from two separate liquid sources at a stationary hub and directing the flow to an attached wash/rinse arm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein rotating the arm assembly is propelled by the flow of water through nozzles located on the wash and rinse arms. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising recirculating liquid within the dish washer using a sump and a pump system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein recirculating the liquid includes collecting the liquid in a sump well from a sump pan, the sump pan having an inclined wall to facilitate drainage. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein spraying wash and rinse water includes using nozzles on the wash arms that are larger than the nozzles on the rinse arms to provide a greater volumetric flow of wash solution. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising controlling the rotation of the wash and rinse arm assemblies to rotate in opposite directions when pressurized. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising monitoring electrical characteristics of a pump to determine fluid flow characteristics using a controller. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising optimizing the washing and rinsing process based on load size and soil level using a plurality of sensors.