Dishwasher including a flow controller assembly

Abstract

A dishwasher including a washing fluid conduit system, a sump, and a flow controller assembly is provided. The sump includes washing fluid outlets, a channel formed within the sump at least partially defined by a cap and connected to an outlet for supplying washing fluid outside of the sump, and an extra outlet in fluid communication with the channel. The flow controller assembly includes a positioning device and a disk rotatably arranged in relation to the washing fluid outlets and the extra outlet of the sump. The disk includes apertures arranged for selectively closing and opening the washing fluid outlets and the extra outlet of the sump during rotation of the disk. When the positioning device aligns an aperture of the disk with the extra outlet of the sump, washing fluid is permitted to pass from the sump to outside of the sump through the channel.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A dishwasher comprising:
 a washing fluid conduit system;   a sump comprising:
 a plurality of washing fluid outlets for supplying washing fluid to the washing fluid conduit system; 
 a channel formed within the sump, wherein the channel is defined at least partially by a cap and connected to an outlet for supplying washing fluid outside of the sump; and 
 at least one extra outlet in fluid communication with the channel; and 
   a flow controller assembly for controlling flow of washing fluid in the dishwasher, wherein the flow controller assembly comprises a positioning device and a disk rotatably arranged in relation to the plurality of washing fluid outlets and the at least one extra outlet of the sump, wherein the disk comprises a plurality of apertures arranged for selectively closing and opening the plurality of washing fluid outlets and the at least one extra outlet of the sump during rotation of the disk, and wherein, when the positioning device aligns at least one of the plurality of apertures of the disk with the at least one extra outlet of the sump, washing fluid is permitted to pass from the sump to a location outside of the sump through the channel.   
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher of  claim 14 , further comprising a filter, wherein the cap is included in the filter. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher of  claim 15 , wherein the filter and the cap form a single piece construction. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher of  claim 15 , wherein the filter extends over the washing fluid outlets and the filter comprises sump attachments sized and shaped to fit over the respective washing fluid outlets of the sump to connect the washing fluid outlets to spray arms of the water conduit system. 
     
     
         18 . The dishwasher of  claim 15 , wherein the filter comprises a hub that connects an outlet of the plurality of washing fluid outlets of the sump with a lower spray arm of the washing fluid conduit system. 
     
     
         19 . The dishwasher of  claim 15 , wherein the filter includes aeration towers. 
     
     
         20 . The dishwasher of  claim 15 , wherein the filter includes fixation elements for fixing the filter to the sump. 
     
     
         21 . The dishwasher of  claim 20 , wherein the filter comprises fixation element apertures sized and shaped to receive the fixation elements. 
     
     
         22 . The dishwasher of  claim 15 , wherein the cap includes a connection element for directing the washing fluid from the channel to the location outside of the sump. 
     
     
         23 . The dishwasher of  claim 19 , wherein the filter further comprises sump attachments sized and shaped to fit over the respective washing fluid outlets of the sump to connect the washing fluid outlets to spray arms of the water conduit system, aeration towers, fixation elements for fixing the filter to the sump, and fixation element apertures sized and shaped to receive the fixation elements. 
     
     
         24 . The dishwasher of claim  24 , wherein the filter, the cap, the hub, the fixation element apertures, the sump attachments, and the aeration towers form a single piece construction. 
     
     
         25 . The dishwasher of  claim 14 , wherein the location outside of the sump includes at least one of (i) a tube of the washing fluid conduit system for supplying washing fluid to a detergent dispenser, (ii) a tank arranged outside of the sump, and (iii) a heat exchanger of the washing fluid conduit system. 
     
     
         26 . The dishwasher of  claim 14 , wherein the channel is fluidly connect to at least one of (i) a tank arranged outside of the sump, (ii) a heat exchanger arranged outside of the sump, (iii) a duct of the washing fluid conduit system extending outside the sump and at least partially extending outside a tub of the dishwasher to supply washing liquid to a detergent dispenser. 
     
     
         27 . A dishwasher comprising:
 a tub;   a washing fluid conduit system;   a sump comprising:
 a lateral wall defining a bottom portion of the tub and comprising a channel, wherein the channel is connected to an outlet for supplying washing fluid outside of the sump; 
 a plurality of washing fluid outlets for supplying washing fluid to the washing fluid conduit system; and 
 at least one extra outlet in fluid communication with the channel; and 
   a flow controller assembly for controlling flow of washing fluid in the dishwasher, wherein the flow controller assembly comprises a positioning device and a disk rotatably arranged in relation to the plurality of washing fluid outlets and the at least one extra outlet of the sump, wherein the disk comprises a plurality of apertures arranged for selectively closing and opening the plurality of washing fluid outlets and the at least one extra outlet of the sump during rotation of the disk, and wherein, when the positioning device aligns at least one of the plurality of apertures of the disk with the at least one extra outlet of the sump, washing fluid is permitted to pass from the sump to a location outside of the sump through the channel.   
     
     
         28 . The dishwasher of  claim 27 , further comprising a filtration assembly connected to the sump with a fixation element. 
     
     
         29 . The dishwasher of  claim 28 , wherein the filtration assembly comprises a cap attached to the at least one extra outlet. 
     
     
         30 . The dishwasher of  claim 27 , wherein the lateral wall comprises an inlet fluidly connected to a pump. 
     
     
         31 . The dishwasher of  claim 30 , wherein the pump is in fluid communication with the flow controller assembly and operable to pump washing fluid through the washing fluid conduit system. 
     
     
         32 . A method for supplying washing fluid to a location outside of a sump of a dishwasher, the sump comprising (i) a plurality of washing fluid outlets for supplying washing fluid to a washing fluid conduit system of the dishwasher, (ii) a channel formed within the sump, the channel connected to an outlet for supplying washing fluid outside of the sump, and (iii) at least one extra outlet in fluid communication with the channel, the dishwasher further comprising a flow controller assembly for controlling washing fluid flow in the dishwasher, the flow controller assembly comprising a positioning device and a disk rotatably arranged in relation to the plurality of washing fluid outlets and the at least one extra outlet of the sump, the method comprising:
 rotating, with the positioning device, the disk to align an aperture of the disk with the at least one extra outlet of the sump; and   supplying, through the at least one extra outlet washing fluid to the location outside of the sump of the dishwasher, wherein the washing fluid passes from the at least one extra outlet through the channel, wherein the channel is fluidly connected to a device of the washing fluid conduit system extending at least partially outside a tub of the dishwasher.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the device comprises at least one of (i) a tank, (ii) a heat exchanger, (iii) a duct to supply washing liquid to a detergent dispenser.