Fluid circulation system with a filter element in a washing machine appliance

Abstract

A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub positioned within a cabinet and defining a wash chamber, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub for receiving a load of clothes, and a pump assembly in fluid communication with a sump of the wash tub. The pump assembly includes a recirculation conduit fluidly coupled to the sump, a pump for selectively urging a flow of wash fluid from the sump and through the recirculation conduit, and a filter positioned operably coupled to the recirculation conduit for filtering the flow of wash fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a wash tub positioned within a cabinet and defining a wash chamber;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub for receiving a load of clothes; and   a pump assembly in fluid communication with a sump of the wash tub, the pump assembly comprising:
 a recirculation conduit fluidly coupled to the sump; 
 a pump for selectively urging a flow of wash fluid from the sump and through the recirculation conduit; and 
 a filter positioned operably coupled to the recirculation conduit for filtering the flow of wash fluid. 
   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the pump assembly further comprises:
 a drain conduit fluidly coupled to an external drain, wherein the pump is a bi-directional pump for selectively urging a flow of wash fluid through the drain conduit or the recirculation conduit.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a dispensing assembly mounted within the cabinet for selectively adding wash fluid into the wash tub, wherein the recirculation conduit is fluidly coupled to the dispensing assembly and the filter is positioned within the dispensing assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the dispensing assembly comprises:
 a dispenser housing defining an inlet port, wherein the recirculation conduit is fluidly coupled to the inlet port.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the inlet port is defined on a back wall of the dispenser housing. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the dispensing assembly comprises:
 a filter cage positioned within the dispenser housing for receiving the filter.   
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the filter cage is removable to facilitate cleaning of the filter and removal of collected particulates. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the dispenser housing defines a discharge aperture for discharging the flow of wash fluid into the wash tub after the filter has removed collected particulates. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the inlet port defines a fan-shaped geometry to spread the flow of wash fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is a screen mesh filter that lines a perimeter of a filter cage. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is a direct current (DC) bi-directional pump. 
     
     
         12 . A pump assembly for a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a wash tub defining a sump for collecting wash fluid, the pump assembly comprising:
 a recirculation conduit fluidly coupled to the sump;   a pump for selectively urging a flow of wash fluid from the sump and through the recirculation conduit; and   a filter positioned operably coupled to the recirculation conduit for filtering the flow of wash fluid.   
     
     
         13 . The pump assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a drain conduit fluidly coupled to an external drain, wherein the pump is a bi-directional pump for selectively urging a flow of wash fluid through the drain conduit or the recirculation conduit.   
     
     
         14 . The pump assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the washing machine appliance further comprises:
 a dispensing assembly mounted within a cabinet for selectively adding wash fluid into the wash tub, wherein the recirculation conduit is fluidly coupled to the dispensing assembly and the filter is positioned within the dispensing assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The pump assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the dispensing assembly comprises:
 a dispenser housing defining an inlet port, wherein the recirculation conduit is fluidly coupled to the inlet port.   
     
     
         16 . The pump assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the inlet port is defined on a back wall of the dispenser housing. 
     
     
         17 . The pump assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the dispensing assembly comprises:
 a filter cage positioned within the dispenser housing for receiving the filter.   
     
     
         18 . The pump assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the filter cage is removable to facilitate cleaning of the filter and removal of collected particulates. 
     
     
         19 . The pump assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the filter is a screen mesh filter that lines a perimeter of a filter cage. 
     
     
         20 . The pump assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the pump is a direct current (DC) bi-directional pump.