US-12622566-B2 - Non-radiating pump cover

Abstract

A dishwasher pump assembly includes a pump cover configured to reduce the amount of noise transmitted by the cover during operation of the pump. The radiating efficiency of the cover is reduced by reducing the solid percentage of the pump cover. In doing so, the geometry of the pump cover may be modified to inefficient at radiating noise.

Inventors

• Kyle James Brewer
• Scott Allen Noll
• Kemper York

Assignees

• HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.
• THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240305

Claims (16)

1. 1 . A dishwashing appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the dishwasher appliance comprising: a tub positioned within a cabinet and defining a wash chamber; a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet to provide selective access to the wash chamber; a rack mounted within the wash chamber and configured for receipt of articles for cleaning; a plurality of spray assemblies; a primary supply conduit fluidly coupled to the plurality of spray assemblies; a pump assembly fluidly coupled to the primary supply conduit, the pump assembly comprising: a housing supporting an impeller for rotation within the housing; a motor coupled to the impeller to impart rotation; and a cover affixed to the housing, the cover comprising a generally planar panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, the generally planar panel defining one or more apertures formed through the inner surface and the outer surface; wherein the one or more apertures comprise between about 55% and about 75% of a surface area of the generally planar panel.
2. 2 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 1 , wherein the one or more apertures comprise between about 60% and about 70% of the surface area of the generally planar panel.
3. 3 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 2 , wherein the one or more apertures comprise about 65% of the surface area of the generally planar panel.
4. 4 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 1 , wherein the one or more apertures comprise circular holes.
5. 5 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 4 , wherein the circular holes are formed in a plurality of parallel rows.
6. 6 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of parallel rows are linear.
7. 7 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 5 , wherein the circular holes in adjacent parallel rows are offset in a direction parallel to the adjacent parallel rows such that centers of circular holes in a row do not align with centers in an adjacent row in a direction perpendicular to the rows.
8. 8 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 4 , wherein the circular holes in each of the plurality of parallel rows are equally spaced from an adjacent circular hole.
9. 9 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 1 , wherein the apertures comprise a plurality linear slots.
10. 10 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of linear slots are parallel.
11. 11 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a damping treatment applied to a portion of the inner surface.
12. 12 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 11 , wherein the damping treatment comprises a layer of viscoelastic material.
13. 13 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 11 , further comprising constrained-layer damping, the constrained-layer damping comprising a viscoelastic damping layer applied to the portion of the inside surface and a constraining layer applied to the viscoelastic damping layer.
14. 14 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 13 , wherein the constraining layer includes apertures corresponding to the apertures formed in the generally planar panel.
15. 15 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 13 , wherein the constraining layer is a metallized layer.
16. 16 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 13 , wherein the constraining layer is a fiber layer.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates generally to appliances, such as dishwasher appliances, and more particularly to motor covers used in such appliances. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many appliances utilize fluids for various purposes, such as cleaning purposes, fluid supply purposes, etc. Dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators are examples of such appliances. Such appliances typically include conduits for flowing fluids therethrough, both for use in the appliance and for drainage from the appliance. Additionally, pumps may be utilized to encourage fluid flow through such conduits. Known pumps utilized with appliances typically include an impeller positioned within a housing through which the fluid flows and an electric motor positioned outside of the housing coupled to the impeller to impart rotation. Pumps can vibrate due to the high rotational speed of the motor and torque pulsations at the impeller. To protect the internal components of the pump from damage or unauthorized access, pumps are often provided with one or more covers. Generally, the covers are substantially flat structures typically formed from a rigid, often fire resistant, plastic material. In many cases, the vibration of the pump transmits vibrations to the covers, which act as a drum or speaker diaphragm and amplify the vibration. Consequentially, typical appliance pumps are noisy and, in appliances such as dishwashers, are often the main source of noise for the appliance and consumer dissatisfaction. Accordingly, appliance pumps that transmit less vibration and noise may be desirable. Covers for pumps that are relatively inefficient at transmitting vibration may be particularly useful. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. In one exemplary aspect, a dishwashing appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction is presented. The dishwashing appliance comprises a tub positioned within a cabinet and defining a wash chamber, a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet to provide selective access to the wash chamber, a rack mounted within the wash chamber and configured for receipt of articles for cleaning, a plurality of spray assemblies and a primary supply conduit is fluidly coupled to the plurality of spray assemblies. A pump assembly is fluidly coupled to the primary supply conduit, the pump assembly comprising a housing supporting an impeller for rotation within the housing, a motor coupled to the impeller to impart rotation, and a cover affixed to the housing, the cover comprising a generally planar panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, the generally planar panel comprising a plurality of apertures formed through the inner surface and the outer surface, wherein the apertures comprise between about 55% and about 75% of a surface area of the generally planar panel. In another exemplary aspect an appliance pump assembly comprises a housing supporting an impeller for rotation within the housing, a motor coupled to the impeller to impart rotation, and a cover affixed to the housing, the cover comprising a generally planar panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, the generally planar panel comprising a plurality of apertures formed through the inner surface and the outer surface, wherein the apertures comprise between about 55% and about 75% of a surface area of the generally planar panel. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a dishwashing appliance of the present disclosure with a door in a partially open position; FIG. 2 provides a side, cross-sectional view of the exemplary dishwashing appliance of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of a pump assembly is accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 provides a plan view of a cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 provides a plan view of a panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 provides a plan view of the cover of FIG. 4 with damping treatment applied in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 7 provides a sectional view of the cover of FIG. 6 take