Swingable comb for closing magnetic switch for controlling hot rinse water in a dishwasher

Claim 2

The combination with the rinse compartment of a dishwashing machine, a dish-carrying basket and means for moving the basket through the compartment: a. a comb comprising a rockably supported shaft extending transversely across the rinse compartment; b. a plurality of downwardly depending tines mounted for free swinging movement on said shaft, said tines normally lying in the same plane and being positioned in the path of the moving basket; c. a transversely extending bar paralleling and spaced from said shaft with means connecting the bar to the shaft so that a swinging of the bar about the shaft axis will rock the shaft, said bar when in normal position being spaced from the plane of the tines, the basket when moved in one direction through the rinse compartment striking the tines and swinging them into contact with said bar for moving the latter and rocking said shaft in one direction; d. a hot water spray head mounted in said rinse compartment and connected to a source of hot water for directing rinse water over the dishes in the basket; e. normally closed valve for controlling the flow of hot water to said spray head; and f. valve actuating means actuated by the shaft when the latter is rocked in one direction by the tines striking the bar and swinging it for opening the valve and rinsing the dishes, said bar returning to normal position and said means closing said valve when the basket has moved to a point to free the tines and permit them to return to normal position, said tines being free to swing in the opposite direction about said shaft and not strike the bar should the basket be moved in the reverse direction and strike the tines, whereby the valve will not be opened during any reverse movement of the basket.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1: and in which a. the mounting of the tines for free swinging about said shaft includes; b. a separate substantially vertical tubular support for receiving each tine; and c. a substantially horizontal sleeve connected to each tubular support and being freely rockable on said shaft.

Claim 4

The combination as set forth in claim 1: and in which a. said valve actuating means includes a solenoid for opening the valve when the solenoid is energized; b. a switch disposed outside of the rinse compartment and used for connecting the solenoid to an electric current for opening the valve, said switch being self-closing but held in open position when in the presence of a magnetic field; c. a shank connected to said shaft and extending radially therefrom; and d. a magnet carried by the outer end of said shank and disposed within said rinse compartment, said magnet being disposed close to said switch when the tines and bar are in normal position so that the magnetic field will maintain the switch open, said shank swinging away from the switch when the tines are moved by contacting a moving basket and contact the bar for swinging the latter and rocking said shaft, whereby the switch will close and cause the solenoid to open the valve and permit hot water to flow out through said spray head to rinse the dishes.

Claim 5

The combination with the rinse compartment of a dishwashing machine, a dish-carrying basket and means for moving the basket through the compartment: a. a comb extending transversely across the rinse compartment and including a shaft with depending tines freely swingable about said shaft in the direction of the path of the moving basket when contacted by the basket; b. a hot water spray head mounted in said rinse compartment and connected to a source of hot water including a valve for directing rinse water through the spray head and over the dishes in the basket when the valve is open; and c. valve actuating means actuated by any one or more of the tines when they are rocked only in one direction about said shaft by the moving basket for opening the valve for rinSing the dishes, the tines returning to their depending position by gravity after the basket has passed, said tines being free to swing in the opposite direction about said shaft without actuating said valve actuating means should the basket be moved in a reverse direction past said tines.

Claim 6

The combination with the rinse compartment of a dishwashing machine, a dish-carrying basket and means for moving the basket through the compartment: a. a comb extending transversely across the rinse compartment and including a shaft with depending tines freely swingable about said shaft in the direction of the path of the moving basket when contacted by the basket; b. a hot water spray head mounted in said rinse compartment and connected to a source of hot water including a valve for directing rinse water through the spray head and over the dishes in the basket when the valve is open; and c. valve actuating means actuated by any one or more of the tines when they are rocked only in one direction about said shaft by the moving basket for opening the valve for rinSing the dishes, the tines returning to their depending position by gravity after the basket has passed, said tines being free to swing in the opposite direction about said shaft without actuating said valve actuating means should the basket be moved in a reverse direction past said tines.

Claim 7

The combination as set forth in claim 4: and in which a. said valve actuating means includes a solenoid for opening the valve when the solenoid is energized; b. a switch disposed outside of the rinse compartment and used for connecting the solenoid to an electric current for opening the valve, said switch being self-closing but held in open position when in the presence of a magnetic field; c. a shank connected to said shaft and offset laterally therefrom; and d. a magnet carried by the outer end of said shank and disposed within said rinse compartment, said magnet being disposed close to said switch when the tines are in normal depending position so that the magnetic field will maintain the switch open, said shank swinging the magnet away from the switch when the tines are moved by contacting a moving basket and actuate the valve actuating means, whereby the switch will close and cause the solenoid to open the valve and permit hot water to flow out through said spray head to rinse the dishes.

Claim 8

The combination with the rinse compartment of a dishwashing machine, a dish-carrying basket and means for moving the basket through the compartment: a. a comb extending transversely across the rinse compartment and including depending tines swingable in the direction of the path of the moving basket when contacted by the basket; b. a hot water spray head mounted in said rinse compartment and connected to a source of hot water including a valve for directing rinse water over the dishes in the basket when the valve is open; c. valve actuating means actuated by the tines when they are rocked only in one direction by the moving basket for opening the valve for rinsing the dishes, the tines returning to their depending position after the basket has passed, said tines being free to swing in the opposite direction without actuating said valve actuating means should the basket be moved in a reverse direction; d. said comb also including a rockably supported shaft, said tines being mounted for free swinging movement on said shaft and normally lying in the same plane; and e. said valve actuating means including a transversely extending bar paralleling and spaced from said shaft with means connecting the bar to the shaft so that a swinging of the bar about the shaft axis will rock said shaft, said bar when in normal position being spaced from the plane of the tines, said tines being swung by the basket and striking and swinging the bar when the basket is moved in one direction for operating said valve actuating means and opening said valve for rinsing the dishes, said tines being free to swing in the opposite direction and not strike the bar should the basket be reversed in its movement and contact the tines in its reverse movement, whereby said valve will not be opened during this reverse movement.

Claim 9

The combination with the rinse compartment of a dishwashing machine, a dish-carrying basket and means for moving the basket through the compartment: a. a comb extending transversely across the rinse compartment and including depending tines swingable in the direction of the path of the moving basket when contacted by the basket; b. a hot water spray head mounted in said rinse compartment and connected to a source of hot water including a valve for directing rinse water over the dishes in the basket when the valve is open; c. valve actuating means actuated by the tines when they are rocked only in one direction by the moving basket for opening the valve for rinsing the dishes, the tines returning to their depending position after the basket has passed, said tines being free to swing in the opposite direction without actuating said valve actuating means should the basket be moved in a reverse direction; d. said comb also including a rockably supported shaft, said tines being mounted for free swinging movement on said shaft and normally lying in the same plane; and e. said valve actuating means including a transversely extending bar paralleling and spaced from said shaft with means connecting the bar to the shaft so that a swinging of the bar about the shaft axis will rock said shaft, said bar when in normal position being spaced from the plane of the tines, said tines being swung by the basket and striking and swinging the bar when the basket is moved in one direction for operating said valve actuating means and opening said valve for rinsing the dishes, said tines being free to swing in the opposite direction and not strike the bar should the basket be reversed in its movement and contact the tines in its reverse movement, whereby said valve will not be opened during this reverse movement.