Patent attributes
An automatic dishwasher having a wash chamber is provided with a filter for filtering wash liquid circulated in the wash chamber. The filter includes a filter chamber outside the wash chamber. An inlet to and outlet from the filter chamber in a wall of the wash chamber allows wash liquid circulating in the wash chamber to enter the filter chamber and to flow out of the filter chamber through a filter element back into the wash chamber for filtering particulate material from wash liquid circulating in the wash chamber. A drain outlet at the bottom of the filter chamber allows wash liquid and material filtered by the filter to flow to the household drain. Sensors can be provided to detect a clogged or partially clogged filter and initiate a purge cycle to remove wash liquid and material filtered by the filter to the household drain.