Dishwasher with tubular spray element slip ring alignment

1. A dishwasher, comprising:

a wash tub;

a rack supported in the wash tub and movable between loading and washing positions;

a tubular spray element supported by the rack for movement with the rack, the tubular spray element being rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and including a connector proximate an end thereof and one or more spray apertures extending through an exterior surface thereof; and

a docking arrangement coupled to a wall of the wash tub and configured to engage with the connector of the tubular spray element when the rack is in the washing position to supply fluid to the tubular spray element, the docking arrangement including:

a rotatable docking port rotatable about an axis of rotation and positioned to receive the connector of the tubular spray element when the rack is disposed in the washing position; and

a docking port drive coupled to the rotatable docking port and configured to rotate the rotatable docking port such that when the connector of the tubular spray element is received in the rotatable docking port, the docking port drive rotates the tubular spray element while rotating the rotatable docking port;

wherein the tubular spray element and the rotatable docking port are coupled to one another through a slip ring alignment arrangement including first and second mating members respectively coupled to the connector of the tubular spray element and the rotatable docking port, the first and second mating members being movable along respective first and second circular paths within a common plane that is substantially transverse to the axis of rotation of the rotatable docking port when the connector of the tubular spray element is received within the rotatable docking port such that rotation of the rotatable docking port by the docking port drive in a first direction causes the first and second mating members to come into contact with one another to rotationally align the tubular spray element relative to the rotatable docking port and thereafter rotate the tubular spray element in the first direction while the first and second mating members are in contact with one another.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the first and second mating members are sized and configured such that rotation of the rotatable docking port a full revolution establishes rotational alignment between the tubular spray element and the rotatable docking port irrespective of a rotational position of the tubular spray element when the connector is inserted into the rotatable docking port.

3. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the slip ring alignment arrangement enables the rotatable docking port to rotate relative to the tubular spray element prior to the first and second mating members coming into contact with one another.

4. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the docking port drive is configured to rotate the rotatable docking port at least a full revolution in the first direction after insertion of the connector of the tubular spray element into the rotatable docking port to establish rotational alignment between the tubular spray element and the rotatable docking port.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4 , wherein the rotational alignment established from rotation of the rotatable docking port in the first direction is a first rotational alignment, wherein further rotation of the rotatable docking port after establishing the first rotational alignment in the first direction drives rotation of the tubular spray element in the first direction, and wherein the docking port drive is further configured to rotate the rotatable docking port at least a full revolution in a second direction that is opposite the first direction after establishing the first rotational alignment between the tubular spray element and the rotatable docking port to bring different portions of the first and second mating members into contact with one another and thereby establish a second rotational alignment between the tubular spray element and the rotatable docking port.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5 , wherein the first and second mating members each have first and second respective mating surfaces, the first mating surfaces of the first and second mating members configured to contact one another when the first rotational alignment is established and the second mating surfaces of the first and second mating members configured to contact one another when the second rotational alignment is established.

7. The dishwasher of claim 5 , wherein the docking port drive is configured to discretely direct the tubular spray element to each of a plurality of rotational positions about the longitudinal axis thereof, and wherein the docking port drive is configured to reverse a rotational direction of the tubular spray element when the first rotational alignment is established by rotating the rotatable docking port a sufficient amount in the second direction to establish the second rotational alignment.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable docking port includes a centering chamfer configured to center the tubular spray element in the rotatable docking port during insertion of the connector thereof.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 , wherein the centering chamfer is defined on a plurality of teeth extending in respective radial directions from the axis of rotation of the rotatable docking port and arranged in an annular array about a perimeter of the rotatable docking port, wherein the first mating member is sized and configured to fit between the plurality of teeth during insertion and removal of the connector of the tubular spray element into and out of the rotatable docking port.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9 , wherein the second mating member is disposed on one of the plurality of teeth, and wherein the first mating member extends from an outer surface of the connector of the tubular spray element in a radial direction from the longitudinal axis of the tubular spray element.

11. The dishwasher of claim 10 , wherein the one of the plurality of teeth on which the second mating member is disposed extends rearwardly from an opening of the rotatable docking port in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable docking port a further distance than each other teeth among the plurality of teeth.

12. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the first mating member extends inwardly along a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis from an inner surface of the tubular spray element.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12 , wherein the second mating member extends outwardly along a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation of the rotatable docking port.

14. The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable docking port includes a diverter valve, wherein the second mating member is disposed on the diverter valve.

15. The dishwasher of claim 14 , wherein the second mating member is disposed on a valve body of the diverter valve.

16. A dishwasher, comprising:

a wash tub;

a rotatable conduit being rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and including a connector proximate an end thereof for receiving fluid;

a docking port coupled to a wall of the wash tub and configured to removably engage with the connector of the rotatable conduit to supply fluid to the rotatable conduit, the docking port including a drive member that is rotatable about an axis of rotation; and

a slip ring alignment arrangement including first and second mating members respectively coupled to the connector of the rotatable conduit and the drive member, the first and second mating members being movable along respective first and second circular paths within a common plane that is substantially transverse to the axis of rotation of the drive member when the connector of the rotatable conduit is received within the docking port such that rotation of the drive member in a first direction causes the first and second mating members to come into contact with one another to rotationally align the rotatable conduit relative to the drive member and thereafter rotate the rotatable conduit in the first direction while the first and second mating members are in contact with one another.

17. The dishwasher of claim 16 , wherein the rotatable conduit comprises a tubular spray element including one or more apertures extending through an exterior surface thereof, and wherein the dishwasher further comprises a tubular spray element drive configured to selectively rotate the drive member to discretely direct the tubular spray element to each of a plurality of rotational positions about the longitudinal axis thereof.

18. The dishwasher of claim 17 , wherein the docking port is a rotatable docking port, and wherein the drive member is coupled to a rotatable portion of the rotatable docking port.

19. The dishwasher of claim 18 , wherein the first and second mating members are sized and configured such that rotation of the rotatable docking port a full revolution establishes rotational alignment between the tubular spray element and the drive member irrespective of a rotational position of the tubular spray element when the connector is inserted into the docking port.

20. The dishwasher of claim 18 , wherein the slip ring alignment arrangement enables the drive member to rotate relative to the tubular spray element prior to the first and second mating members coming into contact with one another.