Spray arm assembly and dishwasher
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- FOSHAN SHUNDE MIDEA WASHING APPLIANCES MANUFACTURING CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-09
Smart Images
Figure CN122163121A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of dishwasher technology, and more specifically, to a spray arm assembly and a dishwasher. Background Technology
[0002] As people's living standards improve, dishwashers, which free up their hands, are gradually becoming a standard feature of quality living. Compared with traditional hand washing, dishwashers have advantages such as better cleaning, sterilization, water saving, and labor saving. Household dishwashers generally use a spray washing method, where water is sprayed through rotating spray arms to rinse the surface of the dishes under the drive of a washing pump.
[0003] In related technologies, the spray arm always rotates in the same direction, so that the spray arm always sprays and washes the tableware in the same direction. There may be many washing dead corners that the washing water cannot reach, which can easily lead to the problem of the tableware not being cleaned properly and the washing effect being poor. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The present invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a spray arm assembly capable of rotating the spray arm in different directions, reducing blind spots in washing, and achieving good cleaning results for tableware.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher having the above-described spray arm assembly.
[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a spray arm assembly includes: a spray arm having a water inlet chamber and a plurality of flow channels, the plurality of flow channels being respectively connected to the water inlet chamber, and each flow channel being connected to the outside through a spray hole; a valve body movably disposed within the water inlet chamber and having a communication port; an impeller being drivenly connected to the valve body; and a drive pipe located on one side of the impeller and used to spray liquid onto the impeller to drive the impeller to rotate. The rotation of the impeller can drive the valve body to move, so that the communication port alternately connects the plurality of flow channels and the water inlet of the water inlet chamber.
[0007] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the spray arm assembly can rotate in different directions to spray and rinse tableware from more angles, reduce washing dead angles, and achieve better cleaning effect on tableware. Moreover, the spray arm assembly can achieve continuous reversal after one water intake, resulting in high cleaning efficiency.
[0008] In addition, the spray arm assembly according to the above embodiments of the present invention may also have the following additional technical features:
[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the drive tube is disposed on the spray arm and communicates with the water inlet chamber.
[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the impeller is connected to the valve body via a transmission assembly, and the transmission assembly is fixedly mounted on the spray arm.
[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the transmission assembly includes a speed reducer, the input shaft of the speed reducer being drivenly connected to the impeller, and the output shaft of the speed reducer being drivenly connected to the valve body.
[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the spray arm includes an arm body and a base. The base defines the water inlet chamber and is provided with a water inlet. The arm body defines the flow channel and the spray hole. The arm body is mounted on the base. The reducer is disposed on the side of the base opposite to the arm body. The output shaft of the reducer extends into the base. The impeller is located on the side of the base perpendicular to the rotation axis of the spray arm. The impeller is disposed between the reducer and the arm body.
[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the distance between the input shaft and the output shaft of the reducer is L1, and the distance between the center line of the drive tube and the shaft of the impeller is L2, where L1 > L2.
[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the reducer includes a reduction housing and a reduction gear set, the reduction housing is connected to the spray arm, and the reduction gear set is disposed inside the reduction housing and connected between the input shaft and the output shaft.
[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the output shaft of the reducer is connected to the valve body via a transmission gear set, the transmission gear set being located within the water inlet chamber.
[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the transmission gear set includes a first transmission gear and a second transmission gear meshing with each other. The first transmission gear is connected to the output shaft of the reducer, and the rotation axis of the first transmission gear is parallel to and spaced apart from the rotation axis of the spray arm. The second transmission gear is connected to the valve body, and the rotation axis of the second transmission gear coincides with the rotation axis of the spray arm.
[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the output shaft of the reducer is directly connected to the valve body, and the valve body is eccentrically arranged relative to the rotation axis of the spray arm.
[0018] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the spray arm includes an arm body and a base. The base defines the water inlet chamber and is provided with the water inlet. The arm body defines the flow channel. The arm body is mounted on the base. A plurality of through holes are provided on the side of the arm body facing the base. The plurality of through holes are respectively connected to a plurality of flow channels. The valve body abuts against the side surface of the arm body facing the base. The connecting port alternately faces the plurality of through holes to connect the corresponding flow channel and the water inlet.
[0019] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the spray arm includes an arm body and a base, the base defines the water inlet cavity and has a water inlet, the arm body defines the flow channel and the spray hole, the arm body is mounted on the base, the drive pipe is disposed on the base and communicates with the water inlet cavity, and the impeller is located on the side of the arm body facing the base and opposite to the outlet of the drive pipe.
[0020] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the water spraying direction of the drive pipe is perpendicular to the extension direction of the impeller shaft, and in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the impeller shaft, the outlet of the drive pipe is offset from the impeller shaft and opposite to the position of the impeller blades.
[0021] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the number of nozzles in the plurality of flow channels is different; and / or, the opening area of the nozzles in the plurality of flow channels is different; and / or, the opening direction of the nozzles in the plurality of flow channels is different.
[0022] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the spray arm includes two arm portions, which are respectively located on both sides of the water inlet chamber along a first horizontal direction, and the spray arm is rotatable about the center line of the water inlet chamber. The plurality of flow channels include a first flow channel and a second flow channel. The first flow channel communicates with the outside through a plurality of first nozzles, and the second flow channel communicates with the outside through a plurality of second nozzles. The plurality of first nozzles have the same opening direction along the circumference of the spray arm, and the plurality of second nozzles have the same opening direction along the circumference of the spray arm. The opening directions of the first nozzles and the second nozzles located on the same arm portion are opposite along the circumference of the spray arm.
[0023] The dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a spray arm assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description
[0025] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
[0026] Figure 1 This is a front view of the spray arm assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of a spray arm assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the water inlet chamber;
[0028] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of a spray arm assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein through holes are shown;
[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a speed reducer according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] Figure 5 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a reducer according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the reducer housing is not shown;
[0031] Figure 6 This is a front view of the arm body according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A cross-sectional view along the direction indicated by line AA;
[0033] Figure 8 This is a bottom view of the arm body according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] Figure label:
[0035] Spray arm assembly 100; water inlet pipe 200;
[0036] Spray arm 10; arm body 11; arm portion 111; through hole 112; flow channel 113; first flow channel 1131; second flow channel 1132; spray hole 114; first spray hole 1141; second spray hole 1142; first surface 115; base 12; water inlet chamber 121; water inlet 122; drive pipe 123;
[0037] Valve body 20; Connecting port 21;
[0038] Impeller 30;
[0039] Transmission assembly 40; reducer 41; input shaft 411; output shaft 412; reducer housing 413; reduction gear set 414; first reduction gear 4141; second reduction gear 4142; third reduction gear 4143; fourth reduction gear 4144; fifth reduction gear 4145; transmission gear set 42; first transmission gear 421; second transmission gear 422;
[0040] The rotation axis F of the spray arm 10. Detailed Implementation
[0041] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.
[0042] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.
[0043] In the description of this invention, "first feature" and "second feature" may include one or more of the features, "multiple" means two or more, "above" or "below" the second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or the first and second features being in contact through another feature between them, and "above," "over," and "on top" the second feature may include the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicate that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature.
[0044] The spray arm assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0045] Reference Figures 1-8 As shown, the spray arm assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: a spray arm 10, a valve body 20, an impeller 30, and a drive pipe 123.
[0046] Specifically, the spray arm 10 has a water inlet chamber 121 and multiple flow channels 113, each of which is connected to the water inlet chamber 121. Each flow channel 113 is connected to the outside through a spray hole 114. The valve body 20 is movably disposed within the water inlet chamber 121 and has a connecting port 21. The impeller 30 is drivenly connected to the valve body 20. The drive pipe 123 is located on one side of the impeller 30 and is used to spray liquid onto the impeller 30 to drive the impeller 30 to rotate. The rotation of the impeller 30 can drive the valve body 20 to move, so that the connecting port 21 alternately connects the multiple flow channels 113 and the water inlet 122 of the water inlet chamber 121.
[0047] The spray arm assembly 100 can be supplied with liquids such as water and cleaning agents according to user needs. For ease of understanding, the following description uses water supply as an example. For instance, water can be supplied to the water inlet chamber 121 through the water inlet 122 of the spray arm assembly 100, and the start / stop and flow rate of the water supply can be controlled. The water supplied to the water inlet chamber 121 can flow to multiple flow channels 113 through the connecting port 21.
[0048] Each flow channel 113 is connected to the outside world through a nozzle 114, which is the area outside the spray arm assembly 100, such as the area where tableware is placed, so that water in the flow channel 113 is sprayed onto the tableware through the nozzle 114 to rinse the tableware.
[0049] The number of flow channels 113 and their specific arrangement in the spray arm assembly 100 are varied. For example, there can be two, three, or more flow channels 113. Any two flow channels 113 can be arranged in parallel, cross, or staggered arrangements, as long as the water in the multiple flow channels 113 can be sprayed to rinse the tableware. The number of nozzles 114 in the multiple flow channels 113 and their opening direction can be the same or different, as long as the water in the flow channels 113 can be sprayed through the nozzles 114 to rinse the tableware.
[0050] Water in the flow channel 113 is sprayed outward through the nozzle 114, which not only rinses the tableware but also causes the spray arm 10 to rotate around the rotation axis F under the reaction force of the water flow, continuously spraying water onto the tableware during rotation. The extension direction of the rotation axis F can be parallel to the vertical direction or at a certain angle, and the opening direction of the nozzle 114 can intersect the extension direction of the rotation axis F, causing the spray arm 10 to rotate around the rotation axis F under the reaction force of the water flow.
[0051] With water flowing through different channels 113, the spray arm 10 can rotate around the axis of rotation F in different directions, allowing the spray arm 10 to spray water from more different angles to rinse the tableware, reducing dead corners in washing, making it less likely for the tableware to be not clean, and resulting in a good cleaning effect.
[0052] For example, in some embodiments, the multiple flow channels 113 include a first flow channel 1131 and a second flow channel 1132. The first flow channel 1131 is connected to the outside through multiple first nozzles 1141. The opening direction of the first nozzles 1141 is parallel to the counterclockwise tangential direction around the rotation axis F. After the water in the water inlet chamber 121 enters the first flow channel 1131 and is ejected from the first nozzles 1141, the spray arm 10 can rotate clockwise around the rotation axis F under the reaction force of the water flow. The second flow channel 1132 is connected to the outside through multiple second spray holes 1142. The opening direction of the second spray holes 1142 is parallel to the tangential direction of the rotation axis F in a clockwise direction. After the water in the water inlet chamber 121 enters the second flow channel 1132 and is sprayed out from the second spray holes 1142, the spray arm 10 can rotate counterclockwise around the rotation axis F under the reaction force of the water flow. This allows the spray arm 10 to rotate in two opposite directions, clockwise and counterclockwise, around the rotation axis F, so that the spray arm 10 can spray and rinse the tableware in different directions, resulting in fewer dead corners and better cleaning effect.
[0053] It should be noted that, Figures 1-2 The opening direction of the nozzle 114 is vertically upward, but this application can change the opening direction of the nozzle 114 according to user needs to realize the rotation of the spray arm 10 in different directions.
[0054] The movement of the valve body 20 can include at least one of rotation and movement, allowing the communication port 21 of the valve body 20 to alternately connect multiple flow channels 113 and the water inlet 122. By changing the flow channel 113 connected to the water inlet 122 through the movement of the valve body 20, water is alternately discharged from the nozzles 114 of multiple flow channels 113 during the operation of the spray arm assembly 100. This changes the rotation direction of the spray arm 10, which helps to densify the spray trajectory, increase the spray angle of the spray arm 10, reduce the washing dead zone, and control all nozzles 114 to spray water alternately rather than simultaneously, which helps to ensure water pressure and save water consumption. For example, in some embodiments, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, the valve body 20 is rotatably disposed in the water inlet chamber 121. During the rotation of the valve body 20, the connecting port 21 is connected to multiple flow channels 113 in sequence, realizing the alternating water intake of multiple flow channels 113, so that the spray arm 10 can rotate in different directions to spray water from more angles to rinse the tableware.
[0055] The connecting port 21 is connected to the flow channel 113 rather than directly to the nozzle 114 in the flow channel 113, which makes it easy to set any number, opening area, opening direction and arrangement of nozzles 114 in each flow channel 113 without considering the number and size of the connecting port 21, which is easy to implement.
[0056] The impeller 30 is driven to rotate by water spraying through the drive pipe 123. The rotation of the impeller 30 drives the valve body 20 to move. The movement of the valve body 20 causes water to enter multiple flow channels 113 alternately, so that the spray arm 10 can rotate in different directions. There is no need to set up a drive motor in the water inlet chamber 121 where the valve body 20 is located to drive the valve body 20. The movement of the valve body 20 can be achieved by using the impeller 30 driven by water flow. The cost is lower and the space required in the water inlet chamber 121 is reduced, making the structure of the spray arm 10 more compact.
[0057] The movement of the valve body 20 is driven by the impeller 30, and the rotation of the spray arm 10 is achieved by the spraying of water from the spray holes 114. The change in the rotation direction of the spray arm 10 is achieved by the combined movement of the valve body 20 and the spraying of water from the spray holes 114 at the spray arm 10. When the valve body 20 is in motion, it can achieve the alternating water intake of multiple flow channels 113, thereby achieving the spraying of water from the spray holes 114 at different flow channels 113, causing the spray arm 10 to rotate in different directions. The rotation of the spray arm 10 in any direction does not easily affect the movement state of the valve body 20. This means that this application has more design freedom in terms of the number, arrangement, and shape of the flow channels 113, as well as the number, opening area, and opening direction of the spray holes 114, and can achieve the rotation of the spray arm 10 in more different directions.
[0058] The rotation of the spray arm 10 in any direction does not easily affect the movement of the valve body 20, which also helps to improve the stability of the movement of the valve body 20 and thus improve the stability of the spray arm 10 reversal, enabling the spray arm assembly 100 to continuously and stably clean tableware with high cleaning efficiency.
[0059] In some related technologies, after the washing pump is started and water enters the spray arm assembly, the spray arm always rotates clockwise or counterclockwise around the rotation axis. The rotation direction of the spray arm is singular, which makes the spray angle of the spray holes singular. As a result, there are many washing dead corners that the spray holes cannot reach, resulting in poor cleaning effect on the tableware.
[0060] In this application, after water enters the spray arm assembly 100, the impeller 30 is driven to rotate by the water flow, which in turn drives the valve body 20 to move. This causes multiple flow channels 113 of the spray arm 10 to alternately connect with the water inlet 122. The spray arm 10 rotates under the reaction force of the water flow sprayed outward from the spray holes 114. Furthermore, the opening directions of the spray holes 114 of the multiple flow channels 113 can be different, allowing the spray arm 10 to rotate in different directions when the multiple flow channels 113 alternately connect with the water inlet 122. The spray angle of the spray holes 114 is varied, which helps to reduce washing dead corners and has a good cleaning effect on tableware.
[0061] Furthermore, this application can achieve continuous reversing rotation of the spray arm 10 after water is introduced into the spray arm assembly 100, without the need to repeatedly introduce water into the spray arm assembly 100 or repeatedly start and stop the washing pump to achieve reversing rotation of the spray arm 10. This allows for continuous rinsing of tableware and high cleaning efficiency.
[0062] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the spray arm assembly 100 can rotate the spray arm 10 in different directions to spray and rinse the tableware from more angles, reduce washing dead angles, and achieve better cleaning effect on the tableware. Moreover, the spray arm assembly 100 can achieve continuous reversal after one water intake, resulting in high cleaning efficiency.
[0063] The drive pipe 123 can be directly connected to a water source to spray water onto the impeller 30, or it can be connected to the water inlet chamber 121 to spray water onto the impeller 30 using the water in the water inlet chamber 121. The drive pipe 123 has various configurations. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, such as... Figures 1-3 As shown, the drive pipe 123 is located on the spray arm 10 and communicates with the water inlet chamber 121, so that the water in the water inlet chamber 121 can enter the flow channel 113 to rinse the tableware through the spray hole 114, and can also be sprayed out through the drive pipe 123 to drive the impeller 30 to rotate and thus drive the valve body 20 to move. Only water needs to be introduced into the water inlet chamber 121 to realize the reversal of the rotation of the spray arm 10 to improve the cleaning effect. The operation is simple and there is no need to install a separate pipe to connect the drive pipe 123 and the water source, which helps to simplify the structure.
[0064] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, the spray arm 10 includes an arm body 11 and a base 12. The base 12 defines a water inlet chamber 121 and has a water inlet 122. The arm body 11 defines a flow channel 113 and a spray nozzle 114. The arm body 11 is mounted on the base 12. Water entering the water inlet chamber 121 from the water inlet 122 can flow into the flow channel 113 of the arm body 11 and finally be sprayed out from the spray nozzle 114 to rinse the tableware.
[0065] The spray arm 10 is divided into two parts: the arm body 11 and the base 12. This makes it easier to design the arm body 11 and the base 12 separately. For example, the number of flow channels 113, the arrangement of flow channels 113, the number of nozzles 114, and the opening of nozzles 114 can be designed. Similarly, the size of the water inlet 122, the size of the water inlet chamber 121, and the installation structure inside the water inlet chamber 121, such as the installation of the valve body 20, can be designed, making the structural design of the spray arm 10 simpler.
[0066] The arm body 11 and the base 12 can be a single piece or separate parts. In embodiments where the arm body 11 and the base 12 are separate parts, the arm body 11 is less constrained by the structure of the base 12, and the base 12 is less constrained by the structure of the arm body 11. The structural designs of the arm body 11 and the base 12 are more flexible and versatile, facilitating processing and molding, and also making it easier to inspect or partially replace the arm body 11 and the base 12 separately, thus making the spray arm 10 easier to manufacture and maintain.
[0067] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1-3As shown, the drive pipe 123 is located on the base 12 and communicates with the water inlet chamber 121. The impeller 30 is located on the side of the arm body 11 facing the base 12, so that the impeller 30 does not occupy the space on the side of the arm body 11 facing away from the base 12. This increases the space on the side of the arm body 11 facing away from the base 12 to accommodate more tableware, which is beneficial for increasing the washing capacity of the dishwasher without changing the overall size of the washing equipment using the spray arm assembly 100. It also makes the spray space of the spray holes 114 on the side of the arm body 11 facing away from the base 12 larger, resulting in a better cleaning effect on the tableware.
[0068] Furthermore, the impeller 30 is opposite to the outlet of the drive pipe 123, so that the water in the inlet chamber 121 flows into the drive pipe 123 and can be sprayed directly from the outlet of the drive pipe 123 to the impeller 30, thereby driving the impeller 30.
[0069] The impeller 30 is opposite to the outlet of the drive tube 123, and can be like... Figures 1-3 As shown, the drive tube 123 extends horizontally, with the impeller 30 located on the horizontal side of the drive tube 123 opposite to its outlet. Alternatively, the drive tube 123 can extend downwards at an angle, with the impeller 30 located diagonally below the drive tube 123 opposite to its outlet, etc. This application does not limit the specific installation structure of the drive tube 123 and the impeller 30, allowing for a relatively flexible design.
[0070] In some embodiments, such as Figures 2-3 As shown, the water spraying direction of the drive pipe 123 is perpendicular to the extension direction of the impeller 30's shaft. In the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the impeller 30's shaft, the outlet of the drive pipe 123 is offset from the impeller 30's shaft and opposite to the position of the impeller 30's blades, so that the water sprayed from the drive pipe 123 is sprayed onto the impeller 30's blades rather than the shaft, making the drive pipe 123's water spraying to drive the impeller 30 to rotate more efficient.
[0071] For example, in some specific embodiments, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, the water spray direction of the drive pipe 123 is parallel to the horizontal direction, and the shaft of the impeller 30 extends in the vertical direction. In the horizontal direction, the outlet of the drive pipe 123 is offset from the shaft of the impeller 30 and is opposite to the position of the impeller blades.
[0072] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figures 1-3As shown, the impeller 30 is connected to the valve body 20 via a transmission assembly 40, which is fixedly mounted on the spray arm 10. The transmission assembly 40 transmits the driving force of the impeller 30 to the valve body 20, thus achieving a transmission connection between the impeller 30 and the valve body 20. The fixed mounting of the transmission assembly 40 on the spray arm 10 makes the transmission connection between the impeller 30 and the valve body 20 more stable, reducing the possibility of jamming in the valve body 20, improving the stability of the valve body 20's movement, and enabling the spray arm 10 to stably and continuously change direction during operation to rinse tableware at different angles, thereby improving the cleaning effect.
[0073] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, the transmission assembly 40 includes a reducer 41. The input shaft 411 of the reducer 41 is connected to the impeller 30, and the output shaft 412 of the reducer 41 is connected to the valve body 20. The reducer 41 has the function of reducing the rotational speed and increasing the torque. The driving force of the impeller 30 directly transmitted to the valve body 20 may not be enough to drive the valve body 20 to move, but after the driving force of the impeller 30 is transmitted through the reducer 41, it can more easily drive the valve body 20 to move, making the valve body 20 less prone to jamming and the reversing of the spray arm 10 smoother.
[0074] The reducer 41 can be a cylindrical gear reducer, a bevel gear reducer, or a bevel-cylindrical gear reducer, etc. The reducer 41 can be installed outside or inside the water inlet chamber 121, etc., so that the impeller 30 can be connected to the valve body 20 through the reducer 41 to drive the valve body 20 to move.
[0075] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, the spray arm 10 includes an arm body 11 and a base 12. The base 12 defines a water inlet chamber 121 and has a water inlet 122. The arm body 11 defines a flow channel 113 and a spray nozzle 114. The arm body 11 is mounted on the base 12. A reducer 41 is located on the side of the base 12 opposite to the arm body 11 (e.g., Figures 1-3 (As shown on the lower side), the output shaft 412 of the reducer 41 extends into the base 12, and the impeller 30 is located on the side of the base 12 perpendicular to the rotation axis F. The impeller 30 is located between the reducer 41 and the arm body 11.
[0076] By placing the reducer 41 on the side of the base 12 facing away from the arm body 11 and utilizing the space between the reducer 41 and the arm body 11 to install the impeller 30, the structure of the spray arm assembly 100 becomes more compact. Therefore, both the reducer 41 and the impeller 30 can be located on the side of the arm body 11 facing away from the base 12, so that the reducer 41 and the impeller 30 do not occupy the space on the side of the arm body 11 facing away from the base 12. This allows for the placement of more tableware on the side of the arm body 11 facing away from the base 12, increasing the washing capacity of washing equipment such as dishwashers. It also allows for a larger water spray space for the spray nozzles 114 on the side of the arm body 11 facing away from the base 12, resulting in better cleaning of tableware.
[0077] The impeller 30 can be mounted on the reducer 41 or the arm body 11. In the embodiment where the impeller 30 is mounted on the reducer 41, such as... Figures 1-3 As shown, this makes the connection between the impeller 30 and the reducer 41 more robust, and the transmission connection between the impeller 30 and the input shaft 411 of the reducer 41 more stable.
[0078] For example, in some specific embodiments, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, the reducer 41 and impeller 30 are located on the lower side of the arm body 11, and the impeller 30 is mounted on the reducer 41. Figure 1 In the state shown, the impeller 30 is located on the right side of the base 12.
[0079] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, a water inlet pipe 200 is provided at the water inlet 122. The water inlet pipe 200 is located on the side of the reducer 41 perpendicular to the rotation axis F. The water inlet pipe 200 is connected to the water inlet 122 to supply water to the water inlet chamber 121.
[0080] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1-5 As shown, the distance between the input shaft 411 and the output shaft 412 of the reducer 41 is L1, and the distance between the center line of the drive pipe 123 and the rotation axis of the impeller 30 is L2, where L1 > L2. It should be noted that L2 is the distance between the outlet of the drive pipe 123 and the center line of the rotation axis of the impeller 30, for example, in... Figure 2 In the state shown, the outlet of the drive tube 123 is the right end of the drive tube 123.
[0081] The smaller L2 is, the closer the outlet of the drive pipe 123 is to the impeller 30, and the stronger the drive of the liquid ejected from the drive pipe 123 on the impeller 30, resulting in a faster rotation speed of the impeller 30. The rotation of the impeller 30 can drive the valve body 20 to move. In this application, L2 can be determined first to ensure the range distance from the drive pipe 123 to the impeller 30, ensuring that the rotation speed of the impeller 30 meets the requirements. Then, L1 is determined according to L1 > L2, and the reducer 41 is designed according to L1. The structure of the reduction gear set 414 in the reducer 41 is designed, such as the number of gears and the size of the gears. Finally, the movement speed of the valve body 20 is determined according to L1 and L2 to meet the requirements of the movement speed of the valve body 20.
[0082] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1-5 As shown, the reducer 41 includes a reduction housing 413 and a reduction gear set 414. The reduction housing 413 is connected to the spray arm 10, and the reduction gear set 414 is located inside the reduction housing 413 and connected between the input shaft 411 and the output shaft 412. The reduction housing 413 can be placed inside or outside the water inlet chamber 121, allowing for a flexible design. In the embodiment where the reduction housing 413 is placed outside the water inlet cavity 121, it is convenient to place the reduction gear set 414 outside the water inlet cavity 121 after being encapsulated by the reduction housing 413. This reduces the interference of external water and other impurities on the reduction gear set 414, making the operation of the reducer 41 more reliable. Furthermore, it eliminates the need to place the reduction gear set 414 inside the water inlet cavity 121, reducing the number of components inside the water inlet cavity 121 and making the water flow in the water inlet cavity 121 smoother. This, in turn, makes the water flow into the flow channel 113 smoother, and the rotation of the spray arm 10 is less prone to jamming, allowing the spray arm 10 to rotate stably to rinse the tableware, which helps to improve cleaning efficiency.
[0083] The reduction gear set 414 may include multiple reduction gears. This application allows adjustment of the number of reduction gears to adjust the transmission ratio of the reducer 41, thereby adjusting the speed of the valve body 20 and the reversing speed of the spray arm 10. This facilitates control of the rotation time and angle of the spray arm 10 in any direction, achieving a better cleaning effect. For example, in some specific embodiments, such as... Figures 4-5 As shown, the reduction gear set 414 includes a first reduction gear 4141, a second reduction gear 4142, a third reduction gear 4143, a fourth reduction gear 4144, and a fifth reduction gear 4145 that are meshed together in sequence. The input shaft 411 is mounted on the first reduction gear 4141, and the output shaft 412 is mounted on the fifth reduction gear 4145.
[0084] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figures 2-3As shown, the output shaft 412 of the reducer 41 is connected to the valve body 20 via a transmission gear set 42, which is located within the water inlet chamber 121. The valve body 20 is located within the water inlet chamber 121. The transmission gear set 42 within the water inlet chamber 121 enables the output shaft 412 and the valve body 20 to be connected via transmission. This allows the output shaft 412 and the valve body 20 to be connected via transmission gear set 42 regardless of their relative positions, reducing restrictions on their relative positions and allowing for flexible installation of the reducer 41 and the valve body 20 to improve the operational stability of the spray arm assembly 100.
[0085] In some embodiments, such as Figures 2-3 As shown, the transmission gear set 42 includes a first transmission gear 421 and a second transmission gear 422 that mesh with each other. The first transmission gear 421 is connected to the output shaft 412 of the reducer 41. The rotation axis of the first transmission gear 421 is parallel to and spaced apart from the rotation axis F of the spray arm 10, so that the first transmission gear 421 and the rotation axis F of the spray arm 10 are eccentrically set. The second transmission gear 422 is connected to the valve body 20. The rotation axis of the second transmission gear 422 coincides with the rotation axis F of the spray arm 10. After the driving force of the output shaft 412 is transmitted to the first transmission gear 421, the first transmission gear 421 transmits the driving force to the second transmission gear 422 through its own meshing relationship with the second transmission gear 422. The second transmission gear 422 then transmits the driving force to the valve body 20. This allows the output shaft 412 and the valve body 20 to be connected by transmission even when they are misaligned in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis F. The meshing relationship between the first transmission gear 421 and the second transmission gear 422 makes the transmission connection between the output shaft 412 and the valve body 20 relatively stable.
[0086] In some specific embodiments, such as Figures 2-3 As shown, the valve body 20 is rotatable, and the transmission gear set 42 is located in the water inlet chamber 121. The first transmission gear 421 is connected to the output shaft 412 of the reducer 41 and rotates synchronously, while the second transmission gear 422 is connected to the valve body 20 and rotates synchronously. The first transmission gear 421 and the second transmission gear 422 realize the transmission connection between the output shaft 412 and the valve body 20. The number of transmission gears is small, which reduces the number of gears in the water inlet chamber 121, reduces the risk of residue jamming in the water inlet chamber 121, makes the water flow in the water inlet chamber 121 smoother, and makes the rotation of the spray arm 10 less prone to jamming, resulting in higher cleaning efficiency for tableware.
[0087] In other embodiments, the output shaft 412 of the reducer 41 is directly connected to the valve body 20. The valve body 20 is eccentrically positioned relative to the rotation axis F of the spray arm 10, allowing the output shaft 412 to rotate around the rotation axis F as the spray arm 10 rotates. Directly connecting the output shaft 412 to the valve body 20 eliminates the need for transmission components between them, reduces the number of components in the water inlet chamber 121, ensures smoother water flow within the chamber, reduces the risk of jamming during spray arm 10 rotation, and improves cleaning efficiency.
[0088] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figures 1-3 and Figures 6-8 As shown, the spray arm 10 includes an arm body 11 and a base 12. The base 12 defines a water inlet chamber 121 and has a water inlet 122. The arm body 11 defines a flow channel 113. The arm body 11 is mounted on the base 12, and the side of the arm body 11 facing the base 12 has multiple through holes 112, which communicate with the multiple flow channels 113 respectively. The valve body 20 abuts against the surface of the arm body 11 facing the base 12 (e.g., ...). Figure 3 The lower surface of the arm body 11 shown has a connecting port 21 that alternately faces multiple through holes 112 to connect the corresponding flow channel 113 and the inlet 122.
[0089] The surface of the arm body 11 facing the seat 12 is designated as the first surface 115. The valve body 20 abuts against the first surface 115, meaning that the valve body 20 is in contact with the first surface 115 when water is flowing into the inlet 122. This allows multiple flow channels 113 to alternately connect with the inlet 122 during the water intake process. Furthermore, during the water intake process, the valve body 20 is impacted by the water flow towards the first surface 115, making the valve body 20 fit more tightly against the first surface 115 and reducing the possibility of water flowing between the valve body 20 and the first surface 115.
[0090] Therefore, when water is stopped flowing into the inlet 122, the valve body 20 can abut against or be clearance-fitted with the surface of the arm body 11, so that the valve body 20 abuts against the first surface 115 during water intake. In the embodiment where the valve body 20 is clearance-fitted with the first surface 115, the risk of the valve body 20 becoming stuck against the first surface 115 due to manufacturing errors can be reduced, thus reducing the manufacturing difficulty of the spray arm assembly 100.
[0091] During the alternating alignment of the connecting port 21 with multiple through holes 112, when the connecting port 21 is aligned with some through holes 112, the portion of the valve body 20 without the connecting port 21 will block some other through holes 112, ensuring that only the through holes 112 aligned with the connecting port 21 can connect to the inlet 122, thereby connecting the corresponding flow channel 113 and the inlet 122. Here, the corresponding flow channel 113 refers to the flow channel 113 connected to the through hole 112 aligned with the connecting port 21.
[0092] The valve body 20 abuts against the first surface 115 and is movable, so that the connecting port 21 alternately faces multiple through holes 112. Water flowing into the water inlet chamber 121 from the water inlet 122 can only flow into the corresponding flow channel 113 through the through hole 112 facing the connecting port 21, and cannot flow into other flow channels 113 through some blocked through holes 112. This reduces the possibility of water leakage from other flow channels 113 that are not corresponding to the flow channel 113, increases the water volume in the corresponding flow channel 113, makes the spray arm 10 rotate faster and has higher reversing efficiency, and improves the cleaning effect.
[0093] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 and Figure 8 As shown, the valve body 20 is rotatably disposed within the water inlet chamber 121. The connecting port 21 is eccentrically positioned relative to the centerline of the valve body 20. Multiple through holes 112 are spaced apart around the centerline of the valve body 20, and the valve body 20 is rotatable around its own centerline. During the rotation of the valve body 20, the connecting port 21 alternately faces multiple through holes 112 instead of always facing a single through hole 112. No single flow channel 113 is always flowing with water, ensuring that the multiple flow channels 113 alternately flow with water. This facilitates the rotation of the spray arm 10 in different directions and improves the reversing reliability of the spray arm 10.
[0094] In some embodiments of the present invention, the number of nozzles 114 in the multiple channels 113 is different. The different number of nozzles 114 in the channels 113 results in different water spray volumes. By controlling the number of nozzles 114 in each channel 113, the amount of water sprayed from each nozzle 114 in the channel 113 can be controlled, thereby controlling the cleaning effect on the tableware when the channel 113 is flowing with water. Therefore, by controlling the number of nozzles 114 in each of the multiple channels 113, the cleaning effect on the tableware in each of the multiple channels 113 under water flow conditions can be controlled, thereby improving the cleaning effect on the tableware.
[0095] In some embodiments, the opening areas of the nozzles 114 in the multiple flow channels 113 are different. The different opening areas of the nozzles 114 in the flow channels 113 result in different water spray volumes from each nozzle. By controlling the opening areas of the nozzles 114 in the flow channels 113, the cleaning effect of each nozzle 114 on the tableware under water flow conditions can be controlled. Therefore, by controlling the opening areas of the nozzles 114 in each of the multiple flow channels 113, the cleaning effect on the tableware under individual water flow conditions in the multiple flow channels 113 can be controlled, thereby improving the cleaning effect on the tableware.
[0096] In some embodiments, the opening directions of the nozzles 114 in the multiple flow channels 113 are different. The different opening directions of the nozzles 114 in the flow channels 113 result in different spray angles, thus affecting the position of the dishes being rinsed and the rotation direction of the spray arm 10. Specifically, a change in the rotation direction of the spray arm 10 alters the position of the nozzles 114 rinsing the dishes. By controlling the opening direction of the nozzles 114 in the flow channels 113, the cleaning effect of each nozzle 114 on the dishes and the rotation direction of the spray arm 10 can be controlled when the flow channels 113 are flowing with water. Therefore, by controlling the opening direction of the nozzles 114 in each of the multiple flow channels 113, the cleaning effect on the dishes and the rotation direction of the spray arm 10 in each flow channel 113 under water flow conditions can be controlled, thereby improving the cleaning effect on the dishes.
[0097] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figures 1-3 and Figures 6-8 As shown, the spray arm 10 includes two arms 111, which are located on both sides of the water inlet chamber 121 along the first horizontal direction, and the spray arm 10 is rotatable about the center line of the water inlet chamber 121. Multiple flow channels 113 include a first flow channel 1131 and a second flow channel 1132. The first flow channel 1131 communicates with the outside through multiple first nozzles 1141, and the second flow channel 1132 communicates with the outside through multiple second nozzles 1142.
[0098] In this design, multiple first nozzles 1141 have the same opening direction along the circumference of the spray arm 10, and multiple second nozzles 1142 have the same opening direction along the circumference of the spray arm 10. The opening directions of the first nozzles 1141 and second nozzles 1142 located on the same arm 111 are opposite along the circumference of the spray arm 10. It should be noted that in the attached drawings, the opening directions of the first nozzles 1141 and second nozzles 1142 are vertically upward, but the opening direction of the nozzles 114 can be changed according to the above description to achieve rotation of the spray arm 10 in different directions.
[0099] It is understandable that the centerline of the water inlet chamber 121 is the rotation axis F of the spray arm 10, and the opening direction of the spray hole 114 along the circumference of the spray arm 10 is the opening direction of the spray hole 114 around the rotation axis F. The first horizontal direction can be... Figures 1-3The left and right directions shown, or directions forming a certain angle with the left and right directions, etc. The direction of the first horizontal direction in three-dimensional space is not fixed, for example... Figures 1-3 The direction of the first horizontal direction shown will change as the spray arm 10 rotates.
[0100] Water flowing into the first flow channel 1131 passes through the opening of the first nozzle 1141 and is sprayed outwards along the opening direction of the first nozzle 1141 to rinse the tableware. Simultaneously, the spray arm 10 is subjected to the reaction force of the water flow from the first nozzle 1141 and moves in the opposite direction to the opening direction of the first nozzle 1141. Furthermore, the multiple first nozzles 1141 have the same opening direction along the circumference of the spray arm 10, causing the spray arm 10 to rotate around the rotation axis F due to the reaction force of the water flow from the multiple first nozzles 1141. The direction of rotation of the spray arm 10 is opposite to the opening direction of the first nozzles 1141 along the circumference of the spray arm 10.
[0101] For example, in some embodiments, a plurality of first nozzles 1141 are arranged in the left-right direction on the two arms 111 of the spray arm 10. The plurality of first nozzles 1141 open upward in the counterclockwise direction around the spray arm 10. Specifically, the first nozzles 1141 of the left arm 111 open forward and the first nozzles 1141 of the right arm 111 open backward. The plurality of first nozzles 1141 on the two arms 111 spray water to the outside at the same time, so that the spray arm 10 rotates clockwise around the rotation axis F.
[0102] The spray arm 10 rotates while spraying water through the first spray hole 1141 to rinse the dishes. This allows each first spray hole 1141 to spray water from different angles during the rinsing process, rinsing more areas of the dishes, reducing blind spots and improving the cleaning effect. The water flow into the second channel 1132 has a similar effect to the above process, and will not be described in detail here.
[0103] The first spray hole 1141 and the second spray hole 1142, located on the same arm 111, have opposite openings along the circumference of the spray arm 10. This makes the rotation direction of the spray arm 10 opposite when the first flow channel 1131 and the second flow channel 1132 are individually filled with water. This allows the spray arm 10 to rotate in two opposite directions, which is beneficial for spraying water from more different angles to rinse the tableware from all angles. This further reduces washing dead angles and improves the cleaning effect on the tableware.
[0104] The first flow channel 1131 and the second flow channel 1132 can be arranged side by side, cross by cross, etc., such as side by side along the horizontal direction, cross by cross along a straight line, or cross by cross along a curve. The first flow channel 1131 and the second flow channel 1132 within the spray arm 10 can be separated by a partition plate.
[0105] The dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a spray arm assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Since the spray arm assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention has the aforementioned beneficial technical effects, the dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention, with its spray arm assembly 100, can rotate the spray arm 10 in different directions to spray and rinse dishes from more angles, reducing washing dead zones and achieving better cleaning results for the dishes. Furthermore, the spray arm assembly 100 can achieve continuous reversal with a single water intake, resulting in high cleaning efficiency.
[0106] The spray arm assembly 100 can be flexibly positioned within the dishwasher. For example, in some embodiments, the spray arm assembly 100 is a top sprayer, meaning it is positioned at the top of the dishwasher for top spraying, with the first spray hole 1141 and the second spray hole 1142 located on the lower surface of the spray arm 10 to spray water downwards. In some embodiments, the spray arm assembly 100 is positioned in the middle of the dishwasher for center spraying, with the first spray hole 1141 and the second spray hole 1142 located on the upper surface, lower surface, or both of the spray arm 10. In some embodiments, the spray arm assembly 100 is positioned at the bottom of the dishwasher, with the first spray hole 1141 and the second spray hole 1142 located on the upper surface of the spray arm 10 to spray water upwards.
[0107] The spray arm assembly 100 and dishwasher according to a specific embodiment of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the following description is merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the invention.
[0108] like Figures 1-8 As shown, a dishwasher according to a specific embodiment of the present invention includes a spray arm assembly 100 and a water inlet pipe 200. The spray arm assembly 100 includes a spray arm 10, a valve body 20, an impeller 30, and a transmission assembly 40.
[0109] The spray arm 10 includes an arm body 11 and a base 12. The arm body 11 is mounted on the upper end of the base 12. The base 12 defines a water inlet chamber 121 and is provided with a water inlet 122. The water inlet pipe 200 is located on the lower side of the base 12 and communicates with the water inlet 122.
[0110] The arm body 11 includes two arm portions 111 extending in a left-right direction, located on the left and right sides of the water inlet chamber 121, respectively. The arm body 11 defines four flow channels 113, including two first flow channels 1131 and two second flow channels 1132. Each arm portion 111 defines a first flow channel 1131 and a second flow channel 1132 extending in a left-right direction and arranged in a front-back direction. The lower surface of the arm body 11 has four through holes 112 spaced around the rotation axis F, each communicating with one of the four flow channels 113. The first flow channel 1131 communicates with the outside through a first nozzle 1141, and the second flow channel 1132 communicates with the outside through a second nozzle 1142.
[0111] The first flow channel 1131 on the left front side has two first nozzles 1141 with their openings facing forward. The first flow channel 1131 on the right rear side has three first nozzles 1141 with their openings facing rearward, so that the first nozzles 1141 open counterclockwise around the rotation axis F. The second flow channel 1132 on the left rear side has two second nozzles 1142 with their openings facing rearward. The second flow channel 1132 on the right front side has two second nozzles 1142 with their openings facing forward, so that the second nozzles 1142 open clockwise around the rotation axis F.
[0112] In the attached figure, the opening direction of the first nozzle 1141 and the second nozzle 1142 is upward, but the actual opening direction of nozzle 114 is as described above. Based on the above description and the marked direction in the attached figure, the actual opening direction of nozzle 114 can be imagined.
[0113] In this application, the descriptions of directions such as up, down, front, back, left, and right are all based on the marked orientation of the spray arm assembly 100 in the state shown in the attached drawings. After the spray arm assembly 100 rotates around the rotation axis F, the state of the spray arm assembly 100 will change.
[0114] The valve body 20 is rotatably disposed in the water inlet chamber 121 and abuts against the lower surface of the arm body 11. The valve body 20 has two connecting ports 21, which are eccentrically arranged relative to the center line of the valve body 20, so that the connecting ports 21 are offset from the center line of the valve body 20. Two connecting ports 21 are alternately aligned with four through holes 112 to connect the corresponding flow channels 113 and the inlet 122. Specifically, during the rotation of the valve body 20, the two connecting ports 21 are aligned with the through holes 112 at the two first flow channels 1131 respectively, so that the first flow channels 1131 are connected to the inlet 122. The valve body 20 continues to rotate, so that the two connecting ports 21 are aligned with the through holes 112 at the two second flow channels 1132 respectively, so that the second flow channels 1132 are connected to the inlet 122. The valve body 20 continues to rotate, so that the two connecting ports 21 are aligned with the through holes 112 at the two first flow channels 1131 respectively, so that the first flow channels 1131 are connected to the inlet 122. This cycle is repeated so that the first flow channels 1131 and the second flow channels 1132 are alternately connected to the inlet 122.
[0115] The impeller 30 is located outside the water inlet chamber 121 and is connected to the valve body 20 via a transmission assembly 40, which is fixedly mounted on the spray arm 10. The base 12 has a drive pipe 123 connecting the water inlet chamber 121 to the outside. The drive pipe 123 is located on the horizontal side of the impeller 30, with the blades of the impeller 30 and the outlet of the drive pipe 123 facing each other horizontally. The drive pipe 123 sprays water onto the impeller 30 to drive its rotation. The rotation of the impeller 30 drives the valve body 20 to rotate via the transmission assembly 40, thereby causing the first flow channel 1131 and the second flow channel 1132 to alternately connect with the water inlet 122.
[0116] The transmission assembly 40 includes a reducer 41 and a transmission gear set 42. The reducer 41 includes a reduction housing 413 and a reduction gear set 414 disposed within the reduction housing 413. The reduction housing 413 is located outside the water inlet chamber 121 and on the lower side of the base 12. The impeller 30 is disposed on the reducer 41 and between the reducer 41 and the arm body 11. The reduction gear set 414 includes a first reduction gear 4141, a second reduction gear 4142, a third reduction gear 4143, a fourth reduction gear 4144, and a fifth reduction gear 4145 that are sequentially meshed. The input shaft 411 of the reducer 41 is mounted on the first reduction gear 4141 and directly connected to the impeller 30. The output shaft 412 of the reducer 41 is mounted on the fifth reduction gear 4145 and extends into the water inlet chamber 121 to be directly connected to the transmission gear set 42.
[0117] The transmission gear set 42 is located in the water inlet chamber 121 and includes a first transmission gear 421 and a second transmission gear 422 that mesh with each other. The first transmission gear 421 is directly connected to the output shaft 412 of the reducer 41. The rotation axis of the first transmission gear 421 is parallel to and spaced apart from the rotation axis F of the spray arm 10. The second transmission gear 422 is directly connected to the valve body 20. The rotation axis of the second transmission gear 422 coincides with the rotation axis F of the spray arm 10.
[0118] The following describes a specific working process of the spray arm assembly 100.
[0119] After water is supplied to the inlet chamber 121 through the inlet pipe 200 and the inlet port 122, the water in the inlet chamber 121 flows in two directions. One direction of the water flow is sprayed onto the impeller 30 through the drive pipe 123 to drive the impeller 30 to rotate rapidly. The rotation of the impeller 30 drives the input shaft 411 of the reducer 41 to rotate. After multi-stage gear reduction by five reduction gears, the speed decreases and the torque increases. The output shaft 412 of the reducer 41 drives the first transmission gear 421 to rotate. The rotation of the first transmission gear 421 drives the second transmission gear 422 to rotate. The rotation of the second transmission gear 422 drives the valve body 20 to rotate.
[0120] During the rotation of the valve body 20, when the two connecting ports 21 of the valve body 20 are directly opposite to the through holes 112 at the two first flow channels 1131, another stream of water in the water inlet chamber 121 flows into the first flow channel 1131 through the connecting ports 21 and the through holes 112. The water in the first flow channel 1131 is sprayed outward to the tableware through the first spray hole 1141 to rinse the tableware. The spray arm 10 rotates clockwise around the rotation axis F under the reaction force of the water flow at the first spray hole 1141.
[0121] When the two connecting ports 21 of the valve body 20 are directly opposite to the through holes 112 at the two second flow channels 1132, another stream of water in the water inlet chamber 121 flows into the second flow channel 1132 through the connecting ports 21 and the through holes 112. The water in the second flow channel 1132 is sprayed out to the tableware outside through the second spray hole 1142 to rinse the tableware. The spray arm 10 rotates counterclockwise around the rotation axis F under the reaction force of the water flow at the second spray hole 1142.
[0122] The transmission assembly 40 is fixedly installed on the spray arm 10. The impeller 30 is directly connected to the input shaft 411 of the transmission assembly 40. The valve body 20 is installed in the water inlet chamber 121 and is directly connected to the second transmission gear 422 of the transmission assembly 40, so that the spray arm 10, valve body 20, impeller 30 and transmission assembly 40 are integrated into one unit. During the rotation of the spray arm 10, the valve body 20, impeller 30 and transmission assembly 40 also rotate together, making the structure of the spray arm assembly 100 more compact.
[0123] Using the spray arm assembly 100 of this specific embodiment to clean dishes in a dishwasher, the valve body 20 can be rotated without the need for a motor to drive it. The rotation of the valve body 20 is achieved solely by the water flow driving the impeller 30, thereby enabling the alternating water output of the first flow channel 1131 and the second flow channel 1132. This not only allows the spray nozzles 114 to output water alternately, saving water consumption while ensuring water pressure and improving the cleaning effect, but also enables the spray arm assembly 100 to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise around the rotation axis F, thereby increasing the density of the spray trajectory and the number of spray directions, resulting in a better cleaning effect on the dishes.
[0124] The spray arm assembly 100 and other components and operation of the dishwasher according to embodiments of the present invention are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.
[0125] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.
[0126] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "embodiment," "specific embodiment," and "example" indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.
[0127] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A spray arm assembly, characterized in that, include: The spray arm has a water inlet chamber and multiple flow channels, the multiple flow channels are respectively connected to the water inlet chamber, and each flow channel is connected to the outside through a spray hole; A valve body, which is movably disposed within the water inlet chamber and has a communication port; Impeller, the impeller being drivenly connected to the valve body; A drive tube is located on one side of the impeller and is used to spray liquid onto the impeller to drive the impeller to rotate. The rotation of the impeller can drive the valve body to move so that the connecting port alternately connects the inlet of the plurality of flow channels and the inlet of the water inlet chamber.
2. The spray arm assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive pipe is located on the spray arm and communicates with the water inlet chamber.
3. The spray arm assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spray arm includes an arm body and a base. The base defines the water inlet chamber and has a water inlet. The arm body defines the flow channel and the spray nozzle. The arm body is mounted on the base. The drive tube is located on the base and communicates with the water inlet chamber, and the impeller is located on the side of the arm body facing the base and opposite to the outlet of the drive tube.
4. The spray arm assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water spray direction of the drive pipe is perpendicular to the extension direction of the impeller shaft. In a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the impeller shaft, the outlet of the drive pipe is offset from the impeller shaft and opposite to the position of the impeller blades.
5. The spray arm assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The impeller is connected to the valve body via a transmission assembly, which is fixedly mounted on the spray arm.
6. The spray arm assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The transmission assembly includes a speed reducer, the input shaft of which is drivenly connected to the impeller, and the output shaft of which is drivenly connected to the valve body.
7. The spray arm assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The spray arm includes an arm body and a base. The base defines the water inlet chamber and has a water inlet. The arm body defines the flow channel and the spray nozzle. The arm body is mounted on the base. The speed reducer is located on the side of the base body facing away from the arm body. The output shaft of the speed reducer extends into the base body. The impeller is located on the side of the base body perpendicular to the rotation axis of the spray arm. The impeller is located between the speed reducer and the arm body.
8. The spray arm assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The distance between the input shaft and the output shaft of the reducer is L1, and the distance between the drive tube and the center line of the impeller shaft is L2, where L1 > L2.
9. The spray arm assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The reducer includes a reduction housing and a reduction gear set. The reduction housing is connected to the spray arm, and the reduction gear set is disposed inside the reduction housing and connected between the input shaft and the output shaft.
10. The spray arm assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The output shaft of the reducer is connected to the valve body via a transmission gear set, which is located inside the water inlet chamber.
11. The spray arm assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that, The transmission gear set includes a first transmission gear and a second transmission gear that mesh with each other. The first transmission gear is connected to the output shaft of the reducer. The rotation axis of the first transmission gear is parallel to and spaced apart from the rotation axis of the spray arm. The second transmission gear is connected to the valve body. The rotation axis of the second transmission gear coincides with the rotation axis of the spray arm.
12. The spray arm assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The output shaft of the reducer is directly connected to the valve body, and the valve body is eccentrically positioned relative to the rotation axis of the spray arm.
13. The spray arm assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spray arm includes an arm body and a base. The base defines the water inlet chamber and has the water inlet. The arm body defines the flow channel. The arm body is mounted on the base, and the side of the arm body facing the base has multiple through holes, which communicate with multiple flow channels. The valve body abuts against the side surface of the arm body facing the seat, and the communication port alternately faces the plurality of through holes to connect the corresponding flow channel and the water inlet.
14. The spray arm assembly according to any one of claims 1-13, characterized in that, The number of nozzles in the multiple flow channels differs; and / or, The opening areas of the nozzles in the multiple flow channels are different; and / or, The opening directions of the nozzles in the multiple flow channels are different.
15. The spray arm assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that, The spray arm includes two arms, which are respectively located on both sides of the water inlet chamber along a first horizontal direction. The spray arm is rotatable about the center line of the water inlet chamber. The plurality of flow channels include a first flow channel and a second flow channel. The first flow channel communicates with the outside through a plurality of first nozzles, and the second flow channel communicates with the outside through a plurality of second nozzles. The multiple first spray holes have the same opening direction along the circumference of the spray arm, and the multiple second spray holes have the same opening direction along the circumference of the spray arm. The opening directions of the first spray holes and the second spray holes located on the same part of the arm are opposite along the circumference of the spray arm.
16. A dishwasher, characterized in that, Includes the spray arm assembly according to any one of claims 1-15.