A dishwasher with improved washing effectiveness

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Solution Overview

Problem

State-of-the-art dishwashers with additional spray arms for intense cleaning regions face inefficiencies in water distribution and increased production costs due to complex structures and energy diversion for moving nozzles, leading to decreased washing performance.

Innovation Solution

An additional spray arm design that operates without rotating nozzles, utilizing a cam-shaft mechanism to move spraying members linearly, ensuring all energy goes into washing, allowing for efficient water distribution and improved cleaning across surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If rotating nozzles are used to move the additional spray arm, then the spray arm can be positioned to reach difficult-to-access regions, but some fluid energy is consumed for moving the spray arm which decreases the energy available for washing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning capability of spray armVSAvoidfluid energy consumed for moving spray arm
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the moving function from the water flow by introducing a separate cam-shaft mechanism. The cam mechanism converts rotational motion of the shaft into linear reciprocating motion of the spray arm, allowing positioning without consuming water pressure. This separates the positioning function from the washing function, eliminating energy loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cam-shaft mechanism acts as an intermediary between the rotating shaft and the spray arm. Instead of using water pressure directly to move the spray arm, the cam mechanism mediates the motion conversion, enabling precise positioning while preserving water energy for washing purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If additional spray arms are added to clean heavy stains, then washing effectiveness for intense dirt regions is improved, but the complex structure increases production costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing effectiveness for heavy stainsVSAvoidstructural complexity of spray arm system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces dynamic movement to a previously static spray arm configuration. The spray arm reciprocates along the rack using a cam mechanism, allowing it to dynamically access different regions including hard-to-reach areas. This dynamic capability enhances washing effectiveness without requiring multiple separate spray arms, thus controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The additional spray arm serves multiple functions: it cleans heavy stains in its base position, reaches difficult-to-access regions through reciprocating motion, and can be controlled to operate at different frequencies. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple specialized spray arms, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining washing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Area of stationary object

If the additional spray arm structure is made complex to improve cleaning coverage, then more regions can be reached, but production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning coverage areaVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention adds motion in a new dimension by making the spray arm reciprocate along the rack length rather than only rotating around a fixed axis. This linear reciprocating motion along the rack dimension expands cleaning coverage to include hard-to-reach regions without requiring complex multi-axis mechanisms, keeping the structure relatively simple and manufacturable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances washing efficiency by directing all fluid energy towards cleaning, providing a homogeneous wash and reducing costs by eliminating electromechanical components, while effectively addressing the inefficiencies of existing systems.

Implementation Method 1

The shaft (10) is positioned at the center of the body (4) and rotates around its own axis with the effect of the water coming from the water line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAngular momentum: Angular Momentum

Implementation Method 2

By means of the present invention, the additional spray arm (3) used for better washing very dirty dishes is enabled to be operated only by moving the spraying members (6) without using any rotating nozzle. Thus, since no rotating nozzle is used, the energy of the water sprayed by the spraying members (6) used for washing and hence the washing efficiency is increased.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Data Source

PatentEP3791768B1A dishwasher with improved washing effectiveness
Publication Date: 2023.07.12 ARCELIK AS
  • EP3791768B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3791768B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3791768B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a washing tub (1), at least one rack which is disposed in the washing tub (1) and wherein the items to be washed are placed, at least one spray arm (2) which is connected to the water line so as to spray water into the rack and the washing tub (1); and o ne or more than one additional spray arm (3) which is positioned in the vicinity of the spray arm (2) and which enables a region of the washing tub (1) to be swept with water by means of the water coming from the water line, the additional spray arm (3) having a body (4), a lid (5), at least one spraying member (6) which is pivotably attached so as to rotate around the point of attachment to the body (4), a shaft (10) which is positioned at the center of the body (4) and which rotates around its own axis with the effect of the water coming from the water line, a first pin (11) which extends perpendicularly to the shaft (10) and a first plate (13) which is contacted by the first pin (11) and which moves the spraying member (6) by linearly moving in the contact direction of the first pin (11).