Appliance Closure Cable Routing for Sliding Operative Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances with multiple closure elements, such as dishwashers and refrigerators, face challenges in routing electrical or data communication cables effectively between movable closure elements, which affects the operation and accessibility of operative devices like user interfaces and displays.
Innovation Solution
A wired power and/or data communication system is implemented, where a cable is routed through a first closure element to a second movable closure element, with a cable storage system that accommodates the sliding movement of the upper closure element, ensuring continuous power and data communication to operative devices, even in partial modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cable is routed through multiple movable closure elements to provide power and data communication to operative devices, then connectivity and operational flexibility are improved, but cable management complexity and reliability during movement are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is routed through nested closure elements where the first closure element contains routing pathways that guide the cable to the second closure element. This nesting approach allows the cable to pass through multiple movable components while maintaining organized pathways, reducing tangling and management complexity despite the multi-element routing requirement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a cable is routed through movable closure elements that slide relative to each other, then operational flexibility in partial modes is improved, but cable wear and connection reliability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing system is designed to be dynamic, accommodating the sliding movement between closure elements. The cable pathways are configured to flex and adjust as the closure elements move relative to each other during partial mode operations, maintaining reliable electrical and data connections while enabling full range of motion without cable damage.
3Ease of operation
If operative devices are mounted on movable closure elements requiring power and data communication, then user interface accessibility is improved, but cable management and connection stability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The first closure element acts as an intermediary in the cable routing path, providing a structured pathway that mediates between the fixed cable source and the movable second closure element containing the operative device. This intermediary routing system simplifies cable management by organizing the cable path through defined channels in the first closure element before the cable reaches the movable second element.
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance that conducts a useful cycle of operation on an article comprises a treating chamber receiving the article and having an access opening. A first closure element selectively closes at least a first portion of the access opening, and a second closure element movable relative to the first closure element selectively closes at least a second portion of the access opening. An operative device can be coupled to the second closure element. A cable providing at least one of electrical or data communication to the device is routed through the first closure element to the second closure element and is operatively connected to the device on the second closure element.