Pull-Out Dish Rack Steam Nozzle for Precise Deep-Item Cleaning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dishwashers with steam cleaning capabilities struggle to effectively clean deeply soiled items due to the need for precise positioning of items over the steam jet, which is often not feasible, especially with deep items having small openings, and the steam jet's reduced effectiveness at larger distances from the nozzle.

Innovation Solution

A dishwasher design where the steam nozzle is integrated onto a pull-out dish rack, allowing for exact positioning of items and fluidic coupling with a steam generator, enabling precise steam delivery directly to the items, with the nozzle head capable of pivoting for adjustable steam cleaning positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the steam jet opening is positioned below the basket floor to avoid impeding basket movement, then the basket can be pulled out and pushed in freely, but the distance between the steam jet and items to be washed increases, reducing steam pressure and temperature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebasket movementVSAvoidsteam temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The steam nozzle is made movable by attaching it to the pull-out basket, allowing the nozzle position to dynamically adjust with basket movement. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both free basket operation and maintained proximity to items for effective steam cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pull-out basket serves as an intermediary carrier for the steam nozzle, linking the fixed steam generator to the movable items. This intermediary arrangement allows the nozzle to move with the basket while maintaining optimal positioning relative to items during both loaded and unloaded states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the steam jet opening is positioned below the basket floor, then the basket can be pulled out and pushed in freely, but the steam cleaning effect is weakened due to large distance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebasket movementVSAvoidsteam cleaning effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The steam nozzle is made movable by attaching it to the pull-out basket, allowing the nozzle position to dynamically adjust with basket movement. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both free basket operation and maintained proximity to items for effective steam cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If deep items of crockery are positioned precisely above the steam jet, then effective steam cleaning is achieved, but this requires careful loading and markings which are not always possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesteam cleaning effectVSAvoidloading process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-positioning by attaching the steam nozzle directly to the basket structure. The nozzle automatically moves with the basket and can be positioned to target specific areas without requiring user intervention for precise item placement or special basket markings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The steam nozzle is made movable by attaching it to the pull-out basket, allowing the nozzle position to dynamically adjust with basket movement. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both free basket operation and maintained proximity to items for effective steam cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This design ensures reliable and effective steam cleaning of both flat and deep items by reducing the distance between the nozzle and items, maintaining high steam pressure and temperature, thus enhancing cleaning efficacy.

Implementation Method 1

a steam generator (2) for generating steam and a steam nozzle (3) supplied with steam by the steam generator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP2227130B1Dish washing machine
Publication Date: 2011.06.15 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2227130B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2227130B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2227130B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for the provision of steam in the washing chamber of a dish washing machine, having at least one dish rack which can be pulled out of the washing chamber, the rack having a nozzle head (24, 29, 30, 32) for releasing steam into the washing container. The invention is characterized in that the nozzle body (24, 29, 30, 32) is attached to the dish rack and can be fluid coupled to the steam generator (2) via a detachable fluid coupling, wherein the nozzle body is fluid coupled to the steam generator when the dish rack is in the inserted position.