Dishwasher Adsorber Section Layout for Compact Air Drying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dishwashers face space constraints that limit the installation of sufficient dehydrating material for effective air dehydration during the drying phase, as traditional cuboid adsorber areas occupy too much space.

Innovation Solution

The adsorber chamber is divided into multiple sections with dedicated inlet and outlet channels, allowing for a flexible geometry that adapts to available space, ensuring even distribution of dehydrating material and efficient air flow, enabling a compact and efficient dehydration process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cuboid adsorber area with sufficient dehydrating material is installed, then adequate air dehydration is achieved, but the space required in the dishwasher is too large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedehydration effectivenessVSAvoidadsorber chamber volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The adsorber area is divided into multiple adsorber sections (first, second, third sections) with different cross-sectional areas. This segmentation allows the dehydrating material to be distributed in a way that achieves adequate dehydration while reducing the overall volume occupied in the dishwasher.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adsorber sections are arranged in different spatial dimensions and orientations within the dishwasher. By utilizing three-dimensional space more efficiently and arranging sections at different heights and positions, the patent achieves sufficient dehydration capacity without requiring a large single-block volume.

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

2Volume of stationary object

If the adsorber chamber is made compact to fit space constraints, then space utilization improves, but the quantity of dehydrating material may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadsorber chamber volumeVSAvoiddehydrating material quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the adsorber area into multiple sections with varying cross-sectional areas, the patent concentrates dehydrating material in critical zones (larger cross-sectional areas) while using smaller sections in other areas. This ensures sufficient total quantity of dehydrating material is used effectively without requiring a uniformly large chamber volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different adsorber sections have different cross-sectional areas tailored to local dehydration requirements. Areas with higher moisture load receive larger adsorber sections with more dehydrating material, while areas with lower moisture load use smaller sections. This localized optimization ensures adequate dehydration throughout while minimizing total material quantity and chamber volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional cuboid adsorber areas are used, then installation is simple, but the geometry does not adapt to cramped space conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadsorber chamber installationVSAvoidgeometric adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The adsorber area is divided into multiple independent adsorber sections that can be manufactured separately and then assembled in the dishwasher. This segmentation provides geometric flexibility to adapt to cramped and irregular space conditions while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing and installation of individual sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a flexible, adaptable geometry by using multiple sections that can be arranged in different configurations within the dishwasher. The varying cross-sectional areas and spatial arrangements allow the adsorber chamber to adapt to different space constraints while maintaining a practical installation process.

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 configuration allows for effective air dehydration in constrained spaces, optimizing the use of available space in dishwashers and ensuring adequate dehydration of air, even in previously inaccessible areas, while maintaining the required amount of dehydrating material.

Implementation Method 1

Zeolites are typically aluminosilicates with the property of being able to adsorb water, among other things. By flowing through the zeolite, the moist air supplied is dried and released again in a dry state.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP2248456B1Household appliance, in particular dishwasher
Publication Date: 2013.06.26 V-ZUG AG
  • EP2248456B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2248456B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2248456B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A household appliance has an adsorber area (53) for drying supplied process air (8), in which several adsorber sections are provided (531 - 534). Each adsorber section (531-534) contains an entry surface for the process air to enter and an exit surface for the process air to exit. Entry channels for supplying the process air adjoin at least one of the entry surfaces. Outlet channels for discharging the dried process air each adjoin at least one of the outlet surfaces. Each of the channels is only open on one side, such that the process air is forced from the inlet channels into the adsorber sections and from the adsorber sections into the outlet channels. The intended arrangement of the adsorber sections increases the effective entry area with regard to the dehydrating material, on which the supplied process air meets. This corresponds to a reduction in air resistance through the adsorber area, which in turn can lead to a smaller design of a fan for supplying the process air.