Dishwasher Door Air Duct Structure for Water and Debris Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers face issues with water collection and foreign substances in the inlet duct during the drying process, leading to potential errors in internal components due to unremoved food particles and water accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher design featuring a foreign substance intake preventing chamber under the air inlet hole with an inclined bottom surface, a grill cover guiding water downwards, and a thermal actuator to control the hole cover, ensuring only air enters the inlet duct and preventing water from entering, even when the hole cover closes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hole cover closes the air inlet hole during washing process, then water leakage is prevented, but water still collects in the inlet duct due to gaps between the hole cover and inlet hole
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful element (water) from the inlet duct by providing a separate drainage path through the foreign substance intake preventing chamber. The chamber is positioned below the air inlet hole and connected to the inlet duct, allowing water to drain away from the main air passage while air continues to flow normally.
Solution Approach 2:
The foreign substance intake preventing chamber acts as an intermediary between the air inlet hole and the inlet duct. It receives both air and water at the inlet hole, separates them through the inclined bottom surface that directs water downward, and allows only air to enter the inlet duct while water drains through the chamber.
2Reliability
If water is allowed to flow into the inlet duct for washing objects, then washing effectiveness is improved, but foreign substances and water collect in the inlet duct causing errors in internal components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the inlet structure into two distinct functional zones: the foreign substance intake preventing chamber that receives and drains water with foreign substances, and the air inlet hole that allows only air to enter the inlet duct. This segmentation prevents contamination of the air intake system while maintaining washing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of water and foreign substances entering the inlet duct by providing a dedicated drainage chamber. The inclined bottom surface of the chamber uses gravity to naturally drain water and dislodge food particles, transforming what would be a contamination problem into a self-cleaning mechanism that prevents accumulation.
3Device complexity
If the inlet duct structure is simplified without the foreign substance intake preventing chamber, then device complexity is reduced, but water and foreign substances cannot be prevented from collecting in the inlet duct
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the foreign substance intake preventing chamber: it serves as a drainage chamber for water, a collection point for foreign substances, and a separation interface between air and water flows. The inclined bottom surface combines drainage and self-cleaning functions in a single structural element, minimizing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The foreign substance intake preventing chamber is designed with an inclined bottom surface that enables self-cleaning through gravity. Water flowing through the chamber naturally carries foreign substances to the lowest point where they can be drained away, eliminating the need for additional cleaning mechanisms or complex drainage systems.
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
Prevents water and foreign substances from collecting in the inlet duct, ensuring airtight operation and effective washing of foreign substances drawn into the chamber, maintaining the integrity of internal components.
Implementation Method 1
a foreign substance intake preventing chamber provided under the air inlet hole and inclined downwards toward a rear surface of the door
Implementation Method 2
a thermal actuator to control the hole cover
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a dishwasher comprising a cabinet, a tub defining a washing space, a door rotatably coupled to a front portion of the tub, an outlet duct provided in the door and exhausting internal air of the tub outside, an inlet duct connected to the outlet duct and sucking and blowing the internal air of the tub toward the outlet duct, a hole cover selectively opening and closing an air inlet hole provided in an entrance of the inlet duct, and a foreign substance intake preventing chamber provided under the air inlet hole and inclined downwards toward a rear surface of the door, the foreign substance intake preventing chamber preventing foreign substances from becoming drawn into the air inlet hole.