Dishwasher and method for operating same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional dishwashers waste resources like time, energy, and water due to independent motors for water and air pumps, and have fixed washing angles and ranges, leading to incomplete cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A dishwasher design that uses a single motor to drive both the water pump and air pump asynchronously or simultaneously, reducing water usage and improving washing and drying performance by accelerating water flow, with a hydraulic circuit and controller to manage fluid distribution and rotation of tubular spray elements for enhanced cleaning coverage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If independent motors are used for water pump and air pump, then each pump can operate independently, but resources such as time, energy, and water are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent operation capabilityVSAvoidresource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the water pump and air pump into a single integrated pump unit that can perform both liquid pumping and air blowing functions. The pump structure includes both a liquid outlet connected to spray arms and an air outlet connected to drying nozzles, allowing one motor to replace two independent motors while eliminating resource waste through coordinated operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single pump is designed with multi-functionality to serve both washing and drying operations. It can pump water during washing phases and blow air during drying phases, or operate both functions simultaneously, making the pump system universal for multiple operational requirements without needing separate dedicated motors.

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

2Device complexity

If fixed spray arm is used, then structure is simple, but washing angle and washing range are relatively fixed, creating dead spots in cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidcleaning coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The spray arm is designed to rotate dynamically around a central axis rather than remaining fixed. The rotation mechanism allows the spray arms to change their washing angles and coverage areas during operation, eliminating dead spots and improving overall cleaning coverage while maintaining a relatively simple structural design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of energy

If single motor drives both pumps, then resource consumption is reduced, but control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource consumptionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single pump operates continuously to provide both water supply and air flow as needed during different phases of the washing cycle. The pump can seamlessly transition between pumping water for washing and blowing air for drying, maintaining continuous useful action without the need for complex start-stop control of multiple independent motors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 reduces resource consumption, enhances washing efficiency by improving water flow, and ensures thorough cleaning by dynamically adjusting the washing angle and range through the rotation of tubular spray elements.

Implementation Method 1

a water pump driven by the single motor, and the water pump is in fluid communication with the one or more sprayers and is configured to supply liquid to the one or more sprayers to spray the liquid to tableware

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic flow: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

an air pump driven by the single motor, and the air pump is in fluid communication with the one or more sprayers and is configured to supply pressurized air to the one or more sprayers to spray the pressurized air to the tableware

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressurized gas flow: Gas Compressor

Data Source

PatentEP3834694B1Dishwasher and method for operating same
Publication Date: 2023.10.04 FOSHAN SHUNDE MIDEA WASHING APPLIANCES MANUFACTURING CO LTD
  • EP3834694B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3834694B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3834694B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A dishwasher (10), comprising a washing tank (16), one or more sprayers (620), a liquid supply source (622), and an air supply source (624). The one or more sprayers (620) are disposed in the washing tank (16). The liquid supply source (622) and the air supply source (624) are provided with a single motor (730) and are operated by means of the single motor (730). The dishwasher (10) employs the single motor (730) to drive an air pump (725) and a water pump (723) to operate separately or together, and can reduce the water volume required to wash dishes in the dishwasher (10), enhance drying performance, and/or improve washing performance by accelerating the water flow. A method for operating the dishwasher (10).