Dishwasher Biocide Filter Element for Replaceable Wash Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household washing appliances lack comprehensive and long-lasting antibacterial solutions that are not limited to specific components and can be easily replaced, and they fail to effectively disinfect wash liquid throughout their life cycle without increasing manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher design featuring a removable biocide element housed within the filter chamber, which includes a biocide composition supported on an inert carrier, allowing for extended antimicrobial action and easy replacement, and ensuring disinfectant action on wash liquid by positioning it in the wash chamber where wash liquid flows through.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If anti-bacterial agents are built-in during manufacturing on specific components, then bacterial resistance on those parts is improved, but the effectiveness is limited to those parts only and cannot be easily replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The biocide system is segmented into a replaceable element (biocide element with composition on inert carrier) that can be independently replaced within the filter assembly, allowing maintenance without replacing the entire appliance. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both effective bacterial protection and easy replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The biocide composition is extracted from permanent appliance components and placed in a removable biocide element that can be easily taken out and replaced by the user. This extraction allows the biocide function to be separated from the main appliance structure, enabling replacement without discarding the entire filtering means.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If anti-bacterial agents are applied permanently on appliance surfaces, then long-term protection is achieved, but the active substances are consumed over time and cannot be easily replenished
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service replacement of the biocide element by the user. When the biocide composition is consumed, the user can easily remove the depleted element and install a fresh one without requiring technical service or complex procedures, thus maintaining long-term protection while ensuring easy replenishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The biocide element is designed as a disposable or replaceable component that can be discarded after consumption and replaced with a new element. This approach allows continuous protection by systematically replacing consumed biocide material rather than attempting to replenish it within the original component.
3Reliability
If biocide means are integrated into the appliance structure, then comprehensive protection is provided, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The biocide system is segmented into a separate replaceable element rather than being integrated into the main appliance housing. This segmentation allows the biocide function to be added as a modular component, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining comprehensive protection through the filter chamber placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The inert carrier acts as an intermediary between the biocide composition and the wash liquid, allowing controlled release of active substances. This intermediary approach enables effective biocide delivery without requiring expensive integrated treatment of all appliance surfaces, as the mediator concentrates the protective action where it is most needed.
4Ease of operation
If biocide composition is supported on inert carrier in removable element, then easy replacement is enabled, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a mechanical filter and as a holder for the biocide element. This universal design allows the same structural components to perform multiple functions (filtration and biocide containment), reducing overall device complexity while maintaining ease of replacement for the biocide component.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A household washing appliance comprises a wash chamber (14) with a sump region (20) at the bottom in communication with filtering means (24,32,34) housed in a filter chamber (30), said wash chamber (14) operatively receiving wash liquid from a wash pump downstream said filtering means, wherein biocide means (40,52,54,58) are located in said wash chamber.