Dishwasher Drain Assembly With Check Valve for Complete Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers face inefficiencies in the drain assembly, particularly due to issues with air lock conditions and incomplete drainage, which can lead to reduced performance and increased risk of clogging from foreign objects.
Innovation Solution
The proposed drain assembly incorporates a check valve assembly with a volute geometry and a flapper mechanism that ensures complete opening of the valve during operation, preventing over-insertion of the drain hose and allowing for optimized pump performance, while also simplifying the design and allowing for modifications based on application-specific criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional drain assembly is used, then the structure is simple, but air lock conditions occur and drainage is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve assembly is integrated directly into the volute body of the drain pump, merging two separate components (check valve and volute) into a single unified structure. This eliminates the need for separate check valve housing and reduces the number of parts, thereby improving drainage efficiency without significantly increasing overall structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The volute body serves multiple functions: it acts as both the pump housing and the check valve assembly housing, and its geometry is optimized to prevent air lock conditions while facilitating complete drainage. This multi-functionality improves drainage performance while maintaining structural simplicity
2Productivity
If the drain hose can be over-inserted, then installation is flexible, but the valve does not open completely and pump performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The volute geometry is pre-designed with built-in features that guide and limit drain hose insertion depth, ensuring the hose is positioned correctly before operation begins. This preliminary structural design prevents over-insertion and ensures complete valve opening, maintaining pump performance while keeping installation straightforward
Solution Approach 2:
The volute body's geometry automatically prevents over-insertion of the drain hose through its physical structure, eliminating the need for external stops or complex positioning mechanisms. The system self-regulates hose placement, ensuring optimal pump performance without complicating the installation process
3Reliability
If foreign objects enter the drain system, then drainage function is maintained, but clogging occurs and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve assembly with its integrated volute geometry is designed to redirect and contain foreign objects that enter the drain system, converting the potential harm of clogging into a controlled situation where objects are contained without blocking drainage flow. The volute shape guides objects away from critical flow paths, maintaining system reliability
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 solution enhances the efficiency and reliability of the drain assembly by preventing air lock conditions, ensuring complete drainage, and reducing the risk of clogging, while also allowing for compact design and modular changes to meet various performance criteria.
Implementation Method 1
a check valve assembly located in the pump discharge passageway and including a seat assembly having a body with a first distal end and a second distal end that forms at least a portion of a geometry of the volute, a fluid passage extending through the body, the body defining a valve seat having a sealing surface about the fluid passage and a flapper assembly operably coupled to the seat assembly and having a moveable portion configured to selectively move between a closed position where the moveable portion seals against the sealing surface and an opened position where the moveable portion raises to allow liquid through the fluid passage
Implementation Method 2
a drain pump having an impeller to pump fluid from the sump to the discharge outlet
Implementation Method 3
a volute body operably coupled to at least a portion of the drain pump and having an interior at least partially defining a volute for the drain pump, the volute fluidly coupling the sump and having a pump discharge passageway fluidly coupled with the discharge outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher having a tub, a sump fluidly coupled to the tub, a discharge outlet, a drain assembly, and a check valve drain assembly including a seat assembly having a body with a first distal end and a second distal end, a fluid passage extending through the body, the body defining a valve seat having a sealing surface about the fluid passage and a flapper assembly operably coupled to the seat assembly and having a moveable portion configured to selectively move between a closed position where the moveable portion seals against the sealing surface and an opened position where the moveable portion raises to allow liquid through the fluid passage.