Dishwasher with a control panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household dishwashers with control panels on the door have limited design options, especially when larger cutouts like display windows are involved, leading to instability and reduced durability due to the need for a continuous stainless steel hood.
Innovation Solution
A design where a display window extends almost over the entire width of the control panel, accompanied by a metallic strip cladding, and conductive connections via a bridging contact body eliminate the need for a continuous hood, allowing for expanded design options while ensuring electrical connectivity and protection against electrostatic charges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a continuous stainless steel hood is used to provide a high quality appearance and easy cleaning, then the appearance quality and ease of cleaning are improved, but the design options are limited and assembly becomes difficult when larger cutouts are used
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous stainless steel hood is segmented into separate metallic cladding elements: a front metallic cladding for the front side, side metallic claddings for the transverse sides, and a rear metallic cladding for the rear side. These segmented elements can be independently designed and assembled, providing greater design flexibility while maintaining the high-quality appearance and ease of cleaning of stainless steel surfaces.
2Reliability
If a continuous stainless steel hood is used to provide structural support, then the durability is improved, but the assembly becomes difficult and stability is reduced when larger cutouts are involved
Solution Approach 1:
The hood structure is divided into multiple separate metallic cladding elements that can be independently manufactured and assembled. The front metallic cladding, side metallic claddings, and rear metallic cladding are assembled in sequence using simplified attachment mechanisms, making the assembly process easier while maintaining structural durability through proper mechanical fastening and electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
A bridging contact body is introduced as an intermediary element to connect the segmented metallic claddings. This contact body not only provides electrical connectivity between the front, side, and rear metallic claddings but also serves as a mechanical interface that simplifies the assembly process while ensuring structural stability and durability of the overall control panel assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate metallic cladding elements are used instead of a continuous hood, then design options are expanded and assembly is simplified, but electrical connectivity and protection against electrostatic charges must be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The bridging contact body serves as an intermediary element that ensures electrical connectivity between the separate metallic cladding elements. This contact body is electrically conductive and mechanically connects the front metallic cladding, side metallic claddings, and rear metallic cladding, thereby maintaining electrical continuity and providing protection against electrostatic charges while allowing design flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
All metallic cladding elements (front, side, and rear) are made of electrically conductive material with similar electrical properties. This homogeneity in material selection ensures that electrical connectivity is maintained across all segmented elements, and the bridging contact body can effectively equalize electrostatic potentials throughout the control panel assembly.
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 design flexibility, stability, and durability by eliminating the need for a continuous hood, while maintaining electrical connectivity and protecting against electrostatic charges, thus providing a more aesthetically pleasing and functional control panel.
Implementation Method 1
the metallic claddings of the front side and the surfaces pointing to the transverse sides being electrically connected via a bridging contact body are conductively connected to each other
Implementation Method 2
the at least one contact body ensures that the electronics are protected and that no electrostatic potentials can build up and be discharged in an uncontrolled manner
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A dishwasher (1), in particular a household dishwasher, with a washing container (2) located in a body (5) of the dishwasher for cleaning dishes, glasses, cutlery or similar items to be cleaned, wherein the washing container (2) can be closed at its front (V) by a door (3) which is upright in a closed position and movable to open, and wherein a control panel (8) is assigned to the door (3) in its upper area in the closed position, is designed such that the door (3) has a metallic cover (11) on its front side (V) in the closed position and further metallic covers (16) on surfaces (12) of the control panel facing the transverse sides, wherein the metallic covers (11) of the front (V) and (16) of the surfaces (12) facing the transverse sides are electrically connected to each other via at least one bridging contact element (17).