Dishwasher Supply Unit Coupling for Leak-Safe Water Guide Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers face issues with the smooth insertion and secure fastening of the supply unit to the water guide, leading to potential leaks and reduced washing efficiency due to the design of the connection mechanism, which allows for tilting and incorrect positioning, and causes noise from the sealing member.
Innovation Solution
The dishwasher incorporates a connection member with protrusions and a sealing unit designed to guide the supply unit's insertion, prevent incorrect positioning, and enhance sealing, featuring protrusions for easy alignment and a flexible sealing member to prevent leaks, ensuring stable coupling and efficient water flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the supply unit is designed to be separably coupled to the water guide at different heights, then the adaptability and versatility are improved, but the reliability of the connection deteriorates due to potential misalignment and incorrect positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The connection member features asymmetric protrusions with inclined guiding surfaces that guide the insertion portion at specific angles and positions. This asymmetric design ensures that the supply unit can only be coupled at the correct height and orientation, preventing misalignment while maintaining the adjustable height capability through multiple discrete coupling positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection member acts as an intermediary between the water guide and the supply unit. It provides a mediating structure with protrusions that guide and constrain the insertion portion, ensuring reliable alignment and coupling while allowing the supply unit to be adjustably positioned at different heights along the water guide.
2Ease of operation
If the insertion portion is designed to be inserted into insertion holes, then the ease of operation is improved, but the object-generated harmful factors worsen due to noise from the sealing member and potential leakage
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible sealing member is introduced between the connection member and the supply unit support body. This flexible element conforms to the mating surfaces, creating an effective seal that prevents water leakage while dampening mechanical noise during insertion and operation, thus eliminating the harmful effects without compromising ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined guiding surfaces on the protrusions, which could potentially cause misalignment if poorly designed, are instead used to actively guide the insertion portion into the correct position. The sealing member's flexibility, which could allow deformation, is utilized to absorb insertion forces and create a tighter seal, converting potential problems into benefits.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the protruding insertion portion is completely inserted into the insertion hole, then the connection stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the user cannot smoothly insert it when tilted
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions feature curved inclined guiding surfaces instead of sharp edges or flat surfaces. These curved surfaces guide the insertion portion smoothly even when approached at tilted angles, allowing the user to easily insert the connection while ensuring complete engagement for stable coupling. The curvature accommodates angular deviations and guides the components into proper alignment.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(c)
AI summary
Disclosed is a dishwasher including a tub, a door, a sump, a rack, a spray arm, a water guide including a supply flow-path for movement of the wash water from the sump and a supply port formed in the supply flow-path, a supply unit including a support body for receiving the wash water, a connection pipe extending from the support body to the spray arm, and an spray arm coupler, and a connection member including a coupling body coupled to the water guide and the support body, and a through-hole formed in the coupling body. The supply unit includes a rearwardly protruding insertion portion, and the connection member includes protrusions spaced apart from each other to define an insertion space for the protruding insertion portion, so that the supply unit is coupled to the water guide as the protruding insertion portion is inserted into one of the insertion space.