Device for dispensing cleaning agent

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dosing devices in dishwashers often fail to completely rinse out solid cleaning agents like 'cleaning tabs,' leading to inadequate detergent dissolution during wash cycles, resulting in poor cleaning performance.

Innovation Solution

A water guiding element is integrated into the device, directing and collecting water from the dishwasher's spray arms to efficiently wash out and dissolve cleaning agents, utilizing a funnel-like structure with angled water guiding elements and spacer elements to ensure complete rinsing, even when the cleaning agent adheres to the base wall.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If water spray is allowed to directly hit the base wall of the reservoir, then water flow path is simple, but cleaning agent is not completely rinsed out

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidcleaning agent dissolution completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A water guiding element is introduced as an intermediary component between the water spray and the reservoir base wall. This element actively redirects water flow to ensure comprehensive contact with cleaning agents, solving the contradiction by adding a simple structural mediator that significantly improves rinsing effectiveness without complex mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The water guiding element extends water flow from a single direct path into multiple directional streams that cover different areas of the reservoir base wall. By changing the dimensionality of water distribution from one-dimensional direct spray to multi-directional flow patterns, complete coverage of cleaning agents is achieved

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If cleaning agent storage reservoir is designed with simple structure, then device complexity is reduced, but water distribution for complete rinsing is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereservoir structure complexityVSAvoidcleaning agent dissolution efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The water guiding element serves as a simple intermediary structure that dramatically enhances water distribution efficiency. This single added component creates multiple water flow paths and ensures comprehensive coverage of cleaning agents, significantly improving dissolution efficiency without adding substantial structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The water guiding element segments the single water stream into multiple smaller flow paths that distribute water across different areas of the reservoir. This segmentation of water flow ensures that cleaning agents throughout the entire reservoir are contacted and dissolved, improving overall dissolution efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 ensures that cleaning agents are completely dissolved and distributed effectively throughout the dishwasher, allowing for better cleaning performance with potentially less soluble agents and reduced wash times.

Implementation Method 1

at least one water guiding element for directing and/or guiding water in and/or in the reservoir and in particular to the base wall of the reservoir is arranged in the device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow guidance:

Data Source

PatentEP3410916B1Device for dispensing cleaning agent
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 SANHUA AWECO APPLIANCE SYST GMBH
  • EP3410916B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3410916B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3410916B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a device for dispensing cleaning agent into a dishwasher, comprising a cover element for closing or opening at least one opening (2) in a storage compartment (1) for storing the cleaning agent, the storage compartment (1) comprising at least one base wall (8) opposite the opening (2), and at least one side wall (7) that extends transversely to the base wall (8), the device improving the prior art. To achieve said aim, at least one water directing element (5, 9) is arranged for directing and/or conducting water.