Dishwasher Water Diverter Cam Disk for Multi-Outlet Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water diverters for automatic dishwashers struggle to efficiently distribute water to more than two spray arms while limiting the operating range of the adjusting device, often requiring multiple microswitches and complex synchronization processes.

Innovation Solution

A water diverter with a direction-dependent drive and cam disk profile that uses a single microswitch to synchronize and limit the adjusting device's rotation to a discrete operating range, ensuring it never enters a 'forbidden' area, allowing for distribution to multiple outlets with reduced components and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fully circumferential adjusting device is used to enable distribution to more than two outlets, then the number of outlet positions increases, but the operating range cannot be limited and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of outlet positionsVSAvoidadjusting device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cam disk is segmented into an operating range (with cam profile) and a forbidden area (without cam profile). This segmentation allows the adjusting device to be limited to a discrete operating range while still enabling distribution to multiple outlets, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cam profile on the cam disk preliminarily defines the valid operating positions and forbidden areas before the adjusting device operates. This preliminary structuring enables the system to automatically limit the adjusting device to a discrete operating range without complex control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If multiple microswitches are used to identify positions in a fully circumferential adjusting device, then position detection accuracy improves, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition detection accuracyVSAvoidnumber of microswitches

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the position detection function from multiple microswitches and concentrates it into a single microswitch. The cam profile is specifically designed to interact with this one microswitch at key positions, achieving accurate position detection with reduced component count

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using multiple microswitches to detect positions, the invention uses a cam profile that mechanically encodes position information. The cam profile acts as a physical copy or representation of position data that a single microswitch can read, reducing complexity while maintaining detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Device complexity

If a crank mechanism is used to drive the adjusting device in pendulum movements, then the operating range is limited to two positions, but device simplicity is maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive mechanism simplicityVSAvoidnumber of outlet positions

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from a static two-position crank mechanism to a dynamic cam-based system. The cam profile allows the adjusting device to move through multiple discrete positions dynamically, increasing versatility while maintaining relative simplicity through the cam-follower mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables efficient water distribution to at least three outlets with reduced component usage, ensuring the adjusting device operates within a defined range, preventing damage and improving the water diverter's reliability and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

an adjusting device (20, 20'), which adjusting device interacts with a cam disk (1), which cam disk provides a cam profile (2) with a coding

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Implementation Method 2

a microswitch (3) being provided which is in operative connection with the cam profile (2) and in operative connection with the starting point (4) has a different state than at the end point (5)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicroswitch detection:

Implementation Method 3

the direction of rotation of the drive is selected at least when the household appliance is switched on for the first time, depending on the state of the microswitch (3), such that the microswitch (3) interacts with the cam profile (2) at all times

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid distribution through valve positioning:

Data Source

PatentEP2465401B1Water valve for distributing water within a water-transporting domestic appliance

Publication Date: 2017.02.22 MIELE & CO KG

AI summary

The water points has an adjusting device that cooperates with a cam disk (1) that initializes cam disk of a cam profile (2) with a coding, which has a cam profile of a initial point (4) and an end point (5). A rotational direction of a drive is selected by switching a domestic appliance as a function of the state of the micro switch (3). An independent claim is also included for a method for synchronizing a water diverter of a water-conducting domestic appliance, particularly a dishwasher.