Dishwasher Water Diverter Check Before Pump Refill Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water-conducting domestic appliances, such as dishwashers, face issues with noise and unsatisfactory cleaning due to insufficient wash water circulation, which can occur when the water flow diverter malfunctions, leading to incorrect true running checks and potential overfilling.
Innovation Solution
A method to check the water flow diverter for malfunctions before performing a true running check, allowing for a refilling step only if the diverter is functioning correctly, and omitting the check if it's malfunctioning to prevent overfilling, using sensor signals and control element motor activation to assess the diverter's status and maintain a minimum or maximum setpoint quantity of filling water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a true running check is performed to ensure sufficient filling water, then the circulating pump operates reliably, but the appliance may be overfilled if the water flow diverter is malfunctioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs a preliminary check of the water flow diverter's functionality before conducting the true running check. This preliminary action identifies potential malfunctions that would cause incorrect water quantity determination, allowing the system to avoid overfilling while still ensuring reliable pump operation when the diverter is functioning correctly.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the true running check and the filling water quantity adjustment. It receives signals from the water flow diverter check and uses this information to决定是否 perform the refilling operation, preventing direct overfilling caused by malfunctioning diverters.
2Reliability
If the water flow diverter is checked for malfunctions, then overfilling is prevented, but the operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the water flow diverter check and the true running check into a single integrated operational sequence controlled by the control unit. This merging of functions reduces operational complexity by automating the decision-making process and eliminating the need for separate manual checks.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit automatically performs the water flow diverter check and uses the results to determine whether to perform the refilling operation. This self-service approach eliminates the need for user intervention in complex diagnostic procedures, maintaining simplicity from the user's perspective while ensuring reliable operation.
3Measurement precision
If the control element position is continuously monitored, then malfunction detection is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring of the control element's position rather than continuous monitoring. The control unit checks the position at key moments during operation to detect malfunctions, which significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining sufficient measurement precision for reliable malfunction detection.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a water-conducting domestic appliance, such as a dishwasher, includes filling the water-conducting domestic appliance with a minimum amount of filling water that is circulated by a pump, and checking a water flow diverter for malfunctions and determining from an operational parameter of an electromotor that drives the pump whether the pump runs smoothly, thereby indicating whether the quantity of filling water corresponds to at least a nominal quantity of filling water. When the water flow diverter is not malfunctioning, the pump is again checked for smooth running or a refilling step is carried out to increase the minimum amount of filling water. Conversely, when the water flow diverter is malfunctioning, the check for smooth running or the refilling step are omitted.