Rotatable Dishwasher Docking Port With Check Valve for Targeted Spray
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional dishwasher spray arm systems are inefficient as they waste resources by not focusing wash fluid precisely and fail to thoroughly clean utensils in the corners of the tub, leading to lower cleaning performance and noise during the wash cycle.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher with a rotatable docking port and check valve system that controls the flow of wash fluid to a rotatable conduit, allowing for precise direction of wash fluid through a tubular spray element, which can be discretely directed to various positions to focus cleaning where needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a traditional spray arm system is used to distribute wash fluid, then all areas of the tub are covered, but wash fluid cannot be focused precisely where needed leading to resource wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The spray system is segmented into multiple discrete spray jets distributed along the rotatable conduit, allowing selective activation of individual jets to focus wash fluid precisely where needed rather than distributing it uniformly across all areas
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit is made rotatable to dynamically change the orientation and direction of spray jets, enabling precise targeting of different areas including corners of the tub while maintaining resource efficiency
2Manufacturing precision
If spray arms follow a circular path to cover all areas, then broad coverage is achieved, but corners of the tub are not covered as thoroughly leading to lower cleaning performance
Solution Approach 1:
Different segments of the rotatable conduit can be oriented to provide localized high-quality cleaning in specific areas such as corners, while other segments cover broader areas, creating non-uniform but optimized spray distribution tailored to cleaning needs
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable conduit can be positioned at different angular orientations to dynamically adapt coverage, allowing spray jets to be directed into corners and hard-to-reach areas that fixed circular spray arms cannot effectively access
3Object-affected harmful factors
If spray jets are directed to the sides of the wash tub during rotation, then broad coverage is maintained, but unneeded noise is generated during the wash cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable conduit can be dynamically positioned to direct spray jets away from tub sides during portions of the cycle when noise reduction is prioritized, while maintaining coverage of essential areas through selective jet activation
Solution Approach 2:
The spray system can operate in periodic cycles, alternating between coverage-oriented phases and noise-reduction phases, where the conduit rotation and jet activation patterns are adjusted periodically to balance coverage and noise considerations
4Loss of substance
If a rotatable conduit system is implemented to focus wash fluid precisely, then resource wastage is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The docking arrangement combines multiple functions into a single integrated mechanism: fluid supply connection, rotational actuation, and positional sensing are merged into one docking interface between the conduit and the fixed mounting structure
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable conduit system serves multiple functions: it acts as both the structural support for spray jets and the actuation mechanism for directing spray, eliminating the need for separate positioning mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity
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 cleaning efficiency by ensuring that wash fluid is precisely directed to areas requiring attention, reducing resource wastage and noise, while maintaining thorough coverage of the wash tub.
Implementation Method 1
a check value coupled to and rotatable with the rotatable docking port, the check valve movable between opened and closed positions and biased to the closed position when the connector of the conduit is disengaged from the rotatable docking port
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
A dishwasher (10, 250) and method for operating the same utilize a check valve (360, 416) in a rotatable docking port (314-324, 402, 404, 450, 502, 504) to control the flow of fluid such as wash fluid or pressurized air to a rotatable conduit supported in the rack of a dishwasher (10, 250).