Dishwasher Door Spring Tension Adjustment for Balanced Cover Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Built-in dishwashers with coupled covers require adjustment of door spring tension due to varying materials and weights, necessitating convenient and balanced door operation without disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A tension adjustment mechanism using a shaft with a rotation support part and a wire connection system allows simultaneous adjustment of spring tension through a helical gear and wire guide rollers, minimizing left and right deviations and enabling door balance adjustment without disassembling the cover, along with a stopper unit to maintain a constant door angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a cover is coupled to the door to achieve monolithic beauty and space efficiency, then the aesthetic appearance and space utilization are improved, but the door weight changes and spring tension adjustment becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The tension adjustment mechanism is segmented into independent components: a shaft with rotation support part, wire guide rollers, and a connection to the spring. This allows the adjustment function to be separated from the door assembly, enabling tension adjustment without disassembling the cover while maintaining the monolithic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
A wire connection system acts as an intermediary between the shaft and the spring. The wire guide rollers guide the wire to transmit the adjustment force from the shaft to the spring, enabling tension adjustment without direct mechanical connection to the door assembly, thus avoiding cover disassembly.
2Ease of operation
If spring tension is adjusted to accommodate different cover weights, then the door operation balance is improved, but the adjustment process requires disassembly which reduces convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The tension adjustment mechanism is designed to be self-contained and accessible from the exterior. The shaft with rotation support part can be operated through the door structure without requiring disassembly of the cover, allowing users to adjust tension themselves for different cover weights.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism serves multiple functions: it accommodates different cover weights, maintains door balance, and works with various door configurations. The wire guide rollers and shaft system provide a universal solution that can be applied to different dishwasher models and cover types.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple door springs are used to adjust tension, then the adaptability to different weights is improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple static springs, the invention employs a dynamic adjustment mechanism where a single spring's tension can be varied continuously through the shaft and wire system. This allows the system to adapt to different weights dynamically without requiring multiple springs or complex assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of spring tension rather than the number of springs. By rotating the shaft, the wire length changes, which directly adjusts the spring tension parameter. This allows adaptation to different cover weights by modifying the tension parameter rather than adding or removing springs.
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
Facilitates easy and uniform adjustment of door balance and spring tension, preventing sudden door falls and enhancing the dishwasher's quality and durability by allowing precise tension adjustment without disassembly, ensuring monolithic beauty and space efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The gear part may include a helical gear
Implementation Method 2
a gear part formed at an end portion of the body to be engaged with the worm
Implementation Method 3
one end of a spring fixed to the housing is connected to the hinge member to pull the door
Implementation Method 4
The housing may include one or more wire guide rollers to guide movement of the wire
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A dishwasher in which a user conveniently adjusts tension of a spring (31) according to various materials or weights of a cover coupled to a door. The dishwasher includes a housing, a door (11) rotatably mounted to a front surface of the housing, door hinges (20) mounted to both sides of a lower portion of the door and rotatably coupled to the housing, springs (31) connected to the door hinges (20) and arranged at both side portions inside the housing, a wire (33) to connect the springs, a shaft (41) configured to rotate and having one end portion exposed outside the housing, a first rotation member (44) connected to the other end portion of the shaft and formed with a worm, and a second rotation member (45) engaged with the worm and connected to the wire (33). Tension of the springs is simultaneously adjusted by changing a length of the wire by rotation of the shaft (41).