Dishwasher Drain Pump Ventilation to Prevent Gas Bubble Faults

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dishwasher drain pumps face inefficiencies and potential overfilling issues due to gas bubble accumulation, leading to water loss and operational faults, especially when dirt accumulates.

Innovation Solution

A controlling method that activates the drain pump for a brief period after the washing compartment is filled with dishwashing liquid and before the circulation pump operates, ensuring the drain pump is ventilated and minimizing dirt accumulation, thus preventing faults and maximizing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the drain pump is activated after the washing compartment is filled with dishwashing liquid and before the circulation pump operates, then the drain pump chamber is ventilated and gas bubbles are removed, but the pump may lose liquid and reduce efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrain pump operation reliabilityVSAvoiddishwashing liquid loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The drain pump is activated in advance after the washing compartment is filled but before the circulation pump operates. This preliminary activation ventilates the pump chamber and removes gas bubbles before they can cause operational problems, ensuring reliable pump operation while minimizing liquid loss by timing the activation optimally

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The drain pump performs self-ventilation by activating itself briefly to remove gas bubbles from its own chamber. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for separate ventilation systems or manual intervention, automatically clearing the chamber of gas accumulation that would otherwise hinder pump efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the drain pump operates continuously to maintain efficiency, then gas bubbles are consistently removed, but dirt accumulates in the pump chamber causing faults

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrain pump efficiencyVSAvoiddirt accumulation in pump chamber

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous operation, the drain pump is activated periodically at specific moments in the washing cycle - specifically after the washing compartment is filled with dishwashing liquid and before the circulation pump operates. This periodic activation is sufficient to ventilate the chamber and maintain efficiency without creating conditions for significant dirt accumulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilation action is performed continuously at the optimal moment in the washing cycle, ensuring that gas bubbles are consistently removed whenever the pump is idle and ready for operation. This continuous ventilation at the right time maintains pump efficiency without requiring prolonged operation that would lead to dirt accumulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If the drain pump is not ventilated, then liquid can be pumped continuously, but gas bubbles accumulate causing the pump to malfunction and potentially overfill the appliance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepumping speedVSAvoidpump malfunction risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drain pump chamber is ventilated in advance before the pump needs to operate for pumping. By activating the pump briefly after filling and before circulation begins, gas bubbles are removed beforehand, ensuring that when the pump operates for actual pumping, it does so without interruption or malfunction from gas accumulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilation process is performed quickly and efficiently during the transition period between filling and circulation. The pump is activated for a brief moment to rush through the gas removal process, then deactivated before significant dirt accumulation can occur, maintaining both productivity and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

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 approach ensures reliable drain pump operation, reduces the likelihood of overfilling and water loss, and maintains high efficiency even with high dirt accumulation without increasing water consumption.

Implementation Method 1

at least part of a gas bubble can be conveyed against the direction of conveyance and in normal operating mode, from a pump chamber of the pump to an inlet for liquids of the pump

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas bubble conveyance:

Implementation Method 2

The pump in the household appliance can convey liquid in a normal operating mode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS9554687B2Household appliance and a controlling method for such a household appliance

Publication Date: 2017.01.31 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

AI summary

A household appliance includes a circulation pump for circulating dishwashing liquid in a washing compartment of the household appliance. A drain pump empties the dishwashing liquid from the washing compartment. For the purposes of ventilating the drain pump, a control device is provided to activate the drain pump after the washing compartment has been filled with the dishwashing liquid and before or during operation of the circulation pump.