Combined Fill-Level and Leak Detection for Dishwashers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-bearing household appliances, such as dishwashers, require separate detection and safety units for monitoring liquid filling levels and detecting unwanted liquid exposure, leading to increased installation and material costs due to the need for multiple cabling and components.
Innovation Solution
A combined detection and safety unit is integrated into a single measuring device, utilizing a displacement sensor with dual functionality to monitor both the liquid filling level and unwanted liquid exposure, reducing the need for separate cabling and components by using a single sensor unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate detection unit and safety unit are used, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the detection unit and safety unit into a single integrated measuring device with a common sensor unit. The sensor unit serves dual purposes: detecting the fill level in the processing chamber and detecting unwanted liquid exposure in the area below. This merging eliminates the need for separate cabling and reduces component count while maintaining detection reliability through a unified measurement system.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit is designed with universal functionality to perform multiple detection tasks. It can detect both the normal fill level of liquid in the processing chamber and abnormal liquid exposure in the area below, making it a multi-functional device that replaces what would traditionally require two separate specialized sensors.
2Measurement precision
If separate detection unit and safety unit are used, then measurement precision is maintained, but material cost and cabling effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the detection unit and safety unit into one integrated device, the patent eliminates redundant cabling and reduces material quantity. The single sensor unit requires only one set of connections, whereas separate units would require two independent cabling systems, thereby reducing both material cost and installation complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If combined measuring device is used, then installation cost is reduced, but functional separation is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
While the sensor unit is physically integrated, the patent maintains functional separation through distinct evaluation paths in the control system. The control device separately evaluates signals from the sensor unit to determine either fill level or unwanted liquid exposure based on the specific measurement context, thus preserving functional independence despite physical integration.
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 minimizes cabling effort, reduces material costs, and simplifies installation by allowing a single sensor to detect both filling levels and leaks, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing technical error rates in household appliances.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor unit (14) has a coil arrangement (16) surrounding it, which detects the position of the measuring body (15)
Data Source
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AI summary
A water-carrying household appliance (1), in particular a dishwasher, which has at least one wet area (2) carrying liquid (FW;S) during operation, in particular a processing area (2) for cleaning items to be washed or washed, the wet area (2) having a detection unit (11) for determining the actual filling level of the wet area (2), and wherein a safety unit (12) is provided for detecting an unintentional exposure to liquid below the wet area (2), characterized in that the detection unit (11) and the safety unit ( 12) are combined to form a common measuring device (13).