Dishwasher Filter Backflush Assembly for Low-Maintenance Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwasher filter systems require frequent consumer interaction for maintenance, leading to degraded performance due to excess debris obstructing water flow when not properly maintained.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher filter assembly with a water inlet that can backflush the filter assembly, reducing the need for consumer interaction and incorporating additional functionality like a dedicated silverware spray, utilizing a valve assembly to manage flow paths for efficient cleaning and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If consumers manually maintain filter components on a regular basis, then filter performance is maintained, but consumer interaction and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly performs self-cleaning through the backflush mechanism. Clean water flows through the filter material in reverse direction during the backflush cycle, automatically removing trapped debris without requiring consumer removal or manual cleaning of the filter components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cleaning action by collecting debris in the debris chamber during normal operation, then periodically backflushing to remove accumulated debris before it obstructs water flow and degrades filter performance.
2Ease of repair
If filter assembly is cleaned manually by consumers, then debris is removed, but filter assembly must be disassembled and reinstalled
Solution Approach 1:
The backflush mechanism automatically cleans the filter material by reversing water flow through it, eliminating the need for consumers to manually disassemble, clean, and reassemble filter components. The system handles the entire cleaning process autonomously.
Solution Approach 2:
The design extracts the cleaning function from manual consumer action and integrates it into the automated dishwasher system through the backflush mechanism, separating the cleaning operation from the filter assembly structure itself.
3Productivity
If water flow through filter material is increased, then filtering efficiency improves, but debris accumulation and obstruction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system alternates between normal filtration mode and backflush cleaning mode. During normal operation, water flows through the filter material for efficient filtering. Periodically, the flow direction reverses to backflush and remove accumulated debris, preventing obstruction while maintaining high filtering efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The backflush mechanism reverses the normal water flow direction through the filter material. This inversion of flow direction enables removal of trapped debris by flushing it out through the filter material in reverse, clearing obstructions without compromising filtering efficiency during normal operation.
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
The solution decreases the need for consumer maintenance, ensures efficient draining operations, and provides additional functionality such as a dedicated silverware spray, enhancing dishwasher performance and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning fluid inlet that is configured to backflush the filter material
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid filtration assembly for a dishwasher system is described. The dishwasher system includes a tub defining a wash chamber configured to receive dishwasher contents. The fluid filtration assembly includes a filter assembly having a filter material, a filter fluid inlet, and a filter fluid outlet. The filter fluid inlet is in flow communication with the wash chamber and the filter material. The filter assembly further includes a cleaning fluid inlet that is configured to backflush the filter material. The filter fluid outlet is in flow communication with both the cleaning fluid inlet and the filter fluid inlet. The fluid filtration assembly further includes a valve assembly in flow communication with the cleaning fluid inlet through a first flow path.