Dishwasher Filter Sealing With Elastic Contact Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dishwasher filters face challenges in ensuring effective sealing due to their large size and shape, leading to potential dirty water bypass and increased manufacturing complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher with a water filtering system featuring a flat filter supported by a recess and a central filter unit, both covered with elastic material for improved sealing, reducing manufacturing tolerances and costs, and enhancing the filter's durability and sealing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a large flat filter is used to provide the required filter area, then the filtering capacity is improved, but the sealing between the filter outer periphery and the supporting edge becomes difficult to ensure
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible sealing element in the form of a thin film is introduced between the filter outer periphery and the supporting edge. This flexible film can deform to accommodate the large filter area while maintaining reliable sealing, resolving the contradiction between providing sufficient filter area and ensuring sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible sealing element is introduced as an intermediary component between the filter and the supporting edge. This mediator absorbs the sealing challenges posed by the large filter size, allowing the filter to maintain its required area while the sealing element ensures reliable sealing through its flexibility.
2Reliability
If multiple filter components are used to secure the filter system, then the filter can be properly secured and sealed, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support edge and sealing function are merged into a single integrated component. The supporting edge incorporates the flexible sealing element directly, eliminating the need for separate sealing components and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining reliable securing and sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting edge is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing structural support and ensuring sealing. This multi-functional design reduces the number of components needed while maintaining the required reliability for both securing and sealing the filter system.
3Reliability
If tight sealing is achieved through precise manufacturing tolerances, then water bypass is prevented, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible sealing element compensates for variations in manufacturing tolerances through its ability to deform and conform to the mating surfaces. This allows tight sealing and effective water bypass prevention to be achieved without requiring extremely precise manufacturing tolerances, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism transitions from relying on rigid dimensional precision to utilizing the elastic properties and deformability of the flexible sealing element. This parameter change allows the system to achieve reliable sealing with relaxed tolerances, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
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 elastic material ensures reliable sealing between filter components, reducing water bypass and manufacturing costs while maintaining filter integrity and efficiency, even under varying temperatures and conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The addition of the layer of elastic sealing material on one of the surfaces in contact with each other improves the sealing between the different surfaces considerably since the elastic material makes it possible to compensate for deformations of the filter due to changing temperature and rough conditions
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a dishwasher. The dishwasher (10) comprises a washing chamber (11) and a water filtering system arranged in the lower part of the washing chamber (11). The water filtering system comprises a filter (20) and a central filter unit (30) that are removable arranged in said washing chamber (11). The filter (20) has a substantially flat shape and is supported around its outer periphery (21) by a contact surface (22) of a recess (24) in the lower part of the washing chamber (11) and is secured in the washing chamber by the central filter unit (30). The unit (30) is arranged in an opening (31) in the filter (20) and comprises a surface (35) that is pressing on the inner periphery (36) of the opening (31) in the filter (20) to secure the filter (20) in the intended position. The outer periphery (21) of the filter (20) or said contact surface (22) of the recess (24), and said surface (35) of the central filter unit (30) or the inner periphery (36) of the filter (20) extending around the opening (31) are covered by a layer (25; 39) of elastic material.