Dishwasher Filter Assembly for Reusing Pre-Wash Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers require multiple pre-wash cycles, consuming significant water and defeating the purpose of reusing water due to re-introduced debris, necessitating a more efficient water management system.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher system incorporating a filter assembly with a circulation pump and drain pump assembly, along with a controller, to recirculate and filter water during pre-wash cycles, allowing for multiple cycles using the same water volume and efficient flushing of particles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If water is reused in current machines, then water consumption is reduced, but debris is re-introduced into the wash chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly extracts and removes particles and debris from the pre-wash water through a filter membrane, allowing the water to be reused without re-introducing harmful contaminants back into the wash chamber
Solution Approach 2:
The filter membrane acts as an intermediary between the used pre-wash water and the wash chamber, allowing water to pass through while blocking particles and debris, thus enabling water reuse without contamination
2Reliability
If multiple pre-wash cycles are performed, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but water and electricity consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the pre-wash water after each cycle, the system recovers it by filtering out particles through the filter assembly, allowing the same water to be reused for multiple pre-wash cycles, thereby reducing water and energy consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The filter assembly enables continuous reuse of pre-wash water across multiple cycles by continuously removing particles, maintaining the water's usefulness for pre-washing without requiring frequent replacement or additional water fills
3Loss of substance
If a filter assembly is added to enable water reuse, then water consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly is integrated into the existing dishwasher circulation system, serving multiple functions: filtering particles from pre-wash water, enabling water reuse, and maintaining system flow, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite adding filtration capability
Solution Approach 2:
The filter assembly is merged with the existing pump and circulation system, combining filtration functionality with the water circulation pathway, so that the same water volume can be reused across multiple pre-wash cycles without requiring separate complex filtration systems
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 reduces water usage by enabling multiple pre-wash cycles with a single water fill, conserving water and electricity while maintaining cleanliness by effectively filtering and reusing water.
Implementation Method 1
filtering particles from the working flow via the filter membrane
Implementation Method 2
transmitting the flushing flow through the filter membrane to flush out particles filtered from the working flow
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a dishwasher containing a volume of liquid for prewashing includes the steps of spraying items in the dishwasher by operating a circulation pump assembly to achieve prewashing with only the volume of liquid; filtering the volume of liquid with a filter assembly to remove particles from the items by operating the circulation pump assembly; and flushing the particles out of the filter assembly using at least some of the volume liquid by operating a drain pump assembly. Related filter assemblies and dishwasher designs are also disclosed.