Dishwasher Flood Detection and Cycle Resume for Washing Completion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dishwasher appliances are prone to flooding due to conditions like out-of-level installation, inlet water valve failure, and drain pump failure, leading to water spilling over the tub lip and resulting in incomplete washing cycles and potential home damage.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a dishwasher that includes detecting a flagged water event, ceasing the current washing cycle segment, initiating a drain sequence, determining the next scheduled cycle segment, and resuming the cycle once the water level returns to a safe state, thereby preventing flooding and ensuring complete washing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a washing operation is canceled and the tub is drained when a potential flood is detected, then flooding is prevented, but the washing operation is incomplete and dishes remain unwashed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary draining of the tub when a potential flood is detected, but before canceling the washing operation. This preliminary action removes excess water that could cause flooding while preserving the ability to complete the washing cycle afterward, thus preventing both flooding and ensuring washing completion
2Reliability
If the washing operation is canceled upon detecting a flagged water event, then water safety is ensured, but the washing cycle is interrupted and dishes are left unwashed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary draining to ensure water safety when a flagged water event is detected, but maintains the washing operation schedule by determining and executing the next scheduled cycle segment after the drain sequence completes, thus ensuring both water safety and washing completion
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors water levels and detects when the flagged water response state is no longer present. Upon detecting a non-flagged water event (safe water level), the system provides feedback to resume the washing operation, ensuring water safety while maintaining productivity
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the tub is drained immediately upon detecting a flagged water response state, then flooding is prevented, but the washing operation loses time and may not complete
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary draining to prevent flooding, but minimizes time loss by efficiently determining the next scheduled cycle segment and resuming operation as soon as the drain sequence completes and safe water levels are confirmed, thus preventing flooding while minimizing washing operation delay
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a dishwasher appliance including a drain pump includes detecting a flagged water response state within the dishwasher appliance during a washing operation, ceasing a current cycle segment of the washing operation in response to detecting the flagged water response state, initiating a drain sequence at the drain pump after the current cycle segment has been ceased, determining a next scheduled cycle segment of the washing operation following the current cycle segment in response to initiating the drain sequence, detecting a non-flagged water event following the flagged water response state, and initiating the next scheduled cycle segment of the washing operation in response to detecting the non-flagged water event.