Dishwasher Flow Sensor Using Float Timing for Water Rate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwasher controls, which rely on timing to manage water flow, often fail to provide optimal performance due to variations in water pressure and potential clogging, leading to inadequate cleaning, rinsing, and noisy operations.
Innovation Solution
A flow rate sensor system featuring a container with a magnetically activated sensor device and a float that calculates the rate of flow based on the time taken to move through a vertical activation length, allowing for precise control of water flow into or out of the dishwasher's sump, enabling more efficient water usage and preventing overfilling or clogging issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If timing control is used to operate pumps for filling or draining the wash chamber, then the dishwasher can complete wash cycles, but the performance becomes suboptimal due to variations in water pressure and potential clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flow sensors to continuously monitor actual water flow rates during filling and draining operations. This feedback information is fed back to the controller, which then adjusts pump operation timing dynamically to compensate for variations in water pressure and detect clogging conditions, ensuring consistent performance across different installation conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical timing-based control with an electronic control system that uses sensor feedback. Instead of relying on fixed time intervals determined by mechanical timers, the system uses electronic sensors to detect actual flow conditions and electronically adjusts pump operation, enabling adaptation to varying water pressure and clogging conditions.
2Ease of operation
If a pump runs for a set amount of time to drain the sump, then the control sequence is simple, but the pump may create undesirable noise if the sump is completely drained or may not fully drain a partially clogged sump
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flow sensors to monitor the actual drainage rate in real-time. When the sump is fully drained or clogging is detected, the sensor signals the controller to stop the pump early, preventing noise from air ingestion. This feedback mechanism maintains simple operation while ensuring reliable, complete drainage without the noise problems of fixed-time control.
3Device complexity
If conventional timing control is used, then the dishwasher structure remains simple, but water usage efficiency cannot be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates flow sensors that provide real-time feedback on actual water consumption during filling operations. The controller uses this information to optimize water usage by adjusting pump run times to match actual flow rates, preventing both water waste from over-filling and insufficient filling that would require re-cycles, thereby improving water efficiency with moderate additional complexity.
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 ensures efficient water usage, prevents noisy operations, and maintains effective cleaning and rinsing by providing real-time flow rate feedback for fine-tuning dishwasher cycles, thus enhancing operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
The tube houses at least one magnetically activated sensor device activatable within the vertical activation length. At least one float is movably mounted to the tube for floating on the liquid. The float includes a magnet therein for activating the sensor device when the float moves the magnet through the activation length.
Implementation Method 2
At least one float is movably mounted to the tube for floating on the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A flow rate sensor for a dishwasher includes a container configured for holding an amount of liquid. The container has a known volume corresponding to a vertical activation length, and inlet and a selectively closeable liquid outlet. An upright hollow tube is mounted in the container and has at least one magnetically activated sensor device activatable within the vertical activation length. At least one float is movably mounted to the tube for floating on the liquid. The float includes a magnet therein for activating the sensor device when the float moves the magnet through the vertical activation length. A controller is in electrical communication with the sensor device and includes a timer function. The controller calculates the rate of flow into or out of the container based on the time taken by the float to move through the vertical activation length. Related dishwasher designs are also disclosed.