Dishwasher Guide Rail Track Closure for Secure Rack Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic dishwashers face the challenge of unintentional dish rack removal due to lack of secure coupling mechanisms, leading to potential accidents and inefficiencies during loading and unloading.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a track closure system with pivot pins and a wheel stop mechanism that ensures the dish rack remains securely attached to the guide rail, featuring a self-aligning feature that automatically closes when the rack is reinserted, preventing unintentional detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a track closure system is added to prevent unintentional dish rack removal, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The track closure system incorporates a self-aligning feature where the track closure automatically returns to the closed position after being opened. When the dish rack is reinserted into the tub, the track closure is pushed open, but then automatically returns to the closed position without requiring manual intervention, thus preventing unintentional removal while maintaining simple operation
Solution Approach 2:
A spring mechanism acts as an intermediary element between the track closure and the guide rail. The spring provides the restoring force that automatically returns the track closure to the closed position, eliminating the need for complex locking mechanisms or manual resetting while ensuring reliable prevention of unintentional removal
2Reliability
If a wheel stop mechanism is implemented to prevent wheel detachment, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel stop feature is merged into the existing track closure structure rather than being a separate component. The track closure incorporates a protrusion that extends into the guide rail to prevent wheel detachment, combining the safety function of wheel retention with the existing track closure mechanism, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity
3Ease of operation
If pivot pins are used to allow track closure rotation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential pin displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The track closure and guide rail are designed with asymmetric features that prevent pivot pin displacement. The guide rail includes a recess that asymmetrically receives the pivot pin, and the track closure has a corresponding asymmetric protrusion, ensuring the pin remains securely positioned while still allowing rotation between open and closed positions
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher with at least one guide rail. The guide rail can slidably couple a dish rack to a tub, where the tub defines at least a portion of a treating chamber. The dish rack can carry at least one wheel assembly that includes at least one wheel. The wheel can be contained in a wheel channel of the wheel assembly. The wheel channel can in part be defined by walls of the guide rail. A track closure can rotatably couple to the guide rail for the selective removal of the dish rack from the guide rail.