Dishwasher Guide Rail Assembly with Integral Axle to Reduce Binding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers face issues with guide rail assemblies that can bind or experience bumpy transitions due to opposing forces, leading to increased assembly complexity and part replacement needs, which affects the ease of sliding dishracks in and out of the treating chamber.
Innovation Solution
A guide rail assembly with an integral axle and wheel assembly featuring a first and second raceway, where ball bearings are deflected into both raceways, allowing for a snap-fit assembly that reduces the force required for assembly and minimizes binding, using a configuration with a rim and axle opening to ensure smooth sliding motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional guide rail assemblies are used, then the dishrack can be mounted to the tub, but the assembly experiences binding and bumpy transitions due to opposing forces
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a guide rail portion, a wheel assembly with multiple wheels, and a bearing assembly with ball bearings positioned in raceways. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, reducing interference and binding between components during sliding operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assembly incorporates rotatable wheels that can dynamically adjust during sliding operation. The ball bearings are positioned in raceways that allow for dynamic movement and accommodation of opposing forces, enabling the assembly to adapt to varying loads and maintain smooth motion throughout the sliding cycle.
2Device complexity
If conventional guide rail assemblies are used, then the dishrack can be mounted to the tub, but the assembly complexity increases and part replacement needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail assembly merges the guide rail portion, wheel assembly, and bearing assembly into an integrated unit. The guide rail is mounted to either the dishrack or tub, with wheels and ball bearings positioned along the guide rail in a unified configuration. This merging reduces the number of separate parts that need to be manufactured and assembled independently, simplifying both manufacturing and maintenance.
3Ease of operation
If wheels are mounted to the axle, then the wheel assembly is formed, but opposing forces cause binding and increased assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Ball bearings serve as intermediary elements between the wheels and the guide rail axle. These ball bearings are positioned in raceways that allow them to mediate the interaction between the rotating wheels and the stationary guide rail, reducing direct contact and friction. This intermediary mechanism eliminates binding caused by opposing forces while maintaining simple assembly structure.
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 configuration reduces the number of assembly parts, decreases the likelihood of binding, and provides a cost-effective and time-efficient solution by ensuring wheels roll freely, enhancing the sliding mechanism of dishracks in and out of the dishwasher.
Implementation Method 1
a set of ball bearings located in the second raceway, wherein the axle opening is sized to receive the axle such that the at least one wheel can be slid onto the axle until the first and second raceways axially align and the ball bearings in the second raceway are deflected by the deflector into the second raceway
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and defining an access opening, a dishrack, and a guide rail assembly slidably mounting the dishrack to the tub. The guide rail assembly has a guide rail mounted to the dishrack or to the tub and has at least one wheel which is rotatably mounted onto an integral axle of the guide rail assembly to the other of the dishrack or the tub.