Dishwasher Water Supply Structure for Heat Exchange and Drying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dishwashers face inefficiencies in heat exchange between the water supply device and the tub, which affects washing and drying operations, and lack effective drying mechanisms during the drying cycle.

Innovation Solution

The dish washer incorporates a water supply device with a body featuring a water supply passage and chamber, including discharge parts and nozzles that enhance heat exchange by increasing contact area and using a heat conductive member, and intermittently supplies water during the drying operation to facilitate efficient moisture removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If water is supplied continuously to the water supply device, then the water chamber is always full ensuring continuous washing operation, but heat exchange efficiency between the water supply device and tub decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous washing operationVSAvoidheat exchange efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The water supply device operates intermittently rather than continuously. The control unit supplies water to the water chamber only when needed (during washing operations), allowing the chamber to be empty or partially full during drying operations. This periodic operation maintains high heat exchange efficiency by exposing the heat conductive member to the tub interior during drying while ensuring water availability during washing cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Loss of energy

If a heat conductive member is added to enhance heat exchange, then heat exchange efficiency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchange efficiencyVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat conductive member is merged with the existing water supply device structure. It is integrated into the water supply passage or water chamber assembly, serving dual purposes: facilitating heat exchange between the water chamber and tub interior during drying operations, and maintaining structural support for water delivery. This integration avoids adding separate complex components while achieving improved heat exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The water supply device is designed to perform multiple functions: water storage, water delivery during washing, and heat exchange during drying. The heat conductive member enables the water supply device to actively participate in the drying process by facilitating heat transfer from the tub interior to the incoming water or to the surrounding air, making the device universally useful across different operational modes without requiring separate dedicated components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Power

If water is supplied at high pressure through injection nozzle, then washing power increases, but water consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewashing powerVSAvoidwater consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes water pressure parameters dynamically based on operational mode. During washing operations, high pressure is applied through the injection nozzle to maximize cleaning power. During drying operations, water supply pressure is reduced or interrupted entirely, and the focus shifts to heat exchange through the heat conductive member. This parameter adjustment optimizes washing power when needed while minimizing water consumption during drying phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 improves the efficiency of washing, rinsing, and drying operations by optimizing heat exchange and moisture removal, leading to enhanced cleaning and drying performance.

Implementation Method 1

improves the efficiency of heat exchange between a water supply device and a tub

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

using a heat conductive member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9023156B2Dish washer

Publication Date: 2015.05.05 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

Provided is a dish washer. The dish washer includes a tub configured to accommodate dishes, a sump configured to supply water to the tub, and a water supply device configured to supply water received from an outer source to the sump or the tub. The water supply device includes a body and a plurality of discharge parts. The body includes a water supply passage along which water supplied from an outer source flows and a water chamber in which water supplied through the water supply passage is stored. Water is discharged from the water supply passage to the water chamber through the discharge parts.