Dishwasher with humidifier cycle of operation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Dishwashers often produce undesirable moisture-laden air during the drying phase, which can be visually unappealing and require additional processing or venting, and there is a need for a solution that allows for controlled humidification of the environment.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher is designed to operate as a humidifier by generating moisture-laden air within its treating chamber and emitting it externally, independent of its dish treatment cycle, using a controller that responds to humidity signals from local or remote sensors to selectively initiate a humidifying cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the dishwasher operates a heated drying phase to evaporate water from dishes, then the drying function is improved, but moisture-laden air is generated that appears as steam or fog which is visually unappealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful moisture-laden air generated during dish drying into a beneficial humidifying function. By adding a humidifying cycle that intentionally generates and emits moisture-laden air to the environment, the previously problematic steam/fog appearance is repurposed as a useful humidification output, eliminating the need to conceal or eliminate it.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the dishwasher processes or vents moisture-laden air to reduce visual impact, then the appearance problem is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the dishwasher multi-functional by adding humidifying capability to its existing drying function. The same treating chamber and heating elements used for drying dishes are repurposed to generate moisture-laden air for environmental humidification. This allows one appliance to serve dual purposes without requiring separate moisture processing systems.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the dishwasher uses condensers to eliminate moisture-laden air, then the visual appearance is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using energy-intensive condensers to eliminate moisture-laden air, the patent converts this moisture into a beneficial resource for environmental humidification. The moisture that would otherwise require active condensation and removal is instead intentionally emitted to provide humidification benefits, eliminating the need for additional energy-consuming condensation equipment.
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 allows for a dual-function appliance that can both wash dishes and humidify the environment, providing health benefits, improving home heating efficiency, and offering cost and space savings by eliminating the need for separate humidifiers.
Implementation Method 1
generating moisture-laden air within a treating chamber of the dishwasher
Implementation Method 2
emitting the generated moisture-laden air to an exterior surrounding the dishwasher
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for operating a dishwasher as a humidifier. The method includes, in response to an input indicating a humidifying cycle of operation, implementing the humidifying cycle of operation. The humidifying cycle of operation can include generating moisture-laden air within a treating chamber of the dishwasher and emitting the generated moisture-laden air to an exterior surrounding the dishwasher. The dishwasher implementing the humidifying cycle of operation or the dish treating cycle of operation, where the humidifying cycle and the dish treating cycle are not simultaneously implemented.