Dishwasher and inlet fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dishwashers, the supply line often becomes dirty or greasy due to the ingress of dirty water and debris during wash cycles, leading to reduced efficiency and the need for a cover cap to redirect water flow and prevent contamination, which complicates assembly and design.
Innovation Solution
The inlet bolt is designed with multiple inlet openings distributed around its circumference, eliminating the need for a separate cover cap by integrating a protective cover that ensures water flows downwards and prevents contaminants from entering, thus maintaining cleanliness and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single inlet opening is used in the inlet bolt, then the structure is simple, but water flow is restricted and contamination control is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The single inlet opening is segmented into multiple inlet openings (at least two) distributed around the circumferential surface of the inlet bolt. This segmentation increases the total water flow capacity while maintaining a relatively simple cylindrical bolt structure. The multiple openings allow water to enter from different directions simultaneously, improving productivity without significantly increasing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet openings are arranged in a circumferential distribution pattern around the inlet bolt, transitioning from a single-point (0D) or linear (1D) opening to a two-dimensional circumferential arrangement. This dimensional change allows water to flow through multiple paths simultaneously, effectively increasing the water flow rate while keeping the bolt's overall structure simple and compact.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover cap is added to redirect water flow and prevent contamination, then contamination is reduced, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover function is merged with the inlet bolt itself. The circumferential distribution of inlet openings and the integrated cover structure are formed as a single piece inlet bolt, eliminating the need for a separate cover cap. This merging reduces the number of components from two (inlet bolt + cover cap) to one, simplifying assembly while maintaining contamination protection and proper water flow direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet bolt is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides water flow pathways through multiple inlet openings, redirects water flow downward through its geometric design, and prevents contamination through its integrated cover structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized components, reducing overall device complexity while addressing all protective and functional requirements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover cap is installed to protect the axial bore, then contamination is prevented, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover and the inlet bolt are merged into a single integrated component. The cover structure is formed as an integral part of the inlet bolt body, with the inlet openings and cover geometry created in one manufacturing process. This eliminates the separate assembly step of installing a cover cap, reducing assembly time while maintaining protection against debris entry into the axial bore.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover structure and inlet openings are pre-formed as an integrated unit during the manufacturing of the inlet bolt. The cover geometry and water flow pathways are built-in from the start, eliminating the need for subsequent assembly operations. This preliminary integration of the protective function into the main component significantly reduces assembly time while ensuring contamination protection is already in place upon installation.
4Ease of manufacture
If the inlet bolt design is simplified, then manufacturing is easier, but water flow distribution is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The water flow is segmented into multiple pathways through the circumferential distribution of inlet openings. Each opening provides an independent flow path, and their collective arrangement ensures uniform water distribution throughout the washing container. This segmentation achieves effective water flow distribution while maintaining a simple cylindrical inlet bolt structure that is easy to manufacture using conventional machining or molding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet openings are arranged in a two-dimensional circumferential pattern around the inlet bolt, transforming from a single linear opening to a distributed planar arrangement. This dimensional change improves water flow distribution across different angular positions without significantly complicating the manufacturing process, as the pattern can be easily created through standard machining or injection molding techniques.
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 design enhances the dishwasher's efficiency by ensuring continuous water flow and preventing contamination, reduces assembly time, and allows for a slimmer design, enabling a larger spray arm and improved washing performance.
Implementation Method 1
the heat exchanger 49 is in heat-conducting contact with a wall of the washing container 34 in order to prevent the condensation or precipitation of liquid droplets from the warm liquid vapor present in the washing container after the last liquid-carrying partial wash cycle
Data Source
AI summary
In a dishwasher (32), - with a wash tank (34) enclosing an interior (36), - with a fresh water supply line (47) passing through an opening (46) in the wash tank (34) and opening into the interior (36), - wherein the supply line (47) has a line end (41) leading from the outside to the wash tank (34) - and an inlet bolt (2) that can be attached to the line end (41) from the interior (36) under pressure from the wash tank (34) and which extends the supply line (47) through an axial bore (22), - the axial bore (22) opens into several inlet openings (24) distributed around the circumference on the circumferential surface (26) of the inlet bolt (2) projecting into the interior (36), - and the end face of the inlet bolt (2) facing the interior (36) is designed as a An axial bore (22) is formed with a protective cover (28) against ingress of splash water (30). An inlet bolt (2) is designed as above.