Dishwasher Paddle Wheel Assembly for Static Sprayer Cleaning Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dishwashers, static sprayers often fail to thoroughly clean tall or well-soiled glasses due to the fixed stream not reaching all interior surfaces, especially in cost- or space-constrained designs without a rotatable sprayer.
Innovation Solution
A paddle wheel assembly with multiple bladed paddles is integrated into the dishwasher rack, rotating to deflect liquid streams and ensure thorough cleaning by varying the spray pattern across the interior surfaces of drinkware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a static sprayer is used, then the device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but the cleaning effectiveness on tall or well-soiled glasses deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the static sprayer into a dynamic system through the addition of a paddle wheel assembly. The paddle wheel rotates to dynamically redirect the liquid stream at various angles, allowing the same simple sprayer structure to achieve variable spray patterns that effectively clean different areas of tall drinkware without increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The paddle wheel assembly serves as an intermediary component between the static sprayer and the drinkware. It takes the liquid stream from the simple static sprayer and redirects it through multiple angles onto the drinkware surface, effectively mediating between the limited capabilities of the static sprayer and the cleaning requirements of tall or well-soiled glasses
2Reliability
If a rotatable sprayer is used, then the cleaning coverage of interior surfaces is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rotation function from the sprayer itself. Instead of making the entire sprayer rotate (as in a rotatable sprayer design), only the paddle wheel component rotates while the sprayer remains static. This segmentation allows the cleaning coverage benefits of rotation without the complexity of a fully rotatable sprayer mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The paddle wheel acts as an intermediary that provides the rotational/redirecting function without requiring the sprayer itself to be rotatable. This intermediary approach achieves the cleaning coverage of a rotatable sprayer while maintaining a simpler fixed sprayer 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
The paddle wheel assembly effectively distributes liquid across the entire interior surface of drinkware, enhancing cleaning performance without the need for a rotational sprayer, thus improving cleaning efficiency and adaptability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one paddle configured to rotate responsive to force of the at least one stream of liquid against the at least one paddle
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher assembly may include a dishwasher rack including at least one drinkware row configured to hold drinkware along a length of the rack, a sprayer configured to provide at least one stream of liquid into the drinkware, and a paddle wheel assembly arranged between the drinkware row and the sprayer and including at least one paddle configured to rotate responsive to force of the at least one stream of liquid against the at least one paddle, such that during rotation the at least one paddle is configured to variably deflect at least a portion of the stream onto a plurality of portions of an interior surface of the drinkware.