Dishwasher Paddle Wheel Assembly for Static Sprayer Drinkware Cleaning
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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 where a rotatable sprayer is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A paddle wheel assembly with paddles of varying lengths and geometries is integrated between the drinkware holder and sprayer, deflecting the liquid stream to ensure complete interior surface coverage of drinkware without requiring a rotatable sprayer, utilizing a stop mechanism to control paddle rotation and enhance spray pattern variability.
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 introducing a movable paddle wheel assembly that rotates to deflect the liquid stream onto different portions of the drinkware interior surface. The paddle wheel includes multiple paddles of varying lengths and geometries that can be positioned at different angles, allowing the static sprayer to achieve dynamic cleaning coverage without requiring the sprayer itself to rotate or move.
2Reliability
If a rotatable sprayer is used, then the cleaning coverage of interior surfaces is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a paddle wheel assembly as a mediator between the static sprayer and the drinkware. Instead of making the sprayer rotatable, the paddle wheel intercepts the liquid stream and redirects it onto various portions of the drinkware interior surface, achieving comprehensive cleaning coverage while keeping the sprayer structure simple and stationary.
3Adaptability or versatility
If paddles of varying lengths and geometries are used, then the spray pattern variability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the local quality principle by designing paddles with varying lengths and geometries tailored to specific cleaning needs. Each paddle is configured with particular dimensions and shapes optimized for deflecting liquid onto different portions of the drinkware, allowing the system to adapt to various glass sizes and shapes while maintaining manufacturability through targeted rather than universal precision requirements.
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 the liquid stream across multiple areas of the drinkware, ensuring thorough cleaning without the need for a rotatable sprayer, improving cleaning performance and adaptability to different glass sizes and shapes.
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
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AI summary
A dishwasher assembly may include a dishwasher rack (126) including at least one drinkware row (150, 160) configured to hold drinkware (152, 162) along a length of the rack, a sprayer (170) configured to provide at least one stream (166, 168) of liquid into the drinkware (152, 162), and a paddle wheel assembly (180) arranged between the drinkware row (150, 160) and the sprayer (170) and including at least one paddle (184) configured to rotate responsive to force of the at least one stream of liquid against the at least one paddle (184), such that during rotation the at least one paddle is configured to variably deflect at least a portion of the stream (166, 168) onto a plurality of portions of an interior surface of the drinkware (152, 162).