Pump and dishwasher including the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers face issues with heater overheating, reduced heat exchange efficiency, and corrosion due to direct contact with wash water, and require water level control to prevent these problems, while also consuming excess water for heating and steam generation.
Innovation Solution
A pump with a partitioned body, a detachable heater, and a steam discharge port that allows for efficient heat exchange and water circulation, minimizing water usage and preventing heater overheating by separating the heater from direct contact with wash water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the heater is exposed in the sump to heat wash water, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the heater contacts wash water causing overheating, corrosion, and reduced durability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat exchange medium (wash water) that circulates through a heat exchange channel between the heater and the sump. The heater remains protected inside the pump body while still achieving efficient heat transfer to the wash water through this intermediary fluid path, resolving the contradiction between heat exchange efficiency and heater durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the pump body into separate functional chambers: a heater chamber containing the protected heater, and a sump chamber containing the wash water. This segmentation allows the heater to be isolated from direct contact with wash water while maintaining thermal coupling through the heat exchange channel, thus protecting the heater while enabling heat transfer.
2Temperature
If the heater is exposed in the sump, then direct heating is achieved, but water level control is required to prevent heater overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The circulating wash water acts as an intermediary that transfers heat from the heater to the sump. This indirect heating mechanism eliminates the need for water level control systems, as the heater is always submerged within the pump body's internal chamber and protected from exposure, simplifying the device while maintaining effective heating.
3Reliability
If the heater is inside the pump body, then heater protection is improved, but heat exchange efficiency with wash water is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses circulating wash water as a heat transfer intermediary that flows through a dedicated heat exchange channel connecting the heater chamber and sump chamber. This design maintains heater protection inside the pump body while ensuring efficient thermal coupling through the intermediary fluid, resolving the contradiction between protection and heat exchange efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump continuously circulates wash water through the heat exchange channel, ensuring continuous thermal interaction between the heater and wash water. This continuous circulation maintains efficient heat transfer despite the heater being enclosed, eliminating the trade-off between protection and heat exchange efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a steam generator with storage unit and heater is used, then steam generation is achieved, but the same heater exposure problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the steam generation function with the existing pump structure by integrating a heater chamber and heat exchange channel into the pump body. The wash water circulated by the pump serves dual purposes: cooling/heating and steam generation, eliminating the need for a separate steam generator with exposed heater, thus achieving steam generation while protecting the heater.
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 pump effectively heats and circulates wash water, maintains heater efficiency and durability, and reduces water consumption for generating hot water or steam, while allowing for easy heater replacement.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to heat the housing
Implementation Method 2
an impeller provided in the second chamber to move water to the discharge portion
Implementation Method 3
a communication hole formed through the partition wall to allow the first chamber and the second chamber to communicate with each other therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
A pump (8) is disclosed. The pump (8) includes a partition wall (84) configured to divide the interior of a body into two spaces, a first chamber (C1) located under the partition wall (84), the first chamber (C1) having an introduction portion (841), through which water is introduced, a second chamber (C2) located above the partition wall (84), the second chamber (C2) having a discharge portion (849), through which water is discharged, a communication hole (86) formed through the partition wall (84) to allow the first chamber (C1) and the second chamber (C2) to communicate with each other therethrough, an impeller (85) provided in the second chamber (C2) to move water to the discharge portion (849), a housing configured to define the bottom surface of the first chamber (C1), the housing being made of a conductor, a heater (H) configured to heat the housing (81), and a steam discharge (843) port formed through the first chamber (C1) to allow steam to be discharged therethrough.