Dishwasher rack spray assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household dishwashers face challenges in effectively spraying treating liquid into glassware with narrow openings, such as bottles and vases, due to the limitations of traditional sprayer systems.
Innovation Solution
A sprayer system with a movable extension that can be raised or lowered to adjust the liquid flow path, allowing for improved reach into dish racks, particularly designed for use in dishwashers with rotatable sprayers mounted on a liquid supply conduit, enabling effective cleaning of tall items by altering the spray nozzle positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a traditional sprayer system is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the sprayer cannot effectively reach into glassware with narrow openings
Solution Approach 1:
The sprayer system employs a movable extension that can be raised or lowered to adjust the liquid flow path. This dynamic adjustment allows the sprayer to reach into narrow openings of glassware when needed, while maintaining structural simplicity when the extension is in its default position. The extension's mobility resolves the contradiction by providing variable reach without permanently increasing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension structure is designed to be nested within or integrated with the main sprayer body when not in use. This nesting approach allows the extended reach capability to be stored compactly, maintaining a simple overall structure while providing the necessary length extension when required for cleaning tall or narrow items.
2Length of moving object
If the extension is raised to increase spray reach, then the liquid can reach narrow openings of tall items, but the liquid flow path changes and may not reach the treating chamber effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The sprayer system dynamically adjusts the liquid flow path based on the extension position. When the extension is raised, the system redirects liquid flow through the second liquid opening to ensure proper delivery to the treating chamber. This dynamic flow path adjustment maintains reliable liquid delivery regardless of the extension position, resolving the contradiction between increased reach and flow delivery reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the liquid flow parameters by switching between different liquid openings (first and second liquid openings) depending on the extension position. This parameter change ensures that the liquid flow path is optimized for the current configuration, maintaining effective delivery to the treating chamber whether the extension is lowered or raised.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed sprayer position is used, then the device complexity is low, but the sprayer cannot adapt to different dish rack configurations and tall items
Solution Approach 1:
The sprayer system incorporates a movable extension that can be dynamically adjusted between raised and lowered positions to adapt to different dish rack configurations and item heights. This single dynamic element provides versatility without creating a complex multi-component adjustment mechanism, as the extension simply moves between two primary positions to handle different cleaning scenarios.
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 adjustable sprayer system ensures better liquid distribution and cleaning efficiency for items with narrow openings by modifying the spray pattern and reach, enhancing the cleaning process in dishwashers.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one sprayer having a first liquid opening and an extension having a second liquid opening wherein the extension is movable between a first position where the treating liquid flows through the first liquid opening into the treating chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher having a tub defining a treating chamber, a dish rack, and a spray assembly associated with the dish rack. The spray assembly may include at least one sprayer positioned to spray treating liquid onto dishes received by the rack. The sprayer has two openings and may be movable between a first position and a second position.