Dishwasher Filter Assembly With Self-Cleaning Rotatable Screen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers face challenges in effectively filtering and recirculating wash liquid, leading to soil particle accumulation and reduced filtration efficiency over time, which affects cleaning performance and requires frequent maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher system featuring a rotatable filter with upstream and downstream surfaces, a liquid recirculation system, and flow diverters that generate shear forces to remove soil particles, along with optional mechanical scrapers for enhanced cleaning, ensuring continuous filtration efficiency and reduced user maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional filter is used in a dishwasher, then soil particles can be removed from wash liquid, but filtration efficiency decreases over time due to soil particle accumulation requiring frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly performs self-cleaning through a self-service mechanism where a cleaning tool with a cleaning surface rotates against the filter screen to automatically remove accumulated soil particles. The cleaning tool is driven by a cleaning motor that rotates the cleaning tool in a direction opposite to the filter screen rotation, enabling continuous self-maintenance without user intervention and sustaining filtration efficiency over time
Solution Approach 2:
The filter assembly employs dynamic elements including a rotatable filter screen that rotates in a first direction during filtration, and a cleaning tool that rotates in a second direction (opposite to the filter screen) during self-cleaning. This dynamic configuration allows the system to switch between filtration and self-maintenance modes, preventing soil accumulation and maintaining reliable filtration performance
2Loss of time
If a rotatable filter is implemented with self-cleaning capability, then maintenance frequency is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly merges multiple functions into a single integrated unit: the filter screen performs filtration while also serving as a surface for the cleaning tool to clean against. The cleaning tool is integrated with the filter assembly structure, and both components share a common rotational mechanism driven by the cleaning motor. This merging reduces the need for separate maintenance systems and simplifies the overall device complexity while achieving self-cleaning functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning tool serves multiple functions: it cleans the filter screen surface, removes accumulated soil particles, and can be adjusted to different cleaning positions. The cleaning motor provides both rotational motion for the cleaning tool and can control the filtration flow. This multi-functionality reduces the number of dedicated components needed, thereby managing device complexity while achieving reduced maintenance frequency
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 system effectively filters soil particles from recirculated liquid, maintains filtration efficiency throughout the dishwasher's life, and reduces the need for frequent user maintenance by continuously cleaning the filter, thereby enhancing cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
the sprayed liquid passes through the rotatable filter from the upstream surface to the downstream surface to effect a filtering of the sprayed liquid
Implementation Method 2
flow diverters that generate shear forces to remove soil particles
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a liquid spraying system, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a rotatable filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid and a diverter overlying and spaced from at least a portion of the upstream surface to form a gap there between.