Directional Dishwasher Spray Arm With Selective Outlet Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers lack an efficient mechanism to control the direction and pattern of water spray, leading to inadequate cleaning of utensils, especially in hard-to-reach areas and varying surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable spray arm system with a valve body and actuator that moves to selectively couple different subsets of outlets to a liquid passage, altering the direction and pattern of water spray, allowing for focused, concentrated sprays as well as wide-angle distributions to effectively clean utensils.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional spray system is used without directional control, then the structure is simple, but the cleaning effectiveness is insufficient for hard-to-reach areas and varying surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The spray arm incorporates a movable valve body that can be actuated to change the direction of liquid flow through different outlets. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the spray system to adapt to different cleaning needs and hard-to-reach areas, resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and system complexity by introducing controlled mobility rather than fixed structure
Solution Approach 2:
The spray arm is divided into multiple outlets (first outlet, second outlet, third outlet) that can be selectively activated. Each outlet can be independently coupled to the liquid passage through the movable valve body, allowing segmented spray coverage for different areas of the dishwasher, thereby improving cleaning effectiveness without requiring a completely separate spray system for each zone
2Reliability
If multiple fixed spray outlets are provided for different areas, then cleaning coverage is improved, but the device complexity and water consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The movable valve body enables dynamic selection of which outlets receive liquid flow. Instead of all outlets being constantly active, the system can direct water flow only to the outlets needed for the current cleaning phase, reducing overall water consumption while maintaining comprehensive cleaning coverage through selective activation
Solution Approach 2:
The spray system can operate in periodic cycles where different outlets are activated at different times. The movable valve body allows the system to switch between different outlet configurations in sequence, providing periodic coverage of different areas, which reduces water consumption compared to continuous full-coverage spraying while still achieving thorough cleaning
3Reliability
If a rotatable spray arm is used, then spray coverage is improved, but the ability to control spray direction and pattern is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is configured to be movable relative to the spray arm body, allowing it to shift position and selectively align different outlets with the liquid passage. This dynamic positioning capability provides versatile control over spray direction and pattern, resolving the contradiction by adding adaptability to the existing rotatable spray arm structure
Solution Approach 2:
The same movable valve body mechanism serves multiple functions: it controls which outlets are active, directs spray to different areas, and can potentially control spray intensity by regulating flow distribution. This multi-functionality improves spray direction control versatility without requiring separate mechanisms for each function, maintaining system efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and a spraying system for supplying liquid to the treating chamber. The spraying system includes a sprayer having a body with an interior, a liquid passage provided in the interior, and a plurality of outlets extending through the body and in fluid communication with the liquid passage.