Dishwasher Spray-Fill System to Reduce Wash Cycle Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers face inefficiencies in filling time and energy usage, with significant portions of the wash cycle dedicated to filling, which increases the overall cycle length and user perception of quality.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher system that incorporates a spray-fill system allowing water from the home supply to directly soak and clean dishes during the fill process, combining filling and washing functions, and includes a pressure regulator and multiple spray nozzles to optimize water distribution and pressure for efficient cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the dishwasher uses a conventional fill system to fill the wash chamber before washing, then the circulation pump can operate efficiently with sufficient water, but the wash cycle time increases significantly due to prolonged filling duration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the filling function and washing function into a single integrated process. Water from the inlet is directed through spray nozzles that simultaneously fill the wash chamber and spray dishes, merging two previously separate operations (filling and washing) into one concurrent process, thereby reducing total cycle time while ensuring sufficient water is available for the circulation pump
Solution Approach 2:
The spray-fill system performs preliminary washing action on dishes during the fill phase before the main wash cycle begins. By spraying water onto dishes while filling the chamber, the system prepares the dishes for washing in advance, reducing the perceived cycle length and improving cleaning efficiency without compromising pump operation
2Reliability
If the dishwasher fills multiple times during the wash cycle, then the circulation pump maintains adequate water levels, but the overall washing process is delayed and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray-fill system establishes continuous water delivery to both the wash chamber and dishes throughout the wash cycle. By maintaining constant spray action and water circulation rather than intermittent filling, the system eliminates idle time between fill operations and maintains continuous productive washing action, thereby improving overall washing efficiency while ensuring adequate water levels
3Speed
If the dishwasher uses a fill device with high water pressure, then water is delivered quickly to the wash chamber, but water impinges on dishes causing excessive splashing and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple spray nozzles positioned at different locations and angles within the wash chamber, each delivering water with locally optimized pressure and direction. This distributed spray approach allows water to be delivered quickly overall while individual nozzle streams are controlled to avoid excessive impact on dishes, balancing delivery speed with gentle treatment ofware
Solution Approach 2:
The spray nozzles act as intermediary devices between the high-pressure water inlet and the dishes. They break up the high-pressure stream into multiple smaller, controlled spray patterns that maintain water delivery speed while reducing harmful impact forces on dishes through diffusion and direction control
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
This approach reduces the overall wash cycle time by integrating soaking and filling functions, improving cleaning efficiency and user satisfaction by shortening the perceived cycle length while maintaining or enhancing cleaning quality.
Implementation Method 1
The fill conduit may include a pressure regulator configured to reduce the pressure of the water from the water inlet, such that the water may have a lower pressure at the at least one fill device than at the water inlet
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are systems, methods, and apparatus for spraying water in a dishwasher. A dishwasher may include a wash chamber and at least one dish rack. The dishwasher may include a water inlet selectively connected to a dish spray device, which may connect a dish spray conduit with the wash chamber. The dish spray device may be oriented towards the at least one dish rack, such that the spray device may be configured to direct water onto the dishes for washing. The water inlet may be selectively connected to a fill device, which may connect the fill conduit with the wash chamber. The fill device may be configured to provide water to the circulation assembly without impinging the at least one dish rack. The one or more valves may selectively direct water from the water inlet to one or both of the dish spray device and the fill device.