Dishwasher

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dishwashers often struggle to effectively clean dishes with varying soil levels and types due to limitations in the geometry and adjustability of their spray nozzles, leading to inefficient water usage and incomplete cleaning.

Innovation Solution

The dishwasher incorporates a sprayer with adjustable fan and jet spray nozzles, featuring ribs and draft angles that control the spray direction, allowing for targeted cleaning by adjusting the z-angle and y-angle of the spray patterns to directly strike dishes, enhancing cleaning efficiency and water distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional spray nozzles with fixed geometry are used, then the device complexity is low, but the cleaning effectiveness is insufficient for dishes with varying soil levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidspray nozzle geometry complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spray system is segmented into multiple nozzles with different geometries (conical, cylindrical, annular) arranged in specific patterns. Each nozzle type targets different soil levels and dish surfaces, allowing the system to handle varying cleaning requirements without requiring a single complex adjustable nozzle for each position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different nozzle geometries are assigned to specific locations and angles within the spray assembly. Conical nozzles provide broader coverage for lightly soiled areas, while cylindrical nozzles deliver concentrated streams for heavily soiled regions. This local differentiation of nozzle properties optimizes cleaning effectiveness for various soil levels without requiring system-wide complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If spray nozzles with fixed angles are used, then the ease of manufacture is high, but the adaptability to different dish configurations and soil types is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to varying soil levelsVSAvoidnozzle geometry fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The spray system employs multiple nozzles with fixed but varied geometries and angles rather than single adjustable nozzles. This dynamic configuration provides adaptability to different dish configurations and soil types through the diversity of fixed nozzle designs, achieving versatility without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms that would complicate manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of substance

If water is distributed broadly with conventional nozzles, then the coverage area is large, but the water usage efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater usage efficiencyVSAvoidspray coverage area

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The spray system directs water with localized intensity through different nozzle geometries. Concentrated streams from cylindrical nozzles target heavily soiled areas efficiently, while conical nozzles provide broader but less intense coverage for lightly soiled regions. This local differentiation of spray quality maintains large overall coverage while improving water usage efficiency by concentrating water where it is most needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies water partially to different areas based on soil level requirements. Heavily soiled areas receive concentrated, excessive water application from cylindrical nozzles, while lightly soiled areas receive milder coverage from conical nozzles. This partial application strategy improves water efficiency by avoiding uniform excessive watering across all surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 configuration improves the spray pattern to ensure that water reaches all areas of the dishwasher, providing effective cleaning and reducing water usage by directing the spray more precisely, thus enhancing cleaning efficiency and effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a stationary sprayer emitting liquid into the treating chamber from a hollow interior defined at least in part by a manifold, the stationary sprayer comprising a set of jet spray nozzles provided on the stationary sprayer with at least some of the jet spray nozzles in the set having different geometries wherein the different geometries of the jet spray nozzles emit a jet spray at different angles relative to the stationary sprayer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid spray: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentUS11596289B2Dishwasher

Publication Date: 2023.03.07 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

An automatic dishwasher with a treating chamber, at least one dish holder, and a sprayer. The sprayer can be coupled to the dish holder and include a set of fan spray nozzles or a set of jet nozzles. The set of fan spray nozzles or the set of jet nozzles fluidly connect the sprayer and treating chamber. One or more angles in which fluid flows from the set of fan spray nozzles or the set of jet nozzles into the treating chamber can be adjusted.