Dishwasher with sprayer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers lack an efficient mechanism to simultaneously utilize upper and lower outlets for optimal liquid distribution and soil removal, leading to incomplete cleaning and increased water usage.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher design featuring a rotatable spray arm with a valve body that alternately couples upper and lower outlets to a liquid passage, allowing for simultaneous or alternating fluid coupling to achieve different spray patterns and improve cleaning efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional sprayer with fixed outlets is used, then the structure is simple, but the cleaning efficiency is insufficient due to inability to vary spray patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The sprayer incorporates a movable valve body that can shift between different positions to dynamically alter the spray pattern. The valve body alternately couples upper and lower outlets to the liquid passage, enabling the sprayer to adapt its configuration during operation to optimize cleaning efficiency for different soil conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is designed to periodically alternate between coupling the upper outlet and lower outlet to the liquid passage. This periodic switching creates varying spray patterns over time, enhancing the overall cleaning effectiveness by exposing different areas of the treating chamber to liquid flow at different intervals.
2Loss of substance
If upper and lower outlets are used alternately, then water usage is reduced, but cleaning coverage may be incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body periodically alternates between coupling the upper outlet and lower outlet to the liquid passage, ensuring that both outlets are utilized over time. This periodic switching allows water to be distributed to different areas sequentially, maintaining comprehensive cleaning coverage while reducing overall water consumption compared to continuous operation of all outlets.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic positioning of the valve body enables selective coupling of either the upper or lower outlet to the liquid passage based on operational needs. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize water distribution patterns, directing liquid flow to where it is most needed while minimizing total water usage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a rotatable spray arm with valve body is implemented, then spray pattern versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable spray arm incorporates a movable valve body that can shift between different positions to dynamically alter the spray pattern. This dynamic configuration allows the same physical structure to produce multiple spray patterns, enhancing versatility without requiring multiple separate spray arms or complex mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is designed to couple different outlets (upper and lower) to the liquid passage based on operational requirements. This multi-functional capability allows a single spray arm mechanism to perform multiple functions by simply repositioning the valve body, thereby achieving spray pattern versatility without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 design enhances cleaning efficiency by varying spray patterns, reducing water usage, and ensuring thorough coverage of the treating chamber, thereby improving soil removal and dishwashing performance.
Implementation Method 1
a valve body moveable relative to the body to alternately fluidly couple the at least one upper outlet and the at least one lower outlet to the liquid passage
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and a sprayer for spraying liquid to the treating chamber. The sprayer may include a liquid passage provided in the interior of the body, at least one upper outlet extending through the upper surface of the body and in fluid communication with the liquid passage, at least one lower outlet extending through the lower surface of the body and in fluid communication with the liquid passage, and a valve body moveable relative to the body to fluidly couple the at least one upper outlet and the at least one lower outlet to the liquid passage.