dishwasher

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Dishwashers often suffer damage during transportation due to loose supports, which can shift and become detached before installation.

Innovation Solution

A dishwasher design featuring a coupling portion with a hollow shaped coupling hole and multiple threads, including a stopper at the groove of the second threads, and an extension bar to prevent excessive insertion, ensuring the support is securely locked and can be easily adjusted.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the support is made adjustable in height using threads, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because the support may loosen during transportation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustmentVSAvoidsupport stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper is pre-positioned at a specific groove on the support before the dishwasher enters service. This preliminary positioning creates a mechanical lock that prevents the support from loosening during transportation, while still allowing height adjustment when needed by moving the stopper to a different groove

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper acts as an intermediary element between the support and the coupling portion. It engages with the threaded structure to provide locking functionality without interfering with the height adjustment capability, mediating between the need for stability and adjustability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the support is securely locked to prevent loosening, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because adjustment becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport stabilityVSAvoidheight adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper can be dynamically repositioned between different grooves on the support. During normal operation, it provides stable locking at the selected height. When adjustment is needed, the stopper can be moved to engage a different groove, enabling both stability and adjustability through dynamic reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the support can be easily adjusted, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability worsens because the support may become detached

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustmentVSAvoidsupport attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling mechanism is segmented into distinct functional elements: the threaded support for height adjustment, the coupling hole for connection, and the stopper for locking. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function independently - the threads enable adjustment while the stopper provides attachment security

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Prevents support detachment during transportation, minimizing damage and allows for easy height adjustment by reducing friction and facilitating controlled movement of the support.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of first threads formed in the coupling hole, and the support includes a plurality of second threads engaged with the first threads

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThread engagement: Screw

Implementation Method 2

a stopper formed to be protruded at a groove of the second thread

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical constraint: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 3

an extension bar that prevents the support from being inserted into the coupling hole any more than a predetermined depth

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical barrier: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3197333B1dishwasher
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3197333B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3197333B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4a
  • EP3197333B1 patent drawingFigure 4b

AI summary

A dishwasher (100) is disclosed, which comprises a cabinet (1), a base (200) forming a lower portion of the cabinet (1), and a support (300) coupled to a coupling portion (210) provided in said base (200), supporting the cabinet (1), wherein the coupling portion (210) includes a hollow shaped coupling hole (220), and a plurality of first threads (224) formed in said coupling hole (220), and the support (300) includes a plurality of second threads (310) engaged with said first threads (224), and a stopper (320) formed to be protruded at a groove of the said second thread (310).