Rotating Dishwasher Spray Arm with Valve-Controlled Outlet Groups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers often lack efficient mechanisms to ensure thorough cleaning of utensils, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, and may require excessive water usage, leading to suboptimal cleaning results and higher energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher with a rotatable spray arm and a moveable valve body that selectively couples different subsets of outlets to a liquid passage, allowing for varying spray patterns and directions, enabling targeted cleaning without increasing water consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a conventional spray system is used, then the structure is simple, but the cleaning coverage is insufficient particularly in hard-to-reach areas
Solution Approach 1:
The spray arm is made rotatable to dynamically change the spray direction and coverage area. The rotatable spray arm can rotate to different positions to spray liquid onto different areas of the utensils, including hard-to-reach areas, thereby increasing the overall cleaning coverage without requiring multiple fixed spray systems
Solution Approach 2:
The spray system is segmented into multiple outlets arranged around the spray arm, with each outlet capable of being independently controlled by the moveable valve body. This segmentation allows different subsets of outlets to be activated based on the rotation position, providing targeted cleaning for different areas while maintaining system simplicity
2Reliability
If excessive water is used, then cleaning effectiveness may improve, but water consumption and energy usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The moveable valve body selectively activates specific subsets of outlets based on the rotation position of the spray arm. This local quality control ensures that water is sprayed only where needed at any given moment, improving cleaning effectiveness in hard-to-reach areas while minimizing overall water consumption by avoiding unnecessary spraying in already-cleaned areas
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic rotation of the spray arm combined with selective activation of outlet subsets to achieve thorough cleaning with reduced water usage. By rotating the spray arm periodically and activating different outlet subsets at different rotation positions, the system ensures all areas receive adequate cleaning attention over time while maintaining lower instantaneous and overall water consumption
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
The solution provides enhanced cleaning coverage and efficiency with reduced water usage, allowing for better soil removal and distribution of cleaning agents, while potentially reducing energy costs through smaller pump requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a moveable valve body that may selectively fluidly couple a first subset of the plurality of outlets to the liquid passage
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.