Dishwasher Water Guide Coupling for Leak-Safe Supply Unit Insertion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers face issues with the smooth insertion and secure fastening of the supply unit to the water guide, leading to potential leaks and reduced washing efficiency due to the design of the connection mechanism, which can be tilted and misaligned, causing interference and noise from the sealing member.
Innovation Solution
The dishwasher incorporates a connection member with protrusions and a sealing unit designed to guide the supply unit's insertion at various angles and prevent incorrect positioning, ensuring secure fastening and minimizing leaks through a flexible sealing mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the supply unit is allowed to be inserted at various angles to improve ease of operation, then the insertion smoothness is improved, but the sealing reliability deteriorates due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The guide groove is formed in advance on the coupling body, and the guide protrusion is pre-formed on the supply unit. These preliminary structural actions ensure that when insertion occurs at various angles, the guide protrusion automatically follows the guide groove to achieve proper alignment, thus maintaining sealing reliability while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide groove acts as an intermediary element between the coupling body and the supply unit. It mediates the insertion process by providing a predetermined path that guides the supply unit into correct alignment, allowing angular insertion while ensuring reliable sealing through the sealing member.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the connection mechanism is made separable to improve adaptability, then the versatility is improved, but the fastening stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection mechanism is segmented into separable components: the coupling body with insertion holes and the supply unit with corresponding protrusions. This segmentation enables versatility by allowing separation and repositioning, while the precise geometric matching of these segments ensures stable fastening when connected.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion holes are positioned asymmetrically relative to the coupling body center, and the supply unit has corresponding asymmetric features. This asymmetric design provides unique orientation and positioning, ensuring that once connected, the supply unit cannot be easily dislodged, thus maintaining fastening stability while preserving separability.
3Ease of operation
If the sealing member is made flexible to accommodate misalignment, then the ease of operation is improved, but noise generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member's physical parameters are optimized: it is designed with specific elasticity and thickness values that allow it to deform and accommodate misalignment during insertion, improving ease of operation. However, these parameters are carefully controlled to prevent excessive deformation that would generate noise, achieving a balance between alignment tolerance and noise reduction.
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 allows for smooth and secure coupling of the supply unit to the water guide, reducing noise and leaks, enhancing washing efficiency and stability by preventing misalignment and ensuring proper sealing.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible sealing mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a dishwasher including a tub, a door, a sump, a rack, a spray arm, a water guide including a supply flow-path for movement of the wash water from the sump and a supply port formed in the supply flow-path, a supply unit including a support body for receiving the wash water, a connection pipe extending from the support body to the spray arm, and an spray arm coupler, and a connection member including a coupling body coupled to the water guide and the support body, and a through-hole formed in the coupling body. The supply unit includes a rearwardly protruding insertion portion, and the connection member includes protrusions spaced apart from each other to define an insertion space for the protruding insertion portion, so that the supply unit is coupled to the water guide as the protruding insertion portion is inserted into one of the insertion space.