Dishwasher Water Guide Pipes for Heat and Leak Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dishwasher water guide pipes made of plastic are prone to corrosion and damage due to high-temperature washing water and steam, leading to potential leaks and structural issues, especially at bending portions and connectors.

Innovation Solution

The use of ductile stainless steel pipes for the water guide, with separate upper and top pipes configured as polygonal shapes to reduce pressure and prevent corrosion, along with a lower connector clamp to secure the pipes and prevent leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If plastic pipes are used for the water guide, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to corrosion and damage from high-temperature washing water and steam

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from plastic to stainless steel, which fundamentally alters the pipe's resistance to high-temperature washing water and steam. This material substitution resolves the reliability issue while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard stainless steel fabrication processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies using stainless steel material for the pipes, which provides both the required mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. The stainless steel material inherently combines durability with resistance to thermal and chemical degradation from washing water and steam

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If the upper pipe and top pipe are integrally formed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability worsens due to high water pressure causing potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the water guide system into separate upper pipe and top pipe components. This segmentation allows each pipe to handle specific water flow paths independently, reducing the pressure burden on any single component and improving overall system reliability while maintaining reasonable structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If bending portions are formed on plastic pipes, then the adaptability is improved for routing water, but the reliability deteriorates due to stress concentration causing corrosion or breakage

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from plastic to stainless steel for the pipes with bending portions. Stainless steel's superior mechanical properties eliminate the stress concentration issues that plague plastic pipes at bend locations, maintaining both adaptability for routing and reliability under pressure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If high pumping pressure is applied to the connector, then the productivity is improved for water delivery, but the reliability worsens due to water leakage or connector separation

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the connector material or design parameters to withstand high pumping pressures without leaking or separating. The improved connector design maintains the high productivity required for efficient water delivery while eliminating reliability issues through enhanced pressure resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3508107B1dishwasher
Publication Date: 2020.10.21 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3508107B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3508107B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3508107B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a dishwasher and a manufacturing method thereof. The dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a water guide extending upward from a sump and supplying washing water to an upper nozzle and a top nozzle, and the upper pipe and the top pipe are separately provided to the water guide, so pressure of the washing water applied to the upper pipe and the top pipe can be reduced.