Dishwasher with sprayer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic dishwashers face inefficiencies in distributing and controlling the spray of liquid for effective cleaning, particularly in ensuring thorough coverage and soil removal without excessive water usage.
Innovation Solution
The dishwasher incorporates a rotatable sprayer with a dual valve system that allows for adjustable spray patterns by moving the first valve body to couple spray outlets with the liquid passage and the second valve body to control flow, enabling both wide-angle and focused sprays based on the sprayer's rotation, optimizing cleaning effectiveness and water usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional spraying system is used, then the structure is simple, but the spray coverage and cleaning effectiveness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sprayer is divided into multiple spray outlets (first spray outlets and second spray outlets) arranged in different patterns. The valve body is segmented into multiple valve elements that can independently control flow to different spray outlets, allowing selective activation of specific spray zones to optimize coverage for different dish loading configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is designed to be rotatable relative to the sprayer body, enabling dynamic reconfiguration of which spray outlets are active. This rotational mechanism allows the spray pattern to be adjusted during operation, transforming a static simple structure into a dynamic system that adapts to different cleaning needs.
2Productivity
If water flow is increased for better cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different spray outlets are configured with different spray patterns (first spray outlets providing wide-angle spray, second spray outlets providing focused spray). The valve body allows selective activation of specific spray outlets based on the dish loading configuration, directing water flow precisely where needed rather than distributing it uniformly, thereby improving cleaning effectiveness while reducing overall water consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of water delivery by switching between different spray patterns and activating different subsets of spray outlets. This allows optimization of water flow parameters (distribution pattern, concentration, direction) to match the specific cleaning task, achieving better cleaning with less water.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple spray outlets are activated simultaneously, then coverage is improved, but water usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable valve body enables dynamic selection of which spray outlets are active at any given time. Rather than all spray outlets being permanently open, the system dynamically configures the active spray pattern based on the dish loading, allowing comprehensive coverage when needed while reducing water usage when full coverage is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The same sprayer assembly serves multiple functions by selectively activating different combinations of spray outlets. The valve body acts as a multi-position selector that can configure the spray system for different coverage areas and intensities, making the system universally adaptable to various dish loading scenarios without requiring multiple separate spray systems.
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 solution enhances cleaning efficiency by providing thorough coverage and soil removal with adjustable spray patterns, reducing water consumption and energy usage, while allowing for customizable cleaning cycles.
Implementation Method 1
multiple spray outlets extending through the body and in fluid communication with the liquid passage and configured to emit sprays of liquid into the treating chamber
Implementation Method 2
a first valve body moveable relative to the body and having at least one opening to fluidly couple at least one of the multiple spray outlets to the liquid passage
Implementation Method 3
a second valve body selectively moveable relative to at least one of the sprayer body or the first valve body to control a flow of liquid through the at least one opening or through at least one of the multiple spray outlets
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and a spraying system having a sprayer supplying liquid to the treating chamber. The sprayer may include a liquid passage and multiple spray outlets to emit sprays to wash the dishes, a first valve body to couple at least one of the multiple spray outlets to the liquid passage, and a second valve body to control a flow of liquid.