Dispenser assembly and washing machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water overflows from the gap between a waterproof box and a dispenser in washing machines, causing inconvenience to users as residual liquid spills or flows out during dispenser operation.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser assembly with a first block rib inside the waterproof box and a water collection cavity, featuring a water leak port positioned lower than the gap, along with an arc-shaped second rib to face the siphon inlet, preventing liquid overflow and ensuring efficient liquid collection and flow back into the washing machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a waterproof box is used to collect residual liquid from the dispenser, then liquid containment is improved, but liquid overflow from the gap between the waterproof box and dispenser occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The waterproof box is segmented into an upper portion and a lower portion by the first block rib. This segmentation creates a water collection cavity that captures overflowing liquid and prevents it from escaping through the gap, thereby resolving the contradiction between liquid containment and overflow prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The first block rib acts as an intermediary structure between the dispenser and the waterproof box. It introduces a water collection cavity that intercepts liquid flow and redirects it through the water leak port, preventing direct overflow through the gap while maintaining effective liquid containment
2Ease of manufacture
If the waterproof box is made of plastic material for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but hydrophilicity causes liquid to spread along the box surface
Solution Approach 1:
The first block rib creates a localized water collection cavity with specific geometric characteristics. This local structural modification changes the liquid flow behavior in the critical area where overflow occurs, causing liquid to collect in the cavity and drain through the controlled water leak port rather than spreading along the box surface
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophilic property of plastic material that causes liquid spreading is converted into a benefit by the water collection cavity design. The cavity utilizes the liquid's tendency to spread and flow along the surface to direct liquid into the collection area, where it is then controlled to drain through the water leak port, transforming the harmful spreading effect into a useful liquid collection mechanism
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
Effectively prevents liquid overflow from the gap between the waterproof box and dispenser, enhancing user experience by ensuring residual liquid is directed back into the machine, reducing spills and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
since the waterproof box 100 is mostly made of a plastic material, the hydrophilicity of the plastic materials causes the residual liquid that flows onto the waterproof box 100 to spread along the waterproof box 100
Implementation Method 2
a first block rib that is disposed inside the waterproof box and at one end of the waterproof box adjacent to the handle of the dispenser, where the first block rib is configured to prevent liquid from overflowing from the gap
Implementation Method 3
the first block rib is provided with a water leak port, and a position of the water leak port is lower than a position of the gap
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Provided is a dispenser assembly. The dispenser assembly includes a handle; a waterproof box, where a gap is disposed between the waterproof box and a dispenser; and a first block rib that is disposed inside the waterproof box and at one end of the waterproof box adjacent to the handle of the dispenser, where the first block rib is configured to prevent liquid from overflowing from the gap.