Drawer Guide Fluid Passages for Smooth, Clean Dishwasher Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drawer guides in devices like dishwashers experience cumbersome and imprecise movement due to roller-guided rails, which can lead to uneven withdrawal, dirt deposition, and impaired running attributes from rinsed debris.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating guide rails with fluid passage openings at the rear rail portions and cages for rolling members, allowing liquid or gas to flow through, ensuring smooth and precise drawer movement while preventing dirt accumulation by flushing the guide rails and cages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drawer is guided on extendable guide rails by means of rollers, then the drawer can be moved within the chamber, but the guidance becomes cumbersome and imprecise, and the guide rails are pulled out unevenly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the roller-based mechanical guidance system with a fluid dynamic guidance system. The guide rails are designed with specific cross-sectional shapes (e.g., C-shaped, U-shaped) that create controlled fluid flow patterns. The fluid pressure distribution generated by this flow replaces the mechanical contact and friction of rollers, enabling smooth and precise drawer movement without the drawbacks of roller-based systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes fluid pressure fields created by liquid or gas flow through the specially designed guide rails to provide guidance forces. The cross-sectional geometry of the guide rails is optimized to generate appropriate pressure distributions that guide the drawer smoothly and precisely, replacing traditional mechanical contact-based guidance with fluid-based pressure control.
2Reliability
If the drawer is guided by rollers on guide rails, then the drawer can be supported, but dirt accumulates on the running tracks and impairs the running attributes
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing the roller-based mechanical system with a fluid dynamic system, the patent eliminates the running tracks and contact surfaces where dirt would accumulate. The fluid flows continuously through the guide rail structures, creating a non-contact guidance mechanism that is inherently resistant to dirt accumulation and maintains reliable performance over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter from mechanical contact (rollers on tracks) to fluid pressure distribution. This parameter change transforms the system from one susceptible to dirt accumulation to one where the flowing fluid continuously cleanses the guide structures, maintaining reliability without degradation from contamination.
3Device complexity
If traditional guide rails are used, then the structure is simple, but the guidance becomes imprecise and the system requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rails are segmented into specific functional zones with distinct cross-sectional geometries. Each segment is designed to create particular fluid flow patterns and pressure distributions at different locations along the drawer path. This segmentation allows complex guidance functions to be achieved through modular, systematically arranged simple structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves high precision guidance by changing the geometric parameters of the guide rail cross-sections along their length. By varying the shape, size, and orientation of the cross-sectional features in different segments, the fluid pressure distribution is precisely controlled to provide accurate guidance forces throughout the drawer's movement range, maintaining both simplicity and precision.
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 enables precise and smooth drawer guidance, maintains cleanliness of the guide rails, and enhances the operational efficiency by preventing dirt deposition, thus maintaining the mechanical stability and performance of the drawer guide system.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the guide rails of the drawer guide comprises a rear rail portion which includes at least one partial section that extends in the direction of movement of the drawer and is provided with fluid passage openings in such a manner that the liquid or the gas is adapted to flow through the guide rail concerned when the device is in operation
Data Source
AI summary
A drawer guide is provided for a dishwasher or other device through which there is a flow of liquid or gas. The drawer guide has guide rails and at least one rolling member assembly to guide the guide rails in a displaceable manner on another guide rail. A cage is provided for the rolling members. At least one of the guide rails has a rear rail portion with fluid passage openings that allow liquid or gas to flow through the guide rail when the device is in operation. At least one cage for the rolling members of the drawer guide can include a rear cage portion that is provided with fluid passage openings that allow liquid or gas to flow therethrough when the device is in operation.