Gravity-Fed Detergent Cartridge Dosing for Battery-Free Dishwashers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-sufficient dosing systems for household appliances, such as dishwashers, have limited service life due to battery capacity constraints and require manual dosing, which is inconvenient and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A self-sufficient dosing system with an extended service life, featuring a movable cartridge and dosing device that uses gravity-induced release of detergents, eliminating the need for pumps and batteries, and incorporates a control unit with energy harvesting capabilities, ensuring precise and automatic dosing without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a battery or accumulator is used as an energy source in a self-sufficient dosing system, then the system can operate autonomously with precise control, but the service life is limited due to the finite capacity of the battery
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing system is designed to harvest its own operating energy from the water flow it processes. The pump is driven directly by the water flow through a hydrodynamic coupling mechanism, eliminating the need for an external battery or accumulator. This self-service approach allows the system to operate autonomously indefinitely as long as water flow is available, resolving the contradiction between automation and limited service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical energy storage system (battery/accumulator) with a hydrodynamic energy conversion system. The water flow's kinetic energy is directly converted into mechanical energy to drive the pump, substituting the electrochemical energy storage mechanism with a fluid-mechanical energy conversion mechanism that has no capacity limitations.
2Extent of automation
If a pump is used for automatic dosing, then precise and automatic detergent dispensing is achieved, but the system complexity and energy requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is designed to be self-driven by the water flow it processes, eliminating the need for separate motors, power sources, and control systems. The hydrodynamic coupling between the water flow and pump creates a self-regulating system where the pump automatically operates at the appropriate speed based on the available water flow, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining automatic dosing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the water flow transport function with the pump drive function into a single integrated mechanism. The water flow that would otherwise only serve to transport detergent is also used to directly drive the pump, combining two functions into one system and thereby reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Reliability
If multiple chambers are used for different detergent preparations, then cleaning performance is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent storage is divided into multiple separate chambers, each dedicated to storing a specific detergent preparation. This segmentation allows different detergents to be stored and dosed independently, ensuring optimal cleaning performance for different washing conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular chamber design.
Solution Approach 2:
The dosing system is designed with universal applicability across different detergent types and washing conditions. The multiple chambers accommodate various detergent formulations, and the system can adapt its dosing pattern to suit different cleaning requirements, making the device versatile without requiring complex specialized mechanisms for each detergent type.
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 system provides extended service life and automatic dosing functionality, reducing manual effort and maintenance, while ensuring precise and efficient detergent dispensing in various washing cycles.
Implementation Method 1
at least one outlet opening, which is arranged in such a way that a gravity-induced release of the preparation from the cartridge can be effected in the use position of the dosing device
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Dosing system (1,2), in particular for positioning on or within a dishwasher, comprising at least one cartridge (1) for free-flowing washing or cleaning agents with a number of chambers (3a,3b,3c) for physically separate housing of different preparations of a washing or cleaning agent and a dosing device (2) which may be connected to the cartridge (1), comprising at least one power source (15), a controller (16), a sensor unit (17), at least one actuator (18), connected to the power source (15) and the controller (16) such that a control signal from the controller (16) brings about a movement of the actuator (18), a sealing element (19), coupled to the actuator (18) such that a movement of the actuator (18) puts the sealing element (19) in a sealing or an open position, at least one dosing chamber (20), in communication with at least one of the cartridge chambers (3a,3b,3c) when the cartridge (1) and dosing device (2) are assembled, wherein the dosing chamber (20) has an inlet (21) for the inflow of washing or cleaning agent from a cartridge chamber (3a,3b,3c) and an outlet (22) for the outflow of washing or cleaning agent from the dosing chamber (20) into the surroundings, wherein at least the outlet (22) of the dosing chamber (20) may be sealed or opened by the sealing element (19), wherein the dosing device has a least one first interface which interacts with a corresponding interface on a water-using device such as in particular a domestic water-using device, preferably a dishwasher or washing machine such that a transmission of signals and/or electric power from the water-using device to the dosing device is possible.