Pivoting Rack Guide Rail for Low-Force Dishwasher Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household dishwashers require manual effort to move racks in and out, which can be cumbersome and require significant force, especially when racks are fully loaded or unloaded.
Innovation Solution
The rack guide rail is supported to pivot about a pivot axis, allowing it to be lowered or raised to create a gradient, enabling the rack to move in and out automatically or with minimal assistance, reducing the energy and force required for operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the rack is moved manually using a telescopic rail system, then the rack can be displaced in and out of the wash container, but significant force and operator effort are required especially when racks are fully loaded or unloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The rack guide rail is made dynamically adjustable in its inclination angle through a pivotable support mechanism. By changing the angle of inclination during operation, the system automatically adjusts the balance between gravitational force and rack weight, enabling effortless movement in both loaded and unloaded states without requiring constant manual force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclination angle parameter of the rack guide rail is changed during operation to optimize rack movement. By adjusting this parameter, the component of gravitational force acting along the rail is modified, allowing the rack to move automatically with minimal or no operator effort depending on the loading state.
2Extent of automation
If the rack guide rail is lowered to create a gradient for automatic rack movement, then the rack can move out automatically due to gravity, but the drive unit dimensions may increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a fixed lowered position requiring a large drive unit, the rack guide rail employs a dynamic pivotable support that adjusts the inclination angle as needed. This allows automatic rack movement to be achieved temporarily when required, while maintaining a compact overall structure that does not need to accommodate a permanently lowered rail position.
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 design allows for effortless and automatic movement of racks in and out, reducing operator effort and enabling easy loading and unloading of dishes, even when fully loaded or unloaded, while maintaining a compact drive unit.
Implementation Method 1
the rack moves out automatically due to the action of gravity
Implementation Method 2
an operator for example has to overcome a breakaway torque to make the rack move
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, includes at least one wash compartment and a rack guide rail for support in the wash compartment of a rack which holds items to be washed and/or dried. The rack guide rail has a running surface to allow movement of the rack in and out of the wash compartment for loading and unloading purposes along a travel path supported on the running surface. The rack guide rail is hereby supported at a support point for pivoting about a pivot axis.