Pressure-Driven Spray Arm Articulation for Wider Dishwasher Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dishwashing machines with traditional single spraying arms have limited coverage area, leading to reduced washing quality and increased overall height, which compromises loading capacity and is complex and expensive.

Innovation Solution

A dishwashing machine equipped with a rotating spraying member featuring two hollow body parts that can move relative to each other due to pressure variations, allowing the jets to be directed differently by changing their inclination, thus covering a larger area without the need for complex mechanisms or transmission gears.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If traditional single spraying arms are used, then the structure is simple and compact, but the coverage area is limited and washing quality is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidspraying member structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spraying member is divided into a first body part (vertical rotating support) and a second body part (spraying arm), which can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the spraying arm to adjust its inclination angle independently while maintaining overall structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second body part (spraying arm) is designed to be movable relative to the first body part, allowing dynamic adjustment of the spraying angle through pressure variations. This dynamic capability enables the system to cover different areas without increasing overall height or complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Area of stationary object

If epicyclic-type solutions with rotating satellite sprayers are used, then the coverage area is increased, but the overall height dimensions increase and loading capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidoverall height
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing coverage by adding height (vertical stacking of sprayers), the invention changes the dimension of movement to horizontal angular adjustment. The spraying arm rotates about a vertical axis and adjusts its inclination, covering larger areas at the same height level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The spraying arm's inclination angle is dynamically adjusted during operation based on pressure variations, allowing the same physical structure to cover multiple areas sequentially, effectively increasing coverage without increasing height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Area of stationary object

If epicyclic-type solutions are used, then the coverage area is increased, but the structure becomes complicated and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidspraying member structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spraying member is divided into a first body part (vertical rotating support) and a second body part (spraying arm), which can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the spraying arm to adjust its inclination angle independently while maintaining overall structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the essential function of angle adjustment from complex transmission mechanisms and achieves it directly through pressure-driven movement of the hollow spraying arm, eliminating the need for gears, belts, or other transmission components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Manufacturing precision

If the spraying member structure is made more complex to increase coverage area, then the washing quality improves, but the ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing qualityVSAvoidspraying member structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential function of angle adjustment from complex transmission mechanisms and achieves it directly through pressure-driven movement of the hollow spraying arm, eliminating the need for gears, belts, or other transmission components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow spraying arm is filled with washing liquid under pressure, and the pressure variations cause the arm to change its inclination angle. This hydraulic principle enables automatic angle adjustment without mechanical transmission mechanisms, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining washing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 increases the washing liquid coverage area, improving washing quality and reducing dead zones, while maintaining a compact and simple structure, thus enhancing the loading capacity and efficiency without increasing the machine's height.

Implementation Method 1

The aforementioned configuration change is determined through a variation in the pressure of the washing liquid that is being fed to the spraying member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure variation: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP4252611A1Dishwashing machine
Publication Date: 2023.10.04 D&P SRL
  • EP4252611A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4252611A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4252611A1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

A dishwashing machine (1) has: - a control system (CS), - a washing chamber in which at least one crockery basket (8) is housed, - a hydraulic circuit for a washing liquid, which comprises: at least one rotary spraying member (5), having a spraying member body (20a, 20b, 20c) which is rotatable about a respective axis of rotation (Y), and which comprises a first hollow body part (20c) and at least one second hollow body part (20b, 20c), the at least one second hollow body part (20b, 20c) having, at least in a face thereof generally facing the at least one crockery basket (8), a plurality of openings or nozzles for emission of jets (J) of the washing liquid, an electric pump having at least one outlet connected in fluid communication with at least one supply duct for the supply of the washing liquid to the first hollow body part (20a). The first hollow body part (20a) is mounted for rotating about around the axis of rotation (Y), and the at least one second hollow body part (20b, 20c) is coupled in a rotatable manner to the first hollow body part (20a), to be susceptible to rotate about a respective axis of revolution (X) which is generally transverse to the axis of rotation (Y). The dishwashing machine has hydraulic means controllable by the control system to determine a variation in the pressure of the washing liquid supplied to the first hollow body part, to induce as a consequence an angular movement of the at least one second hollow body part (20b, 20c) about the axis of revolution (X), from a first operating position to at least one second operating position.