Rack assembly for a dishwasher
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwasher racks often result in noise generation due to ball bearings coming into contact with each other, affecting the operational efficiency and user experience.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a roller wheel assembly with a hub, wheel, and separators that define pockets for ball bearings, ensuring no two adjacent ball bearings contact, reducing noise and improving aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If ball bearings are used in the roller wheel assembly to reduce friction and improve rack movement, then the ease of operation is improved, but noise is generated due to ball bearings coming into contact with each other
Solution Approach 1:
The raceway is segmented into multiple pockets by separators, with each pocket containing a single ball bearing. This segmentation prevents ball bearings from contacting each other, eliminating the noise source while maintaining the smooth rolling motion that improves rack operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Separators are introduced as intermediary elements between adjacent ball bearings. These separators create isolated pockets that prevent direct contact between ball bearings, thereby eliminating noise generation while allowing each ball bearing to continue functioning as a friction-reducing element.
2Reliability
If multiple ball bearings are placed in the raceway to support the rack weight and improve reliability, then the reliability is improved, but the complexity of the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separator and raceway are merged into a single integrated component, with the separators being integrally molded with the raceway. This combining reduces the total number of separate parts while maintaining the multi-pocket structure that supports multiple ball bearings for reliable rack weight support.
3Device complexity
If ball bearings are allowed to contact each other to simplify the raceway design, then the device complexity is reduced, but noise generation increases affecting user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The raceway structure is transformed from a simple continuous groove into a segmented multi-pocket structure. This parameter change in the raceway geometry allows separation of ball bearings without significantly increasing overall assembly complexity, while effectively eliminating noise generation.
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 solution effectively minimizes noise and enhances the overall performance and elegance of the dishwasher rack assembly by preventing ball bearing contact, leading to a quieter and more efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a raceway having a plurality of ball bearings rotationally coupling either the hub to the axle or the wheel to the hub
Data Source
AI summary
A rack assembly for an automatic dishwasher having opposing side portions, at least two axles extending outwardly from each of the opposing side portions, and a roller wheel mounted to each axle. Each roller wheel roller wheel has a hub adapted to be fixedly attached to the axle, and a wheel rotatably mounted to the hub. A plurality of separators that define pockets is integrally molded with one of the hub or the wheel. Each pocket is adapted to contain one ball bearing such that no two adjacent ball bearings make contact.