Fluid supply for a household appliance and household appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid supply systems for household appliances, such as steam ovens, face challenges in cleanability, hygiene, and manufacturing complexity, particularly with removable water drawers that can lead to fluid spillage and increased tooling costs due to splash protection barriers.
Innovation Solution
A fluid supply system featuring a removable container with internal wave breakers that can be easily cleaned and assembled, including a lid with guides for secure closure and a frame-supported obstacle structure to disrupt fluid waves, allowing for efficient fluid use and easy handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If removable water drawers are used for fluid supply, then ease of operation and hygiene are improved, but fluid spillage risk increases due to wave formation during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of fluid waves into a beneficial feature by using the wave motion itself to activate a dispensing mechanism. The fluid container is designed with a wave breaker that directs waves toward a dispensing opening, so that the harmful wave motion during transport becomes the driving force for fluid dispensing when needed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If splash protection barriers are integrated into the container, then fluid spillage is reduced, but manufacturing complexity and tooling costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing comprehensive splash protection throughout the entire container, the patent applies the wave breaker feature only in the specific local area where waves naturally form and travel. The wave breaker is positioned to intercept waves in the front-to-back direction, providing targeted protection where it is most needed while leaving the rest of the container simple and easy to manufacture.
3Shape
If the fluid container has a flat and longitudinally extended shape, then it fits the appliance, but fluid waves can easily form and cause spillage during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent accepts the flat, longitudinally extended shape for its practical benefits but converts the resulting wave formation into a useful feature. The wave breaker is specifically designed to work with this shape, directing the inevitable waves toward the dispensing opening, so that the same container geometry that causes spillage risk also enables the wave-driven dispensing mechanism.
4Ease of manufacture
If wave breakers are formed in one piece with the container by molding, then cleanability is improved, but manufacturing tool complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fluid container into separate components: the container body and the wave breaker. This segmentation allows the container to be manufactured with simple, easy-to-clean surfaces while the wave breaker is a separate element that can be positioned and secured within the container. The separation simplifies the molding tools needed for production while maintaining cleanability of the main container surface.
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 enhances cleanability and hygiene while simplifying manufacturing, reducing the risk of fluid spillage and maintaining efficient fluid use within the appliance, thus addressing the limitations of prior art.
Implementation Method 1
an obstacle (125-140) supported inside of the fluid container (110) for obstructing a fluid current supported inside of the fluid container (110)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention describes a fluid supply (100) for a household appliance especially a steam oven (200) that has improved cleaning and hygienic characteristics. A wave breaker structure (120) is removably included inside a removable fluid container (110) and can be completely separated from it for cleaning purposes. The fluid container (110) is preferably releasable having a valve (115) and being mounted inside of a steam oven (200).