Rotating Dishwasher Filter With Granular Self-Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dishwasher filters clog frequently due to soil particles, leading to reduced efficiency and increased maintenance, as existing systems lack effective methods for regular cleaning and soil removal during the washing cycle.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a rotating filter with a granular agent reservoir that introduces beads to physically scour the filter screen during rotation or liquid passage, ensuring continuous cleaning and preventing clogging by entraining the beads within the liquid to contact and remove soils from the filter surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter system is used to remove soils from liquid, then filtration efficiency is improved, but the filter clogs frequently requiring maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The filter system performs self-cleaning by utilizing the dishwasher's own recirculating liquid and granular cleaning agent. The rotating filter exposes its screen surface to the granular agent in the recirculating liquid, which mechanically scours and removes accumulated soils automatically during normal operation, eliminating the need for manual maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculating liquid, which would normally carry soils that could clog the filter, is instead utilized as a medium to deliver granular cleaning agents to the filter screen. The same liquid circulation that poses a clogging risk becomes the mechanism for automatic cleaning, converting a harmful effect into a beneficial self-maintaining function.
2Ease of operation
If the filter is cleaned manually, then maintenance is simple, but filtration efficiency decreases during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The filter cleaning action occurs continuously during the dishwasher's operation rather than requiring periodic manual intervention. The rotating filter continuously exposes its surface to the granular agent in the recirculating liquid, maintaining constant cleaning action that prevents clogging and sustains filtration efficiency throughout the washing cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically cleans itself without requiring user intervention. The combination of rotating filter, recirculating liquid, and granular agent creates an autonomous cleaning mechanism that maintains the filter's performance continuously during operation.
3Device complexity
If a stationary filter is used, then the structure is simple, but soil accumulation occurs on the filter surface
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is made rotatable rather than stationary, introducing dynamic motion to the cleaning process. The rotation exposes different portions of the filter screen to the granular agent in the recirculating liquid, preventing soil accumulation through continuous mechanical action while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation of the filter creates mechanical motion that, combined with the granular agent, produces a scouring effect on the filter screen. This mechanical action continuously removes soils before they can accumulate, preventing clogging while keeping the filter structure simple.
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 approach effectively prevents filter clogging by mechanically removing soils, enhancing filtration efficiency and reducing user maintenance by ensuring the filter remains clean throughout the dishwasher's operation.
Implementation Method 1
scouring a screen of the rotatable filter by introducing a granular agent adjacent the screen during at least one of a rotating of the rotatable filter or a passing of liquid through the rotatable filter
Implementation Method 2
introducing a granular agent adjacent the screen during at least one of a rotating of the rotatable filter or a passing of liquid through the rotatable filter
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a dishwasher having a pump and filter assembly including an impeller adapted to recirculate liquid, a housing defining an interior and exterior, a rotating filter to effect a filtering of the liquid, and a granular agent supply with granular agent cleaning the filter by scouring the filter.