Shared Water Path for Single-Use and Bulk Chemistry Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household cleaning appliances often require users to manually fill and manage separate single-use and bulk dispensing systems for treating chemistry, leading to inconvenience, errors, and increased cost due to duplicate water supply systems.
Innovation Solution
A household cleaning appliance with a single water flow path that integrates both single-use and bulk dispensing systems, allowing water to flush treating chemistry into the treating chamber, eliminating the need for separate water supply systems and simplifying the dispensing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate single-use and bulk dispensing systems are used, then both dispensing modes are supported, but device complexity and cost increase due to duplicate water supply systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate single-use and bulk dispensing water supply systems into a single integrated water flow path. The dispenser housing contains both a single-use dispenser and a bulk dispenser that share common water supply conduits, eliminating duplicate water supply systems while maintaining both dispensing modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The single water flow path is designed to serve multiple functions by supplying water to both the single-use dispenser and bulk dispenser through shared conduits. This universal water supply system can operate in different dispensing modes (single-use, bulk, or combination) without requiring separate dedicated water supply lines for each mode.
2Reliability
If separate water supply systems are used for single-use and bulk dispensing, then each system operates independently, but manufacturing cost increases due to duplicate components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges duplicate water supply components into a single integrated system. The dispenser housing contains shared water supply conduits that serve both single-use and bulk dispensers, reducing the number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled while maintaining reliable independent operation of each dispensing mode.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual filling of single-use dispensers is required, then dispensing flexibility is maintained, but user convenience decreases and errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bulk dispenser is designed to automatically dispense treating chemistry without requiring manual filling by the user. The system includes a bulk dispenser reservoir that can be filled once and then automatically dispenses chemistry through the shared water flow path, eliminating the need for repeated manual filling operations while maintaining the option for single-use manual dispensing.
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 integrated system reduces redundancy in the water supply, enhances user convenience by allowing automatic dispensing of treating chemistry, and reduces the likelihood of errors, while maintaining flexibility for different wash loads and chemistries.
Implementation Method 1
a single water flow path supplying water to the dispensing system to flush treating chemistry to the treating chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus with a single water flow path suitable for a household cleaning appliance having both a non-bulk dispensing system and a bulk dispensing system.