Single-Pump Media Delivery With Flushing Line Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for conveying and flushing media in systems like dishwashers face challenges with chemical aggressiveness affecting pump longevity and require separate pumps for different media, leading to inefficient operation and maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A device with a rotatable actuator having multiple through-channels allows for switchable conveyance of media and flushing fluids, enabling efficient delivery of detergent, rinse aid, and water through a single pump, ensuring reliable operation and extended maintenance intervals by regular flushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate pumps are used for different media (detergent, rinse aid, water), then each medium can be delivered reliably, but the device complexity increases and maintenance needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple pump functions into a single pump unit by using a rotatable actuator with multiple through-channels that can selectively connect different media inlets (detergent, rinse aid, water) to the pump inlet and different media outlets to the pump outlet. This merging approach maintains reliable delivery of multiple media while reducing the number of pumps from three to one, thereby reducing device complexity and maintenance needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The single pump unit is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple different media (detergent, rinse aid, and water) by selectively switching its connections through the rotatable actuator. The pump can be configured to deliver any of the media to different targets (dispensers, flushing lines) based on the actuator position, making it a multi-functional component that replaces multiple specialized pumps.
2Adaptability or versatility
If chemical aggressive media are conveyed through hose lines in a pump, then the pump can handle detergent and rinse aid, but the hose lines are stressed and service life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary flushing action by automatically switching the pump to convey water through the hose lines after delivering chemical media (detergent or rinse aid). This preliminary flushing removes residual chemicals from the lines before they can cause significant degradation, thereby extending hose line service life while maintaining the ability to handle different media.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards chemical media from the hose lines by flushing them with water. The pump selectively switches to water mode to flush and remove (discard) residual detergent or rinse aid from the lines, preventing accumulation and chemical degradation. This recovering action extends the service life of hose lines while maintaining adaptability to handle different media.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If regular flushing of line paths is performed to remove media and extend service life, then hose line longevity increases, but additional time and operational steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous useful action by integrating flushing operations into the normal media delivery sequence. The pump automatically switches to water mode to flush lines after delivering chemical media, and then returns to chemical media delivery without requiring separate flushing cycles or stopping operations. This continuous operation minimizes time loss while extending hose line service life through regular flushing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs periodic flushing actions at predetermined intervals in the operational sequence. After each chemical media delivery (detergent or rinse aid), the pump automatically switches to water mode for a brief flushing period, then returns to chemical media delivery. This periodic action pattern ensures regular line cleaning without requiring continuous flushing, balancing service life extension with operational efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates, inter alia,to a device (10, 12) for the controllable delivery of at least one medium, comprising a medium inlet (24b, 16b) for the medium, which inlet can be connected to a medium supply, a medium outlet (24e, 16e) for the medium, which outlet can be connected to a destination container for the medium, a flushing medium inlet (24c, 16c), which can be connected to a flushing medium supply, a pump outlet (29a), which can be connected to an input side of a pump (35), and a pump inlet (29b), which can be connected to an output side of the pump (35). The device further comprises a final control element (13), which in a first control position (figure 19) provides a communicative connection between the medium inlet (24b) and the pump outlet (29a) and at the same time between the pump inlet (29b) and the medium outlet (24e), and which in a second control position (figure 21) provides a communicative connection between the flushing medium inlet (24c) and the pump outlet (29a) and at the same time between the pump inlet (29b) and the medium outlet (24e).