Spray assemblies for dishwasher appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dishwasher spray arm assemblies have limited spray coverage due to fixed nozzle positions and orientations, leading to incomplete cleaning and increased energy and water consumption when attempting to improve coverage by adding more nozzles or increasing hydraulic power.
Innovation Solution
A pivotally mounted spray assembly with spinning nozzles that harness wash fluid flow using vanes to rotate and direct wash fluid in a circular pattern, providing improved coverage with fewer nozzles and reducing energy and water usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If more nozzles are added to increase spray coverage, then spray coverage is improved, but energy consumption and water consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spray arm is designed to rotate dynamically, transforming a static spray pattern into a dynamic circular coverage pattern. This rotation allows a limited number of nozzles to cover a much larger area over time, eliminating the need to add more nozzles to expand coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds the temporal dimension to spray coverage by rotating the spray arm. Instead of expanding coverage spatially by adding more nozzles, the system expands coverage through rotational movement, effectively using time as an additional dimension to increase the swept area.
2Area of stationary object
If hydraulic power is increased to improve spray coverage, then spray coverage is improved, but noise increases and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating spray arm dynamically distributes water throughout the wash chamber, achieving comprehensive coverage without requiring high hydraulic power. The rotational motion naturally disperses water droplets across different areas, reducing the need for high-pressure spraying that would generate noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The periodic rotation of the spray arm creates intermittent spray patterns that cover different areas at different times. This periodic action allows water to be distributed evenly throughout the wash chamber over multiple rotation cycles, achieving complete coverage with lower instantaneous hydraulic power requirements.
3Area of stationary object
If more nozzles are added to improve spray coverage, then spray coverage is improved, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating spray arm allows each nozzle to serve multiple positions and angles during rotation, effectively multiplying the coverage area of each individual nozzle. This dynamic utilization means fewer nozzles are needed to achieve the same total coverage, directly reducing water consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous rotation of the spray arm ensures that water is continuously distributed across the wash chamber without interruption. This continuous action maximizes the efficiency of each water droplet by ensuring consistent coverage over time, eliminating the need for redundant nozzles that would waste water.
4Device complexity
If fixed nozzle positions are used in rotating spray arms, then device complexity is reduced, but spray coverage has gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention resolves the contradiction by making the spray arm itself dynamic rather than complicating the nozzle configuration. The simple fixed nozzle positions combined with dynamic rotation create complete circular coverage, eliminating gaps without requiring complex adjustable nozzle mechanisms.
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 cleaning performance while reducing noise and energy consumption by ensuring better spray coverage with fewer nozzles and optimizing water and energy usage.
Implementation Method 1
A sidewall defines a venturi for drawing the flow of wash fluid through the inlet
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of vanes extend from the sidewall of the spinning nozzle for harnessing a force of the flow of wash fluid to rotate the spinning nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A spray assembly for a dishwasher appliance is provided. The spray assembly is pivotally mounted over a wash rack and includes one or more spinning nozzles for directing a flow of wash fluid onto articles placed within the wash rack. The spinning nozzles are rotatably mounted to the spray assembly and include one or more vanes that harness the flow of wash fluid to rotate the spinning nozzle. The spinning nozzle has one or more discharge orifices that direct the flow of wash fluid onto articles in the wash chamber in a circular pattern as the spinning nozzle rotates, resulting in better spray coverage with fewer nozzles.