Dishwasher Spray Arm Coupling for Height-Adjustable Baskets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dishwashers with height-adjustable washing baskets and coupling devices on the rear wall face space constraints and inefficiencies due to permanently affixed spray pipes that occupy space and limit mobility.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher design featuring a coupling device with a movable coupling part that integrates with the spraying arm's hub, allowing for adjustable height positions and disconnection for basket movement, utilizing self-closing valve flaps and a rigid self-supporting spray pipe for efficient water flow and basket adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a coupling device is arranged on the rear wall of the washing chamber to provide height-adjustable washing baskets, then the washing basket can be adjusted to different height positions, but the coupling device occupies space that encroaches upon the capacity of the washing basket
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is extracted from the rear wall of the washing chamber and relocated to the front, allowing the rear wall space to be fully utilized for washing basket capacity while maintaining the height adjustment functionality through the new front-mounted coupling mechanism
2Ease of operation
If a spray pipe is permanently affixed on the underside of the washing basket to accompany displacement motions, then the spray pipe can deliver water to the spraying arm, but the spray pipe has a long length that occupies space and the rear mouth positions are not distinct due to basket mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The spray pipe system is segmented into a fixed part mounted on the front wall and a movable coupling part integrated with the spraying arm hub, allowing the pipe to be shorter while maintaining water delivery functionality through the modular connection that moves with the basket
Solution Approach 2:
A coupling device acts as an intermediary between the fixed spray pipe mounting and the movable spraying arm, providing a docking mechanism that maintains distinct rear mouth positions and enables reliable water connection despite basket mobility
3Ease of operation
If a coupling device is mounted on the rear wall to allow disconnection for basket movement, then the basket can be pulled out for loading and unloading, but the coupling device occupies space and complicates the arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting the coupling device on the rear wall, the invention inverts the arrangement by mounting it on the front wall, which simplifies the overall structure, maintains disconnection capability for basket accessibility, and eliminates space occupation issues in the rear wall area
Data Source
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AI summary
A dishwasher comprising a spraying system (16) having spraying arms which are rotatably attached to a hub (19) adjoining a washing basket which is displaceable in the depth direction through the opening and is transposable in the height direction. A spray feed pipe supplies washing liquid to the spraying arm, the spraying system incorporating a coupling device (25) for the disconnection and connection of the spray feed pipe to/from the spraying arm in order to allow, on the one hand, the displacement motion of the washing basket in the depth direction and, on the other hand, the transposability of the washing basket in the height direction. The coupling device consists of alternative coupling members (30, 31) for the respective height position, and a coupling part (26) which is fixed relative to the housing and a coupling part which is movable together with the washing basket. Said movable coupling part is attached to the hub (19) for the spraying arm (18) on the height-adjustable washing basket (9), and the spray feed pipe has a fixed spray pipe part (24) projecting from a wall in the dishwasher housing, in the pushed-in position of the washing basket, as far as the hub. The fixed coupling part (26) is fitted on the hub-facing end (27) of the projecting spray pipe part (24).