Dishwasher Spray Arm Feed-Channel Filtration Against Nozzle Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dishwasher spray arms often experience blockages due to larger dirt particles that bypass filters and get stuck in the nozzles, leading to poor cleaning results and potential damage to the spray arm's rotation mechanism.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating filter means within the feed channel of the spray arm, either individually near each nozzle or spanning the entire cross-section, to catch and retain larger dirt particles before they reach the nozzles, ensuring unobstructed flow and preventing blockages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If filters are provided in the sump of the washing compartment, then smaller dirt particles can be removed from the cleaning liquid, but larger dirt particles still manage to bypass the filters and reach the spray nozzles
Solution Approach 1:
The filter means is integrated within the feed channel of the spray arm, creating a nested filtering system where the spray arm contains the feed channel which in turn contains the filter means. This multi-level nesting approach allows filters at different locations (sump and spray arm) to work together, capturing particles of different sizes and preventing blockages more effectively than a single filtering stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a spatial dimension to the filtering system by placing filter means both in the sump and within the spray arm's feed channel. This two-dimensional filtering arrangement creates multiple barriers along the flow path, increasing the probability that larger particles will be captured before reaching the nozzles.
2Quantity of substance
If the feed channel width is several centimeters and spray nozzles have millimeter-range opening sizes, then flow capacity is maintained, but larger dirt particles can easily reach and block the small nozzle openings
Solution Approach 1:
The filter means is positioned within the feed channel upstream of the spray nozzles, performing preliminary filtration of the cleaning liquid before it reaches the narrow nozzle openings. This preliminary action removes larger dirt particles from the flow, preventing them from causing blockages in the millimeter-sized nozzle openings while maintaining the centimeter-scale feed channel width for adequate flow capacity.
3Reliability
If filter means are provided within the feed channel of the spray arm, then larger dirt particles can be effectively prevented from reaching spray nozzles, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter means is merged with the feed channel structure of the spray arm, integrating the filtering function into the existing flow path components. This merging approach allows the filter to be part of the spray arm assembly without requiring completely separate filtering systems, thereby improving nozzle blockage prevention while limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed channel serves multiple functions: it transports cleaning liquid from the inlet to the spray nozzles and simultaneously houses the filter means for particle removal. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, achieving improved reliability through enhanced filtration while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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
Effectively prevents larger dirt particles from reaching the spray nozzles, maintaining optimal cleaning performance and minimizing the risk of nozzle blockages, while allowing smaller particles to pass through, thus ensuring adequate flow and reducing manufacturing costs through integral or insert filter designs.
Implementation Method 1
filter means are located within the feed channel between the inlet and the spray nozzle... any dirt particles that have reached the spray arm can be caught and retained in a portion of the spray arm where they do not cause any notable deterioration of the flow
Data Source
AI summary
A spray arm for a dishwasher is described in which the spray arm may include an inlet for a cleaning liquid, at least one spray nozzle and a feed channel for feeding the cleaning liquid from the inlet to the spray nozzle. In order to prevent larger dirt particles from reaching any of the spray nozzles, a filter may be provided within the feed channel between the inlet and the spray nozzle.