Spray arm and washing appliance having same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing washing appliances often fail to effectively clean non-standardly sized or positioned tableware due to the limited cleaning trajectory of their spray arms, leading to dead spaces and inefficient cleaning performance.

Innovation Solution

A spray arm design featuring a main spray arm and multiple auxiliary spray arms, connected via ball assemblies, which allows for increased water spray volume and adjustable rotation to cover a larger area, ensuring comprehensive cleaning and improved operational reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single spray arm with fixed trajectory is used, then the structure is simple, but dead spaces are created and cleaning coverage is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespray arm structureVSAvoidcleaning coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The spray arm is divided into a main spray arm and multiple auxiliary spray arms that can independently rotate. This segmentation allows each arm to cover different areas, eliminating dead spaces while maintaining overall structural simplicity. The main spray arm provides baseline coverage while auxiliary arms add rotational coverage to reach previously inaccessible areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary spray arms are designed to rotate dynamically around the main spray arm rather than being fixed. This dynamic configuration allows the spray system to adapt its coverage area and angle, ensuring comprehensive cleaning of tableware regardless of size or position without requiring a complex fixed multi-arm structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If satellite-type spray arms or water wall are employed to improve cleaning performance, then cleaning coverage is enhanced, but the structure becomes complicated and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidspray arm structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The main spray arm serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural support, a spray source, and a rotational axis for the auxiliary spray arms. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, achieving enhanced cleaning coverage without the structural complexity and cost of satellite-type spray arms or water wall systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary spray arms are nested on the main spray arm, with the main arm serving as the central structure and auxiliary arms attached along its length. This nested configuration allows multiple spray sources to be integrated into a single compact unit, improving coverage while avoiding the complexity of separate satellite arms or water wall structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Productivity

If auxiliary spray arms are added to increase water spray volume, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the overall height of the spray arm increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidspray arm height

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of extending auxiliary spray arms vertically (increasing height), they are arranged to rotate horizontally around the main spray arm. This dimensional change allows the system to increase water spray volume and coverage area without increasing the overall height of the spray arm assembly, maintaining compatibility with standard dishwasher configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting structure between main and auxiliary spray arms uses a flexible ball assembly that allows rotational movement within a compact space. This flexible connection enables the auxiliary arms to achieve wide rotational coverage while maintaining a compact vertical profile, preventing increase in overall spray arm height.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 design enhances cleaning effectiveness by increasing water spray volume, reducing friction and noise, and allowing for better coverage of tableware surfaces, while also reducing the overall height of the spray arm to increase dishwasher capacity.

Implementation Method 1

the auxiliary spray arms can rotate relative to the main spray arm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling friction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS11412913B2Spray arm and washing appliance having same

Publication Date: 2022.08.16 FOSHAN SHUNDE MIDEA WASHING APPLIANCES MANUFACTURING CO LTD

AI summary

Provided are a spray arm and a washing appliance having same. The spray arm comprises a main spray arm, a plurality of auxiliary spray arms and rolling ball assemblies, and each of the auxiliary spray arms is connected to the main spray arm, the auxiliary spray arms may rotate relative to the main spray arm, and the rolling ball assemblies are disposed at connecting and fitting parts between each of the auxiliary spray arms and the main spray arm.