What was the engineering breakthrough separating Cochrane's design from predecessors?
Answer
Combination of heated water, directed spray, and secure racking
The engineering significance of the 1886 patent lay in its systematic approach to non-abrasive cleaning. The core mechanism focused on using water pressure, not scrubbing. This involved heating the water in an attached boiler, spraying it onto dishes via jets fed from a rotary sprayer underneath, and ensuring the plates were held firmly in place by being positioned vertically within a wire cage. This holistic combination of controlled, heated water application and secure physical support constituted the engineering breakthrough that allowed for effective cleaning without causing the chipping she desperately sought to avoid.
Related Questions
What specifically motivated Josephine Cochrane to invent the dishwasher?What was the official patent document number for Cochrane's dishwasher?How was Cochrane’s 1886 dishwasher powered for operation?Which sector did Cochrane Manufacturing Company target initially for machine sales?What crucial factor distinguished Cochrane's design from earlier concepts?What industry was Josephine Cochrane's father, John Garis, involved in?What was the engineering breakthrough separating Cochrane's design from predecessors?When did Josephine Cochrane sell her company to the Hobart Manufacturing Company?What event showcased Cochrane's dishwasher to the wider public in 1893?How does Cochrane's motivation differ from a focus purely on labor reduction?