Method for Reducing Energy Consumption in a Laundry Machine

Abstract

Method for reducing energy consumption in a laundry machine of the automatic type and comprising: a washing means to be rotatively driven by an electric motor during the agitation and spinning phases, and a control means which is operatively associated with the electric motor so as to instruct energization thereof. Said method comprises the steps of: providing energization of the electric motor upon start of each rotation of the washing means in a direction, with a certain percentage of the effective voltage of the electric power supply; maintaining the full energization of the electric motor during a predetermined period of time with an effective voltage at least equal to the certain percentage of the effective voltage of electric power supply to allow the electric motor and the washing means to reach a desired rotation regime; and adjusting the effective voltage applied to the electric motor to a value sufficient to maintain a desired rotation regime of the washing means.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention refers to a method for reducing energy consumption during at least one of the operating phases of a laundry machine, which can be of the top or front load type, by adjusting the effective voltage applied to the electric motor on basis of the operating regime to be applied to said motor during one or more of its operating phases. PRIOR ART [0002] As known in the prior art, the electric motors used in laundry machines are specified and designed to have the capacity of moving the whole mass composed by the mechanism of the laundry machine, including a washing means, which is formed in certain cases by a drum and an impeller which are rotatively driven by an electric motor, and by the load of clothes positioned to be washed inside the drum. During the agitation and spinning phases, the entire movable assembly of the machine, comprising the washing means containing the load of clothes, starts from a state of total immobility to a state ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method for reducing energy consumption during operation of a laundry machine by controlling the effective voltage applied to the electric motor in certain conditions of its operating phases. This is achieved by using an extremely simple and low cost electronic control that is driven by the control means already provided in the machine. The method reduces the value of the effective voltage applied to the electric motor in certain conditions at least in one of the agitation and spinning phases, and controls the triggering angle of a triac which operates as an electronic switch in the supply of electric energy of the motor. This results in a reduction of heat of the electric motor during operation, increasing its lifespan and reducing energy consumption of the laundry machine.

Problems solved by technology

It should be further understood that upon start of the electric motor in the agitation phase of the laundry machine, the energization of the electric motor is effected so as to produce a quick start, with a substantial increase in the current of the motor windings, reducing the lifespan of said motor and unnecessarily increasing the consumption of energy.

Current increase during start generally causes flickering of the lamps connected to the electric circuit that supplies energy to the laundry machine, mainly in case of the laundry machines that can rapidly reverse the rotation of the agitator during the agitation phase.

Thus, in the conventional laundry machines, the agitation and spinning phases are effected with the electric motor being supplied with 100% the effective voltage of the electric power supply and therefore receiving an amount of energy higher than necessary to maintain its operation within the designed nominal patterns of the machine, leading to an unnecessary consumption of energy, part of which being transformed into heat that is lost to the atmosphere and which tends to reduce the lifespan of the motor.

While prior art solutions are known to control the supply of energy to the electric motor, such system have a complex construction, modifying the characteristics of the energy received from the electric power supply and to be supplied to the electric motor during different operational phases of the laundry machine, requiring complex and high cost electronic arrangements, which are economically infeasible for some construction of laundry machines.

Said prior art method requires a more sophisticated control means and at least one rotation detecting means of the electric motor, increasing the cost of the end product.

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