A washing machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machine technologies face challenges in efficiently transferring water from the tub back into the drum without using a circulation pump, leading to increased energy costs and longer washing times, while also trying to minimize detergent usage and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A spiral guiding member is positioned between the rear sheet metal of the drum and the tub, with an inlet at the side or center of the rear wall and an outlet at the center or side, allowing water to be transferred back into the drum using the rotational movement, eliminating the need for a pump and optimizing detergent distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a circulation pump is used to transfer water from the tub back into the drum, then water and detergent distribution is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the circulation pump from the system entirely, extracting the problematic component that caused complexity and cost issues. Instead of using a pump to transfer water, the invention relies on the drum's rotational movement to achieve water circulation and detergent distribution through the spiral guiding member structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the drum's own rotational movement to perform the water transfer function that would otherwise require a separate pump. The spiral guiding member leverages the drum's rotation to guide water from the tub back into the drum, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for additional powered components.
2Productivity
If a circulation pump is used to transfer water from the tub back into the drum, then water and detergent distribution is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the drum's own rotational movement to perform the water transfer function that would otherwise require a separate pump. The spiral guiding member leverages the drum's rotation to guide water from the tub back into the drum, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for additional powered components.
Solution Approach 2:
The spiral guiding member is positioned to utilize the natural water flow paths created by drum rotation, allowing water to move along the spiral path from the tub to the drum without requiring additional energy input. The structure aligns with the equipotential flow paths generated by the rotating drum.
3Use of energy by moving object
If water is transferred back into the drum using drum rotation without a pump, then energy consumption decreases, but washing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral guiding member uses a curved, spiral geometry to guide water flow. This curved path allows water to be efficiently directed from the tub back into the drum along the spiral trajectory, improving flow efficiency and reducing the time required for effective water circulation compared to straight or angular paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The spiral guiding member is pre-positioned between the rear sheet metal and the tub to intercept and guide water flow before it can simply pool at the bottom. This preliminary guidance structure ensures that water is continuously directed back into the drum throughout the washing cycle, maintaining effective circulation without requiring additional time.
4Productivity
If additional components such as pump, filter, hose are used to spray water onto laundry, then water distribution is improved, but device complexity and product costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the circulation pump from the system entirely, extracting the problematic component that caused complexity and cost issues. Instead of using a pump to transfer water, the invention relies on the drum's rotational movement to achieve water circulation and detergent distribution through the spiral guiding member structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The spiral guiding member serves multiple functions: it guides water flow from the tub, distributes water back into the drum, and works in conjunction with the drum's rotation to achieve detergent distribution. This multi-functional structure eliminates the need for separate pump, filter, and hose components.
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
This solution enhances washing and rinsing efficiency with reduced water and detergent usage, decreases energy consumption, and shortens washing times, while maintaining the drum's inner volume and eliminating the need for additional components, allowing for pressurized detergent distribution without a pump.
Implementation Method 1
the water in the tub is transferred back into the drum with the rotation of the drum
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) comprising a tub (2); a drum (3) which is disposed in the tub (2), which rotates around its own axis and wherein the laundry is loaded; and one or more spiral guiding members (5) with the rotational axis of the drum (3) being the center thereof which is fixed onto the rear wall (4) of the drum (3) so as to move together with the drum (3), which has at least one inlet (6) for taking the fluid in the tub (2) and at least one outlet (7) for transferring the fluid taken through the inlet (6) into the drum (3) and which connects the inlet (6) and the outlet (7) to each other.