Additive Pod Dispenser Compartment Design for Cold-Water Dissolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing additive dispensers in washing appliances often struggle to ensure complete dissolution of additive pods, especially during cold-water wash cycles, leading to residue accumulation and performance degradation.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a water inlet and a drawer frame with a compartment that positions the additive pod downstream from the water inlet, featuring a sidewall with concave surfaces forming an interior wedge, facilitating complete dissolution of the additive pod through controlled water flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If additive pods are used in cold-water wash cycles, then convenience and premeasured dosing are improved, but dissolution completeness deteriorates leading to residue accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of using additive podsVSAvoiddissolution completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The additive pod compartment is segmented into multiple surfaces including concave surfaces and a wedge-shaped interior that divide and direct water flow across different areas of the pod, ensuring comprehensive wetting and dissolution even in cold water

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different surfaces within the pod compartment are designed with different geometries (concave surfaces, wedge interior) to create localized water flow patterns that target specific areas of the additive pod, ensuring uniform dissolution across the entire pod structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If water flow is increased to improve dissolution, then dissolution completeness is improved, but water consumption and energy usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedissolution completenessVSAvoidwater and energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The compartment geometry segments water flow into multiple directed paths along concave surfaces and through the wedge interior, maximizing the utilization of available water for dissolution without requiring increased water volume or energy input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wedge-shaped interior and concave surfaces create self-directed water flow patterns that automatically guide water across the additive pod surfaces, eliminating the need for additional energy input or mechanical agitation to achieve complete dissolution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 configuration ensures improved dissolution of additive pods, preventing residue accumulation and optimizing the use of wash additives, even in cold-water cycles, thereby enhancing appliance performance and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The compartment may be positioned in downstream fluid communication with the water inlet... ensures improved dissolution of additive pods

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS10988889B2Additive dispenser for dissolving an additive pod within a washing appliance

Publication Date: 2021.04.27 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An additive dispenser of a washing appliance is provided herein. The additive dispenser may include a water inlet and a drawer frame. The water inlet may be positioned upstream from a wash chamber. The drawer frame may define a compartment to receive an additive pod. The compartment may be positioned in downstream fluid communication with the water inlet. The drawer frame may include a sidewall at least partially enclosing the compartment.