Automatic detergent adding system and washing machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic detergent adding devices in washing machines are complex in structure, costly, and result in incomplete detergent dissolution, leading to inefficient washing and potential damage to clothes due to concentrated detergent application.

Innovation Solution

An automatic detergent adding system that integrates a detergent container with an automatic feeding device connected to the washing machine's water inlet pipeline, featuring a bowl-shaped pipe joint for preliminary mixing and a corrugated or spiral water conduit for extended detergent dissolution, eliminating the need for a detergent diluting box or water injection slot, ensuring full detergent dissolution before entering the wash drum.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a detergent diluting box or water injection slot component is arranged in the automatic detergent adding device, then the detergent can be automatically added and dissolved, but the structure becomes complex and the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic detergent addingVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the detergent adding function with the existing water inlet pipeline system. The detergent container is integrated into the water inlet pipeline, and the detergent is delivered through the existing water conduit to the outer drum, eliminating the need for separate detergent diluting box or water injection slot components while maintaining automatic detergent addition functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The water inlet pipeline and water conduit are made to serve dual functions: both water delivery and detergent delivery. The existing water inlet pipeline structure is utilized to also convey detergent from the detergent container to the outer drum, reducing the need for dedicated detergent delivery components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If the detergent is extracted and added directly into the outer drum without dissolution, then the structure is simple, but the detergent is concentrated and causes clothes fading while other clothes are not fully cleaned

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidclothes damage and uneven cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The detergent is preliminarily dissolved in water within the water conduit before being delivered to the outer drum. This preliminary dissolution action ensures that the detergent is properly diluted and mixed with water before contact with clothes, preventing concentrated detergent damage while ensuring uniform distribution for effective cleaning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Water acts as an intermediary medium between the detergent container and the outer drum. The detergent is first mixed with water in the water conduit, creating a diluted detergent solution that is then delivered to the outer drum, ensuring proper concentration and uniform distribution without direct concentrated detergent contact with clothes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Extent of automation

If the detergent diluting box or water injection slot component is used, then automatic detergent adding is achieved, but detergent coagulation and residue accumulation increases cleaning burden

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic detergent addingVSAvoidcleaning maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the detergent delivery function from the separate detergent diluting box or water injection slot component and integrates it into the existing water inlet pipeline. By removing the dedicated detergent reservoir and delivery mechanism, there are no separate components for detergent residue to accumulate in, eliminating the cleaning burden associated with maintaining separate detergent delivery components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Device complexity

If water flows too fast or mixing time is too short in the detergent diluting box, then the structure is simple, but the detergent cannot be fully mixed with water, reducing washing efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidwashing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The water conduit is designed with a curved or spiral configuration rather than a straight path. This curved geometry increases the flow path length and mixing time without requiring additional mixing components, allowing thorough detergent-water mixing while maintaining simple structure and preventing detergent residue accumulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 system simplifies the structure, reduces costs, and enhances washing efficiency by ensuring uniform detergent distribution, preventing clothes damage and improving cleaning effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a water conduit (5) connected with the outer drum. The tap water from the water inlet pipeline (3) is converged with the detergent while flowing through the pipe joint (4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

the tap water from the water inlet pipeline (3) is converged with the detergent while flowing through the pipe joint (4), and continuously flows through the water conduit (5). During such a process, the water is mixed with the detergent, and the detergent is dissolved and diluted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid mixing and dissolution: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP3354788B1Automatic detergent adding system and washing machine
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 QINGDAO HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINE CO LTD
  • EP3354788B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3354788B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An automatic detergent adding system and washing machine. The automatic detergent adding system comprises a detergent container (1) containing detergent, and an automatic detergent feeding device (2) connected with the detergent container (1), and also comprises a pipe joint (4) separately communicating with the automatic detergent feeding device (2) and a water inlet pipeline (3), a water conduit (5) communicating with an outer drum, and the pipe joint (4) is connected with the water conduit (5). The detergent and tap water in the water inlet pipeline (3) are converged in the pipe joint (4) and the water conduit (5) and flow to the outer drum, so that a water injection slot component in an original washing machine is omitted, the structure is simple, a series of problems caused by existence of the water injection slot component are avoided. The water and the detergent are mixed before washing, and thus washing efficiency is improved. In order to further mix the detergent with the water, the water conduit provided by the disclosure is set to be a special structure, so that the detergent is fully dissolved, the clothes washing efficiency is improved, and the problems that clothes fade and fibers of the clothes are damaged due to over high concentration of the detergent are avoided.