Rotatable Basket Blade for Controlled Laundry Liquid Extraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current laundry treating appliances, such as vertical axis washing machines, face inefficiencies in liquid extraction due to centrifugal force causing water to exit through perforations, leading to suboptimal water management during washing cycles.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating appliance with a rotatable basket and a blade outside its exterior, where the blade's rotation creates a suction force through perforations in the basket's walls to draw liquid out, allowing for controlled liquid extraction without excessive water loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the basket is rotated at high speed to extract liquid from laundry using centrifugal force, then liquid extraction efficiency is improved, but excessive water exits through the perforations leading to water loss
Solution Approach 1:
The inner and outer walls are made movable relative to each other, allowing the system to dynamically adjust between open and closed states. This enables the basket to switch between high-speed rotation for liquid extraction and a closed state for water retention, resolving the contradiction between extraction efficiency and water loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic opening and closing of the perforations during the washing cycle. The walls are moved to open the perforations during phases requiring liquid extraction, then closed to prevent water loss, creating a rhythmic pattern of extraction and retention that balances both requirements.
2Loss of substance
If the inner and outer walls are kept closed to prevent water loss, then water retention is improved, but liquid extraction from the laundry becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The movable wall structure allows the system to transition from a closed state (for water retention) to an open state (for liquid extraction) as needed. This dynamic capability enables the system to maintain water retention while periodically achieving effective liquid extraction when the perforations are open.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner and outer walls are positioned in advance to open the perforations before liquid extraction is needed, and closed beforehand to prevent water loss. This preliminary positioning ensures that the system is ready for extraction when required while maintaining water retention during other phases.
3Ease of operation
If a blade is added to create suction force for liquid extraction, then water management control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is integrated with the existing basket structure, merging the suction function into the already-present rotating component. This combination allows the blade to create suction force for improved water management while utilizing the existing rotational infrastructure, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating basket serves multiple functions: it contains the laundry, enables centrifugal extraction, and incorporates the blade for suction-based water management. This multi-functionality allows the single rotating structure to handle both liquid extraction and controlled water retention, improving water management control without requiring entirely separate systems.
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 liquid extraction efficiency by utilizing a suction force to manage water within the washing machine, reducing water loss and improving washing performance through controlled rotation of the blade and basket.
Implementation Method 1
A blade rotatable outside the exterior of the outer wall can rotate about the outer wall, when the inner and outer walls are in the first position, creating a suction force acting on the perforations to draw liquid from the treating chamber through the perforations
Implementation Method 2
the basket has perforations and is rotated at a sufficient speed to extract liquid from the laundry centrifugal force, which also causes water to exit the perforations
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation, comprising a basket defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry to be washed. The basket has multiple perforations through which liquid may pass. A blade can be rotated about the exterior of the basket creating a suction force acting on the perforations to draw liquid from the treating chamber through the perforations.