Bubble Washing Control for Low-Water Fabric Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional washing machines use large amounts of water and detergent, which can damage delicate laundry items like wool or silk due to excessive water and friction during the washing process.

Innovation Solution

A control method for a washing machine that generates a large number of bubbles using a small amount of water, allowing for efficient washing with high-concentration detergent on the surfaces of the bubbles, reducing water consumption and minimizing friction damage to laundry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a large amount of water is used to sufficiently wet the laundry, then washing coverage is improved, but water consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater consumptionVSAvoidlaundry damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of water from liquid to gas (steam), fundamentally altering how water interacts with laundry. Steam can penetrate and wet laundry without requiring large volumes of liquid water, thus reducing water consumption while maintaining effective washing coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase transition by converting water into steam through heating. This phase change allows water to be delivered in a gaseous form that can envelop and wet laundry surfaces without the mechanical impact and volume requirements of liquid water, solving both water consumption and laundry damage issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Productivity

If a large amount of detergent is used to perform high-concentration washing, then washing efficiency is improved, but detergent consumption and environmental impact increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewashing efficiencyVSAvoiddetergent consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the concentration parameter by using highly concentrated detergent solutions that are vaporized with water. This allows a small amount of detergent to be distributed evenly throughout the washing chamber as vapor, achieving high-concentration washing without the need for large volumes of detergent solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses vaporization and steam flow to distribute detergent uniformly throughout the washing space. The detergent-laden steam penetrates and coats laundry surfaces efficiently, achieving thorough washing with minimal detergent consumption compared to traditional liquid detergent methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Productivity

If the drum rotates at high velocity to spin-dry laundry, then drying efficiency is improved, but friction and mechanical stress on laundry increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidlaundry damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical spin-drying system with a thermal evaporation system. Instead of using high-velocity rotation to remove water through centrifugal force, the system uses heated air circulation and evaporation to remove moisture, eliminating mechanical stress and friction on delicate laundry items while maintaining drying effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If water level is raised to wet laundry thoroughly, then washing coverage is improved, but water consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewashing coverageVSAvoidwater consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses water phase transition from liquid to steam to achieve thorough laundry wetting without raising water levels. The steam vapor rises and condenses on laundry surfaces, providing uniform coverage without requiring the water tub to be filled to high levels, thus maintaining washing coverage while minimizing water consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

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 method effectively reduces water and energy consumption while improving washing efficiency and protecting delicate items by using bubbles as a cushion during the washing process.

Implementation Method 1

a circulation pump to circulate the detergent water in the water tub

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid circulation:

Implementation Method 2

an air bubble injector to inject air bubbles into a circulation path of the detergent water, thereby generating bubbles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBubble formation and mixing:

Data Source

PatentUS8522380B2Control method of washing machine

Publication Date: 2013.09.03 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a control method of a washing machine that performs washing using bubbles. The control method may generate a large number of bubbles using a small amount of water to reduce water consumption and transmit detergent water to laundry placed in the washing machine effectively and rapidly using high-concentration detergent on the surfaces of the bubbles, thereby reducing time and energy consumption and improving washing efficiency. The bubbles may act as a cushion to reduce friction between laundry articles, thereby preventing expensive laundry (such as wool or silk) from being damaged due to the friction between the laundry articles and between the laundry and water and preventing damage to and deformation of general laundry when washing the laundry.