Bulk Washing Agent Tank Cleaning Circuit for Washing Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rigid bulk tanks in washing machines suffer from scale and dirt build-up due to prolonged washing agent presence, requiring complex removal and replacement, which affects capacity and shape, unlike disposable bags, but these are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic tank washing circuit that uses process water to clean the tank during the wash cycle, allowing for easy maintenance without removing the tank, utilizing a level sensor and volumetric pump to flood and drain the tank when empty, and a simple valve system to manage the cleaning process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid tank is used to store washing agent for multiple cycles, then the tank maintains its capacity and shape, but scale and dirt build-up occurs due to prolonged washing agent presence
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cleaning action by detecting when the washing agent level is low and automatically initiating a flood cycle with clean water to wash the tank walls before the next washing agent is introduced, preventing scale and dirt build-up
Solution Approach 2:
A level sensor provides feedback on the washing agent level in the tank, triggering the control unit to activate the pump and flood the tank with clean water when the level drops below a threshold, creating a closed-loop cleaning system
2Ease of repair
If the tank is removed for cleaning, then cleaning can be performed, but the tank capacity is reduced and re-insertion is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The tank cleans itself by receiving clean water from the washing machine's water supply system that floods the tank interior and drains out, eliminating the need for manual removal and cleaning by the user
3Object-affected harmful factors
If disposable bags are used instead of rigid tanks, then scale build-up is avoided, but replacement cost increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical disposable bag structure with a rigid tank that uses hydraulic flooding and draining mechanisms to achieve cleaning, combining the durability of rigid structures with the cleanliness of disposable solutions
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
Enables effective cleaning of the tank without removing it, preventing scale and dirt build-up, maintaining capacity and shape, and reducing water waste, with a cost-effective and simple hydraulic system that can handle tanks of any shape and size.
Implementation Method 1
a volumetric pump adapted to transport a quantity of process water from the tub to the bulk tank
Implementation Method 2
a hydraulic washing circuit for flooding and draining the tank for cleaning purposes
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a washing machine, such as a laundry washing machine, a washing/drying machine or the like, comprising a tub (1) housing a drum (2) into which the laundry to be washed is loaded, wherein the machine is equipped with at least one tank (3,3') for a washing agent, and at least one supply duct (6,6', 8, 8') is afferent to said tank for delivering the washing agent into the tub (1), also comprising a hydraulic washing circuit (5,5', 12,12A,12A', 14,14') for flooding and draining the tank (3,3') for cleaning purposes; the invention also relates to a tank cleaning method.