Clothes treating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clothes treating apparatuses face increased manufacturing costs and operational inefficiencies due to the use of electronic valves, which also lead to steam backflow and air layer formation in the water supply pump, causing user inconvenience and potential breakdowns.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical valve is introduced in the flow channel to control water and steam flow independently of the control unit, opening during water supply and closing during steam generation, preventing backflow and air layer formation, thus reducing manufacturing costs and enhancing apparatus stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an electronic valve is used to control the flow channel, then the valve can be precisely controlled by a control signal, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electronic valve with a mechanical valve that automatically opens and closes based on pressure differential. The mechanical valve uses the pressure difference between water supply and steam generation to drive the valve body, eliminating electronic control components and reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining reliable flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical valve operates autonomously using the pressure differential between water supply and steam generation phases. The valve body is driven by the pressure difference itself, requiring no external control signals or power supply, thus simplifying the system and reducing manufacturing cost.
2Reliability
If the flow channel remains closed during steam generation, then steam backflow is prevented, but water supply operation is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical valve operates periodically, opening during water supply phases and closing during steam generation phases. This periodic action ensures the flow channel is open when needed for water supply, eliminating delays, while closed during steam generation to prevent backflow.
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 mechanical valve effectively reduces manufacturing costs, eliminates the need for driving current, prevents steam backflow, and stabilizes the apparatus by avoiding air layer formation in the water supply pump, ensuring consistent operation.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanical valve, rather than an electronic valve, reducing manufacturing cost. Also, according to the present disclosure, since the flow channel is opened when water is supplied to the steam unit and closed when steam is generated, using the structural characteristics of the mechanical valve
Implementation Method 2
the rod member is configured to be positioned on a lower side within the hollow portion by gravity when both the water supply pump and the steam unit are stopped
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A clothes treating apparatus includes a case (10) in which a treatment chamber (12) for holding clothes is provided, a steam unit (40) supplying steam to the treatment chamber, a storage tank (80) storing water to be supplied to the steam unit, a valve unit (800) disposed in a flow channel connecting the tank module and the steam unit, a water supply pump (605) generating driving power to transmit water stored in the tank module to the steam unit, and a control unit (60) controlling the steam unit and the water supply pump, wherein the valve unit opens or closes the flow channel by at least one of water and steam flowing in the flow channel.