Clothes treating apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clothes treating apparatuses with drying functions face challenges in uniformly spraying solutions for wrinkle removal, deodorization, and clothes shape recovery, often requiring multiple nozzles and pumps, which can lead to inefficiencies and nozzle blocking issues.

Innovation Solution

A clothes treating apparatus incorporating a steam generator and a solution storing container, where steam and solution are sprayed through separate portions with outlets oriented at intersecting angles, creating a negative pressure area to atomize and mix the solution with steam, eliminating the need for separate pumps and reducing nozzle blockages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple nozzles and pumps are used to spray solution uniformly, then solution distribution uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases and nozzle blocking issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolution distribution uniformityVSAvoidnumber of nozzles and pumps

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the steam spraying portion and solution spraying portion into a single integrated spraying device with adjacent outlets. This merging eliminates the need for separate pumps and multiple nozzles, reducing device complexity while maintaining uniform solution distribution through the synergistic interaction between steam and solution streams

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Steam acts as an intermediary medium that facilitates solution atomization and distribution. The steam stream interacts with the solution stream at the adjacent outlets, creating a mixed stream that achieves uniform solution distribution without requiring complex pumping systems or multiple nozzles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If multiple nozzles are used to cover wide area, then solution coverage area is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolution coverage areaVSAvoidnumber of nozzles

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges steam spraying and solution spraying functions into a single device with adjacent outlets, creating a wide coverage area through the combined spray patterns of both streams without requiring multiple separate nozzles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the spatial arrangement of adjacent outlets oriented at intersecting angles to create three-dimensional spray coverage. This dimensional approach allows a single integrated device to cover a wide area by leveraging the interaction between steam and solution streams in multiple directions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Manufacturing precision

If steam sprays to control air pressure, then solution atomization is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolution atomization qualityVSAvoidsteam generation energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Steam serves as an intermediary that creates negative pressure at the outlet region, facilitating solution atomization. The steam stream's kinetic energy and pressure dynamics create a low-pressure zone that draws in and atomizes the solution, achieving fine dispersion without additional energy input for pumping

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes the steam generation process itself to create the negative pressure required for solution atomization. The steam stream self-regulates the air pressure and solution flow, eliminating the need for separate control mechanisms and reducing overall energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 configuration allows for uniform solution distribution across a wide area without the need for multiple nozzles, preventing solution-clothes contact issues and reducing noise and manufacturing costs, while ensuring effective treatment of clothes.

Implementation Method 1

the steam spraying portion is configured to spray steam to control air pressure at the outlet of the solution spraying portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure area creation: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

creating a negative pressure area to atomize and mix the solution with steam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAtomization:

Implementation Method 3

a steam generator configured to generate steam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSteam generation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 4

atomize and mix the solution with steam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMixing:

Data Source

PatentUS11486076B2Clothes treating apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A clothes treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a steam generator configured to generate steam, and a solution storing container configured to store a solution. The clothes treating apparatus also includes a steam spraying portion that is coupled to the steam generator and that is configured to spray steam and a solution spraying portion that is coupled to the solution storing container and that is configured to spray the solution. The steam spraying portion is configured to spray steam to control air pressure at the outlet of the solution spraying portion.