Clothes treatment apparatus and control method therefor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses require multiple operations and result in detergent waste and high energy consumption due to the need for separate washing cycles for different fabric materials, and they struggle with efficient water management and detergent separation between main and sub-drum operations.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a detachable sub-drum that allows independent washing cycles using centrifugal force for water drainage, featuring a check valve that opens at specific RPM to prevent water mixing and reduce energy consumption by eliminating the need for auxiliary drainage pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sub-drum is added to perform additional washing courses, then washing versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-drum is detachably mounted inside the main drum, allowing the smaller washing chamber to be nested within the larger one. This enables two independent washing courses to be performed simultaneously in one apparatus without requiring separate machines, resolving the contradiction by providing versatility through nested structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The main drum and sub-drum can perform different washing courses (e.g., heavy duty and delicate) simultaneously, making the single apparatus universal for multiple washing needs. The detachable design also allows the sub-drum to be removed when not needed, maintaining versatility while simplifying the structure for single-use scenarios.
2Loss of substance
If separate washing courses are performed in main drum and sub-drum, then detergent waste is reduced, but water management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water management system is segmented into separate pathways for the main drum and sub-drum. The sub-drum has its own water inlet and drainage system, allowing independent water and detergent management for each washing course. This prevents mixing of detergents and enables optimized detergent usage for each fabric type without overly complicating the overall system.
3Device complexity
If centrifugal force is used for water drainage instead of auxiliary pumps, then device complexity is reduced, but drainage control precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system uses centrifugal force generated by the rotating sub-drum to automatically expel water through discharge holes, without requiring external pumps or complex control mechanisms. The centrifugal force self-regulates based on rotation speed, providing adequate drainage control for the washing process while maintaining system simplicity.
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 apparatus achieves efficient and separate washing cycles for different fabric materials, reducing detergent and water waste, and effectively manages water drainage without mixing, thereby enhancing washing performance and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a discharging area (70) forming a discharging path to selectively discharge the wash water held in the sub-drum (50) by a centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the sub-drum (50)
Implementation Method 2
a check valve (71) configured to selectively open and close the discharging area (70) by using an external force applied by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the sub-drum (50)
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus includes a tub configured to hold wash water, a drum rotatably supported in the tub and including a shaft disposed perpendicular with the ground, and a sub-drum detachably mounted to the drum and configured to wash laundry independently from the drum. The sub-drum includes a discharging area in which a discharging path is defined to selectively discharge the wash water in the sub-drum by a centrifugal force generated by rotation of the sub-drum. A check valve is included in the discharging area and is configured to selectively open and close the discharging area when acted on by an external force applied by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the sub-drum.