Detergent delivery device and washing machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing detergent delivery devices in washing machines face challenges in simultaneously handling solid and liquid washing additives within the same delivery chamber, leading to issues such as water overflow, leakage, and residue, which affects user safety and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The proposed detergent delivery device features a water box with a boss having a notch to guide water flow, a check valve to prevent liquid leakage, and a cover plate with strategically placed water outlet holes to reduce residue and improve detergent dissolution, along with a window cushion to enhance detergent distribution within the washing machine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If water flow is guided along the supporting surface, then water flow guidance is improved, but water overflow and leakage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater flow guidanceVSAvoidwater overflow and leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful water flow path from the supporting surface by introducing a notch structure. The notch diverts water flow away from the supporting surface, preventing water from accumulating and overflowing. This separates the water guidance function from the supporting surface, eliminating the harmful overflow effect while maintaining proper water flow guidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The notch acts as an intermediary structure between the supporting surface and the water flow. It provides a controlled path for water to transition from the supporting surface to the liquid storage box, mediating the water flow in a way that prevents uncontrolled overflow while maintaining effective guidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the same delivery chamber is used for both solid and liquid washing additives, then device complexity is reduced, but residue and contamination increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery chamber structureVSAvoiddetergent dissolution and residue

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a specific region (the liquid storage box with notch structure) within the delivery chamber that is optimized for liquid detergent handling. This localized structure allows liquid detergent to be properly contained and dissolved, while the rest of the chamber can handle solid detergent, thereby maintaining reliability without requiring completely separate chambers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If water outlet holes are placed at the bottom of the cover plate, then detergent dissolution is improved, but residue accumulation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetergent dissolution efficiencyVSAvoiddetergent residue

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the water outlet structure by creating holes that extend from the bottom surface upward into the cover plate. This three-dimensional outlet structure allows water to flow through multiple levels, improving detergent dissolution by creating turbulence and contact, while the upward extension prevents residue accumulation by allowing residual detergent to be flushed out with the water flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution effectively prevents water overflow and leakage, ensures efficient detergent distribution, and improves the washing ratio by ensuring proper contact between clothes and detergent, enhancing user safety and experience.

Implementation Method 1

an upper surface of the boss is a supporting surface, aiming at blocking water flow splashing onto the supporting surface from flowing along the supporting surface, and guiding water flow into the water box

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

a check valve to prevent liquid leakage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

the detergent is firstly diluted by rinsing water flow, and then the diluted detergent is washed away

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11686035B2Detergent delivery device and washing machine

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 QINGDAO HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINE CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a detergent delivery device, comprising a water box and a liquid storage box, an inner side wall of the water box is provided with a boss protruding towards an inside of the water box and extending along an axial direction of the water box, an upper surface of the boss is a supporting surface, and the liquid storage box is placed on the supporting surface of the boss, and is pulled along an extension direction of the supporting surface, the boss is provided with a notch penetrating through the supporting surface, such that water on the supporting surface flows into the water box through the notch. In the present disclosure, the notch is arranged on the supporting surface, under the condition of not influencing the pulling movement of the liquid storage box, water on the supporting surface is guided to the inside of the water box.