Detergent Drawer Siphon Structure for Residual Water Drainage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Residual water remains in the liquid detergent containing unit of washing machines due to the siphon phenomenon only occurring at a predetermined level, leading to cleanliness issues and potential steam collection.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a siphon pipe with a cap protrusion and residual water holes that create a gap for water discharge, allowing only water to pass through due to its lower viscosity compared to liquid detergent, ensuring no residual water is left in the unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a siphon pipe is used to supply liquid detergent using siphon phenomenon, then liquid detergent can be supplied automatically, but residual water remains in the liquid detergent containing unit below the predetermined level
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid detergent containing unit is divided into two functional zones: the siphon pipe for automatic detergent supply and the heating element with drainage channel for residual water removal. This segmentation allows different mechanisms to handle different aspects of liquid management independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The viscosity parameter is exploited to differentiate between liquid detergent and water. The heating element raises the temperature of residual water, reducing its viscosity and enabling it to flow through the drainage channel, while the liquid detergent maintains higher viscosity and remains in the unit.
2Reliability
If the siphon phenomenon occurs only at a predetermined level, then the siphon mechanism works reliably, but residual water accumulates below that level causing cleanliness issues
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element acts as an intermediary mechanism that processes residual water separately from the main siphon operation. It heats the water to change its physical properties, enabling drainage without interfering with the siphon phenomenon that occurs at the predetermined level.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage channel extracts residual water from the liquid detergent containing unit through the heating element. This separation removes the harmful residual water accumulation while preserving the main liquid detergent supply function.
3Productivity
If steam is collected in the liquid detergent containing unit during steam washing or drying, then steam generation is efficient, but contamination occurs in the detergent unit
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element serves a dual function: it drains residual water and simultaneously evaporates any steam or moisture that enters the liquid detergent containing unit during steam washing or drying operations. This self-service approach maintains detergent cleanliness without additional protective structures.
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 removes residual water from the liquid detergent containing unit during washing, maintaining cleanliness and preventing steam collection, while allowing the liquid detergent to remain in the unit.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid detergent containing unit moves the liquid detergent diluted in the water using a siphon phenomenon. The liquid detergent containing unit may include a siphon pipe to induce a siphon action
Implementation Method 2
allowing only water to pass through due to its lower viscosity compared to liquid detergent
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A detergent supply apparatus (100) and a washing machine having the same wherein residual water is not present in a liquid detergent containing unit. The detergent supply apparatus (100) includes a detergent box (120) and at least one liquid detergent containing unit (150) provided in the detergent box to move a liquid detergent using a siphon phenomenon. The liquid detergent containing unit includes a siphon pipe to induce a siphon action, a siphon cap (157) coupled to the siphon pipe, and at least one residual water hole formed through a bottom of the liquid detergent containing unit. The siphon cap (157) includes at least one cap protrusion configured to be fitted into the residual water hole. A gap is defined between the residual water hole and the cap protrusion such that residual water is discharged from the liquid detergent containing unit through the gap.