Detergent supply device for clothes processing apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing detergent supply devices in clothes treating apparatuses suffer from detergent leakage and deformation of sealing members due to assembly issues between components, particularly at the valve interface.
Innovation Solution
A detergent supply device with a valve structure that includes a sealing member with an integrated sub-sealing portion and a valve body that supports the sealing member, preventing leakage and deformation by ensuring a secure fit and effective sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing member is used to seal the valve opening, then detergent leakage is prevented, but the sealing member deforms due to detergent exposure and assembly pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is divided into multiple functional portions: an outer circumferential sealing portion covering the valve body outer surface, an opening sealing portion covering the valve opening, and a sub-sealing portion contacting the opening and closing member. This segmentation allows each portion to specialize in sealing a specific interface, distributing the sealing stress and preventing deformation while maintaining reliable sealing across all surfaces.
2Reliability
If the valve components are assembled tightly to prevent leakage, then sealing is improved, but assembly complexity and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-sealing portion is integrally formed with the opening sealing portion, creating a unified sealing member that combines multiple sealing functions in a single component. This merging eliminates the need for separate sealing elements at different interfaces, simplifying the assembly structure while ensuring comprehensive leakage prevention through coordinated sealing at the valve opening and outer surface.
3Reliability
If the sealing member covers the entire valve body, then comprehensive sealing is achieved, but the risk of deformation from detergent exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the sealing member are positioned to seal specific local interfaces: the outer circumferential sealing portion seals the valve body outer surface, the opening sealing portion seals the valve opening, and the sub-sealing portion seals the interface with the opening and closing member. This localized sealing approach provides comprehensive coverage while distributing detergent exposure across multiple small contact areas rather than one large continuous surface, reducing overall deformation risk.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a detergent supply device for a clothes treating apparatus including a detergent container, a detergent pump module including a detergent pump and configured to communicate with a valve opening, a valve body configured to communicate with the detergent container at one end thereof, a plunger provided to be movable within the valve body, an opening and closing member provided on the plunger to open or close the valve opening in response to a movement of the plunger, and a sealing member including an outer circumferential sealing portion covering an outer circumferential surface of the valve body, an opening sealing portion extending from the outer circumferential sealing portion to cover at least a portion of an end of the valve body and forming the valve opening, and a sub-sealing portion provided integrally with the valve opening at an end of the opening sealing portion and contacting the opening and closing member when the valve opening is closed.