Direct-Jet Nozzle Structure for Additive Delivery in Washing Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machine additive delivery systems result in low utilization efficiency and waste due to indirect contact of additives with the load, excessive water usage, extended delivery paths, and residue accumulation, leading to incomplete additive distribution.
Innovation Solution
An additive delivery device with a water supply waterway integrated on the housing, a nozzle structure outside the housing, and a power unit to directly deliver additives into the inner drum, combined with a nozzle structure that increases tangential acceleration for conical dispersion of the additive solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If additives are delivered through a water box connected in series to the water inlet pipe, then the additives can be flushed out by inlet water, but the delivery path is extended and residues increase, reducing actual delivery quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the additive delivery function from the traditional water box system and creates a separate, dedicated delivery waterway. This independent waterway directly connects the additive storage chamber to the delivery nozzle, eliminating the need for additives to travel through the extended water box path. The extraction principle resolves the contradiction by removing the harmful extended path while preserving the delivery function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the water delivery system into distinct functional pathways: a main water inlet path and a separate additive delivery path. The additive delivery waterway is divided into specific segments including the additive storage chamber, delivery waterway, and nozzle, allowing optimized flow control for each segment. This segmentation enables the additive solution to be delivered efficiently without mixing with the main water circulation path.
2Ease of operation
If the water box section is larger than the waterway, then inlet water can flush additives, but the flow speed is reduced and additives remain in the water box
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the dimensions and geometry of the delivery waterway to maintain high flow velocity. The delivery waterway is designed with appropriate diameter and length ratios, and the nozzle is configured to create high-velocity jets. These parameter optimizations ensure that the additive solution is rapidly delivered and flushed efficiently, preventing residue accumulation while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes hydraulic principles by designing the delivery waterway to leverage water pressure and flow dynamics. The system employs pressure-driven flow through the additive delivery waterway, creating high-velocity streams that effectively flush additives. The nozzle design incorporates hydraulic expansion and jet formation to maximize delivery speed and minimize residue, resolving the contradiction between flushing capability and flow speed.
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
Enhances additive utilization by direct contact with the load, reduces water usage, and increases coverage area, improving washing efficiency and effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a flow channel by which water in the jet pipe is guided to the jet outlet and tangential acceleration of water flow at the jet outlet is increased is disposed in the spray head
Data Source
AI summary
An additive delivery device includes a water supply waterway; and a delivery unit to deliver additives to the water supply waterway; an outlet of the water supply waterway being connected to a nozzle structure. A washing machine includes an inner drum configured to hold a load and the additive delivery device. An inlet of the water supply waterway communicates with a water inlet pipe, and the nozzle structure of the additive delivery device jets an additive solution towards the inside of the inner drum of the washing machine. Additives in the washing machine directly flow to the nozzle structure by the water supply waterway and are directly jetted into the inner drum by the nozzle structure without passing through a water box and an outer drum outside the inner drum, and then, onto the load in the inner drum to increase the utilization ratio of the additives.