Downstream Detergent Check Valve for Clothes Treatment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in consistently supplying the appropriate amount of detergent, leading to inefficient mixing, clumping, and potential damage to laundry due to direct contact with highly concentrated detergent.
Innovation Solution
A detergent pipe structure is introduced, connected downstream of a circulation pump, with a detergent check valve to ensure consistent detergent supply and prevent water inflow, allowing separate pipes for upstream and downstream detergent delivery, enhancing mixing efficiency and preventing clumping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If detergent is supplied to the bellows between the tub and circulation mechanism, then detergent can be indirectly injected into the tub, but mixing efficiency is limited and detergent may not be sufficiently dissolved
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent is supplied to the circulation flow channel before the water flows through the circulation mechanism, allowing the detergent to be pre-mixed with the circulating water. This preliminary action ensures that the detergent is already dissolved and uniformly distributed when it reaches the tub, improving both injection reliability and mixing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation water acts as an intermediary medium to transport the detergent from the supply point to the tub. By introducing the detergent into the circulation flow channel, the circulating water serves as a carrier that distributes the detergent uniformly throughout the system, enhancing dissolution and mixing.
2Device complexity
If both first detergent and second detergent are supplied to the same connection pipe, then detergent supply is simplified, but the detergents clump together and remain stuck in the pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent supply system is segmented into separate supply channels: one for supplying detergent to the circulation flow channel and another for supplying detergent directly to the tub. This segmentation prevents different detergents from clumping together in the same pipe while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different locations in the detergent supply system are given different functions: the circulation flow channel receives detergent for pre-mixing, while the tub receives detergent for direct treatment. This local differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally without causing clumping issues.
3Productivity
If detergent pipe is connected upstream of circulation pump, then water flow can carry detergent, but water flowing by circulation pump may be introduced into detergent pipe causing inconsistent detergent amount
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent is supplied to the circulation flow channel before the water enters the circulation pump, allowing the detergent to be mixed with the water in advance. This preliminary mixing ensures that the detergent concentration is consistent before the water-pump combination introduces the mixture into the tub.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation water serves as an intermediary that carries the detergent from the supply point through the circulation pump to the tub. By positioning the detergent supply in the circulation flow channel, the water acts as a mediator that ensures consistent detergent delivery despite the pump's operation.
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 ensures reliable and consistent detergent supply, improves mixing efficiency, and prevents detergent clumping, reducing laundry damage by maintaining a uniform detergent concentration.
Implementation Method 1
a detergent check valve that blocks an inflow of water flowing in the circulation flow channel
Implementation Method 2
a circulation pump that is disposed in the circulator and allows water of the circulation flow channel to flow to the tub
Implementation Method 3
a circulator including a circulation flow channel in communication with the tub and constructed to supply water discharged from the tub back to the tub
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a clothes treatment apparatus comprising: a cabinet; a tub disposed in the cabinet so as to store water; a circulation part communicating with the tub, and including a circulation path through which the water discharged from the tub is re-supplied to the tub; and a detergent supply part communicating with the circulation path through a detergent tube so as to supply a detergent, wherein a circulation pump is provided in the circulation part so that the water on the circulation path flows to the tub, and the detergent tube is connected, to the circulation path, downstream from the circulation pump and includes a detergent check valve for blocking the inflow of the water flowing on the circulation path.