Drain Container Water Level Sensing for Overflow-Safe Clothes Care
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clothes care apparatuses lack a method to detect malfunctioning water level sensors in drain containers, leading to potential water overflow and lack of user notification.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes independent drain and recovery flow passages, with dual water level sensors and a controller to detect full water levels and sensor malfunctions, displaying alerts to the user and stopping operations when issues are detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single water level sensor is used in the drain container, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability decreases because malfunction cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The single water level sensing function is segmented into multiple sensors (first water level sensor and second water level sensor) positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows independent detection capability, enabling malfunction detection through comparison while maintaining the overall water level monitoring function.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors signals from both water level sensors and compares their readings. When a discrepancy is detected (one sensor indicates full water level while the other does not), the controller generates a malfunction alert feedback to the user, enabling real-time detection of sensor failures.
2Reliability
If drain and recovery flow passages are shared, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability decreases because water overflow cannot be properly prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The water flow management system is segmented into two independent flow passages: a drain flow passage for removing water from the care chamber and a recovery flow passage for returning condensed water to the care chamber. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination and ensures reliable overflow prevention by dedicating separate pathways for different water management functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain container serves as an intermediary component between the drain flow passage and the recovery flow passage. It temporarily stores water, allows for level monitoring, and enables controlled discharge through the overflow hole, acting as a buffer that prevents direct connection issues and ensures reliable water management.
3Measurement precision
If the water level sensor is positioned higher, then the detection range is improved, but the harmful factors increase because water may overflow before detection
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow hole is positioned below the water level sensor detection point, creating a preliminary discharge pathway. When water reaches the overflow hole level, it is automatically discharged before the sensor needs to detect the full level, preventing overflow scenarios and ensuring safe operation margins.
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
Prevents water overflow by independently managing water flow and notifying users of sensor malfunctions, ensuring safe and reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger disposed inside the main body and configured to condense air inside the main body
Implementation Method 2
a pump configured to pump out the water collected in the water collecting duct
Data Source
AI summary
A clothes care apparatus in which a drain flow passage and a recovery flow passage are configured independently of each other. The clothes care apparatus includes a main body, a heat exchanger disposed inside the main body and configured to condense air inside the main body, a water collecting duct configured to collect water condensed on the heat exchanger, a pump configured to pump out the water collected in the water collecting duct, a drain container configured to store the pumped water introduced from the water collecting duct by the pump and including an inlet through which water is introduced and an overflow hole disposed below the inlet and configured to discharge the stored water in the drain container, and a water level sensor disposed inside the drain container, configured to detect a water level in the drain container, and disposed below the overflow hole.