Drain Hose Cross-Section Design for Quieter Washing Machine Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machines experience noise and turbulence during drain and spin-dry operations due to cavitation caused by air and water mixing in the drain hose, which affects the smooth flow of wash water and generates abnormal noise.
Innovation Solution
The drain hose is designed with a cross-section reducing part that divides the air passage into two separate spaces, preventing communication between air from the tub and the drain pump, and features a concave form with a planar surface to stabilize the separation, ensuring smooth water flow and reducing noise by blocking air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air and wash water mix inside the drain hose during draining, then the drain pump can pump out water effectively, but cavitation occurs causing abnormal noise and turbulence that prevents smooth water flow
Solution Approach 1:
The drain hose is segmented into a first drain hose and a second drain hose with different cross-sectional characteristics. The first drain hose has a larger cross-section to accommodate air-water mixture without cavitation, while the second drain hose has a smaller cross-section to prevent air from reaching the drain pump, thereby eliminating abnormal noise while maintaining drain efficiency.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a cross section reducing part is added to the drain hose to reduce noise, then abnormal noise is reduced, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cross section reducing part is integrated directly into the drain hose structure itself, merging the noise reduction function with the drainage function. This eliminates the need for separate components while achieving the dual benefit of noise reduction and maintained water flow, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the drain hose cross-section is reduced to block air flow, then air communication between tub and drain pump is prevented, but wash water flow may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The drain hose is designed with non-uniform cross-sectional characteristics: the first drain hose portion has a larger cross-section optimized for smooth water flow, while the second drain hose portion has a smaller cross-section optimized for blocking air. This local differentiation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
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
This design reduces abnormal noise during drain and spin-dry operations, enhancing drain efficiency by preventing turbulence and ensuring smooth water flow through the hose.
Implementation Method 1
If wash water with air mixed flows through inside the drain hose, cavitation occurs. The cavitation prevents the wash water from smoothly flowing or causes a turbulence that generates abnormal noise.
Implementation Method 2
The cavitation prevents the wash water from smoothly flowing or causes a turbulence that generates abnormal noise.
Data Source
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AI summary
A washing machine (1) capable of reducing noise generated during a drain operation or a spin dry operation with a simple structure. The washing machine includes a cabinet (10), a tub (20) disposed inside the cabinet to accommodate wash water, a drain pump (80) disposed at a lower side of the tub to drain the wash water contained in the tub, a first drain hose (100) connecting the tub (20) to the drain pump (80) to allow the wash water contained in the tub to be introduced into the drain pump, and a second drain hose (98) guiding the wash water, which is introduced into the drain pump (80), to outside the cabinet (10).