Drain Pump Access Locking in Washing Machines With Safe Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machines pose safety risks due to the potential for users to open the door during operation, especially when there is hot water or high liquid levels, and existing drainage systems can become obstructed, leading to unsafe conditions.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design featuring a blocking system that locks the door and window of the motor pump during operation, combined with a drainage system where the motor pump is integrated with the washing tub, allowing safe access only when conditions are safe, and a drainage channel for emergency liquid discharge without opening the plug.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the door is made accessible during operation for maintenance purposes, then ease of operation is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to risk of opening during hazardous conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking system dynamically changes the state of the door and window based on operating conditions. During operation, the blocking system engages to prevent opening; when operation stops and conditions are safe, the blocking system disengages to allow access. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction by making the system both safe during operation and accessible when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking system acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the door/window. It mediates access by selectively blocking or permitting opening based on safety conditions, allowing the system to maintain both safety during operation and accessibility for maintenance without direct user control over the hazardous state.
2Manufacturing precision
If the motor pump is integrated with the washing tub in a sole piece, then manufacturing precision and tightness are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor pump body is merged with the washing tub to form a sole piece, eliminating the interface between separate components. This integration removes potential leakage points and improves tightness, while the merged structure actually simplifies the overall device by reducing the number of parts and assembly steps despite the increased complexity of the integrated component itself.
3Ease of operation
If the drainage opening is made accessible from outside the machine, then ease of operation for clearing obstructions is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to exposure to hot water and high liquid levels
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking system dynamically controls access to the drainage opening through the window. During operation with hazardous conditions (hot water, high liquid levels), the blocking system prevents window opening. When operation stops and conditions become safe, access is permitted. This resolves the contradiction by making access conditional on safety conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking system performs preliminary safety verification before allowing access to the drainage opening. It checks operating conditions and only permits window opening when it is safe to do so, preventing user exposure to hot water and high liquid levels before the user even attempts to access the drainage opening.
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 user safety by preventing door opening during hazardous conditions and ensures safe access to the motor pump, while the integrated motor pump design reduces vibration and improves tightness, and the drainage channel allows for safe liquid discharge without exposing users to high temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a motor pump having a body, an electric motor to pump washing water coming from the washing tub out of the washing machine
Implementation Method 2
a blocking system able to block the opening of the door during an operation of the washing machine
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A washing machine (1) comprising a washing tub (2c), a chassis (1a) having a door (8) to access the interior of the washing tub (2c), a motor pump (4) having a body (4a), an electric motor (4d) to pump washing water (L) coming from the washing tub (2) out of the washing machine (1), a drainage opening (5a) in the body (4a), and a plug (7) coupleable with the drainage opening (5a) accessible from outside the washing machine (1) by a user to access the interior of the body of the motor pump (4a), wherein the washing machine (1) also has a blocking system (10) able to block the opening of the door (8) during an operation of the washing machine (1), and the chassis (1a) also has a window of motor pump (1e) so that the user can access the plug (7) of the motor pump (4). To make the washing machine safer, the blocking system (10) can also block the window of motor pump (1e) during the operation of the washing machine (1).