Drum Washing Control Using Bubbles to Raise Wash Liquid Level
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines face challenges in efficiently transmitting wash liquid to laundry due to high water consumption and structural limitations, leading to inefficient washing and energy usage, especially when trying to raise water levels without additional water.
Innovation Solution
A control method for a washing machine that generates bubbles in the wash liquid and utilizes drum rotation to increase the water level, allowing for effective transmission of high-concentration wash liquid to laundry while minimizing water usage, by circulating the wash liquid and adjusting drum rotation speeds based on laundry load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If water is supplied into the water tub to perform washing, then washing operation can be performed, but water consumption increases and detergent usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of wash liquid by generating bubbles, transforming liquid wash liquid into a foamy state. This parameter change allows the same amount of water to occupy more volume and contact more laundry surface area, improving washing efficiency without increasing water consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces air bubbles into the wash liquid, adding a gaseous phase dimension to the liquid wash medium. This creates a three-phase system (liquid, gas, solid laundry) that enhances the washing action through bubble rupture and improved liquid distribution, achieving better washing with less water
2Volume of moving object
If the water level is raised without additional water, then wash liquid can be transmitted to laundry at the center, but it is difficult to raise the level due to structural characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses bubble generation to change the effective volume of wash liquid. Bubbles increase the volume occupancy of the wash liquid without adding more water, allowing the liquid level to rise and reach the laundry at the drum center through the existing structural constraints
Solution Approach 2:
Air bubbles act as an intermediary substance that facilitates the rise of wash liquid level. The bubbles mix with the wash liquid to create foam, which has lower density and can rise more easily, enabling the wash liquid to reach higher levels without additional water or structural modification
3Quantity of substance
If detergent is supplied with wash water, then washing can be performed, but detergent is not efficiently transmitted and concentration drops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration distribution of detergent by creating bubbles. The bubble formation process concentrates detergent at the bubble interfaces and during bubble rupture, maintaining high local detergent concentrations that effectively contact the laundry, preventing concentration drop
Solution Approach 2:
The bubble generation and rupture process creates mechanical agitation and vibration that enhances detergent transmission. The dynamic motion of bubbles rising and bursting distributes detergent more uniformly and efficiently throughout the wash liquid and onto the laundry, improving transmission effectiveness
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 approach enhances washing efficiency by rapidly transmitting high-concentration wash liquid to laundry, reducing water and energy consumption, and optimizing washing operations for delicate items by adjusting bubble generation and drum rotation times.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation unit to circulate the water supplied into the water tub... forcibly generating bubbles using the wash liquid
Implementation Method 2
maximizes the increase in volume of wash liquid using the generation of bubbles and the rotation of a drum to raise the water level of the wash liquid without additional water
Implementation Method 3
a drum rotatably installed in the water tub to receive laundry... rotating the drum installed in the water tub to increase a volume of the wash liquid
Implementation Method 4
transmitting the wash liquid bubbles to laundry... effectively rapidly transmit the wash liquid to laundry
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a control method thereof. The control method effectively transmits high-concentration wash liquid to laundry, while minimizing the amount of water used, through washing using bubbles, and maximizes the increase in volume of the wash liquid rubbed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum using the generation of bubbles and the rotation of the drum to raise the water level of the wash liquid without additional water.