Washing Machine Drum Speed Pulses for Detergent Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In washing machines, the initial detergent distribution is inefficient due to a significant portion of the recirculated liquid being retained by laundry, leading to lower detergent concentration and effectiveness on stains as the cycle progresses, with most distribution occurring in later stages at reduced concentrations.
Innovation Solution
The method involves temporarily increasing the drum rotation speed during the initial detergent distribution and recirculation stage to enhance liquid recovery and detergent penetration, using pulses of speed up to four times the normal orbital speed for brief periods, ensuring higher detergent concentration and better fabric exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the drum rotates at normal orbital speed during initial detergent recirculation, then the laundry is distributed in the drum, but most recirculated liquid is retained by the laundry causing detergent concentration to decrease rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The drum rotation speed is dynamically adjusted by introducing acceleration phases alternating with orbital rotation phases. During acceleration phases, the drum speed increases to squeeze liquid from laundry and enhance detergent penetration. During orbital phases, the drum rotates at normal speed for laundry distribution. This dynamic speed variation resolves the contradiction by temporarily increasing productivity during acceleration phases while maintaining acceptable detergent concentration during orbital phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing cycle employs periodic acceleration phases interspersed with orbital rotation phases. Each acceleration phase lasts approximately 5-20 seconds at speeds 2-4 times normal orbital speed, followed by orbital phases at normal speed. This periodic action allows the system to alternately maximize detergent penetration during acceleration and maintain laundry distribution during orbital phases, resolving the contradiction between maintaining concentration and achieving distribution efficiency.
2Productivity
If the drum rotates at high speed during initial recirculation, then liquid is squeezed from laundry and detergent penetration is enhanced, but the laundry distribution effect is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system alternates between acceleration phases (high speed for 5-20 seconds) and orbital phases (normal speed). During acceleration phases, high speed enhances detergent penetration by squeezing liquid from laundry. During subsequent orbital phases, normal speed restores laundry distribution uniformity. This periodic alternation resolves the contradiction by applying high speed only temporarily during acceleration phases while maintaining distribution quality during orbital phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum speed is dynamically varied between high acceleration speeds and normal orbital speeds. The acceleration phases temporarily increase speed to maximize detergent penetration, while orbital phases return to normal speed for laundry distribution. This dynamic speed control allows the system to optimize both penetration rate and distribution uniformity at different time points, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
3Area of stationary object
If recirculation continues for long period T, then more laundry areas are exposed to detergent, but liquid is progressively retained by laundry reducing available liquid quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts drum speed during recirculation by introducing acceleration phases. These high-speed phases squeeze liquid from saturated laundry areas back into the available liquid pool, counteracting the progressive liquid retention. This allows recirculation to continue for extended periods T with maintained liquid quantity, resolving the contradiction between exposing more laundry surface area and maintaining available liquid quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
Periodic acceleration phases are introduced during the recirculation period T. These phases occur at regular intervals to squeeze liquid from laundry and replenish the available liquid pool. This periodic liquid recovery allows the system to maintain sufficient liquid quantity throughout extended recirculation periods while continuing to expose increasing laundry surface areas to detergent.
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 ensures the detergent's initial high concentration is maintained, enhancing its effectiveness on stains and improving energy efficiency by maximizing detergent distribution and penetration in the first washing cycle stage.
Implementation Method 1
the drum (3) containing the load of laundry and rotating at a conventional speed V is subjected, for a period 5 in the range from 5 to 20 seconds, to at least one stage of rotation at a speed V1 equal to or greater than the speed V multiplied by a factor, which may or may not be an integer, in the range from 2 to 4
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A method for intensifying the activation of detergent in laundry in a washing machine (2), during the stage in which the detergent is introduced into the drum (3) while the latter rotates in the washing tub (1) of the machine at a speed V causing the laundry to be at least partially distributed within the drum (3), comprising the introduction into the tub (1) of a specified quantity of liquid for dissolving the detergent and the recirculation of this quantity of washing liquid with detergent by drawing the liquid from the tub (1) and subsequently introducing it so that it passes through the laundry, the recirculation taking place for a period T. The rotation of the drum (3) with the laundry comprises at least one stage at a speed of V1 ≥ KV for a period t which is less than T, wherein K is a multiplication factor, which may or may not be an integer, in the range from 2 to 4, including the extreme values.