Washing Drum Water Supply Control for High-Concentration Washing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines face challenges in reducing washing time and improving washing performance, particularly in achieving high-concentration washing and efficient water supply without using a circulation pump.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design that includes a tub, a rotatable drum, a drive unit, and a control unit to manage water supply and drum rotation speed, allowing for initial low-water supply, high-concentration washing, and efficient rinsing-dehydration processes without a circulation pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If wash water is supplied into the tub to a high level before washing, then laundry can be sufficiently wetted, but washing time increases and washing performance decreases due to diluted detergent concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by accelerating the drum before water supply to create centrifugal force that draws water into the drum through holes in the drum wall. This preliminary drum acceleration enables effective water supply and detergent dissolution without needing to fill the tub to a high level first, thereby reducing washing time while maintaining washing performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes dynamics by changing the rotational speed of the drum during different phases of the washing cycle. The drum is accelerated to high speed during water supply to generate centrifugal force for water intake, then decelerated during washing to allow effective mechanical action. This dynamic speed control enables the system to achieve both efficient water supply and effective washing without prolonged washing time
2Ease of operation
If a circulation pump is used to supply wash water into the drum, then water can be effectively distributed, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the circulation pump from the washing machine system by replacing it with a drum rotation-based water supply mechanism. The drum's rotational motion itself generates the centrifugal force needed to draw water from the tub into the drum, removing the need for additional pumping components and simplifying the overall device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The drum serves a dual function: it not only rotates to provide mechanical washing action but also generates centrifugal force during acceleration to automatically draw water into itself through the holes in its wall. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for separate water circulation systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining water distribution efficiency
3Quantity of substance
If detergent is dissolved in a large amount of wash water, then detergent dissolves completely, but washing performance decreases due to low detergent concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by accelerating the drum before water supply to create centrifugal force that draws water into the drum. This preliminary acceleration enables the system to use a smaller amount of water for dissolution while ensuring complete detergent dissolution through the dynamic water flow generated by drum rotation, thereby maintaining high detergent concentration for improved washing performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of water amount from large to small by utilizing drum rotation to enhance water-detergent mixing efficiency. The centrifugal force generated during drum acceleration creates effective water flow that ensures complete detergent dissolution even with reduced water quantity, thereby maintaining optimal detergent concentration for high-performance washing
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 performance by using high-concentration wash water to quickly remove contaminants, effectively wets laundry with low tub water levels, and eliminates the need for a circulation pump, thereby reducing washing time and improving detergent dissolution.
Implementation Method 1
accelerating the drum at a rotational speed in a state in which the laundry is attached to the drum
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are a washing machine that is capable of having a reduced washing time and improved washing performance, and a method of controlling the same. The washing machine includes a tub accommodating wash water, a drum rotatably arranged in the tub and accommodating laundry, a drive unit for rotating the drum, a water supply unit for adjusting an inflow of the wash water, and a control unit, wherein the control unit drives the drive unit and detects an amount of the laundry so as to set a target water level, controls the water supply unit to supply the wash water into the tub such that the wash water is lower than the target water level, drives the drive unit to accelerate the drum at a rotational speed, and controls the water supply unit to supply the wash water into the tub until the target water level.