Dual-Wall Washer Basket With Float Valve for Compact High-Fill Washing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional laundry treating appliances with vertical axis washing machines are limited by the size of the tub, which restricts the volume of the basket and the amount of laundry that can be treated, as the tub must be filled with more liquid than necessary and extend the full length of the basket to capture escaping liquid during spin cycles.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a tub with a terminal edge and a dual-wall basket, where the inner wall has perforations above the terminal edge and at least one drain opening, using a float valve to control the liquid level and selectively open or close the drain to fill the basket above the tub terminal edge, allowing for efficient liquid management during wash and rinse cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tub is designed to extend the entire length of the basket to capture liquid during spin cycles, then liquid capture reliability is improved, but the volume of the basket and laundry capacity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The basket is divided into two separate baskets: an inner basket and an outer basket. The inner basket has a reduced length that does not extend the full length of the tub, while the outer basket extends the full length. This segmentation allows the inner basket to have greater laundry capacity while the outer basket captures liquid during spin cycles, resolving the contradiction between basket volume and liquid capture reliability.
2Reliability
If the tub is filled with liquid to a predetermined level during wash cycles, then filling reliability is improved, but water usage increases by up to five gallons per cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The excess liquid requirement is extracted and isolated to the outer basket, which collects liquid that would otherwise need to fill the entire tub volume. The inner basket operates with reduced liquid levels since it does not need to accommodate the full tub volume. This allows the system to maintain reliable filling operation while using up to five gallons less water per cycle.
3Device complexity
If a single basket extends the full length of the tub, then device simplicity is maintained, but laundry treatment capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The inner basket is nested within the outer basket, with the inner basket having a reduced length compared to the outer basket. This nested configuration allows the inner basket to provide additional laundry capacity while the outer basket maintains the full-length structure needed for liquid capture. The dual-basket nested design increases productivity without significantly increasing device complexity.
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 solution enables a more compact tub design, increasing the capacity of the treating chamber and reducing water usage by up to five gallons per cycle, as the tub only needs to be filled to a level that raises the float valve into a closed position, optimizing water usage and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
floating a float valve in the tub to a closed position to close drain opening
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a tub with a terminal edge and a dual-wall basket, with outer and inner walls, the inner wall having perforations above the terminal edge, and the basket located within the tub and having at least one drain opening in a bottom of the basket. The method comprising altering a level of liquid in the tub to correspondingly alter a height of a float valve in the tub to selectively open/close the drain opening to effect a filling of liquid in the basket above the tub terminal edge when the float valve is in the closed position.