Washing Machine Electrovalve With Collapsible Duct Walls for Freeze Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household washing machine electrovalves are prone to breaking due to freezing of wash fluid in cold environments, leading to operational failures and flooding, with existing solutions being costly or reducing fluid flow.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating collapsible walls within the electrovalve's duct structure to compensate for fluid volume expansion upon freezing, made of thinner or differently materials than the rest of the duct, ensuring the electrovalve remains functional and prevents flooding without obstructing fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heating means are added to prevent freezing, then the electrovalve can operate in cold environments, but the cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the vulnerable rigid duct portion and replaces it with a flexible hose, removing the need for heating means while maintaining reliability in cold environments. The flexible hose inherently accommodates freezing without requiring additional heating components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and properties of the duct material from rigid to flexible, allowing it to expand and contract with temperature changes and fluid freezing without breaking. This parameter change enables cold environment operation without adding heating means.
2Reliability
If elastic elements are added to compensate for fluid expansion, then the electrovalve can withstand freezing, but the fluid flow is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the need for internal elastic elements by extracting the vulnerable rigid duct and replacing it with a flexible hose that naturally accommodates expansion through its inherent flexibility, maintaining full fluid flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention moves the expansion compensation from an internal dimensional constraint (elastic elements within the duct) to an external dimensional solution (flexible hose that can change shape and position), preserving fluid flow while withstanding freezing.
3Ease of manufacture
If the electrovalve is designed with rigid duct structure, then manufacturing is simpler, but it breaks when fluid freezes and expands
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the duct material parameter from rigid to flexible, creating a hose that can be easily manufactured while inherently withstanding freezing conditions through its flexibility and ability to expand without breaking.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a flexible hose instead of a rigid duct, applying the principle of flexible shells to create a structure that is both easy to manufacture and reliable during freezing, as the flexible material naturally accommodates expansion.
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
The collapsible walls effectively prevent electrovalve failure from freezing fluid, ensuring reliable operation in cold conditions without increasing manufacturing complexity or costs, while maintaining adequate fluid flow and preventing environmental flooding.
Implementation Method 1
said collapsible wall being adapted to deform in order to compensate for an increase in the volume of the fluid in the duct upon freezing of the fluid
Implementation Method 2
upon freezing of the fluid
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates to an electrovalve (1) for supplying a fluid into a washing machine, in particular for household use, comprising a body (2) provided with a duct (C) for the passage of said fluid, said duct (C) comprising: - at least one inlet duct (10) for said fluid; - at least one outlet duct (20) for said fluid; - an intermediate duct (30) for connecting said at least one inlet duct (10) to said at least one outlet duct (20); said electrovalve (1) comprising intercepting means (40), in particular associated with said intermediate portion (30), for selectively allowing or preventing the connection between said at least one inlet duct (10) and said at least one outlet duct (20). The present invention is characterized in that said duct (C) of the electrovalve (1) comprises at least one collapsible wall (50A, 50B, 50C), said at least one wall (50A, 50B, 50C) being adapted to collapse and/or subside in order to compensate for a possible increase in the volume and/or pressure of the fluid in said duct (C), in particular upon freezing of said fluid.