Induction-Heated Laundry Drum Structure for Stable Coil Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses using electric heaters or heat pumps for heating have inefficiencies and safety concerns, and existing induction heating technologies lack specific configurations for improved efficiency and safety in laundry treatment.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus employing an induction module with a coil mounted on the outer surface of a tub, utilizing a magnetic field to heat the drum, which includes a base housing and magnets to optimize heating efficiency and safety, with features such as increased coil density and stable mounting to prevent overheating and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If an electric heater is used to heat wash water, then washing performance is improved through increased temperature, but foreign substances accumulate on the heater leading to performance deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heating function from the wash water environment and relocates it to the drum structure. The induction heating module is mounted on the outer surface of the drum, heating the drum directly rather than heating wash water through an immersion heater. This eliminates contact between the heating element and foreign substances in the wash water, preventing scale accumulation and performance deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum acts as an intermediary between the induction heating module and the wash water/laundry. The induction module heats the drum, which then transfers heat to the wash water and laundry indirectly. This intermediary approach allows heating without direct contact between the heating element and the wash water environment, solving the scale accumulation problem.
2Productivity
If a heat pump is used to heat air for drying, then drying efficiency is improved, but the structure becomes complicated and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heating function from the complex heat pump system and implements it through a simpler induction heating module mounted on the drum. This eliminates the need for evaporators, condensers, expansion valves, and compressors, significantly reducing structural complexity while maintaining drying efficiency through direct drum heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical heat pump system with an electromagnetic induction heating system. Instead of using mechanical compression and phase change cycles, the induction module uses electromagnetic fields to directly heat the drum, achieving the same drying effect with a much simpler structure.
3Power
If induction heating is applied to the drum, then heating efficiency is improved, but the coil may overheat and deform without proper cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The drum serves as a thermal intermediary and heat sink for the induction coil. The coil heats the drum, and the drum's large thermal mass and surface area dissipate heat to the surrounding air and wash water, preventing coil overheating. This intermediary approach allows high-power induction heating while maintaining coil stability through passive cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards excess heat from the coil through the drum surface to the surrounding environment (air and wash water). This passive heat dissipation recovers what would otherwise be wasted thermal energy, cooling the coil without requiring active cooling systems.
4Power
If the coil is mounted close to the drum for efficient heating, then heating efficiency is improved, but the coil may disengage due to drum vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the coil mounting structure with the drum structure itself. The coil is fixed to the outer surface of the drum through a integrated mounting mechanism, ensuring stable positioning that maintains close proximity for efficient heating while resisting drum vibration. This merging of functions achieves both heating efficiency and mounting stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil is designed with a curved configuration that matches the cylindrical shape of the drum. This curved coil structure conforms to the drum surface, maintaining consistent proximity for efficient heating while the curvature distributes mechanical stress, preventing disengagement during drum rotation and vibration.
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 solution enhances heating efficiency, prevents coil overheating and disengagement, and ensures even drying of laundry, improving overall drying and washing performance while reducing the risk of short circuits and noise.
Implementation Method 1
an induction module provided at an outer surface of the tub and configured to heat a surface of the drum within the tub via induction
Implementation Method 2
a coil that comprises a wire through which an electric current is configured to pass so as to generate a magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treatment apparatus is configured to directly heat a drum containing laundry therein. The laundry treatment apparatus includes: a tub; a drum configured to rotate within the tub and to contain laundry therein, the drum being formed of a metallic material; and an induction module provided at an outer surface of the tub and configured to heat a surface of the drum within the tub via induction, the induction module comprising: a coil that comprises a wire through which an electric current is configured to pass so as to generate a magnetic field; a base housing configured to accommodate the coil therein, the base housing being mounted on the outer surface of the tub; an at least one magnet configured to be arranged above the base housing in which the coil is accommodated, and arranged to be lengthwise perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the wire of the coil.