Laundry Water Supply Air Gap to Prevent Grid Flowback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing and washer dryer machines face challenges in preventing water flowback into the water grid when a vacuum is applied, often requiring complex and expensive double-membrane non-return valves to meet stringent regulations.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment machine design featuring a water supply system with an approximately vertical upright length and air gap in the supply duct, which prevents water flowback into the grid by allowing only air suction when a vacuum is applied, eliminating the need for double-membrane non-return valves and reducing structural complexity and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a double-membrane non-return valve is used to prevent water flowback, then the reliability of preventing water flowback is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of the double-membrane non-return valve (preventing water flowback) and implements it through a simpler alternative: an air gap arrangement in the supply duct. This removes the complex valve mechanism while retaining the protective function, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the expensive, complex double-membrane valve with a simple, inexpensive air gap configuration. The air gap is a passive, maintenance-free solution that achieves the same protective function at minimal cost and structural complexity, aligning with the principle of using simple, cost-effective alternatives to complex mechanisms.
2Reliability
If a double-membrane non-return valve is used to prevent water flowback, then the reliability of preventing water flowback is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a low-cost solution by using an air gap arrangement instead of an expensive double-membrane valve. The air gap requires minimal materials and manufacturing resources, significantly reducing production costs while maintaining the essential water flowback prevention function, directly addressing the cost contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
By extracting the core protective function from the expensive valve mechanism and implementing it through a simple air gap, the patent eliminates unnecessary manufacturing complexity and cost while preserving the reliability of water flowback prevention.
3Device complexity
If a vertical upright length with air gap is used in the supply duct, then the device complexity is reduced, but the length of the supply duct increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the supply duct by incorporating an upright length with an air gap. This vertical arrangement achieves the water flowback prevention function without requiring horizontal space, efficiently resolving the contradiction between simplified structure and increased length by utilizing three-dimensional space optimization.
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 effectively prevents water flowback into the water grid while meeting regulatory requirements, reducing the need for expensive and complex double-membrane non-return valves and ensuring efficient operation of washing and dryer functions.
Implementation Method 1
an approximately vertical upright length, with an air gap or interspace (10) formed between an upper tube end (11) and a lower tube end (12) aligned with and facing the upper tube end (11), so as to prevent a water flow back into the water grid
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A laundry treatment machine (1,2) comprises a laundry container (3) suitable to contain the laundry to be treated, a treatment device (4;32) that uses water and that cooperates with the laundry container (3), a first supply duct (6) connectable to the water grid and in communication with the treatment device (4;32), wherein the first supply duct (6) comprises an upright length with an air gap (10) formed between an upper tube end (11) and a lower tube end (12) aligned and facing the upper tube end (11), so as to prevent a water flow back into the water grid.