Laundry treatment apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses with minimized volume face issues where impurities and bubbles generated during washing remain on the door, leading to reduced washing efficiency and potential user confusion about wash completion, and require additional components for removal, which can result in water leakage or backward flow when pressure increases.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus incorporates a washing unit that utilizes centrifugal force to wash the door and an ejection unit with a chamber system to guide water towards the door and drum, including a pressure reduction mechanism to prevent water leakage, ensuring effective removal of impurities and bubbles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the volume of the laundry treatment apparatus is minimized, then the distance between the introduction aperture and the upper end of the drum is reduced, but impurities and bubbles remain on the door

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume of laundry treatment apparatusVSAvoidimpurities and bubbles on door
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful elements (bubbles and impurities) from the door surface by introducing a water stream through the ejection unit that targets and removes these contaminants, separating the cleaning function from the main washing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces water as an intermediary substance through the ejection unit to mediate between the harmful bubbles/impurities on the door and the removal mechanism, using the water stream to carry away the contaminants

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If additional parts and flow channels are provided to remove impurities from the door, then impurity removal capability is improved, but the risk of water leakage and backward flow increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpurities on doorVSAvoidwater leakage and backward flow
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ejection unit, originally designed for ejecting water onto laundry, is made multi-functional by also directing water onto the door to remove impurities, eliminating the need for separate dedicated components for door cleaning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the door cleaning function with the existing ejection unit and water supply system, combining multiple functions into existing components to avoid adding separate flow channels that could leak

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 prevents impurities and bubbles from sticking to the door, enhances washing efficiency, and prevents water leakage, ensuring the user that the wash is complete and maintaining apparatus functionality.

Implementation Method 1

a washing unit for ejecting at least some of water moved toward the tub cover to the door using the centrifugal force generated while the drum is rotated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

an ejection unit with a chamber system to guide water towards the door and drum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow through chamber:

Data Source

PatentEP3112524B1Laundry treatment apparatus
Publication Date: 2018.01.24 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3112524B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3112524B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3112524B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a laundry treatment apparatus including a tub body for storing water therein, a tub cover for forming the upper surface of the tub body, an introduction aperture formed through the tub cover, a supply aperture provided in the tub cover for supplying water into the tub body, a drum rotatably provided in the tub body for storing laundry therein, the drum having an opening communicating with the introduction aperture, a door for opening and closing the introduction aperture, and an ejection unit for ejecting water introduced into the supply aperture to the door or to the drum.