Laundry treating appliance with a bellows

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current laundry treating appliances, such as combination washers/dryers, experience lint accumulation on the annular bellows, leading to aesthetic issues and unnecessary service calls, as existing configurations and methods fail to address this problem effectively.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method that directs drying air through a deflection component to create a circumferential airflow around the chassis opening, which reduces lint accumulation by blowing air in a circumferential direction along the inner peripheral surface of the bellows.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a bellows is used in a laundry treating appliance, then the appliance can effectively seal and close the access opening during operation, but lint accumulates on the bellows surface causing aesthetic issues and unnecessary service calls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidlint accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs pneumatic means by using a blower to generate air flow that is directed along the bellows surface. This air flow creates a protective barrier that prevents lint from adhering to the bellows, thereby maintaining its aesthetic appearance while preserving the sealing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by directing air flow along the bellows surface before lint can accumulate. The air flow continuously acts as a protective measure, preventing lint adhesion in advance rather than addressing accumulation after it occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If air is blown in a circumferential direction along the inner peripheral surface of the bellows, then lint accumulation is reduced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelint accumulationVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by directing air flow only along specific portions of the bellows surface where lint accumulation is most problematic. The air flow is targeted at the inner peripheral surface and key exterior areas, rather than uniformly treating the entire bellows structure, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The air flow is applied locally to specific areas of the bellows where lint accumulation occurs, rather than uniformly across the entire appliance. This localized approach concentrates energy where needed to prevent lint adhesion on the bellows while minimizing overall energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 approach significantly reduces lint accumulation around the chassis opening, enhancing the appliance's appearance and preventing mistaken identification of lint as a fault, thereby minimizing unnecessary service calls.

Implementation Method 1

a blowing of air in a circumferential direction along the inner peripheral surface around the chassis opening

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAirflow: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11814774B2Laundry treating appliance with a bellows

Publication Date: 2023.11.14 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

A laundry treating appliance comprising a chassis including a chassis opening, a tub with a tub opening, a drum defining a treating chamber, an annular bellows extending between the tub opening and the chassis opening having an inner peripheral surface, a closure to selectively open/close the chassis opening, and an air recirculating system including a recirculating conduit and deflection component that can crate a circumferential airflow about the annular bellows.