Laundry care device with a substance container

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laundry care appliances require manual addition of chemical bleaches, which can lead to improper dosing, unpleasant odors, and environmental issues, and do not provide a constant bleaching effect.

Innovation Solution

A laundry care appliance with a substance container holding a polyoxometalate catalyst that generates hydrogen peroxide through chemical reaction with washing liquid, allowing for controlled bleaching without manual addition of bleach, using a supply and discharge line system to circulate hydrogen peroxide-containing washing liquid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual addition of chemical bleach is used, then the user can add bleach to the dispenser bowl, but improper dosing and unpleasant odors occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual bleach additionVSAvoidunpleasant odors and improper dosing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically generates hydrogen peroxide through a catalytic reaction between washing liquid and a polyoxometalate catalyst in the substance container, eliminating the need for manual bleach addition by the user. The valve controls the automatic discharge of generated hydrogen peroxide to the tub, ensuring proper dosing without user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical action of adding bleach is replaced by an automatic chemical system where the polyoxometalate catalyst continuously generates hydrogen peroxide from washing liquid through catalytic reaction. This substitution eliminates improper dosing and odor issues associated with manual handling of chemical bleaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If chemical bleach is manually added to achieve bleaching effect, then laundry can be bleached, but environmental waste and odors are produced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebleaching effectVSAvoidenvironmental waste and odors
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the chemical parameter from traditional chemical bleaches to hydrogen peroxide generated in situ through catalytic reaction. This parameter change maintains effective bleaching while producing environmentally friendly byproducts (water and oxygen) instead of harmful waste and odors associated with conventional bleaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts ordinary washing liquid into beneficial hydrogen peroxide through the polyoxometalate catalyst, transforming a harmless substance into an effective and environmentally friendly bleaching agent that eliminates the harmful effects of traditional chemical bleaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of operation

If manual bleach addition is used, then the dispenser bowl receives bleach, but constant bleaching effect is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebleach applicationVSAvoidconstant bleaching effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The polyoxometalate catalyst in the substance container continuously generates hydrogen peroxide from washing liquid through catalytic reaction. The valve controls the continuous or periodic discharge of this generated hydrogen peroxide to the tub, ensuring a constant bleaching effect throughout the washing cycle rather than a single manual addition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

Ensures effective and controlled bleaching of laundry, eliminates the need for manual bleach addition, reduces environmental waste and odors, and maintains a constant bleaching effect, while preventing damage to laundry care substances.

Implementation Method 1

the substance container holds a polyoxometalate catalyst, which catalyzes the chemical reaction to form hydrogen peroxide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

the polyoxometalate catalyst oxidizes molecular oxygen tohyperoxide anions. The resultinghyperoxide anions can chemically react with water to form hydrogen peroxide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP3405609B1Laundry care device with a substance container
Publication Date: 2020.02.05 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3405609B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3405609B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3405609B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a laundry care device (100) with an outer tub (105) for receiving a washing liquid, a washing drum (107) arranged in the outer tub (105) for receiving laundry, and a substance container (117) for receiving a polyoxometallate catalyst (129). The substance container (117) is fluidically connected to a supply line (119) for supplying washing liquid to the substance container (117), and the substance container (117) is fluidically connected to a discharge line (121) for discharging washing liquid to the outer tub (105). The polyoxometallate catalyst (129) is designed to generate hydrogen peroxide by means of a chemical reaction with the washing liquid in order to obtain a hydrogen peroxide-containing washing liquid. The discharge line (121) has a valve (123) which is designed to fluidically separate the outer tub (105) from the substance container (117) in a first position and to fluidically connect the substance container (117) to the outer tub (105) in a second position in order to supply the hydrogen peroxide-containing washing liquid to the outer tub (105) and to allow a bleaching of the laundry in the washing drum (107).