Laundry treating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in assembling the detergent path efficiently and preventing water leakage, particularly due to the use of clamps and the risk of water discharge from traps during pressure changes.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates an insulating body connecting the cabinet inlet with the tub inlet, along with an elastic inlet pipe and discharge pipe, and a connector made of a different material, designed to enhance coupling force and minimize water leakage through a connector with specific surface thickness and protrusion features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clamp is used to fix the detergent path to the detergent storage and tub, then the connection is secure, but the assembly time is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is extracted from the connection system and replaced with a direct insertion structure. The detergent path is designed with insertion portions that directly fit into the detergent storage and tub without requiring external fastening members, thereby eliminating assembly time while maintaining connection security through precise geometric fitting.
Solution Approach 2:
The detergent path is segmented into distinct portions: a first insertion portion for the detergent storage and a second insertion portion for the tub. This segmentation allows each portion to be independently designed for optimal insertion and connection, enabling quick assembly while ensuring secure connections at both interfaces.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the trap is provided in the detergent path to prevent bubble discharge, then bubble prevention is achieved, but water leakage risk increases when door opens and pressure changes
Solution Approach 1:
An insulator is introduced as an intermediary component between the trap and the tub. The insulator receives water discharged from the trap and directs it to a predetermined location, preventing direct leakage into areas where it would cause damage or user concern. This mediator resolves the conflict between maintaining trap functionality and preventing water leakage issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The water discharge from the trap, which was previously a harmful effect causing user concern, is converted into a controlled flow path through the insulator. The insulator guides the discharged water to a safe discharge location, transforming the potential harm into a controlled and predictable fluid flow that does not cause user concern or damage.
3Ease of operation
If elastic material is used for inlet pipe and discharge pipe, then flexibility and ease of installation are improved, but coupling strength and leakage resistance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system uses a composite structure combining elastic pipes with a rigid insulator. The elastic inlet pipe and discharge pipe provide flexibility and ease of installation, while the rigid insulator provides structural support and leakage resistance. This composite approach allows each material to contribute its advantageous properties to the overall system performance.
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 design simplifies the assembly of the detergent path, reduces the risk of water leakage, and effectively directs water from traps back to the tub during pressure changes, preventing misunderstandings about detergent storage damage.
Implementation Method 1
an inlet pipe of an elastic material provided to pass through the insulating body, a discharge pipe of an elastic material discharging a detergent from a detergent storage
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet with an inlet; a tub configured to receive water, having a tub inlet facing the inlet; a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub, configured to receive laundry, and having a drum inlet facing the inlet; a storage provided inside the cabinet and configured to store detergent; a discharge pipe configured to discharge the detergent to an outside of the storage, made of an elastic body; an insulating body connecting the inlet with the tub inlet; an inlet pipe made of an elastic body, passing through a circumferential surface of the insulating body; and a connector having one end inserted into the discharge pipe and the other end inserted into the inlet pipe to connect the discharge pipe with the inlet pipe, made of a material different from that of each of the discharge pipe and the inlet pipe.