Laundry Detergent Supply Pump Fastening to Reduce Coupling Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treatment apparatuses face issues with the durability of detachable supply pumps and the inability to sense the amount of liquid detergent stored, leading to potential pump damage and inadequate replenishment timing notifications for users.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a supply pump with a connection pipe fixed to the housing using first and second pump fasteners, and a water level sensor system to detect detergent levels, allowing for secure pump attachment and automatic replenishment notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the supply pump is firmly fixed to the housing, then the pump location is stable, but the pump durability decreases due to repeated coupling and separation
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a fixed portion and a movable portion that can separate from each other. The supply pump is firmly fixed to the fixed portion, while the movable portion moves with the drawer. This segmentation allows the pump to remain stable while avoiding repeated coupling and separation, thereby improving durability.
2Ease of operation
If the supply pump is detachably disposed on the storage body, then the pump can be removed, but the pump durability decreases due to repeated coupling and separation
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into fixed and movable portions. The supply pump is firmly fixed to the fixed portion, eliminating repeated coupling and separation. The movable portion handles drawer movement, separating the pump's mounting function from the drawer's movement function.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed portion of the housing acts as an intermediary between the supply pump and the movable portion. It provides a stable mounting base for the pump while allowing the movable portion to move independently with the drawer, thus protecting the pump from mechanical stress.
3Device complexity
If no detergent level sensing system is provided, then the device structure is simple, but the user cannot be informed of replenishment timing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensing systems with a simple electrode-based electrical sensing system. The electrode detects detergent level through electrical conductivity changes, providing accurate information with minimal structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode-based sensing system automatically detects detergent levels and provides information to the user without requiring manual checking. The system serves itself by using the detergent's own electrical properties as the sensing mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treatment apparatus is disclosed, including a cabinet, a tub configured to store water, a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub, a drawer configured to be withdrawable from the cabinet, a housing including a housing body configured to accommodate the drawer and a cover configured to form an upper surface of the housing body, a storage portion including a storage body configured to store liquid detergent and a discharger disposed on the storage body, a supply pump including a connection pipe formed through the housing body, a supply pipe configured to connect the connection pipe and the tub body, and a conveyor portion configured to covey detergent to the supply pipe, a first pump fastener configured to fix an area located above the connection pipe to the cover, and a second pump fastener configured to fix an area located under the connection pipe to the housing body.