Laundry Drawer With Seat-Mounted Pump to Preserve Dosing Capacity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laundry appliances with auto-dosing functionality face issues due to the placement of the pumping apparatus on the drawer, leading to reduced treatment agent loading capacity, complex and expensive wiring, and unreliable mechanical connections causing faults and failures.

Innovation Solution

A laundry appliance design featuring a drawer with channels for water and treatment agent mixing, integrated pump actuation parts, and a water distribution system that allows gravity-driven mixing and reliable electrical connections, decoupling the pump actuation parts from the drawer's movement to prevent wear and ensure efficient operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the pumping apparatus is mounted on the drawer, then the auto-dosing functionality is enabled, but the treatment agent loading capacity of the multi-dose compartments is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauto-dosing functionalityVSAvoidtreatment agent loading capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The pumping apparatus is extracted from the drawer and mounted on the drawer seat instead. This separation removes the space-consuming pump from the drawer, allowing the multi-dose compartments to have sufficient capacity while maintaining the auto-dosing functionality through the drawer seat-mounted pump system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Extent of automation

If the pumping apparatus is mounted on the drawer, then the auto-dosing functionality is enabled, but complex and expensive electrical wiring is required for reliable wet environment operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauto-dosing functionalityVSAvoidelectrical wiring complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pumping apparatus is extracted from the drawer and relocated to the drawer seat, which is in a drier environment. This eliminates the need for complex waterproof electrical wiring in the drawer compartment, as the pump is now positioned where standard wiring suffices, while maintaining full auto-dosing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the mechanical connection is used for electrical connection between the pumping apparatus and electronic control unit, then the drawer can be moved between positions, but wear causes unreliable electric connection over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrawer movement capabilityVSAvoidelectric connection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pumping apparatus is extracted from the drawer and mounted on the drawer seat, which remains stationary. This eliminates the mechanical connection between moving drawer parts and the pump, as the electrical connection is now between the stationary drawer seat and the stationary pump housing, removing wear-related reliability issues while preserving drawer movement functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If the drawer is designed with compartments for multiple doses, then multiple washing cycles can be performed, but the space for treatment agent storage is limited when pump is on drawer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiple washing cycles capabilityVSAvoidtreatment agent storage volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The pumping apparatus is extracted from the drawer and mounted on the drawer seat, freeing up valuable drawer space. This allows the multi-dose compartments to be enlarged or increased in number, enabling more treatment agent storage capacity while maintaining the ability to perform multiple washing cycles with adequate dosing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enhances treatment agent loading capacity, simplifies electrical connections, and reduces the risk of mechanical failures, providing a more reliable and efficient auto-dosing system.

Implementation Method 1

at least one channel associated with the at least one compartment for channeling water and at least one treatment agent dose of the at least one laundry treatment agent towards a mixing region of the drawer seat allowing a mixture between the water and the at least one treatment agent dose

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS11535973B2Laundry treatment appliance comprising an improved drawer

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES

AI summary

A laundry treatment appliance having a drawer adapted to slide within a drawer seat along a sliding direction. The drawer has: a handle forming the drawer front; at least one compartment adapted to contain multiple doses of at least one treatment agent; at least one channel associated with the at least one compartment for channeling water and at least one treatment agent dose of the at least one laundry treatment agent towards a mixing region of the drawer seat allowing a mixture between the water and the at least one treatment agent dose; and at least one pump actuation part having a suction side in fluid communication with the at least one compartment for drawing up the at least one treatment agent dose therefrom, and a delivery side in fluid communication with the at least one channel for delivering the at least one treatment agent dose thereto.