Laundry Drum Speed Control for Low-Water Heater Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drum type laundry machines face issues with water level management, leading to excessive water usage and prolonged water supply times, as they require additional water when the level drops, causing inefficiencies and increased cycle duration.
Innovation Solution
A controlling method that includes low-speed and high-speed rotation steps for the laundry drum, with a circulation valve opening to manage water levels, allowing for precise water usage and reduced overall washing time by optimizing water distribution and absorption during the washing cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional wash water is supplied when water level drops, then the heater is protected from exposure and overheating is prevented, but the amount of wash water becomes excessive and the water supply time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing high-speed rotation before the heater operates to pre-distribute water and prevent water level drops during heating. The control unit sets the drum to high-speed rotation (filtration motion) before heater activation, ensuring water is evenly distributed and the heater remains covered throughout the heating process, thus preventing the need for additional water supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamics by dynamically adjusting drum rotation speed based on operational phase. The control unit switches between low-speed rotation (rolling/tumbling motion) and high-speed rotation (filtration motion) depending on whether the heater is operating. This dynamic speed adjustment optimizes water distribution at critical moments without requiring excessive water supply.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If additional wash water is supplied when water level drops, then continuous heater operation is ensured, but the water supply process takes much time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary high-speed rotation before heater activation to pre-distribute water throughout the drum. This preliminary action ensures that water is evenly distributed and sufficient to cover the heater during the entire heating process, eliminating the need for time-consuming intermediate water supply interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous heater operation by using high-speed drum rotation to continuously distribute water during the heating phase. The control unit ensures the drum rotates at high speed throughout the heater's operation, maintaining continuous water coverage without stopping the heating process for water replenishment, thus achieving continuous useful action.
3Reliability
If wash water is supplied to maintain water level, then the heater remains submerged, but the total wash water amount becomes too much relative to laundry amount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts drum rotation speed to optimize water distribution efficiency. During heater operation, the control unit maintains high-speed rotation that creates filtration motion, which efficiently distributes the existing wash water throughout the drum and laundry, ensuring adequate heater coverage without requiring excessive water quantities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter of drum rotation speed based on the heating phase. By switching to high-speed rotation before and during heater operation, the system alters the water distribution pattern from rolling motion to filtration motion, maximizing the effectiveness of the available wash water and maintaining heater submersion with optimal water-to-laundry ratios.
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 method reduces the amount of wash water used and shortens the time needed for water supply, thereby optimizing the washing process and minimizing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
A rolling motion or a tumbling motion may be implemented in the low speed rotation step
Implementation Method 2
A rolling motion or a tumbling motion may be implemented in the low speed rotation step
Implementation Method 3
a high speed rotation step of rotating the motor at a high speed to make the laundry not separated from an inner circumferential surface of the drum
Implementation Method 4
A filtration motion may be implemented in the high speed rotation step
Implementation Method 5
A circulation valve may be open in a preset time period after the low speed rotations step starts
Data Source
AI summary
There may be disclosed a controlling method of a laundry treating apparatus including a low speed rotation step of rotating a motor configured to rotate a drum mounted in a tub at a low speed; and a high speed rotation step of rotating the motor at a high speed, the high speed rotation step implemented after the low speed rotations step, wherein the high speed rotation step comprises an acceleration period in which a RPM of the motor is increased after the RPM of the motor reaches a target RPM of the low speed rotation speed, such that the amount of the additionally supplied wash water may be reduced and that the washing course can be implemented, using a small amount of wash water.