Water spray feature of an appliance for separating particulate material from a filter member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry appliances face challenges in effectively separating particulate material, such as lint, from lint filters, which can lead to clogging and damage to internal components due to inadequate fluid distribution and direction.
Innovation Solution
A fluid spray system is integrated into the laundry appliance, featuring a directing nozzle that directs a fan-shaped flow of fluid parallel to the rear wall and across the lint filter, positioning the nozzle to avoid drive components and direct particles towards the outer edge of the tub, ensuring efficient separation and removal of lint from the filter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lint filter is positioned within the air flow port to capture lint particles, then the filter effectiveness is improved, but the filter surface becomes clogged with particulate material leading to damage to internal components
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid spray system performs preliminary action by actively removing lint particles from the filter surface before they can accumulate and cause clogging. The spray directs fluid across the filter surface to dislodge and remove particulate material, preventing the harmful effect of clogging that would otherwise occur during normal filter operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by using the appliance's own fluid resources to clean its own filter. The fluid spray system uses water or other fluids already present in the appliance to automatically clean the lint filter, eliminating the need for separate manual cleaning operations and preventing damage to internal components through continuous self-maintenance.
2Productivity
If fluid is sprayed directly at the lint filter to remove particles, then particle removal is improved, but fluid may be directed toward drive components causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The spray system applies local quality by directing fluid at specific angles and locations that optimize particle removal from the filter surface while avoiding sensitive areas. The nozzles are positioned and angled to create localized spray zones that clean the filter but do not extend toward drive components, thus achieving effective cleaning without causing harmful effects to other parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses asymmetric spray patterns and nozzle positioning rather than symmetric or direct frontal spraying. The fluid is directed at angled trajectories that effectively strip particles from the filter surface while the asymmetric path naturally avoids drive components located in different spatial zones, preventing damage while maintaining high particle removal efficiency.
3Reliability
If the fluid spray system directs flow across the lint filter surface, then lint separation is improved, but complex nozzle positioning is required to avoid drive components
Solution Approach 1:
The spray system resolves complexity by transitioning to another dimension - using angled or radial spray trajectories rather than direct linear spraying. By directing fluid at oblique angles across the filter surface, the system achieves effective lint separation while the three-dimensional spray path naturally clears drive components, simplifying nozzle positioning compared to attempting to navigate around components in a two-dimensional plane.
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
The fluid spray system effectively separates and removes lint particles from the lint filter, preventing clogging and protecting internal components by directing the particles away from critical areas, enhancing the appliance's operational efficiency and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
A fluid spray system extends through the rear wall and directs a flow of fluid over the air flow port and the lint filter
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall. A drum is rotationally operable within the tub. An air flow path extends through an air flow port defined within the rear wall. A lint filter is positioned within the air flow port. A fluid spray system extends through the rear wall and directs a flow of fluid over the air flow port and the lint filter in a direction generally parallel with an inside surface of the rear wall.