Laundry appliance having an impeller with a removable filtration structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laundry appliances lack an efficient and user-friendly mechanism for filtering particulate from process fluid used in treating articles within the drum, which can lead to accumulation of debris and reduced performance over time.

Innovation Solution

A laundry appliance with a removable filtration structure integrated into the impeller, featuring a receiver and a selectively coupled agitator or cassette, which allows for easy separation and cleaning of captured particulate, utilizing a toroidal flow to filter and collect debris within a collection space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a filtration structure is integrated into the impeller, then particulate filtering capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltering capabilityVSAvoidimpeller structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filtration structure is segmented into modular components including a filter element, collection space, and removable agitator that can be independently accessed and maintained. This segmentation allows the filtering function to be integrated into the impeller while maintaining ease of maintenance despite the added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filtration structure is nested within the impeller assembly, with the filter element positioned within the impeller body and the collection space integrated into the same structure. This nesting approach consolidates multiple functions (filtration, collection, agitation) into a single integrated component, improving reliability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of repair

If a removable agitator with filtration structure is used, then ease of maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance accessibilityVSAvoidimpeller assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The agitator is designed as a removable, segmented component that can be detached from the impeller assembly. The filtration structure is further segmented into the filter element and collection space, allowing users to access and clean these components independently without disassembling the entire impeller, thereby improving maintenance accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filtration structure and collection space are extracted as removable components from the permanent impeller assembly. Users can remove the agitator and access the filtration elements for cleaning without affecting the core impeller mechanism, making maintenance easier while keeping the permanent structure simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If particulate accumulates in process fluid, then treatment effectiveness deteriorates, but filtering capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoiddebris accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The filtration structure converts the harmful effect of particulate accumulation by capturing debris in the collection space. The removed particulates would otherwise degrade treatment effectiveness, but are instead collected and removed, transforming a harmful accumulation problem into a manageable filtration function that maintains treatment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The filtration structure provides continuous feedback by capturing particulates in real-time during operation. The collection space accumulates debris that would otherwise reduce treatment effectiveness, allowing the system to maintain optimal performance by continuously removing harmful particles from the process fluid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 solution effectively filters particulate from process fluid, maintaining appliance performance and user convenience by enabling easy maintenance and cleaning of the filtration system.

Implementation Method 1

a filtration structure that filters particulate from process fluid that is used for treating articles within the drum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

utilizing a toroidal flow to filter and collect debris within a collection space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectToroidal flow: Vortex Ring

Data Source

PatentUS12595617B2Laundry appliance having an impeller with a removable filtration structure

Publication Date: 2026.04.07 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

A laundry appliance includes a drum that is rotationally operable within a tub and a rotator that is rotationally operable relative to the drum. The rotator includes an impeller that is axially fixed with respect to the drum and includes a receiver, a removable agitator that is selectively coupled with the receiver, and a filtration structure that is disposed at least within the removable agitator.