Laundry treating appliance for drying laundry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional combination washing and drying machines often expend extra energy drying clothes that remain too damp from the washing cycle, leading to poor drying performance and wasted energy resources due to inadequate moisture removal before the drying cycle.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that includes a hot rinse cycle with heated water and subsequent spinning to extract excess moisture, with repeated cycles until the residual moisture content is below a predetermined threshold, ensuring efficient moisture removal before initiating the drying phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional washing cycles are used without hot rinse and spinning, then the washing process is simpler and faster, but the clothes remain too damp leading to poor drying performance and wasted energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing hot water rinsing and high-speed spinning before the drying cycle to remove excess moisture from clothes. This pre-treatment ensures clothes enter the drying phase with reduced moisture content, improving drying performance while reducing the energy needed for actual drying.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of excess moisture (which causes poor drying and energy waste) into a beneficial process by using controlled hot water rinsing and spinning. The moisture that would otherwise be a problem is systematically removed through the hot rinse-extraction cycle, transforming the drying process efficiency.
2Reliability
If multiple hot rinse and spin cycles are performed, then residual moisture content is reduced below threshold, but the process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback control by sensing the residual moisture content after each hot rinse and spin cycle. The controller compares the sensed moisture level against a predetermined threshold and automatically decides whether to repeat the hot rinse-extraction cycle, optimizing the number of cycles needed to achieve adequate dryness without unnecessary time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by repeating the hot water supply, heating, tumbling, and spinning sequence only when necessary. The controller periodically assesses moisture content and triggers additional cycles only when the threshold is not met, creating an adaptive periodic process rather than fixed repetitive cycles.
3Productivity
If hot water is supplied and heated to predetermined temperature, then moisture extraction capability is enhanced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary heating of water to enhance moisture extraction capability during the rinse cycle. By pre-heating the water before contact with clothes, the system improves moisture removal efficiency in the subsequent spin cycle, reducing the overall drying energy needed later.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling water temperature to a predetermined level during hot rinse cycles. This temperature parameter optimization enhances the moisture extraction capability of the subsequent spinning process, achieving better moisture removal with controlled energy input compared to cold water rinsing.
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 approach enhances drying efficiency, reduces cycle time, and decreases energy consumption by ensuring clothes are adequately dry before the drying phase, thereby improving overall performance and energy utilization.
Implementation Method 1
heating the supplied water to a predetermined temperature to form hot water
Implementation Method 2
rotating the drum at a spinning speed; spinning the treating chamber in an extraction cycle to remove excess moisture from the load of laundry
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a laundry treating appliance with a treating chamber for treating a load of laundry the method comprising supplying a rinse to the treating chamber during a rinse cycle, rotating the treating chamber at a tumbling speed, spinning the treating chamber in an extraction cycle to remove excess moisture from the load of laundry, sensing a parameter indicative of a remaining moisture content value in the load of laundry, comparing the remaining moisture content value to a pre-determined remaining moisture content value.