Removable Liquid Container Locking to Prevent Washer Liquid Escape

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Solution Overview

Problem

Laundry treatment appliances do not effectively prevent liquid from escaping when the removable liquid container is removed during operation, posing a safety risk, especially with hot or noxious liquids like chlorine bleach.

Innovation Solution

A laundry treatment appliance with a removable liquid container that can be locked against removal using an electrically actuated locking mechanism, such as a magnetic lock or plunger, to prevent accidental removal and ensure user safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the liquid container is made removable for easy emptying and cleaning, then ease of operation is improved, but safety deteriorates due to risk of liquid escape during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of emptying and cleaning liquid containerVSAvoidliquid escape and user safety risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is activated automatically before the filling operation commences, preventing premature removal of the liquid container. The control unit monitors operational state and engages the lock in advance of potential hazards, ensuring the container remains secured during critical phases of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit continuously monitors the operational state of the laundry treatment appliance and adjusts the locking mechanism accordingly. When operation is detected or anticipated, the lock is engaged; when operation completes, the lock is released, allowing container removal. This feedback loop ensures safety while maintaining ease of operation when appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the locking mechanism is always engaged to prevent liquid escape, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to inability to remove container for emptying

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid escape preventionVSAvoidability to remove container for emptying

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism transitions between locked and unlocked states based on operational conditions. The lock is dynamically engaged during operation to prevent liquid escape, and dynamically released after operation to enable container removal for emptying and cleaning. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between safety and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the state parameter of the locking mechanism (locked/unlocked) based on operational parameters. When the appliance is operating or about to operate, the lock state changes to engaged; when operation completes, the lock state changes to disengaged, allowing container removal. This parameter change ensures both safety during operation and ease of maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If manual locking mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to user error in triggering lock

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of locking mechanismVSAvoidconsistent locking activation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is self-actuating based on operational detection. The control unit automatically engages the lock when operation is detected or anticipated, without requiring user intervention. This self-service approach eliminates user error while maintaining mechanical simplicity, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical locking action is replaced with an electrically actuated locking mechanism controlled by the control unit. This substitution maintains the mechanical simplicity of the lock structure while adding electronic control for reliable, consistent activation based on operational state, eliminating user error in triggering the lock.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 locking mechanism prevents liquid from escaping during operation, enhancing user safety by ensuring the liquid container cannot be removed until it is safe to do so, reducing the risk of burns or spills from hot or hazardous liquids.

Implementation Method 1

The locking mechanism is electrically actuable by the laundry treatment appliance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic lock: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

a plunger which can be extended and retracted in a recess in the liquid container or in front of the liquid container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2931963B1Laundry treating apparatus with a removable liquid container.

Publication Date: 2016.12.07 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

Figure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a laundry treatment device (1) with at least one removable liquid container (7, 10), wherein the liquid container (7, 10) can be locked against removal by means of at least one locking mechanism (13, 14) of the laundry treatment device (1) and the at least one locking mechanism (13, 14) can be electrically actuated by the laundry treatment device (1).