Liquid-Diverting Laundry Mover for Low- and Deep-Fill Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating appliances, such as washing machines, face challenges in efficiently moving laundry items during low water fill cycles, where insufficient fluid motion limits cleaning effectiveness, and in deep fill cycles, where fluid power is not consistently distributed, leading to potential dead zones in the basket.
Innovation Solution
A laundry mover, such as an impeller, with a base having alternating sets of protrusions and a diverter system that directs liquid through open cavities, ensuring effective laundry movement and fluid distribution regardless of the liquid level, by utilizing a diverter that extends below the base and has baffles facing both rotation directions to facilitate liquid flow during both directions of rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional laundry mover is used, then the structure is simple, but fluid motion is insufficient in low water fill cycles leading to poor cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into multiple protrusions with cavities, where each protrusion-cavity combination acts as an independent fluid redirector. This segmentation allows the mover to effectively move fluid across different rotation angles and water fill levels without requiring a completely complex overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cavities act as intermediaries that receive fluid from above the mover and redirect it to specific locations in the treating chamber. This intermediary mechanism enables effective fluid distribution without direct mechanical contact between the mover and all areas of the chamber, maintaining structural simplicity while improving cleaning effectiveness.
2Productivity
If a conventional laundry mover is used, then the device is simple to manufacture, but dead zones form in the basket during deep fill cycles
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the mover have different properties: protrusions extend to certain radii while cavities are positioned at specific angles and depths. This local variation in geometry allows the mover to address dead zones in specific areas of the treating chamber while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that is manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds vertical dimensionality with cavities extending below the base plane, creating a three-dimensional fluid redirection system. This vertical dimension allows fluid to be delivered to areas that would be inaccessible to a conventional two-dimensional mover, improving fluid distribution uniformity without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
3Productivity
If the laundry mover rotates in one direction only, then the structure is simple, but liquid flow is not effective during reverse rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The diverters are positioned asymmetrically within the cavities at specific angles relative to the rotation direction. This asymmetric configuration allows the diverters to effectively redirect fluid during forward rotation while the cavity geometry and diverter placement ensure continued effectiveness during reverse rotation, addressing bidirectional flow requirements without requiring symmetric (and thus more complex) dual-sided diverter arrangements.
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 ensures effective movement of laundry items in both low and deep fill cycles by maintaining fluid motion and reducing dead zones, enhancing cleaning efficiency across varying liquid levels without interfering with the natural movement of laundry items.
Implementation Method 1
a diverter located entirely within the open cavity on a lower side of the laundry mover and depending from an upper wall of the protrusion within the open cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry mover for a laundry treating appliance may include a protrusion located on an upper side of the laundry mover and forming an open-bottom cavity. The protrusion may have at least one opening fluidly communicating the cavity with a portion of the treating chamber above the protrusion. A diverter may be located on a lower side of the laundry mover.