Household appliance comprising a liquid tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern household appliances with liquid tanks, such as condensation dryers and steam ovens, face design constraints that make frequent servicing complicated and costly, as existing solutions require complex mechanics to move tanks from a use position to a servicing position for filling, emptying, or cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A household appliance design featuring a carriage with a spring-loaded biasing mechanism and a releasable latch system allows the tank to translate between a use position and a servicing position, eliminating the need for complex mechanics, with a locking member that engages a catch to arrest the tank in place and releases it upon activation, enabling easy access and ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the tank is integrated into the front panel with a flush design, then the appliance appearance is improved and front panel integration is simplified, but the tank becomes difficult to access for servicing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the front panel movable rather than fixed. The front panel can be displaced between a closed position (flush with the appliance) and an open position (displaced to expose the tank). This dynamic mechanism resolves the contradiction by allowing the panel to be both integrated into the appliance structure and easily movable for tank access, eliminating the need for complex removal procedures while maintaining aesthetic integration during normal use
2Ease of operation
If complex mechanics are used to enable tank movement between use and servicing positions, then the tank can be accessed for filling and emptying, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tank from the fixed appliance structure by providing it on a movable carriage that can be independently displaced from the housing. This allows the tank to be easily removed and accessed for servicing without requiring complex integrated mechanics. The tank is taken out as a separate, easily manipulable component while the front panel provides simple protective coverage, resolving the contradiction between easy servicing access and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The movable front panel and carriage system provides dynamic access to the tank. Instead of complex locking and release mechanisms, the system uses simple displacement of the front panel to expose the tank, which can then be easily removed. This dynamic approach maintains security during operation while enabling simple servicing, avoiding complex mechanics
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 design allows for easy and cost-effective integration of the tank into the appliance's front panel, providing simple and efficient access for servicing without handles, enabling easy filling, emptying, or cleaning without complex mechanisms, enhancing user convenience and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the biasing means comprises a spring element configured to be loaded when the tank is moved from the servicing position towards the use position
Data Source
AI summary
A household appliance (10) is disclosed which comprises a liquid tank (12), wherein the tank is adapted for translational movement between a use position in which the tank is positioned within a housing (15) of the household appliance and a servicing position in which the tank is at least partially extracted from the housing, the household appliance further comprises biasing means (30) for biasing the tank towards the servicing position, and releasable latch means (36; 38; 58) for selectively arresting the tank in the use position or releasing the tank for movement towards the servicing position. In accordance with the invention: the household appliance (10) further comprises a carriage (24) associated to the tank (12) and configured for translational movement along guide means (28) provided in the housing (15); the biasing means (30) comprises a spring element configured to be loaded when the tank (12) is moved from the servicing position towards the use position; and the latch means comprises:20—a catch (36) provided at the carriage, —a locking member (38; 58) located at the housing (15) which in the use position of the tank (12) engages the catch (36) to arrest the tank in the use position, and —release means (40; 62) for disengaging the locking member25 from the catch (36).