Water-bearing household appliance with a functional module
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction, assembly, and repair of water-conducting household appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, are complicated due to the complex distribution and permanent installation of functional units like pumps, valves, and filters, making maintenance and repairs time-consuming and difficult.
Innovation Solution
A modular design where functional units, including pumps, valves, and filters, are integrated into a movable functional module that can be pre-assembled, easily inserted, and partially or completely pulled out for maintenance, with flexible fluid lines and power electronics, allowing for simplified access and replacement without disassembling the appliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If functional units are permanently installed and distributed throughout the appliance, then the appliance structure is stable and reliable, but assembly and repair become complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The appliance is divided into modular functional units (pump module, valve module, filter module, heating module) that are independently assembled and can be separately removed for repair. Each module contains specific functional components grouped together, allowing targeted maintenance without disassembling the entire appliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The functional modules are designed with movable mounting mechanisms that allow them to be easily inserted and removed from the appliance. The modules transition between fixed operational positions and removable maintenance positions, enabling quick access for repair while maintaining stable installation during operation.
2Ease of operation
If functional units are distributed throughout the appliance, then each component can be optimally positioned, but accessibility for maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Components are grouped into functional modules that maintain optimal internal positioning while being accessible as complete units. The segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access entire functional groups through single access points rather than disassembling the appliance to reach individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
Functional modules are extracted from the permanent appliance structure and mounted on removable carriers or rails. This extraction enables the modules to be pulled out for maintenance while remaining integrated during operation, providing easy accessibility without compromising functional positioning.
3Reliability
If components are permanently mounted, then the appliance structure is stable, but repair time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system provides dynamic characteristics, allowing modules to be firmly fixed during operation for structural stability, yet easily removable for maintenance. The movable mounting mechanisms enable quick transitions between stable installation and rapid removal without compromising either state.
Solution Approach 2:
Functional modules are pre-assembled with all necessary components and connections before being installed in the appliance. This preliminary assembly reduces on-site repair time, as modules can be quickly removed and replaced without needing to disassemble or reassemble individual components during maintenance.
Data Source
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AI summary
A washing machine's functional module is designed as a self-contained, easily handled unit and is movable within the washing machine; it can be pulled out like a drawer. The functional module includes a pump (a circulation pump for the washing machine), a valve, and one or more filters. It also has several fluid lines leading to and from the valve, filter, and pump. Additional lines connect these functional units.