Nested Washing Drum Design for Separate Care-Item Washing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines with a single drum fail to effectively separate clothes requiring special care, leading to cross-contamination and residues that can cause skin allergies during subsequent wash cycles.
Innovation Solution
A washing drum design featuring a large container with a detachable small container, where the small container is positioned within the large one, allowing for separate washing of special care items and preventing water flow between compartments using a positioning column, anti-slip mat, and hinge mechanism for independent rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single washing drum is used, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to separate clothes needing special care is insufficient leading to cross-contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested container structure where a small container is placed inside a large container. The small container has a bottom wall that rests on the wave wheel, and its opening faces opposite to the large container's opening. This nesting arrangement enables separate washing of special care items in the small container while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing drum is segmented into two functional parts: a large container for general washing and a small container for special care items. The small container is detachably positioned within the large container, allowing independent washing operations. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing separation capability without requiring completely independent washing machines.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If clothes are washed separately multiple times, then cross-contamination is avoided, but the washing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of separate washing into a single operational cycle by providing both large and small containers within one washing drum. Both containers can be washed simultaneously in one cycle, eliminating the need for multiple sequential washing operations while still preventing cross-contamination through the physical separation provided by the small container.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the small container is detachably disposed in the large container, then separate washing is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The small container is designed to be detachably disposed within the large container, allowing it to be easily removed and installed. The small container's opening is positioned opposite to the large container's opening, and it rests on the wave wheel structure. This extraction design enables separate washing capability while keeping the attachment mechanism simple.
4Reliability
If a positioning column with non-circular section is used, then the small container is securely positioned, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning column is designed with a non-circular cross-section that fits into a corresponding groove on the wave wheel. This asymmetric design provides secure positioning and prevents rotation of the small container, ensuring reliable operation during washing cycles while using a straightforward geometric form that is easy to manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a washing machine and a washing drum thereof. The washing drum comprises a large container and a small container. The small container is detachably disposed in the large container, and an opening of the small container and an opening of the large container are positioned opposite to each other. In a washing process, clothes needing special care can be placed in the small container so that water in the large container does not enter the small container, thereby realizing separating washing of the clothes needing special care. If there are no clothes needing special care, the small container can be detached from the large container to perform a normal washing operation.