Pump for a washing machine, washing machine and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machine pumps often malfunction due to blocked materials, such as lint, which reduce water flow and require periodic cleaning to maintain functionality.
Innovation Solution
A pump with a sensor-actuated movable element that creates a vacuum to dislodge blocked materials, using a motor-driven reciprocating mechanism connected via cams, and a flow meter to detect and respond to changes in water flow rates, deactivating the pumping mechanism until the blockage is cleared.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pump operates continuously to drain water, then drainage efficiency is maintained, but blockages from lint and debris accumulate and cause malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The pump performs self-cleaning action before blockages completely prevent operation. The sensor detects reduced water flow rates indicating accumulating lint, and triggers the movable element to create vacuum and dislodge the blocked material, preventing complete failure and maintaining continuous operation
Solution Approach 2:
The pump cleans itself automatically without external intervention. The system includes a sensor that monitors water flow, a controller that activates the cleaning mechanism when blockage is detected, and a movable element that creates vacuum to remove the blockage, enabling the pump to maintain its own functionality
2Reliability
If manual cleaning is performed periodically to remove blockages, then pump functionality is restored, but operational downtime and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump automatically detects and cleans its own blockages without requiring manual intervention. The sensor monitors water flow rate continuously, and when blockage is detected, the controller activates the movable element to dislodge the blocked material, eliminating the need for periodic manual cleaning and operational downtime
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a sensor to continuously monitor water flow rate and provides feedback to the controller. When the flow rate falls below a threshold indicating blockage, the controller activates the cleaning mechanism, and when flow rate恢复正常, cleaning stops, creating a closed-loop automatic maintenance system
3Reliability
If a sensor and movable element are added to enable automatic blockage clearing, then pump reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable element serves multiple functions: it creates vacuum to dislodge blockages, and its reciprocating movement also agitates water to prevent lint accumulation. The sensor serves dual purposes by monitoring both water flow rate for blockage detection and providing feedback for timing the cleaning action, reducing the need for separate dedicated components
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
Effectively clears blockages without manual intervention, ensuring continuous operation of the washing machine by automatically detecting and addressing reduced water flow rates, thereby extending maintenance intervals and maintaining efficient drainage.
Implementation Method 1
actuation of the movable element configured to create a vacuum for dislodging the blocked material
Data Source
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AI summary
There is disclosed a pump (226) for a washing machine. The pump (226) comprises a water inlet (228) and a water outlet (229). The pump (226) further comprises a sensor (240). A movable element (242) is constructed and arranged to be actuated when the sensor indicates a blocked material (250) in the pump. Actuation of the movable element (242) is configured to create a vacuum for dislodging the blocked material (250).