Removable Clothes Mover Design for Adaptable Laundry Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating appliances face challenges in effectively treating laundry items due to limitations in mechanical energy distribution and customization options, leading to suboptimal cleaning performance for various types of loads.
Innovation Solution
The design of a laundry treating appliance with a rotatable drum and a clothes mover system that includes an agitator and impeller configuration, allowing for customizable mechanical energy distribution through interchangeable agitator and impeller components, enabling tailored treatment cycles based on load type and user preference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed clothes mover configuration is used, then the device structure is simple, but the adaptability to different load types is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The clothes mover is designed with interchangeable components (agitator and impeller) that can be dynamically reconfigured based on load type. The system transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic one where components can be swapped to optimize performance for different laundry conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The clothes mover is divided into separable components (agitator and impeller) that can be independently removed and replaced. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different load types by swapping components without redesigning the entire clothes mover assembly.
2Reliability
If a single clothes mover configuration is used, then the device complexity is low, but the cleaning performance for various load types is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes cleaning performance by changing the mechanical action parameters through component substitution. Different agitator and impeller configurations provide varying levels of mechanical energy distribution, allowing the system to adapt parameters based on specific cleaning requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The clothes mover assembly serves multiple functions through its interchangeable components. The same base structure can accommodate different agitator and impeller configurations, making it a multi-functional system that handles various load types effectively.
3Productivity
If mechanical energy distribution is fixed, then the device structure is simple, but the effectiveness for different load types is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical energy distribution is made dynamic through interchangeable components. The system can adjust the intensity and pattern of mechanical action by swapping agitator and impeller configurations, optimizing productivity for different laundry loads.
Solution Approach 2:
Different components provide locally optimized mechanical energy distribution tailored to specific load types. Each agitator and impeller configuration is designed with specific characteristics that concentrate or distribute mechanical energy in particular patterns suitable for different cleaning scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry items according to an automatic cycle of operation can include a cabinet defining an interior and having an access opening providing access to the interior. A tub can be located within the interior and can at least partially define a liquid chamber. A drum is rotatably mounted within the liquid chamber and at least partially defines a treating chamber. A clothes mover is located within the treating chamber and rotatable about a vertical axis. The clothes mover can include a base and a barrel.