Retrofittable Bulk Dispensing for Appliance Cycle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household cleaning appliances lack a standardized method to regulate and detect aberrations in operating parameters such as water flow, chemistry introduction, and cycle times across different makes and models, leading to inefficiencies and potential malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A retrofit auxiliary device that connects to household cleaning appliances to distribute hot and cold water, laundry chemistry, and power, featuring a controller that adjusts these resources based on the appliance's cycle of operation, using sensors and flow meters to monitor and adapt to various appliance types and models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a standardized regulation and detection system is implemented across household cleaning appliances, then operational efficiency and anomaly detection improve, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal controller that can regulate and detect parameters across multiple types of household cleaning appliances (dishwashers, washing machines, etc.). The controller is designed to work with various appliance types through standardized communication protocols and parameter sets, allowing one device to serve multiple functions across different appliance categories, thereby improving operational efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system regulates operational parameters (water flow rates, chemistry introduction timing, cycle times, drum rotation speeds) by dynamically adjusting them based on detected appliance characteristics and operational conditions. This parameter-based control approach allows efficient regulation across different appliance types without requiring completely different control systems for each appliance model
2Manufacturing precision
If appliance-specific control parameters are used for each make and model, then cycle performance optimizes, but adaptability to different appliances decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adapts its control parameters based on the specific appliance it is connected to. During initial operation, the system learns the appliance's characteristics (water flow rates, heating capacity, drum properties) and adjusts the control strategy accordingly. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize cycle performance for each specific appliance while maintaining the ability to work with various makes and models
3Reliability
If retrofittable devices are added to existing appliances, then monitoring and regulation capabilities improve, but ease of installation and operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The retrofittable controller serves as an intermediary device that interfaces between the existing appliance and the monitoring/regulation system. It connects to the appliance's existing electrical and fluid pathways, translating between different appliance protocols and the central control system. This intermediary approach enables enhanced monitoring capabilities while minimizing disruption to the original appliance installation and operation
Data Source
AI summary
A retrofit auxiliary laundry device for supporting laundry operations in various makes and models of laundry treating appliances is described wherein the device can monitor appliance health, regulate appliance function, and send the user useful data.