Sequential Water Valve Control to Prevent Washer Water Hammer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses experience water hammering, rapid degradation of water supply passages, and noise due to the sudden opening and closing of water supply valves, leading to shortened lifespan and potential malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a controller that sequentially opens and closes water supply valves for cleaning nozzles, ensuring continuous water supply and preventing drastic pressure changes, which includes a sensing unit to manage the cleaning time and control the valves to open and close in a predetermined sequence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If water supply valves are opened and closed a predetermined number of times to selectively supply water to multiple nozzles, then water can be supplied to multiple cleaning locations, but water hammering occurs due to drastic pressure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The controller opens a next water supply valve before closing the current water supply valve, ensuring that water supply is maintained continuously. This preliminary action of opening the next valve prevents the sudden pressure drop that causes water hammering when the current valve closes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous water supply by ensuring that at least one water supply valve is always open. The overlapping operation of valves (where the next valve opens before the current one closes) eliminates interruptions in water flow, preventing drastic pressure changes and water hammering effects.
2Productivity
If water supply valves are closed suddenly, then water supply to current nozzle stops, but water supply passages degrade rapidly and lifespan shortens
Solution Approach 1:
The controller prepares the next water supply valve by opening it before closing the current valve. This preliminary action ensures that water supply pathways remain pressurized and functional, preventing sudden vacuum formation and pressure shocks that would otherwise accelerate degradation of the water supply passages.
Solution Approach 2:
By having the next valve already open before closing the current valve, the system cushions against the harmful effects of sudden pressure changes. This overlapping valve operation acts as a buffer that protects the water supply passages from mechanical stress and extends their operational life.
3Ease of operation
If water supply valves are closed suddenly, then water supply control is achieved, but noise due to impacts and vibrations is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous water supply maintained by overlapping valve operations eliminates sudden flow interruptions that cause vibrations and impacts. By ensuring at least one valve remains open during transitions, the system prevents the noise-generating mechanical shocks associated with sudden valve closures.
Solution Approach 2:
The preliminary opening of the next valve before closing the current one creates a smooth transition in water flow. This prevents sudden flow cessation and the associated vibrations and impacts that generate noise, while still achieving effective water supply control to multiple nozzles.
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
Prevents water hammering, reduces noise and vibration, and extends the lifespan of water supply passages by ensuring a controlled and continuous water supply, thereby improving the operational reliability and longevity of the apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a water hammering effect may occur as an impact is applied to the water supply passages due to a drastic pressure change when the water supply valves are closed
Data Source
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AI summary
Laundry treating apparatus and method for controlling a water supply valve (250, 252, 254) thereof, whereby the laundry treating apparatus includes a plurality of cleaning nozzles (210) provided at a circulation path (160) which circulates air inside a tub (130), and configured to inject water; a plurality of water supply passages (241) having one side connected to a water supply source (240) and having another side connected to the plurality of cleaning nozzles (210); a plurality of water supply valves (250, 252, 254) configured to open and close the water supply passages (241); and a controller (275) configured to sequentially control the water supply valves (250, 252, 254) such that at least one of the water supply valves (250, 252, 254) is open and another water supply valve (250, 252, 254) is closed, such that one of the plurality of cleaning nozzles (210) is open to allow water to be continuously supplied from the water supply source (240).