Fluid additive dispenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machine appliances face challenges in reliably directing fluid additives into the gap between the wash tub and wash basket, leading to spills and potential damage to clothing due to the changing gap location and overflow issues during operation, especially when the machine is out of level.
Innovation Solution
A fluid additive dispenser system with a reservoir, siphon tube, and siphon cap that includes an overflow inlet, positioned to accurately direct additives into the gap between the wash tub and wash basket, even during overflow conditions, by using a siphon passage and overflow conduit to manage fluid flow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a container directs fluid additive into a gap between wash tub and wash basket, then fluid additive can be dispensed during operation, but the gap location changes when wash basket spins and machine operates out of level, causing fluid to spill onto clothing articles
Solution Approach 1:
The siphon tube is made flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and orientation in response to changes in the gap location caused by basket rotation and machine leveling variations. This flexibility enables the tube to maintain reliable fluid delivery to the moving target zone without spilling onto clothing articles.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible conduit acts as an intermediary between the fixed container and the moving gap, transmitting fluid while accommodating positional changes. The flexible conduit mediates the conflict between the stationary dispensing system and the dynamic target zone, ensuring reliable fluid delivery despite relative motion.
2Loss of time
If a reservoir stores fluid additive prior to wash cycle, then time-delay functionality is achieved, but the storage capacity may be overcome causing overflow, and the overflow outlet may be located away from primary outlet, increasing likelihood of missing the gap
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow outlet and primary outlet are merged into a single common outlet structure. This integration ensures that both normal dispensing flow and overflow flow converge at the same exit point, guaranteeing that all fluid (whether from controlled dispensing or overflow) is delivered to the target gap zone rather than missing it.
Solution Approach 2:
The common outlet serves multiple functions: it acts as both the primary dispensing outlet for controlled additive release and the overflow outlet for excess fluid. This multi-functionality ensures that the single outlet location is optimized for reliable gap targeting while handling both normal and overflow conditions.
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
The system ensures reliable and accurate delivery of fluid additives into the target zone between the wash tub and wash basket, minimizing spills and damage to clothing, even when the machine is operating out of level, by controlling fluid flow through the siphon passage and overflow inlet.
Implementation Method 1
a siphon tube comprising a siphon tube inlet and a siphon tube outlet, and a siphon cap surrounding the siphon tube such that a siphon passage is defined between an inner surface of the siphon cap and an outer surface of the siphon tube for siphoning liquid from the reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine appliance and a fluid additive dispenser therefor. The washing machine appliance includes a wash tub and a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, a gap is defined between the wash tub and the wash basket. The fluid additive dispenser includes a reservoir with a siphon tube and a siphon cap. The siphon cap includes an overflow inlet. The fluid additive dispenser is in fluid communication with the wash tub and the wash basket only via an outlet of the siphon tube. The siphon tube outlet is positioned for directing fluid into the gap between the wash tub and the wash basket.