Cleaning apparatus and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aqueous textile washing processes face challenges in reducing water, energy, and detergent consumption while maintaining effective mechanical action, which leads to fabric damage and increased environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
The use of a rotatably mounted cylindrical cage with perforated side walls and storage compartments that allow for the efficient circulation and separation of solid particulate cleaning material, enabling controlled mechanical interaction with substrates and efficient recovery and re-use of the material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aqueous submersion and high water level are used to improve mechanical action and cleaning performance, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but water consumption and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential cleaning function from bulk water and concentrates it in solid particulate material. The particles are introduced into the washing machine drum where they provide mechanical action and cleaning benefits without requiring large volumes of water, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning performance and water consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and form of the cleaning medium from liquid water to solid particulate material. This parameter change allows the system to achieve effective mechanical action through particle-substrate interaction while dramatically reducing the quantity of water needed for the washing process
2Reliability
If high energy and temperature are used to improve cleaning, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces thermal energy input (heating water) with mechanical energy input (rotation of the drum and particles). The solid particulate material provides mechanical action through friction and impact with the substrate, reducing or eliminating the need for high-temperature water and associated energy consumption
3Quantity of substance
If solid particulate material is used to reduce water consumption, then water efficiency is improved, but separation and recovery of particulate material becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the typical washing machine design by adding a second drum inside the first drum. The inner drum rotates in the opposite direction to the outer drum, creating centrifugal force that separates the solid particulate material from the washed substrate. The particles are collected in the inner drum and can be easily removed through an access opening, resolving the separation difficulty
4Reliability
If mechanical action is increased to improve soil removal, then cleaning performance is improved, but fabric damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies mechanical action locally through solid particulate material that contacts only the soiled areas of the substrate. The particles provide concentrated cleaning action where needed rather than uniform mechanical agitation across the entire fabric, improving soil removal while minimizing overall fabric damage
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
This approach reduces water and detergent consumption, minimizes fabric damage, and allows for the re-use of solid particulate material, enhancing cleaning efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
a rotatably mounted cylindrical cage with perforated side walls and storage compartments that allow for the efficient circulation and separation of solid particulate cleaning material
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides an apparatus and method for use in the treatment of substrates, whereby the apparatus comprises housing means having mounted therein a rotatably mounted drum (17), access means through which said substrates may be loaded into said drum (17), and a multiplicity of solid particulate material delivery means.