Vertical axis washer standalone filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machine lint filtration systems are complex, labor-intensive to assemble, and require multiple parts, making them inefficient and costly to manufacture and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A standalone drum-mounted lint filter with a multiple-way inlet design and chambered construction that eliminates backflow and uses retainer barrels to trap lint, eliminating the need for a pumping tower mechanism and reducing the number of required parts and assembly labor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pumping tower mechanism is used for lint filtration, then lint capture effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and assembly labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the pumping tower mechanism from the filtration system, replacing it with a simpler gravity-based flow system. The standalone filter housing with multiple chambers and retainer barrels achieves lint capture without requiring the complex pumping tower assembly, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining filtration effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The filter housing is segmented into multiple chambers, each with retainer barrels positioned to intercept lint from different flow paths. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive lint capture across multiple zones without requiring a single complex pumping mechanism, simplifying the overall system architecture
2Reliability
If multiple parts are used in filtration system, then lint trapping efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost and assembly labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple filtration functions into a single integrated filter housing assembly. The housing contains multiple chambers with retainer barrels that work together as one unit, eliminating the need for separate pumping tower components and reducing the total number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining lint trapping efficiency
3Reliability
If retainer barrels are fixed in filter housing, then lint trapping is improved, but filter cleaning accessibility is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer barrels are designed to be rotatable within the filter housing chambers. This dynamic capability allows the barrels to be rotated into different positions during cleaning operations, enabling access to lint accumulated on all surfaces of the barrels. The rotatable design maintains effective lint trapping during operation while providing cleaning accessibility when maintenance is required
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 standalone filter achieves better lint trapping efficiency and simplifies assembly and manufacturing, reducing costs and operational complexity while maintaining effective lint capture during wash cycles.
Implementation Method 1
a porous removable filter cover defining front-facing outlets open to the drum, allowing exit of the wash water back into the wash
Data Source
AI summary
A standalone drum-mounted lint filter for a washing machine is provided. The filter includes a filter housing including a plurality of inner walls dividing the filter housing into a plurality of filter chambers, each filter chamber defining at least one inlet configured to allow wash water to flow into the respective chamber. The filter further includes at least one retainer barrel arranged within each filter chamber and configured to retain lint during operation of the washing machine. The filter also includes a porous removable filter cover defining front-facing outlets open to the drum, allowing for exit of the wash water back into the wash.