Washing Machine Steam Generator Layout for Dry Steam Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current steam generators in washing machines face issues such as incomplete water vaporization, water leakage, and inefficient washing due to direct heater contact with water, leading to safety concerns and prolonged operation times.
Innovation Solution
A steam generator design featuring a lower case with a heater that heats the base and side walls without direct contact, an upper case with steam discharge and sealing mechanisms, and a steam supply passage system that prevents water from being introduced with steam, ensuring efficient steam generation and minimizing water leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the heater is placed in direct contact with water for efficient heating, then heating efficiency is improved, but safety risks increase due to overheating when water level is low
Solution Approach 1:
The steam generator is divided into an upper case and a lower case, with the heater housed in the lower case that is separated from the water storage space. This segmentation allows the heater to be protected from direct water contact while maintaining heating function through thermal conduction via the lower case walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower case acts as an intermediary between the heater and the water. Instead of direct contact, heat is transferred from the heater through the lower case material to the water, providing thermal coupling for heating while physically isolating the heater from water to prevent overheating damage.
2Reliability
If the heater operates only when fully submerged in water for safety, then overheating is prevented, but water cannot be fully vaporized and operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of submerging the heater in water, the invention inverts the approach by placing the heater in a separate lower case that heats the water through the case walls. This allows the heater to operate continuously without water level constraints while still achieving effective heating and complete water vaporization.
3Ease of manufacture
If the sealing is positioned at the lower water level for structural reasons, then assembly is simplified, but water leakage occurs when water level rises
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing approach transitions from a single-point seal at the bottom to a comprehensive seal system along the entire upper case opening. The sealing member is positioned at the upper case opening where it can effectively seal against water vapor pressure and prevent leakage regardless of water level fluctuations in the lower case.
4Device complexity
If water is supplied together with steam by steam pressure for simple delivery, then delivery mechanism is simplified, but washing efficiency decreases due to water contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and separates the water supply function from the steam delivery function. A dedicated water supply passage is provided separately from the steam discharge passage, allowing pure steam to be delivered for washing while water is supplied independently, preventing water contamination of the steam and maintaining washing efficiency.
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 design minimizes remaining water, prevents water leakage, and ensures that all supplied water is vaporized into steam, improving washing efficiency and safety by eliminating the need for water level sensing and reducing operational periods.
Implementation Method 1
a heater (712) provided to a base (711) so as not to contact the water stored in the lower case (710)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to steam generator (700) and a washing machine (W) having the same which can minimize remained water in the steam generator (700) and can prevent the water stored in the steam generator (700) from leaking and the water in the steam generator (700) from being supplied to the clothes together with the steam due to a spray pressure of the steam.