Steam Preheating Control for Clothes Refreshing Cabinets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional clothes treating apparatuses, particularly those using electric heaters, face issues of high energy consumption and potential damage to clothes and equipment due to direct heat transmission, leading to increased maintenance costs and safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A clothes treating apparatus equipped with a housing, air supplying device, temperature measuring device, preheating unit using a steam generator, and a controller to control the air supplying device and preheating unit, ensuring the interior temperature is raised before dry air is supplied, thereby reducing energy consumption and preventing damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If an electric heater is used to heat air, then the air can be heated to a desired temperature, but high-temperature heat may be directly transmitted to clothes causing damage and fire hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair temperatureVSAvoiddirect heat transmission damage

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary device between the heater and the clothes. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the heated air to the clothes indirectly through thermal conduction, preventing direct contact between high-temperature air and clothes while still achieving the desired heating effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temperature parameter of the air gradually through controlled heating and circulation. By maintaining the air temperature below a critical threshold and using multiple heating zones, the system avoids direct high-temperature damage to clothes while still achieving effective refreshing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If an electric heater is used to heat air, then the air can be heated to a desired temperature, but electricity is excessively consumed leading to increased maintenance costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair temperatureVSAvoidelectricity consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a continuous circulation system where air is constantly moved through the heating zones and distributed to clothes. This continuous action maintains efficient heat transfer and prevents energy waste from intermittent heating cycles, reducing overall electricity consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The heating system is divided into multiple independent heating zones with separate heaters. This segmentation allows only the necessary zones to be activated based on real-time temperature requirements, avoiding excessive electricity consumption by heating entire spaces uniformly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Speed

If the temperature of the accommodating space is raised quickly, then the operation can start faster, but clothes may be damaged by sudden high temperature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating speedVSAvoidsudden high temperature damage

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic heating cycles with alternating phases of heating and circulation. The heater operates in intervals rather than continuously, allowing temperature to rise gradually while circulation distributes heat evenly, preventing sudden temperature spikes that could damage clothes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 solution effectively refreshes clothes while significantly reducing energy consumption and preventing damage to the apparatus, operating efficiently in low-temperature conditions and minimizing maintenance costs.

Implementation Method 1

a steam generator for generating steam to be supplied into the accommodating space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change (water to steam): Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

an air supplying device for drying air circulating into the accommodating space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir circulation: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS9163350B2Clothes treating apparatus and controlling method thereof

Publication Date: 2015.10.20 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A clothes treating apparatus and a controlling method thereof are disclosed. The clothes treating apparatus includes a housing defining a accommodating space for receiving clothes, an air supplying device for drying air circulating into the accommodating space, a temperature measuring device for measuring the interior temperature of the accommodating space, a preheating unit for raising the temperature of the accommodating space according to the temperature measured by the temperature measuring device, and a controller for controlling the air supplying device and the preheating unit according to the temperature measured by the temperature measuring device.