Storage container and metering device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dosing devices in washing machines often experience insecure coupling of reservoirs during washing cycles, leading to unintended removal and detergent leakage due to vibrations, and difficulty in removing the reservoirs once securely fixed.
Innovation Solution
A reservoir with a housing that includes a latching element for secure engagement with the washing machine's receiving device, combined with a container-side coupling element and a receptacle-side coupling element forming a piston and hollow mandrel configuration, ensuring reliable detergent flow and easy removal through a pressure actuator and spring mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the reservoir is tightly fitted into the receiving device, then the connection security is improved, but the ease of removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is designed as a resilient component that can dynamically change its position between engaged and disengaged states. During insertion, it deflects to allow engagement, then returns to its original position to lock the reservoir securely. For removal, applying force to the pressure actuator causes the locking element to deflect and disengage, enabling easy removal without damaging the tight fit.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism is divided into separate functional elements: a locking element for secure engagement, a pressure actuator for controlled release, and a resilient wall section that provides the locking action. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function optimally while working together to resolve the contradiction between secure connection and easy removal.
2Ease of operation
If the reservoir is loosely fitted into the receiving device, then the ease of removal is improved, but the connection security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient locking element provides a dynamic connection that appears loose during insertion (allowing easy placement) but automatically engages and locks when the reservoir reaches its final position. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by providing ease of removal through the pressure actuator while maintaining connection security during operation.
3Reliability
If a complex locking mechanism is used, then the connection security is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-activating through the resilient wall section that automatically engages the locking element when the reservoir is inserted. The spring element provides automatic return to the locked position without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems, thus maintaining connection security while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element is formed as a resilient thin-walled structure that can elastically deform to engage and disengage the locking protrusion. This flexible design provides reliable locking action through material elasticity rather than complex mechanical components, resolving the contradiction between connection security and mechanism simplicity.
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 provides a secure and reliable coupling of the reservoir within the washing machine, preventing detergent leakage during cycles and allowing for easy removal and refilling, enhancing user convenience and appliance performance.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient wall section (321) which bends under the pressure force (F)
Implementation Method 2
When the housing is removed from the receiving device, the piston moves back into the closed position, for example due to a pre-tensioned spring
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a storage container (2) for holding a liquid such as a detergent or washing or rinsing additive, and a dosing device. The storage container (2) has a housing (20) which is designed to be inserted along an insertion direction (4) into a receiving device (3) of a water-bearing household appliance (1), in particular a washing machine, a container-side coupling element (21) which is designed to be coupled with a coupling element (31) on the receptacle side arranged in the receptacle (3) to form a coupling device with the household appliance (1) in such a way that the additive can flow into the household appliance (1) via the coupling device, and a Latching element (22) which is designed to form a latching connection when the housing (20) is pushed into the receiving device (3) with a mating latching element (32) of the household appliance (1) which is arranged in the receiving device (3) and which the housing (20 ) in the receiving device (3) releasably fixed, and a restoring element (213) with which the container-side coupling element (21) against the housing (20) d is prestressed in such a way that in the latched state on the container-side coupling element (21) a prestressing force is exerted on the housing (20) in the opposite direction to the direction of insertion (4).