Temperature-Triggered Metering Valve for End-of-Cycle Agent Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dosing devices in tumble dryers and washing machines often release fragrances or agents too early in the process, leading to unnecessary usage and reduced effectiveness, as they are dispersed during the drying or washing cycles and can dissipate quickly.
Innovation Solution
A dosing device with a valve mechanism that opens only when the ambient temperature drops, using a thermosensitive actuator and friction clutch to control the valve passage, ensuring the agent is released efficiently at the end of the process, thereby minimizing waste and maintaining effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the valve passage is opened at the beginning of the process, then the agent can be dispensed early, but the agent is removed again during further treatment due to constant circulation of air or water, leading to unnecessary usage and reduced effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The valve passage is opened in advance at the beginning of the process to dispense the agent onto the laundry, but the agent is then removed again during further treatment due to constant circulation of air or water, leading to unnecessary usage and reduced effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the ambient temperature throughout the process and adjusts the valve passage opening accordingly, opening only when temperature drops below the threshold at the end of the process, ensuring optimal timing for agent release
2Ease of operation
If the valve passage is opened continuously, then the agent is constantly available, but unnecessary usage occurs when the process is not nearing completion, reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The valve passage transitions from a static open/closed state to a dynamic state controlled by real-time temperature monitoring, opening only when temperature drops below a threshold indicating process completion, ensuring optimal timing for agent release
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses ambient temperature as a triggering parameter to dynamically control the valve passage state, changing from closed to open only when temperature drops below the threshold, ensuring agent release occurs at the optimal moment
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 ensures that the agent is released at the optimal time, reducing unnecessary usage and maintaining its effectiveness by opening the valve passage only when the process is nearing completion, thus conserving the agent and enhancing its impact.
Implementation Method 1
A temperature-sensitive element is provided, which can change its shape depending on an ambient temperature
Implementation Method 2
using a thermosensitive actuator and friction clutch to control the valve passage
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3e
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a metering device (10,110), in particular a metering device (10, 110) suitable for use in a laundry dryer, wherein an agent to be metered can be dispensed from the metering device (10, 110) in a defined manner into the surroundings (15) of the metering device (10, 110), wherein the metering device (10, 110) comprises: a reservoir unit (16, 116) for receiving an agent to be metered, a valve unit (17, 117) for the defined opening and closing of a valve passage (26, 29, 34, 126, 129, 134) from the reservoir unit (16, 116) to the surroundings (15) of the metering device (10, 110), wherein the opening and closing of the valve passage (26, 29, 34, 126, 129, 134) take place in dependence upon a progression of an ambient temperature of the metering device (10, 110), and wherein the valve passage (26, 29, 34, 126, 129, 134) is opened when the ambient temperature falls and the ambient temperature is above a first and/or second defined minimum temperature. The invention further relates to a correspondingly designed device (10).