Washing machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Top loading washing machines often re-wet laundry when the door is opened after a cycle, as remaining washing water on the door's inner surface flows into the tub, and there is no effective mechanism to collect or discharge this water without exposing it to the user.
Innovation Solution
A top loading washing machine design featuring a door with a water collecting space and a cover portion that collects water flowing along its surface, a drain hole for discharging collected water back into the tub, and sealing members to prevent leakage and exposure, ensuring the water is not visible to the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the door is opened after washing is completed, then the user can access the laundry, but washing water remaining on the inner surface of the door flows into the tub and re-wets the laundry
Solution Approach 1:
A water collecting cover portion is introduced as an intermediary structure between the door inner surface and the laundry. This cover creates a water collecting space that intercepts washing water before it can reach the laundry, allowing the water to be collected and discharged separately through a drain hole in the tub bottom.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a water collecting structure is added to the door, then laundry re-wetting is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water collecting cover portion is merged with the door structure, and the water collecting space is integrated into the door's inner surface. The drain hole is incorporated into the tub bottom rather than being a separate component. This merging approach allows the water collection function to be added without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If washing water is collected in a space on the door, then laundry is protected from re-wetting, but the collected water may be exposed to the user when the door is opened
Solution Approach 1:
The water collecting space is positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the user's line of sight when the door is opened. By locating the water collection area on the inner surface of the door and providing access through a drain hole in the tub bottom, the collected water remains in a dimension that is not visible to the user during normal operation.
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
Prevents laundry from re-wetting, effectively collects and discharges excess water without user exposure, maintaining a neat appearance by sealing gaps and utilizing a transparent door cover for visibility.
Implementation Method 1
water flowing along one surface of the door when the laundry loading port is opened
Data Source
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AI summary
A washing machine is disclosed. The disclosed washing machine includes a housing, a tub disposed inside the housing and including a laundry loading port, and a door configured to open and close the laundry loading port, wherein the door includes a water collecting space provided to collect water flowing along one surface of the door when the laundry loading port is opened, and a water collecting cover portion provided to cover at least a portion of the water collecting space.