Top Steam Injection in Washing Machines for Faster Clothes Wetting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines suffer from inefficient wetting of clothes due to the heater being located at the bottom, leading to wasted water and detergent, and reduced heating efficiency as hot water does not directly wet the clothes initially.
Innovation Solution
A steam injection method where steam is injected into the wash tub at the top, enhancing the washing performance by heating the wash water and improving the wetting and sterilization of clothes while reducing water and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heater is located at the bottom of the wash tub to heat wash water, then the wash water can be heated, but the clothes are wetted by cold wash water first and the heating efficiency is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by injecting steam into the wash tub before or during the initial wetting stage, so that clothes are exposed to hot steam first rather than cold wash water. This preliminary heating action through steam injection increases the temperature of clothes and surrounding air before cold wash water is introduced, thereby improving overall heating efficiency and reducing the time needed to heat wash water.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses steam as an intermediary medium to transfer heat from the heater to the clothes more efficiently. Instead of directly heating wash water at the bottom, the heater generates steam that rises and contacts clothes directly, acting as a heat transfer intermediary that bypasses the inefficiency of heating large volumes of water before they contact the clothes.
2Ease of manufacture
If the heater chamber is provided by downwardly recessing the bottom portion of the wash tub, then the heater can be installed, but wash water unnecessarily fills the heater chamber causing waste of wash water and detergent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heater from the traditional bottom-mounted position within the wash tub and relocates it to an external steam generation system. The heater is now positioned outside the wash tub, and steam is delivered through a steam injection nozzle into the tub. This extraction eliminates the need for a recessed heater chamber, preventing wash water and detergent from filling the chamber and being wasted.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a steam delivery system as an intermediary between the heater and the wash tub. Instead of placing the heater directly in the wash tub bottom, steam is generated externally and transported through a nozzle system that injects steam directly into the wash tub atmosphere, eliminating the need for a water-filled heater chamber.
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 steam injection method improves the wetting speed and washing efficiency, reduces water and detergent waste, and enhances sterilization performance, achieving better cleaning results with optimized resource usage.
Implementation Method 1
a steam generating step for heating the wash water supplied into the tank by operation of the heater, thereby generating steam
Implementation Method 2
heating the wash water supplied into the tank by operation of the heater, thereby generating steam
Implementation Method 3
injecting steam into the wash tub during execution of the washing step, thereby increasing a temperature of the wash water supplied into the wash tub
Implementation Method 4
injecting steam into the wash tub during execution of the washing step, thereby increasing a temperature of the wash water supplied into the wash tub
Data Source
AI summary
A washing method in a steam injection type washing machine in which wash water is heated to generate high-temperature and high-pressure steam while passing through the steam supply unit in the wash or rinse cycle, and the generated steam is injected into the wash tub at the top of the wash tub. Accordingly, it is possible to rapidly achieve the wetting of clothes with wash water while achieving an enhancement in sterilization and washing performances. In addition, consumption of water and electrical energy can be reduced.