Ultrasonic Mist Container Geometry for Compact Laundry Appliances
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-bearing household appliances, such as washing machines and tumble dryers, face challenges in optimizing space for ozone mist generation due to the size of the mist generator, which affects treatment efficiency and increases the risk of water leakage during transport.
Innovation Solution
A water-conducting household appliance design featuring a mist generating device with a liquid container that has a decreasing internal cross-section in the downward direction, optimized for ultrasonic nebulization, allowing for efficient use of space and effective mist production, including the use of a conical, convex, concave, or ellipsoidal configurations to enhance nebulization and minimize volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional mist generator with a water reservoir is used, then mist generation capability is achieved, but the device occupies excessive space within the household appliance
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid container is designed with a conical shape where the internal cross-section decreases in the downward direction, utilizing vertical space more efficiently. This dimensional optimization allows the same liquid volume to be contained in a smaller footprint, reducing the overall mist generator volume while maintaining mist generation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the liquid container by implementing a conical configuration with decreasing internal cross-section. This parameter modification optimizes the surface area to volume ratio, allowing efficient ultrasonic nebulization while minimizing the space occupied by the water reservoir.
2Volume of moving object
If the liquid container is minimized in size, then space is optimized, but the treatment time increases due to reduced mist generation quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The conical liquid container design creates a specific local geometry where the liquid depth and surface area are optimized at different locations. The decreasing internal cross-section ensures that the liquid surface area remains sufficient for effective ultrasonic nebulization while the overall volume is minimized, thus maintaining mist generation rate without increasing treatment time.
3Ease of manufacture
If a conventional horizontal liquid container is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but water leakage risk increases during transport when the appliance tips over
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid container employs an asymmetric conical shape with the apex pointing downward, breaking the symmetry of conventional horizontal containers. This asymmetric design ensures that gravity naturally directs any excess liquid toward the lowest point (the apex), preventing leakage during transport even when the appliance is tilted, while remaining manufacturable using standard molding techniques.
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
This design reduces the amount of liquid required for nebulization, optimizes space usage, and ensures effective ozone mist treatment while minimizing the risk of leakage, even when the appliance is tilted.
Implementation Method 1
a mist generating device (2) being provided which has an ultrasound generator (32) for nebulizing an aqueous liquid (25) by means of ultrasonic vibration
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a water-conducting domestic appliance (1) which, in particular, can be used as a laundry treatment device (1) for treating laundry and which comprises a mist-generating device (2). The mist-generating device (2) has a liquid container (20) and an ultrasound generator (32). The ultrasound generator (32) is used for nebulising an aqueous liquid (25) held in the liquid container (20). The liquid container (20), as seen in an operating state proceeding from a determined filling level (26) as far as which the aqueous liquid (25) can regularly be at least approximately filled during operation, is provided in a downstream direction (22) with a tapering internal cross-section (28) which is directed perpendicularly to the downstream direction (22). The volume of an internal chamber (24) of the liquid container (20) can thus be optimised.