Bubble generator and washing machine having the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines with bubble generators have limitations in generating large volumes of bubbles due to limited air supply, resulting in slow bubble generation and infiltration into laundry, and the bubble generation process is not easily visible to users.
Innovation Solution
A bubble generator system that includes a wash liquid jet nozzle, a porous plate member, and a blowing fan, where the wash liquid jetted from the nozzle collides with the porous plate member to generate high-expansion bubbles, and the system is positioned above the laundry to ensure efficient bubble distribution and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a circulation pump and ejector are used to generate bubbles, then bubbles can be generated, but the bubble generation rate is slow and the volume ratio is limited to 1 or less
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a blowing fan to supply air and a liquid jet nozzle to jet wash liquid, creating a pneumatic-hydraulic system that generates bubbles with a volume ratio of 10 or more, significantly improving both bubble generation rate and air-to-water volume ratio compared to conventional circulation pump systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a porous plate member with multiple holes through which the liquid jet passes. The porous structure enables rapid bubble formation as air mixes with the liquid jet through the pores, achieving high-volume bubble generation with volume ratio of 10 or more
2Productivity
If the bubble generator is disposed in the lower portion of the washing machine, then bubbles can be generated, but the inflow path is long and resistance is large causing slow infiltration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional lower-positioned bubble generator design by placing the bubble generator in the upper portion of the washing machine. This inversion shortens the bubble inflow path and reduces resistance, enabling bubbles to quickly infiltrate laundry from above rather than traveling a long path from below
3Ease of operation
If the bubble generator is disposed in the lower portion, then bubbles can be generated, but users cannot easily check whether bubbles are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the bubble generator in the upper portion of the washing machine, making it visible to users. This positional inversion allows users to easily observe bubble generation and infiltration from above, solving the visibility problem inherent in lower-positioned generators
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 system generates high-expansion bubbles that quickly cover the laundry, improving washing efficiency and allowing users to easily verify bubble generation.
Implementation Method 1
when the wash liquid jetted from the wash liquid jet nozzle collides with the porous plate member, bubbles are generated
Implementation Method 2
a blowing fan provided in the bubble spray part and configured to blow air in a direction in which the wash liquid jet nozzle jets the wash liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine having a bubble generator includes a bubble spray part provided at an upper side of a tub and configured to discharge bubbles from a top to a bottom inside the tub; a wash liquid jet nozzle provided inside the bubble spray part and configured to jet wash liquid; a blowing fan provided in the bubble spray part and configured to blow air in a direction in which the wash liquid jet nozzle jets the wash liquid; and a porous plate member provided at a front end of the bubble spray part and including a plurality of holes, wherein when the wash liquid jetted from the wash liquid jet nozzle collides with the porous plate member, bubbles are generated.