Valve Plug Drainage Control with Idle Stroke to Prevent Water Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines suffer from water wastage, reduced detergent concentration, and bacterial growth due to inefficient drainage and sealing issues between the inner and outer tubs, leading to shortened machine lifespan and potential cross-infection risks.
Innovation Solution
A drainage control mechanism with a stretchable and retractable valve plug and crank-link structure is implemented, featuring an idle stroke to prevent damage and ensure accurate operation, allowing for controlled water management between the tubs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the inner tub communicates with the outer tub through water through holes, then water can flow between tubs, but water resources are wasted and detergent concentration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the through holes from the inner tub, extracting the water communication function from the tub structure. Instead, a controlled drainage system with valve plug is introduced to manage water flow between tubs, eliminating uncontrolled water waste while maintaining necessary drainage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve plug acts as an intermediary component between the inner and outer tubs, controlling water flow through the drainage port. This mediator allows selective communication between tubs, enabling water to flow when needed for drainage while preventing continuous water waste and maintaining detergent concentration during washing cycles.
2Productivity
If water flows frequently between inner tub and outer tub, then drainage function is achieved, but dirt and bacteria accumulate between tub walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the through holes that caused uncontrolled water flow and dirt accumulation. By extracting this flawed communication path and replacing it with a controlled drainage system, the patent prevents dirt and bacteria from accumulating between tub walls while maintaining effective drainage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve plug serves as an intermediary that controls water flow between tubs, allowing drainage when needed while preventing continuous flow that would cause dirt accumulation. This controlled mediation eliminates the harmful effect of frequent uncontrolled water flow between tubs.
3Reliability
If sealing device is arranged between tubs, then water leakage is prevented, but sealing structure wears over time and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex sealing device between tubs, extracting the source of wear and reliability issues. Instead of relying on a sealing structure that degrades over time, the design uses the valve plug mechanism to control water flow and prevent leakage without requiring continuous sealing contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve plug acts as an intermediary that prevents water leakage between tubs through controlled positioning rather than relying on worn sealing surfaces. This approach maintains reliability over extended service life by avoiding the wear inherent in traditional sealing structures.
4Ease of operation
If valve plug is connected directly to crank-link structure, then drainage control is achieved, but damage may occur without idle stroke
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an idle stroke in the crank-link structure that provides beforehand cushioning for the valve plug. This idle stroke prevents direct mechanical impact and potential damage by allowing the valve plug to move through a controlled range of motion, cushioning against sudden stops or reversals that would otherwise cause mechanical failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The idle stroke introduces dynamic movement range to the valve plug-crank-link connection, allowing the mechanism to operate smoothly through varying positions without rigid constraints. This dynamic design prevents mechanical damage by accommodating movement variations and preventing stress concentration at fixed connection points.
Data Source
AI summary
A drainage control mechanism comprises a valve plug capable of being stretchable and retractable, wherein the valve plug moves upwards to close the drainage port of an inner tub, and moves downwards to open the drainage port. A lower end of the valve plug is connected with a link of a crank-link structure, an idle stroke is arranged between the link and a crank, and/or between the link and the valve plug. When the valve plug sticks out but not into the drainage port, the valve plug will stick to the bottom of the inner tub, the driving motor drives the crank or the link to move in the idle stroke. When the driving motor drives to move over the highest point, the driving motor further drives the valve plug to move downwards to reset and to re-enter the next working circle.