Variable-Flow Spray Nozzle for Even Washing Drum Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines with circulation devices often fail to distribute washing liquid evenly across the drum, leading to insufficient wetting of laundry at the edge areas, despite using more water and detergent.
Innovation Solution
The washing machine employs a nozzle with a variable outlet geometry and adjustable conveying speeds to control the liquid jet, ensuring even distribution by forming different jet shapes at varying speeds, with a pump capable of multiple flow rates and a flow body to deflect the jet, creating multiple beams that cover the entire drum interior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a nozzle with a large opening is used to spray a wide area, then the coverage area is improved, but the pump has to deliver a large amount of liquid and the rear drum space is not reached
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle system dynamically changes the jet characteristics by varying the conveying speed of the pump. At different speeds, the same nozzle geometry produces different jet shapes - a narrow concentrated jet at lower speeds for deep penetration, and a wider dispersed jet at higher speeds for broader coverage, eliminating the need to change nozzle openings
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow velocity parameter to control jet behavior. By adjusting the pump's conveying speed, the jet transitions from a narrow, high-velocity stream that penetrates to the rear drum space to a wider, lower-velocity spray that covers larger areas, optimizing both coverage and penetration without changing nozzle geometry
2Area of stationary object
If a nozzle with a large opening is used to spray a wide area, then the coverage area is improved, but the jet stream does not reach the rear drum space
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic control of conveying speed to adjust jet characteristics. At higher velocities, the jet maintains a narrow, focused shape that travels farther to reach the rear drum space. At lower velocities, the jet naturally disperses to provide wider coverage, allowing the system to achieve both long reach and broad coverage at different operational phases
3Productivity
If the washing liquid is conveyed to the upper area to spray from above, then the washing mechanism is improved, but the distribution evenness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic variation in pump conveying speed to create alternating jet patterns. The pump cycles between different speed levels, producing a sequence of narrow penetrating jets and wider dispersing jets, which over time achieves uniform distribution across the entire drum surface including edge areas that would otherwise be insufficiently wetted
Solution Approach 2:
By dynamically adjusting the conveying speed, the system transforms a single static jet into a dynamic pattern that alternates between concentrated and dispersed states. This dynamic jet behavior ensures comprehensive coverage of the drum interior, improving distribution evenness while maintaining the efficiency benefits of upper-area spraying
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 solution enhances the washing effect by ensuring nearly complete coverage of the laundry with washing liquid, optimizing water and detergent usage without complex design changes, just by adapting the pump control to the nozzle geometry.
Implementation Method 1
a pump (17a), which conveys the washing liquid (19) from the lower region into the upper area
Implementation Method 2
the nozzle (20) is designed to form the shape of the outlet jet differently depending on the conveying speed of the washing liquid
Implementation Method 3
a flow body to deflect the jet, creating multiple beams that cover the entire drum interior
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a washing machine (1) with a tub (2) for holding washing liquid (19) for treating laundry (8), with a drum (3) mounted horizontally rotatably in the tub (2) for holding the laundry (8). , a motor (13) for rotating the drum (3) and a circulation device (17) for conveying the washing liquid (19) from the lower area of the tub (2) to the upper area, based on the operational set-up position of the washing machine (1) , wherein the circulating device (17) comprises a pump (17a), a line (17b) and a nozzle (20) which is designed to inject the washing liquid (19) into the drum (3). In order to improve the washing effect, the pump (17a) is designed to supply the washing liquid (19) to the nozzle (20) at different conveying speeds, and the nozzle (20) is designed to change the shape of the outlet jet (29a, 29b, 29c) differently depending on the conveying speed of the washing liquid (19).