Wash Basket Foreign Object Trap with Radial Liquid Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foreign objects such as buttons, coins, and stones can interfere with the operation of laundry treating appliances by obstructing water flow and potentially damaging pumps, and collected materials can deteriorate, causing odors and reducing flow rates.
Innovation Solution
A foreign object trap is integrated into the wash basket, featuring radially expelling liquid through outlet openings that are not at a right angle to the axis of rotation, allowing for efficient collection and redirection of foreign objects while maintaining sufficient water flow to the pump, even if some outlets are blocked.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If foreign objects are collected and held in the wash basket, then foreign objects are prevented from reaching the pump, but collective materials reduce flow rates by obstructing water flow paths
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet opening is divided into multiple smaller outlet apertures distributed across the upwardly extending wall. This segmentation allows water to flow through multiple paths while foreign objects are retained, preventing obstruction of the entire flow path while maintaining adequate water flow to the pump.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet opening is positioned at a specific location on the upwardly extending wall to optimize the balance between foreign object retention and water flow. The local geometry and positioning of the outlet apertures are designed to allow sufficient water passage while effectively trapping foreign objects.
2Reliability
If foreign objects are collected and held in the wash basket, then foreign objects are prevented from reaching the pump, but collected materials deteriorate with time causing odor and may be redistributed on clothing
Solution Approach 1:
The foreign object trap is integrated into the wash basket structure with outlet apertures that allow water to pass through while retaining foreign objects. This extraction approach separates the foreign object retention function from the water flow path, preventing odor and contamination issues while maintaining pump protection.
3Reliability
If foreign objects are collected and held in the wash basket, then foreign objects are prevented from reaching the pump, but other types of materials add to the accumulation process by causing materials to accumulate that might otherwise be pumped down the drain
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet opening is designed with multiple aperture openings that dynamically balance foreign object retention with material passage. The configuration allows smaller materials that would otherwise accumulate to pass through while retaining larger foreign objects, reducing overall material accumulation.
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 solution effectively prevents large foreign objects from reaching the pump, ensuring proper operation and reducing odor issues by allowing small objects and particulate matter to pass through, maintaining adequate flow rates and preventing accumulation.
Implementation Method 1
radially expelling liquid through a first portion of an outlet opening of the foreign object trap located in the upwardly extending wall as the wash basket is rotated about the axis of rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a foreign object trap located in a bottom of a wash basket underlying a clothes mover, the bottom of the wash basket having an upwardly extending wall, with at least the wash basket rotatable about an axis of rotation, the method including radially expelling liquid through an outlet opening of the foreign object trap.