Wash Basket Spin Control to Prevent Suds Lock in Laundry Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Suds lock conditions in laundry treating appliances, caused by surfactant-generated suds, interfere with the rotation of the wash basket, limiting its speed and increasing energy consumption due to excess frictional drag.
Innovation Solution
A method involving partial drainage of wash liquid, acceleration, deceleration of the wash basket, and supply of rinse liquid during deceleration to mitigate suds formation, thereby reducing frictional drag and allowing the wash basket to reach desired rotation speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surfactants are used in wash liquid, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but suds lock condition occurs interfering with wash basket rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary drainage of wash liquid before the spin cycle begins, and supplies rinse liquid during deceleration phases to prevent suds formation that would otherwise occur during high-speed rotation. This preliminary preparation eliminates the harmful suds lock condition before it can interfere with wash basket rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic drainage and rinse liquid supply cycles during operation, particularly during deceleration phases. By periodically removing wash liquid and replacing it with rinse liquid at specific intervals, the system prevents continuous suds generation while maintaining cleaning effectiveness during wash phases.
2Reliability
If suds are generated during wash cycle, then cleaning performance is enhanced, but frictional drag increases limiting rotation speed
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes suds-generating wash liquid from the tub during critical phases, particularly during deceleration before spin cycles. By taking out the surfactant-containing liquid and replacing it with rinse liquid, the system eliminates the source of excessive suds formation and associated frictional drag during high-speed rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
Rinse liquid serves as an intermediary substance that replaces surfactant-containing wash liquid during deceleration phases. This intermediary liquid prevents direct contact between surfactants and the high-speed rotating wash basket, thereby eliminating suds formation and reducing frictional drag without compromising overall cleaning performance.
3Speed
If wash liquid is drained and rinse liquid supplied during deceleration, then suds formation is minimized, but cycle complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the drainage and rinse liquid supply operations based on the real-time rotation speed of the wash basket. By linking liquid management operations to the dynamic state of wash basket rotation (particularly during deceleration phases), the system optimizes suds prevention while maintaining straightforward control logic tied to existing operational parameters.
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 method effectively minimizes suds formation and frictional drag, enabling the wash basket to rotate at desired speeds, reducing energy consumption and cycle duration while preventing suds lock conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The wash basket 18 may be rotated at high speed to centrifugally extract liquid from the fabric load and to discharge it from the wash basket 18
Implementation Method 2
These surfactants may mix with liquid on the laundry and in the tub to generate suds
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for operating a laundry treating appliance having a tub and a rotatably wash basket, the method comprising draining at least a portion of a wash liquid, accelerating the wash basket, enabling the wash basket to decelerate and supplying a rinse liquid during at least a portion of the deceleration of the wash basket.