Contoured Wash Tank Guide Surface to Prevent Item Pinning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Continuous motion washing machines face challenges in maintaining a suitable lifting action for large, flat items in rectangular wash tanks, leading to items sticking to the bottom and impacting the tank walls, causing noise and unsanitary conditions, while curved tanks are more expensive and time-consuming to construct.
Innovation Solution
A fluid flow structure with a contoured guide surface and support system that creates a gap between the guide surface and the tank walls, reducing pinning and impact noise, and allowing for flexible motion to absorb vibrations, while being removable and adaptable for different item sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a rectangular wash tank is used, then construction cost and time are reduced, but items stick to the bottom wall and impact the walls causing noise and unsanitary conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a curved bottom wall in the wash tank to replace the rectangular bottom wall. This curved surface prevents items from sticking to the bottom by eliminating flat surfaces where pinning occurs, while also reducing impact noise by distributing forces more evenly across the curved surface rather than concentrating them at sharp corners and flat areas.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a curved wash tank is used, then item pinning and wall impact are reduced, but construction cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The curved bottom wall is implemented as a separate, removable component rather than being integral to the entire tank structure. This segmentation allows the curved element to be manufactured independently using appropriate forming techniques while the rest of the rectangular tank maintains its simple, easy-to-manufacture geometry. The curved bottom can be installed as a insert or liner, combining the benefits of curvature with manufacturing efficiency.
3Productivity
If large flat items are placed in the wash tank, then washing capacity is improved, but lifting action is insufficient causing items to stick to the bottom
Solution Approach 1:
The curved bottom wall creates a more effective fluid flow pattern that generates better lifting action. The curvature redirects the fluid flow in a way that creates upward forces more effectively, preventing large flat items from sticking to the bottom while still accommodating them in the wash tank.
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 provides a cost-efficient wash action for various item sizes, reduces noise and impact on tank walls, and maintains cleanliness by preventing items from sticking and minimizing damage to the wash tank.
Implementation Method 1
Each jet directs its jet stream toward the bottom wall of the wash tank, the bottom wall then deflects the jet stream upward and towards the front wall of the tank. The front wall then deflects the upward moving jet stream towards the rear wall of the tank, and the rear wall deflects the jet stream downward and back towards the front wall along the bottom wall.
Implementation Method 2
A fluid flow structure with a contoured guide surface and support system that creates a gap between the guide surface and the tank walls, reducing pinning and impact noise, and allowing for flexible motion to absorb vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid flow structure for a washing machine is located within a wash tank of the washing machine, which includes a fluid flow guide surface, and a support for the guide surface. The guide surface includes at least one region contoured inconsistently from the contour of at least one corresponding wall of the washing machine wash tank. The contour of the guide surface is generally curved so as to aide in reducing and/or preventing the pinning of items that often occurs in rectangular wash tanks of the prior art. The support for the guide surface creates a gap between the guide surface and at least one wall of the washing machine wash tank.