Water-Level Coupling in Washer Drum-Pulsator Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional large-capacity laundry treating apparatuses are inefficient for washing small amounts of laundry, leading to energy wastage, prolonged cycles, and potential fabric damage due to entanglement issues, especially when used as auxiliary devices on top of front-load machines.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a coupling mechanism that allows the drum and pulsator to rotate independently or in the same direction based on the water level, minimizing entanglement and optimizing energy use by adjusting the rotational direction during wash and spin cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a large-capacity laundry treating apparatus is used to wash small amounts of laundry, then the apparatus can handle various laundry volumes, but energy consumption increases and washing time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the laundry treating apparatus into two separate drums: a large-capacity front-load drum for bulk washing and a small-capacity top-load drum for delicate or small-volume washing. This segmentation allows each drum to operate independently at optimal efficiency, resolving the contradiction between handling various laundry volumes and minimizing energy consumption.
2Productivity
If the drum and pulsator rotate in reverse directions to enhance washing efficiency, then washing performance improves, but laundry entanglement increases causing fabric damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables dynamic control of the pulsator's rotation direction and speed independently from the drum. During different washing phases, the pulsator can rotate in reverse to enhance washing action, then switch to same-direction rotation at reduced speed to minimize entanglement. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between washing efficiency and fabric protection.
3Area of stationary object
If a top-load type apparatus is mounted on a front-load type to save space, then space utilization improves, but the top-load apparatus becomes relatively low affecting water-to-laundry ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The invention nests the small-capacity top-load drum inside the large-capacity front-load drum structure, with the top-load drum positioned in the upper portion and the front-load drum occupying the lower portion. This nested configuration maximizes vertical space utilization while ensuring each drum has sufficient depth for optimal water-to-laundry ratios during their respective operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a clothes treating device comprising: a cabinet forming an external shape; a tub provided inside the cabinet so as to have an inlet one the upper part thereof, and having water stored therein; a drum rotatably provided inside the tub, having a through-hole on the bottom surface thereof, and having clothes accommodated therein; a stirring part rotatably provide in through-hole so as to stir the clothes; a driving part provided on the lower part of the stirring part so as to provide power for rotating the stirring part and/or the drum; and a coupling provided between the stirring part and the driving part so as to be rotated by the power, and provided so as to rotate the stirring part and the drum in different directions or rotate only the stirring part when a water level of the tub is greater than or equal to a certain water level, and to rotate the stirring part and the drum in the same direction when the water level of the tub is less than or equal to the certain water level.