Washing Machine Drawer Flushing Layout for Detergent Residue Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flush-in devices for washing machines with drawers suffer from detergent powder trickling onto the bottom, causing residue buildup and requiring frequent cleaning, as the current designs fail to effectively prevent powder from clumping and dirtying the slide-in compartment.
Innovation Solution
A flushing device with separate nozzles and a bypass arrangement for controlled water supply allows targeted flushing of detergent residues below the drawer, utilizing a parallel channel system connected to a water switch for simultaneous sight glass and drawer cleaning, ensuring efficient removal of powder residues during the wash program.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water is flushed through the chambers via the flushing device, then detergent is carried along and mixed for the washing process, but detergent powder trickles out onto the bottom of the drawer and clumps together due to humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The flushing device is divided into separate functional nozzles: one set directed at chamber openings for detergent removal, and another separately arranged nozzle directed at the bottom area for cleaning detergent residues. This segmentation allows independent control of detergent dispensing and drawer cleaning functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The separately arranged nozzle is positioned to clean the bottom area of the drawer before or during the detergent dispensing process. By performing preliminary cleaning action, detergent powder is prevented from settling and clumping on the drawer bottom before it can accumulate harmful residues.
2Ease of operation
If the drawer is pulled out for cleaning, then access is provided for cleaning the bottom area, but the washing process is interrupted and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The flushing device performs self-cleaning of the drawer bottom area through the separately arranged nozzle that is automatically activated during the washing program. The system cleans itself without requiring operator intervention to pull out the drawer, thereby eliminating time loss and maintaining continuous washing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning function is integrated into the continuous washing process through automatic activation of the separately arranged nozzle. This ensures that the useful action of cleaning occurs continuously during the wash program without interruption, maintaining both ease of operation and time efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If a bypass arrangement with parallel channels is used for separate nozzle supply, then targeted flushing of residues is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass arrangement with parallel channels serves multiple functions: it separately supplies water to the chamber-opening nozzles and the bottom-area nozzle, enables independent control of cleaning and dispensing functions, and maintains targeted residue removal capability. This multi-functionality justifies the increased structural complexity by providing precise control over different washing tasks.
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 powder residue buildup by parallel activation of drawer cleaning and sight glass flushing, maintaining cleanliness of the slide-in compartment without operator intervention, ensuring a cleaner and more efficient washing process.
Implementation Method 1
The bypass arrangement consists of two channels arranged in parallel, one channel being intended for flushing the sight glass and one channel being intended for the nozzle for drawer cleaning
Implementation Method 2
Above the chambers, the flushing device includes nozzles that can be selectively controlled. The flushing-in device additionally has at least one separately arranged nozzle which, under program control, cleans the drawer, which extends below the drawer, of detergent residues with fresh water
Implementation Method 3
The bypass arrangement is connected to a water switch that can be controlled for the addition of fresh water. The flushing of the sight glass and the drawer cleaning being activated under program control at the same time via the water switch
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The flushing device (1) includes a drawer (3), a thrust arrangement (4), chambers (5) for storage of liquid and/or powdered detergents, and chamber openings directed towards the nozzles (6). The drawer is arranged below the thrust arrangement. The wall of drawer is extended with respect to the shaft (15) and is merged directly into the base region for conducting water directly into the base region.