Laundry treating appliance for drying laundry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lint accumulation in the air flow pathway and filters of combination washing and drying machines reduces drying efficiency and wastes energy resources, particularly after drying cycles.
Innovation Solution
A lint cleanout routine is implemented in combination washer/dryers, determining when a drying cycle has occurred to trigger the routine, which involves immersing the drum in water without the lint filter and rotating it to dislodge lint, followed by draining.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If lint filter is placed in the air flow circuit to capture lint, then lint removal capability is improved, but the filter becomes clogged with lint accumulation reducing drying efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary water flush action on the lint filter before the drying cycle begins. The controller activates the water supply to flush water through the lint filter, removing accumulated lint and restoring airflow capacity, thereby preventing the deterioration of drying efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own water supply and circulation system to automatically clean the lint filter without external intervention. The water flush mechanism is integrated into the dryer's existing infrastructure, allowing the system to self-maintain its performance
2Object-generated harmful factors
If water is supplied to immerse the drum for cleaning, then lint dislodgement is improved, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system supplies only a partial charge of water - sufficient to immerse the drum and enable effective lint dislodgement through drum rotation, but not excessive amounts. The controller precisely controls the water supply to provide just enough water for the cleaning function
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the hydraulic action of circulating water through the lint filter and the mechanical action of the rotating drum immersed in water to dislodge lint. This combines fluid dynamics with mechanical motion to achieve effective cleaning with minimal water
3Ease of operation
If single dose dispenser is used for treating chemistry, then convenience is improved, but water supply must bypass the dispenser for lint cleanout
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply system is segmented into separate pathways: one for normal operation through the single dose dispenser, and another bypass pathway for lint cleanout operations. This segmentation allows independent control of water flow for different functions
Solution Approach 2:
The water supply system dynamically routes water through different pathways based on operational mode. The controller activates or deactivates the bypass pathway depending on whether a lint cleanout is being performed or normal dispensing is required
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
Effectively removes lint from the interior and filters, maintaining drying efficiency and conserving resources by optimizing the use of water and energy.
Implementation Method 1
rotating the drum for a predetermined period of time to dislodge lint from the interior of the tub and from the filter
Data Source
AI summary
A method of cleaning a lint filter in a combination washer/dryer having a tub, a controller, a drum rotatably mounted within the tub, an air conduit having a port fluidly connected to the tub, and a lint filter fluidly coupled to the port. The method comprising determining whether a previous cycle performed by the combination washer/dryer was a dry cycle, determining whether a single dose dispenser is selected for the current cycle, supplying to the tub a charge of water sufficient to at least partially immerse the drum while not immersing the lint filter, and rotating the drum for a predetermined period of time if the controller determines the previous cycle was a dry cycle and the single dose dispenser is not selected.