Washing Machine Inlet Circuit With Separate Clean-Water and Detergent Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing washing machines fail to ensure that laundry is wetted with clean water before the introduction of washing agents, leading to potential mixing and increased complexity and encumbrance in the water and detergent delivery circuit.

Innovation Solution

A single-piece water line system with separate conduits for clean water and detergent compartments, allowing selective introduction of clean water into the washing tub without mixing with detergents, while reducing circuit complexity and encumbrance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a second offshoot conduit is added to convey clean water separately, then the laundry can be wetted with clean water before washing agents are introduced, but the device complexity and encumbrance increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclean water delivery reliabilityVSAvoidwater supply circuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The water supply circuit is segmented into two separate conduits: a first conduit for delivering washing agent solutions and a second conduit for delivering clean water. This segmentation allows independent control of clean water flow, ensuring laundry is wetted with clean water before washing agents are introduced, while maintaining clear functional separation to avoid mixing issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the second offshoot conduit with air break) that mediates between the water source and the tub, providing a dedicated pathway for clean water that prevents contamination from washing agents while maintaining system integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a second offshoot conduit is added to convey clean water separately, then the laundry can be wetted with clean water before washing agents are introduced, but the encumbrance problems increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclean water delivery reliabilityVSAvoidspace occupation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The second offshoot conduit is nested within the existing water supply circuit structure, utilizing the housing and spatial arrangement of the first conduit. The air break mechanism is integrated into the conduit path rather than being a separate external component, reducing overall space occupation while maintaining functional separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Device complexity

If the second offshoot conduit flows into the conduit connecting compartments and siphon, then the structure is simplified, but clean water may mix with washing agents in the conduit or siphon

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuit structure simplicityVSAvoidclean water purity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The clean water flow path is extracted from the washing agent delivery path by creating a separate second conduit that bypasses the compartments and siphon. The air break is positioned to interrupt any potential contamination path, extracting the clean water delivery function from the potentially contaminated washing agent circuit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

An air break mechanism serves as an intermediary barrier between the clean water source and the tub, preventing washing agents from contaminating the clean water in the second conduit while allowing clean water to pass through to wet the laundry first.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Ensures laundry is effectively wetted with clean water before the addition of washing agents, simplifying the water and detergent delivery system, and reducing assembly costs and space requirements.

Implementation Method 1

the water dispenser comprises a so called "air-gap" or "air break", that is a gap, or opening, obtained in the water path present inside the water dispenser

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir gap:

Implementation Method 2

typically via apposite electromagnetic inlet valves, with one or more conduits fluidly connectable to the water delivery mains

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic valve: Electromagnet

Data Source

PatentUS8991220B2Washing machine with an improved washing/rinsing-liquid inlet circuit

Publication Date: 2015.03.31 ELECTROLUX HOME PROD CORP NV

AI summary

A washing machine (1) has a washing tub (5) containing a rotary perforated drum (6), and a washing/rinsing-liquid dispenser (8), fluidly connectable to a water source. The liquid dispenser includes a housing (9) and a drawer (10), removably associated to the housing (9), provided with one or more compartments (11a, 11b) adapted to be filled with washing and/or rinsing products. A water line (13) fluidly connects the washing/rinsing-liquid dispenser (8) and the tub (5). The water line (13) has one or more single-piece elements (13, 13a. 13b) including a first conduit (25), fluidly connecting the one or more compartments (11a, 11b) and the tub (5), and a second conduit (27), fluidly separated from the first conduit (25), fluidly connectable, upstream, with the water source, and fluidly connected, downstream, with the tub (5)). The first and second conduits (25, 27) are provided in a single-piece construction.