Washing Machine Salt Reservoir Layout to Prevent Brine Rust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current front-loading laundry washing machines with integrated water softening devices face complications due to the placement of the salt reservoir on the detergent drawer, leading to increased production costs, limited capacity, and potential brine leakage causing rust on metal components.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a regeneration-agent reservoir and detergent container with separate, accessible compartments, featuring a water-permeable structure and a sprinkler head for efficient water distribution, which simplifies the detergent dispenser structure and prevents brine from reaching the revolving drum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the salt reservoir is integrated on the detergent drawer, then the water softening function is achieved, but the detergent dispenser structure becomes complicated and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the salt reservoir from the detergent drawer, creating two independent components. The salt reservoir is positioned in a separate location within the washing machine, while the detergent drawer remains a standalone unit. This segmentation simplifies the detergent dispenser structure and reduces production costs while maintaining the water softening function through the separate salt reservoir.
2Volume of stationary object
If the salt reservoir capacity is limited, then the device size is reduced, but brine leakage occurs during drawer extraction causing rust on metal components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the salt reservoir from the detergent drawer assembly and positions it in a separate location within the washing machine. This extraction prevents the brine solution from the salt reservoir from coming into contact with the detergent drawer components during extraction and insertion operations. The separate positioning eliminates the rusting problem caused by brine leakage while maintaining an appropriate salt reservoir capacity.
3Area of stationary object
If the salt reservoir is positioned on the detergent drawer, then space utilization is improved, but accessibility for user loading becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a separate salt reservoir positioned in an accessible location within the washing machine, acting as an intermediary storage solution. This separate reservoir can be easily accessed by users for loading salt without requiring removal or manipulation of the detergent drawer. The intermediary positioning maintains efficient space utilization while significantly improving ease of operation for salt refilling.
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
This configuration reduces production costs, enhances accessibility for user loading, and prevents rusting of metal components, improving the overall functionality and durability of the washing machine.
Implementation Method 1
featuring a water-permeable structure and a sprinkler head for efficient water distribution
Implementation Method 2
This water softening device uses ion-exchange resins to restrain calcium and magnesium ions (Ca++ an Mg++) dissolved in the tap water
Implementation Method 3
Salt water, in fact, is able to remove from the ion-exchange resins the calcium and magnesium ions previously combined/fixed to said resins
Data Source
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Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Laundry washing machine (1) comprising an outer casing (2) and, inside said casing (2), a washing tub (3) arranged inside said casing (2) directly facing a laundry loading/unloading opening realized in a front wall (2a) of said casing (2), a rotatable drum arranged in axially rotating manner inside the washing tub (3) and structured for receiving the laundry to be washed, a detergent dispenser (9) which is structured for supplying detergent into the washing tub (3), and a water softening device (11) which is structured for reducing the hardness degree of the fresh water supplied to the washing tub (3); the water softening device (11) in turn comprising a water-softening agent container (23) filled with a water softening agent able to reduce the hardness degree of the fresh water supplied to the washing tub (3), a regeneration-agent reservoir (21) which is structured to receive a salt or other regeneration agent for performing a regeneration of the water softening function of said water softening agents, and a water supply circuit (22) which is structured for selectively spilling/pouring a given amount of fresh water into the regeneration-agent reservoir (21); the regeneration-agent reservoir (21) comprising a regeneration-agent container (32) which is fillable with a given quantity of regeneration agents, and the water supply circuit (22) comprising a first sprinkler head (34) provided with a shower-making portion which is structured for feeding a shower of water droplets by gravity into said regeneration-agent container (32).