Integrated Washer Water Softener With Pump-Controlled Brine Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current front-loading laundry washing machines with integrated water softening devices face issues such as complex detergent dispenser structures, high production costs, limited salt reservoir capacity, and brine leakage, which lead to frequent refills and potential drum rusting.
Innovation Solution
A laundry washing machine with an internal water softening device that includes a water-softening agent container, a regeneration-agent reservoir, and an electrically-powered water pump to control brine flow, preventing leakage and extending salt reservoir life, while allowing for efficient water softening and regeneration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an internal water softening device is integrated into the detergent dispenser, then water softening function is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the water softening device with the detergent dispenser by integrating the salt reservoir into the existing dispenser structure. The softening device shares space and structural elements with the detergent compartments, merging two functions into one integrated unit rather than adding a separate standalone softening system
Solution Approach 2:
The detergent dispenser is designed to serve multiple functions: it stores and dispenses detergent while also housing the salt reservoir and ion-exchange resin for water softening. This multi-functional design allows the same structural space to perform both detergent delivery and water softening operations
2Adaptability or versatility
If a salt reservoir is integrated into the detergent dispenser, then water softening is improved, but the salt reservoir capacity becomes limited requiring frequent refills
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically regenerating the ion-exchange resin using brine solution created from the salt reservoir. This continuous regeneration process extends the effective capacity of the salt reservoir, allowing it to serve multiple softening cycles without frequent refilling by repeatedly recharging the resin's softening capability
3Productivity
If brine is allowed to flow freely from the salt reservoir, then regeneration process is improved, but brine leakage occurs causing drum rusting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controlled flow path with valves as intermediaries between the salt reservoir and the ion-exchange resin. These valves regulate brine flow, allowing it to reach the resin for regeneration while preventing uncontrolled leakage that would cause rusting. The system uses controlled fluid management to mediate between the need for brine flow and the need to prevent corrosion
4Ease of manufacture
If the detergent dispenser structure is simplified, then production cost is reduced, but water softening and regeneration control efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be self-regulating, where the ion-exchange resin automatically exchanges ions with passing water to soften it, and the brine solution automatically regenerates the resin without requiring complex external control systems. This self-service mechanism maintains softening and regeneration efficiency while allowing for a simpler, more cost-effective dispenser structure
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 simplifies the detergent dispenser structure, reduces production costs, and eliminates frequent refills by using an electrically-powered water pump to manage brine flow, preventing rust and improving the overall efficiency of water softening and regeneration.
Implementation Method 1
suck out of the water-softening agent container, when activated, the fresh water stored into the water-softening agent container
Implementation Method 2
selectively allowing the brine to flow by gravity from the regeneration-agent reservoir to the water-softening agent container
Implementation Method 3
uses ion-exchange resins to restrain calcium and magnesium ions (Ca++ an Mg++) dissolved in the fresh water channeled to the washing tub
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Laundry washing machine (1) comprising an outer casing (2) and, inside said outer casing (2), a washing tub (3), a rotatable drum which is arranged in axially rotating manner inside the washing tub (3), a water softening device (11) which is interposed between the fresh-water supply circuit (10) and the detergent dispensing assembly (9) or the washing tub (3), and 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 (26) which is crossed by the fresh water arriving from the fresh-water supply circuit (10) and is filled with a water softening agent able to reduce the hardness degree of the fresh water flowing through the same water-softening agent container (26); a regeneration-agent reservoir (27) which is structured to receive a salt or other regeneration agent for performing a regeneration of the water softening function of the water softening agents stored into the water-softening agent container (26); a water supply circuit (28) which is structured for selectively channeling a given amount of fresh water into the regeneration-agent reservoir (27) to form brine; a valve assembly (29) which is interposed between the water-softening agent container (26) and the regeneration-agent reservoir (27) and which is structured for selectively allowing the brine to flow by gravity from the regeneration-agent reservoir (27) to the water-softening agent container (26); and a water drain line (41) which is structured for selectively draining the fresh water out of the resin container (26) and which comprises an electrically-powered water pump assembly (42) that communicates with the water-softening agent container (26) and is structured for preventing, when deactivated, any outflow of the brine or fresh water from the water-softening agent container (26), and for sucking out of the water-softening agent container (26), when activated, the fresh water stored into the water-softening agent container (26).