Washing Drum and Pump Control for Uniform Water Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machine control methods fail to uniformly apply water to laundry due to fixed laundry positions during rinsing, limiting soaking effectiveness and detergent concentration, especially with varying water levels and pump speeds.
Innovation Solution
A method controlling the washing machine by adjusting the drum rotation and circulation pump speed based on water levels, lifting and dropping laundry to ensure uniform water application, with higher speeds increasing as water levels rise to enhance detergent concentration and washing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the circulation pump rotates at high speed to increase water flow rate, then water supply amount increases, but laundry position becomes fixed and water application uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drum rotation speed is dynamically adjusted based on water level. At low water levels, the drum rotates at high speed (100-140 r/min) to make laundry fall repeatedly for uniform detergent application. At high water levels, the drum rotates at low speed (10-30 r/min) to allow laundry to remain stuck on the inner circumferential surface, preventing it from falling while maintaining high pump speed for sufficient water supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (drum speed, pump speed) based on water level conditions. The circulation pump speed is controlled to match water level phases: low speed at low water levels and high speed at high water levels, optimizing both water application uniformity and water supply amount for each phase.
2Manufacturing precision
If the drum rotates at high speed to make laundry fall repeatedly, then detergent application uniformity improves, but water supply amount becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts drum and pump speeds based on water level. During initial washing with low water level, the drum rotates at high speed (100-140 r/min) to make laundry fall repeatedly for uniform detergent application, while the pump operates at low speed matching the low water level. During rinsing with high water level, the drum rotates at low speed (10-30 r/min) to prevent laundry from falling, while the pump operates at high speed to supply sufficient water.
Solution Approach 2:
Operational parameters are changed according to washing phase and water level. The circulation pump speed is controlled to be low during initial washing and high during rinsing, while drum speed is controlled to be high during initial washing and low during rinsing, optimizing both detergent application uniformity and water supply amount for each phase.
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 approach enhances washing performance by uniformly applying highly concentrated detergent water initially and increasing water flow as water levels rise, improving contaminant removal and laundry soaking efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation pump configured to pump water discharged from the tub to the at least one nozzle
Implementation Method 2
at least one nozzle for spraying water into the drum
Implementation Method 3
a washing motor configured to rotate the drum
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a method for controlling a washing machine having a tub for containing water, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, at least one nozzle for spraying water into the drum, a washing motor configured to rotate the drum, and a circulation pump configured to pump water discharged from the tub to the at least one nozzle, the method including: a step (a) of controlling the washing motor such that laundry in the drum is lifted by a first angle in a rotation direction of the drum while brought in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the drum and falls therefrom, and controlling a circulation pump motor included in the circulation pump such that water is sprayed though the at least one nozzle, wherein, in the step (a), the circulation pump is controlled to rotate at a rotation speed that is set in correspondence to a level of water in the tub.