Washing Drum and Pump Synchronization for Even Laundry Soaking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines fail to evenly soak laundry due to inadequate control over the movement of laundry in response to varying water discharge from the circulation pump, leading to inefficient washing and longer washing times.
Innovation Solution
A method that alternates the acceleration and deceleration of the washing motor to control the rotation of laundry within the drum, synchronized with the rotation speed of the circulation pump to adjust the spray pattern and depth of water distribution, ensuring thorough soaking and reduced washing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the circulation pump rotates at a constant speed, then the spray range of circulating water is wide, but the laundry is not evenly soaked
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump's rotation speed is changed from constant to variable, dynamically adjusted according to drum rotation phase. The pump operates at high speed during specific phases to concentrate spray on laundry at the lowest point, and at low speed during other phases, creating dynamic spray patterns that ensure even soaking across all laundry items throughout the washing cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation pump operates in periodic cycles of high-speed and low-speed rotation synchronized with the drum's rotation. This periodic action ensures that spray is delivered at optimal moments when laundry passes through the spray zone, creating repeated wetting cycles that uniformly soak all laundry items over time.
2Speed
If the drum rotates at high speed, then laundry is stuck to the drum and water can pass through in centrifugal direction, but laundry at center is not soaked
Solution Approach 1:
The drum rotation speed is dynamically varied between high-speed and low-speed phases. During high-speed phases, laundry is pressed against the drum wall for centrifugal water penetration. During low-speed phases, laundry falls to the lowest point where concentrated spray from the circulation pump ensures thorough soaking of items that were at the center during high-speed rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum alternates between high-speed rotation (for centrifugal water passage) and low-speed rotation (for laundry settling and concentrated spray application). This periodic alternation ensures that all laundry items experience both centrifugal water penetration and direct spray soaking over multiple cycles, achieving uniform saturation throughout the load.
3Manufacturing precision
If the circulation pump sprays water continuously, then laundry can be soaked, but washing time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump operates in periodic high-speed and low-speed cycles rather than continuously at constant speed. The high-speed phases deliver concentrated spray for effective soaking, while low-speed phases allow laundry to settle and redistribute. This periodic operation achieves thorough soaking in less total time compared to continuous spraying.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation pump's rotation speed parameter is varied between high and low values according to the washing cycle phase. This parameter change optimizes water delivery efficiency - high speed for maximum spray impact when laundry is positioned optimally, low speed for redistribution and settling - thereby reducing total washing time while maintaining effective soaking.
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 ensures even soaking of laundry by adjusting the spray pattern and depth of water distribution in response to laundry movement, enhancing washing performance and reducing overall washing time.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation pump that sprays the circulating water into the drum
Implementation Method 2
acceleration and deceleration of the washing motor such that the washing motor is accelerated to make laundry in the drum rotate along with the drum while stuck to the drum owing to a centrifugal force
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 alternatively repeating acceleration and deceleration of the washing motor such that the washing motor is accelerated to make laundry in the drum rotate along with the drum while stuck to the drum owing to a centrifugal force and the washing motor is decelerated to make the laundry to be separated from the drum; and a step (b) of operating a circulation pump motor included in the circulation pump to spray water through the at least one nozzle by, wherein the circulation pump motor is accelerated in response to the acceleration of the washing motor and decelerated in response to the braking of the washing motor, wherein the step (a) and the step (b) are repeated at least once, and wherein, in the step (a), the washing motor rotates without stopping.