Flow-Regulating Washing Machine Lifter for Uniform Nozzle Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

In washing machines, uneven water flow through nozzles on the lifter causes inadequate washing and potential damage to laundry due to inconsistent pressure distribution.

Innovation Solution

The arrangement of barriers around nozzles on the base of the reservoir creates a region for water accumulation, allowing water to gain potential energy and flow into the drum at a consistent rate through each nozzle, ensuring uniform washing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If water is delivered through nozzles on the lifter with high pressure to improve washing efficiency, then washing efficiency is improved, but the laundry gets damaged due to pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing efficiencyVSAvoidlaundry damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The water delivery system is segmented into multiple nozzles distributed across the lifter structure, with each nozzle delivering water at controlled pressure to specific regions of the laundry, preventing concentrated high-pressure damage while maintaining overall washing effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lifter acts as an intermediary structure between the water source and the laundry, incorporating nozzles that regulate and distribute water pressure evenly across the laundry surface, thereby mediating between the need for high-pressure washing and the prevention of laundry damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If water flow through nozzles is unregulated to simplify the structure, then device complexity is reduced, but uneven water distribution causes inadequate washing and laundry damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidwater flow uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The lifter structure is designed with nozzles positioned at equivalent heights and orientations, creating equipotential water delivery conditions that ensure uniform pressure and flow distribution across all nozzles without requiring complex individual regulation mechanisms for each nozzle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

Solution Approach 2:

The design optimizes nozzle parameters such as diameter, orientation, and spacing to achieve uniform water distribution through geometric arrangement alone, eliminating the need for complex flow regulation mechanisms and maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution ensures that water is delivered to the laundry at a consistent flow rate and pressure, improving washing efficiency and preventing damage by ensuring all regions of the laundry are equally washed.

Implementation Method 1

the water accumulates on the base of the reservoir and flows into the drum after gaining a certain potential energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPotential energy:

Implementation Method 2

the water to flow into the drum (4) with a regulated flow as a result of the pressure formed by the accumulation of the water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3947802B1A washing machine comprising a flow regulating lifter
Publication Date: 2023.01.25 ARCELIK AS
  • EP3947802B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3947802B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) comprising a body (2); a loading port (3) which is provided on the body (2); a drum (4) which is disposed in the body (2) and wherein the laundry is loaded via the loading port (3); a tub (5) wherein the drum (4) is disposed; a pipe (6) which provides the delivery of the water to the tub (5) during the washing cycle; and a lifter (7) which is disposed in the drum (4), which tumbles the laundry and which has at least one nozzle (8) for delivering the water into the drum (4) and a base (10) whereon the nozzle (8) is arranged.