Washing machine assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional washing machines, including drum and pulsator types, face issues such as mechanical wear and tangling of clothes, inadequate detergent dissolution, and high energy consumption due to slow water temperature increase, while ultrasonic washing machines have poor cleaning efficacy due to blocked ultrasonic waves and detergent adhesion problems.

Innovation Solution

A washing machine assembly featuring an outer drum, an inner drum with a washing tank, and an ultrasonic device located in a mounting hole within the door assembly, allowing ultrasonic waves to directly act on detergent and clothes, enhancing detergent dissolution and cleaning efficacy through high-frequency vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If an ultrasonic device is mounted on the outer drum, then the structure is simple, but ultrasonic waves are blocked by the outer wall of the inner drum resulting in poor cleaning effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidcleaning effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The door assembly serves as an intermediary structure that allows ultrasonic waves to pass through directly into the washing tank. By mounting the ultrasonic device on the door assembly rather than the outer drum, the patent creates a direct transmission path for ultrasonic waves without the blocking effect of the inner drum's outer wall, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If conventional heating is used to increase water temperature, then the chemical effect of detergent is enhanced, but the water temperature increases slowly resulting in longer washing time and higher energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater temperatureVSAvoidwashing time
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional mechanical/thermal heating system with an ultrasonic vibration system. The ultrasonic device generates high-frequency vibrations that directly agitate the water and detergent mixture, rapidly dissolving detergent and enhancing its chemical effect without requiring slow thermal heating, thus reducing both washing time and energy consumption while maintaining temperature enhancement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If drum washing machine mechanical friction is used, then the cleaning function is improved, but clothes experience wear and tangling especially for long clothes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning functionVSAvoidclothes wear and tangle
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical friction-based drum washing system with an ultrasonic vibration-based cleaning system. The ultrasonic device generates cavitation and micro-streaming effects in the water, creating gentle yet effective cleaning action that removes stains without the mechanical wear and tangling caused by drum rotation, thus preserving clothes while maintaining cleaning function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Quantity of substance

If conventional detergent dissolution is used, then the chemical effect is utilized, but detergent is inadequately dissolved and concentrates on partial surfaces resulting in poor washing effect and detergent waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetergent distributionVSAvoidwashing effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ultrasonic device generates high-frequency mechanical vibrations in the water and detergent mixture, creating intense agitation that rapidly and uniformly dissolves detergent throughout the water. This prevents detergent concentration on partial surfaces and ensures even distribution, improving washing effect while reducing detergent waste through efficient utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

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 effectively disperses detergent, reduces mechanical wear on clothes, and decreases energy consumption by utilizing ultrasonic waves to improve cleaning efficiency and reduce detergent waste, while preventing damage and long washing times.

Implementation Method 1

an ultrasonic device located in the mounting hole and connected to the door assembly, and the ultrasonic device being at least partially located in the washing tank when the door assembly is closed to the outer drum; and wherein the ultrasonic device comprises an excitation plate and a vibrator provided on the excitation plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3910104B1Washing machine assembly
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 TCL HOME APPLIANCES (HEFEI) CO LTD
  • EP3910104B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3910104B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3910104B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application relates to washing machine assembly. The described washing machine assembly comprises a body, an outer drum, an inner drum, a door assembly and an ultrasound apparatus; the outer drum is connected to the body, and an accommodating container and an open groove that communicate with each other are formed inside of the outer drum; the inner drum is located inside of the accommodating container and a washing tank is formed in the inner drum; the door assembly is rotatingly connected on the outer drum, the door assembly covers the outer drum so as to block the open groove, and an mounting hole is formed inside of the door assembly; the ultrasound apparatus is located inside of the mounting hole and is connected to the door assembly, and the ultrasound apparatus is at least partially located inside of the washing tank.