Laundry treating apparatus comprising a siphon
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating apparatuses face issues with detergent supply when the siphon formation portion is damaged or blocked, and the detergent is supplied at unwanted timings due to malfunctioning valves, also allowing water to flow backward from the tub to the detergent supply unit.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a detergent supply unit with a barrier to separate detergent and water spaces, a siphon formation pipe, and backward flow preventers to ensure detergent supply even with a damaged siphon and control water supply timing, preventing water from flowing back to the detergent unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a siphon formation portion is used to move detergent and water to the tub, then detergent can be supplied automatically when water level exceeds preset level, but the system fails completely if the outlet is blocked or the siphon formation portion is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent supply path is segmented into multiple independent routes: a first discharge path through the siphon formation portion and a second discharge path through the bottom of the storage body. This segmentation ensures that if one path is blocked or damaged, the other path can still function to supply detergent to the tub, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving automatic supply capability.
2Ease of operation
If a valve is added to control water supply to the storage body, then detergent supply timing can be controlled, but the system becomes vulnerable to malfunction if the valve is out of order causing unwanted detergent supply
Solution Approach 1:
The control function is extracted from the valve mechanism and transferred to the controller, which monitors the wash cycle state and actively controls the valve. This extraction ensures that detergent supply timing is determined by the controller based on detected wash cycle conditions rather than passive valve operation, preventing unwanted supply even if the valve mechanism has issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller receives feedback about the wash cycle state and uses this information to control the valve timing for water supply to the storage body. This feedback mechanism ensures that detergent supply occurs only at appropriate times during the wash cycle, maintaining reliable controlled supply while enabling precise timing operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the storage body is designed with simple structure for easy manufacture, then production cost is reduced, but the system lacks protection against water flowing backward from the tub to the detergent supply unit
Solution Approach 1:
The storage body incorporates localized quality features: a first discharge path with higher positioning and siphon formation portion for normal detergent supply, and a second discharge path at the bottom with a backward flow preventer for protecting against water intrusion. This local differentiation provides targeted protection where needed while maintaining overall structural simplicity and ease of manufacture.
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
Ensures reliable detergent supply to the tub even with siphon damage and proper timing, while preventing water from flowing back to the detergent supply unit, enhancing operational efficiency and user control.
Implementation Method 1
a siphon formation pipe provided to surround the first discharge pipe, moving a liquid inside the first space to the first body through hole if a water level inside the first space is higher than a height of the first discharge pipe
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus comprises a tub (4) for providing a space where water is stored; a drum (6) rotatably provided inside the tub, for storing laundry therein; a cover (84) provided with a detergent inlet (842); a storage body (811) arranged below the cover (84), providing a space where a detergent is stored; a barrier (815) provided in the storage body (811), for partitioning the inside of the storage body (811) into a first space (S1) where the detergent entering through the detergent inlet is stored, and a second space (S2) detached from the first space (S1); a storage unit water supply inlet (818) allowing water to enter the first space (S1); a first body through hole (813a) provided to pass through a bottom of the storage body (811), communicating the first space (S1) with the tub (4); a first discharge pipe (817) protruded toward the cover (84) from the first body through hole (813a); a second discharge pipe (816) provided on a bottom of the storage body (811), communicating the second space (S2) with the tub; a siphon formation pipe (846) provided to surround the first discharge pipe (817), moving a liquid inside the first space (S1) to the first body through hole (813a) if a water level inside the first space is higher than a height of the first discharge pipe (817); and a space communication unit for moving the liquid inside the first space to the second space if the liquid is not discharged to the outside of the first space through the first body through hole (813a).