Method for controlling washing machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines fail to effectively control the movement of laundry in the drum, leading to uneven soaking and extended washing times, as they do not adequately consider the movement of laundry in response to varying water discharge amounts from the circulation pump.
Innovation Solution
A method that alternately accelerates and decelerates the washing motor to control the rotation of laundry within the drum, synchronized with the circulation pump's speed to adjust the spray pattern and direction of water, ensuring thorough soaking and efficient washing by varying the rotation speed range based on laundry load and position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the circulation pump rotates at a constant speed, then the spray range of circulating water is limited, but the control system is simple
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump's rotation speed is changed from constant to variable, allowing the spray range to dynamically adapt to different washing stages and laundry positions. The pump speed is adjusted in real-time to match the drum rotation speed and washing requirements, resolving the contradiction between spray range adaptability and control system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation pump operates with periodic speed changes that correspond to the drum rotation cycles. During different phases of drum rotation (acceleration, constant speed, deceleration), the pump speed is periodically adjusted to optimize water spray coverage, enabling adaptive spraying without requiring complex continuous control.
2Area of stationary object
If the circulation pump speed is increased to widen spray range, then water coverage improves, but laundry soaking uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pump speed is dynamically adjusted to match the drum rotation speed at any given moment. When the drum rotates faster, the pump speed increases proportionally to maintain appropriate water discharge timing and quantity, ensuring uniform laundry soaking while achieving adequate spray coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses feedback from drum rotation speed sensing to automatically adjust the circulation pump speed. This closed-loop control ensures that the pump discharges water at the optimal speed corresponding to the current drum rotation state, maintaining both spray coverage and soaking uniformity.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple nozzles are used to spray water in multiple directions, then spray coverage is improved, but the fixed spray pattern fails to adapt to laundry movement
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple fixed nozzles, the system employs a single nozzle whose spray effectiveness is enhanced by dynamically adjusting the circulation pump speed to match drum rotation. This dynamic speed adjustment creates an adaptive spray pattern that follows laundry movement, achieving both coverage and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter (pump rotation speed) of the circulation pump to adapt the spray characteristics. By varying the pump speed according to drum rotation speed, the water discharge quantity and timing are optimized for different washing stages, providing adaptability without requiring multiple fixed nozzles.
4Productivity
If the drum rotates at high speed to improve washing efficiency, then washing time is reduced, but laundry movement control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump speed is dynamically coupled with the drum rotation speed. During high-speed drum rotation, the pump speed automatically increases to maintain appropriate water discharge timing and quantity, ensuring effective laundry movement control even at high washing speeds. This dynamic coordination allows high productivity while maintaining ease of laundry movement control.
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 improves laundry soaking performance by ensuring even water distribution and reduced washing time, as the water stream effectively tracks and penetrates the laundry, reducing the time required for soaking and overall washing process.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation pump that circulates wash water
Implementation Method 2
rotating the drum at a rotation speed at which laundry in the drum is not stuck to the drum, and a second rotation step of rotating the drum at a rotation speed at which the laundry is stuck to the drum owing to a centrifugal force
Implementation Method 3
a nozzle for spraying the water into the drum... wash water sprayed from a nozzle is in the form of tracking the laundry in the drum
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a washing machine that includes a drum rotatably provided in a tub that receives water, at least one nozzle spraying water into the drum, a washing motor rotating the drum, and a circulation pump circulating water within the washing machine, the method including: operating the washing motor to rotate the drum in a first rotational direction while repeatedly alternating between an acceleration and a deceleration of the drum so that laundry in the drum alternates between maintaining contact with an inner surface of the drum during acceleration, and separates from the inner surface of the drum during deceleration; and operating a circulation pump motor in the circulation pump, while the drum rotates in the first rotational direction, to accelerate a pump speed of the circulation pump during the acceleration of the drum, and to decelerate the pump speed during deceleration of the drum.