Improved efficiency wash cycle for washing machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current washing machines are inefficient in ensuring homogenous mixing and adequate impregnation of laundry, leading to high water consumption and suboptimal washing performance, despite advancements in drum rotation control and water management.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a front-loading washing machine involving a rotary drum with alternating peak speeds, recirculation of wash water, and a continuous speed regime to enhance mixing and mechanical contact between laundry items, utilizing a pulley mechanism, circulation pump, and spray nozzle to deliver water jets effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional drum rotation control is used, then the washing machine operates with simple rotation patterns, but homogenous mixing and adequate impregnation of laundry is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The drum rotation control implements periodic action by alternating between different rotation speeds (first rotation speed for lifting laundry, second rotation speed for dropping laundry) in repeated cycles. This periodic variation in rotation speed creates the necessary mechanical action for effective washing while maintaining a relatively simple control structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by varying the drum rotation speed during different phases of the wash cycle. The rotation speed is dynamically adjusted between a first speed during the lifting phase and a second speed during the dropping phase, allowing the system to optimize washing performance at different stages without requiring complex continuous control.
2Manufacturing precision
If more wash water is used, then adequate impregnation of laundry is achieved, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine implements self-service by recirculating wash water from the bottom of the tub back through the spray nozzle. The pump unit automatically draws water from the tub bottom and redistributes it, allowing the system to reuse its own water resources for continued washing action without requiring additional water input.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers wash water that would otherwise be discarded or remain stagnant at the bottom of the tub. The pump unit extracts this water and the spray nozzle redistributes it, effectively recovering and reusing the water for continued washing, thereby reducing overall water consumption while maintaining adequate impregnation.
3Productivity
If pump unit continuously circulates water, then washing efficiency is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump unit operates periodically rather than continuously, activating during specific phases of the wash cycle when water redistribution is needed and remaining inactive during other phases. This periodic operation maintains washing efficiency when required while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
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 method achieves improved washing efficiency by ensuring homogenous mixing, adequate impregnation, and reduced water consumption through alternating speed profiles and recirculation of wash water, while enhancing mechanical contact between laundry items, resulting in a more efficient wash cycle.
Implementation Method 1
A circulation pump is provided in a circulation pipe, which draws wash water stored in the water tub. Pressured water is supplied to a spray nozzle through a nozzle water conduit.
Implementation Method 2
Pressured water is supplied to a spray nozzle through a nozzle water conduit. In this way, the spray nozzle produce water jets targeting cloth items in the drum.
Implementation Method 3
an enhanced mechanical effect is obtained by increasing contacting potentiality of each cloth item with other ones due to a continuous speed rate regime
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The present invention pertains to a washing machine (1) comprising a rotary drum (3) in which cloth items are placeable, a water tub (2) in which the rotary drum (3) is rotatable, a motor (7) providing the rotary drum (3) to be driven by means of a pulley mechanism (10), the latter disposed outside the tub (2), a circulation pump (4) in a circulation pipe (5) drawing wash water stored in the water tub (2) and delivering pressured water to a spray nozzle (8) via a nozzle water conduit (9), the spray nozzle (8) jetting the wash water from a front door (6) side above the rotary drum (3) toward the inner part of the same.