Fabric treating appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fabric treating appliances, such as washing machines, are limited by the size of the tub and basket, requiring more water than necessary for filling and restricting the volume of laundry that can be treated due to the need for the tub to capture all liquid during spin cycles.
Innovation Solution
A fabric treating appliance with a dual-wall basket and a float valve system that allows liquid to fill above the tub terminal edge by selectively opening and closing a drain opening, enabling efficient liquid management and reducing the need for a large tub.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tub is designed to capture all liquid during spin cycles, then liquid containment is ensured, but the tub volume must be large which limits the basket capacity and requires more water for filling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the liquid containment function into two segments: the tub captures liquid during spin cycles, and the float valve system manages liquid levels during wash/rinse cycles. This segmentation allows the tub to be smaller while maintaining reliable liquid containment when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The float valve provides dynamic control of the drain opening, transitioning between open and closed states based on liquid level. This dynamic mechanism allows the system to adapt liquid management to different operational phases, enabling a smaller tub volume while ensuring liquid containment during spin cycles.
2Quantity of substance
If the tub is filled to a predetermined level during wash/rinse cycles, then sufficient liquid is provided for treatment, but excessive water is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The float valve system provides self-service liquid level control, automatically opening to drain excess liquid when the predetermined level is reached and closing when liquid is needed. This eliminates the need for manual intervention and ensures optimal water consumption without sacrificing treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The float valve creates a feedback control system where the liquid level directly controls the valve position, which in turn regulates liquid flow. When liquid reaches the predetermined level, the float rises and closes the drain opening, preventing further filling. This feedback mechanism ensures water is only consumed when necessary for treatment.
3Volume of moving object
If the basket terminal edge is positioned above the tub terminal edge, then basket capacity is increased, but liquid may escape from the basket during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The float valve acts as an intermediary between the basket and the external environment, controlling liquid flow through the drain opening. It allows liquid to escape from the basket during wash/rinse cycles when the drain is open, but prevents harmful liquid escape during spin cycles when the drain is closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the drain opening based on the cycle phase. During wash/rinse cycles, the drain is open allowing liquid to escape from the basket. During spin cycles, the float valve closes the drain opening, changing the parameter from open to closed to prevent liquid escape while maintaining high basket capacity.
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 design increases the capacity of the laundry treating chamber while saving water, as the tub only needs to be filled to a level that raises the float valve into a closed position, potentially saving up to five gallons of water per cycle.
Implementation Method 1
a float valve having a valve body located within the tub interior and moveable between an opened position, where the valve body is spaced from the drain opening enabling fluid flow through the drain opening, and a closed position, where the valve body closes the drain opening to prohibit fluid flow through the drain opening, in response to a level of liquid in the tub interior
Data Source
AI summary
A fabric treating appliance includes a rotatable basket defining a treating chamber for receiving a load of laundry items for treatment. A float valve can be incorporated into the basket structure, selectively opening or closing the valve based upon the liquid level in a tub. As liquid fills the tub, the float valve will rise until it moves into a closed position, permitting the basket and treating chamber to fill with liquid. As the tub drain, the float valve can fall, opening the valve and permitting liquid to drain from the basket or treating chamber. The opened or closed positions can be selectively operated by opening or closing a pump or sump and allowing a tub to drain or fill, respectively.