Washing Machine Foam Detection During Drum Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machine methods fail to effectively detect and reduce foam during the washing cycle, particularly during spinning and draining phases, leading to inefficient operation and increased energy consumption due to the need for additional unbalancing phases when the drum is stopped to assess foam levels.
Innovation Solution
A method that detects the liquid level in the washing tub and draining region while the drum is rotating, compares it to threshold values, and initiates a foam-reducing procedure if the level exceeds upper and does not drop below a lower threshold within a predetermined monitoring period, reducing the drum's speed or stopping it to manage foam effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the drum is stopped to detect foam amount, then the foam detection can be performed, but the laundry unbalance occurs and additional unbalancing phases are required
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid level is detected during the spinning phase before the foam becomes problematic, allowing early intervention. The system monitors liquid level continuously during rotation and only stops the drum when necessary, preventing the need for multiple stop-start cycles for foam detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts drum speed based on real-time liquid level detection. Instead of stopping the drum frequently for foam assessment, the drum speed is modulated during spinning to manage foam generation while maintaining continuous operation, reducing unnecessary stop-start cycles.
2Measurement precision
If the drum is stopped to detect foam amount, then the foam detection can be performed, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Liquid level detection is performed during the spinning phase before foam becomes excessive, allowing the system to take preventive action while the drum is still rotating. This eliminates the need for multiple stop-start cycles, reducing energy consumption associated with repeated drum acceleration and deceleration.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum maintains continuous rotation during liquid level monitoring and foam management operations. By keeping the drum in motion and using liquid level detection as a proxy for foam assessment, the system avoids repeated stopping and starting, thereby maintaining continuous useful action and minimizing energy waste.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the drum speed is reduced to manage foam, then the foam can be controlled, but the washing cycle duration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drum speed is dynamically adjusted based on real-time liquid level detection. When liquid level exceeds thresholds indicating foam formation, the speed is temporarily reduced to allow foam to settle or be drained. Once the liquid level returns to acceptable ranges, the drum speed is immediately increased again, minimizing the time spent at reduced speed and maintaining overall cycle efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic monitoring of liquid level during the spinning phase and applies speed modulation only when necessary. This periodic intervention approach allows the drum to maintain high speed for most of the cycle, with brief speed reductions only when foam management is required, thereby minimizing the impact on overall cycle duration.
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 allows for real-time foam detection and reduction without stopping the drum, minimizing energy consumption and cycle duration by maintaining the laundry's balanced state during the washing cycle.
Implementation Method 1
detecting a liquid level in the washing tub and/or in a draining region thereof when said laundry drum is rotating
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a washing machine (10) during a washing cycle, the washing machine having a washing tub (24) containing a laundry drum (26). The method has the steps of:detecting a liquid level (44) in the washing tub (24) and/or in a draining region thereof when the laundry drum (26) is rotating,comparing the detected liquid level (44) with an upper threshold value (48),when the detected liquid level (44) exceeds the upper threshold value (48), reducing the rotational speed of the laundry drum (26) and starting a predetermined monitoring period (54),detecting the liquid level (44) in the washing tub (24) and/or in the draining region thereof during the predetermined monitoring period (54),comparing the detected liquid level (44) with a lower threshold value (46) during the predetermined monitoring period (54), andif the detected liquid level (44) does not decrease or drop below the lower threshold value (46) within the predetermined monitoring period (54), then then starting a foam-reducing procedure.