Washing Machine Pulsator and Drum Control for Dehydration Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machines with pulsators in the drum face challenges in dehydration efficiency and noise stability due to unstable control of the pulsator, particularly when the laundry load changes, leading to potential tangling or inadequate washing performance.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design with a pulsator and drum that includes a controller to manage the rotation of the pulsator and drum independently, using a first control process to suppress counter electromotive force and a second control process to adjust the driving force based on the drum's revolution per minute, ensuring the pulsator operates effectively and efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pulsator operates independently in the drum during dehydration, then washing performance is improved, but dehydration ability is degraded and laundry may tangle
Solution Approach 1:
The control method dynamically adjusts the pulsator's operation based on real-time detection of laundry state and drum rotation conditions. The pulsator is activated only when laundry is improperly arranged and drum rotation is below a predetermined speed, creating a dynamic control system that adapts to changing conditions rather than operating independently throughout the cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from laundry state detection and drum speed monitoring to control pulsator operation. The controller continuously monitors whether laundry is properly arranged and adjusts pulsator activation accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents dehydration degradation while maintaining washing performance when needed.
2Productivity
If the pulsator rotates at high speed to prevent laundry tangling, then washing uniformity is improved, but counter electromotive force increases and control stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control method changes the operational parameters of the pulsator based on drum rotation speed. When drum rotation is below a predetermined speed, the pulsator is activated with controlled current to prevent laundry tangling. When drum rotation exceeds the threshold, pulsator operation is adjusted or stopped to prevent excessive counter electromotive force, thereby maintaining control stability while achieving washing uniformity when conditions are favorable.
3Device complexity
If the pulsator is controlled without considering laundry state, then device complexity is reduced, but dehydration performance and noise stability are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the laundry itself to indicate its state through its interaction with the pulsator and drum. The control method detects whether laundry is properly arranged by monitoring the pulsator's rotation characteristics and drum speed, allowing the system to self-diagnose laundry state without requiring additional complex sensors, thereby maintaining simple device complexity while improving dehydration performance through state-aware 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 solution enhances dehydration efficiency, reduces noise, and prevents start-up failures by stabilizing the control of the pulsator and drum, ensuring uniform washing performance and reducing the risk of laundry tangling.
Implementation Method 1
a first control process of controlling a current flowing to the first motor, in accordance with rotation of the pulsator by movement of laundry in the drum that generates counter electromotive force in the first motor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a washing machine including: a main body (10) having a laundry inlet (10A) in the front portion (2); a tub (20, 60) disposed in the inside of the main body (10), and configured to store water; a drum (30) rotatably disposed in the inside of the tub (20, 60); a pulsator (40) disposed in the inside of the drum (30), and configured to be rotatable relative to the drum (30); a motor configured to provide a driving force to the pulsator (40); and a controller (400, 40) configured to control a current flowing to the motor on the basis of revolution per minute (rpm) of the pulsator (40) rotating by a movement of laundry contained in the drum (30), and to start controlling the motor on the basis of rpm (400, 800) of the drum (30).