Washing Machine Fluid Additive Dispensing Using Single-Valve Mass Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machine appliances require multiple water valves to dispense fluid additives, increasing cost and complexity, especially for models with multiple compartments for receiving additives.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design that uses a single water valve to supply water to multiple fluid additive compartments, with a fluid additive dispenser system that includes compartments for different additives and a valve manifold to control the flow of water, allowing for efficient dispensing of additives using fewer valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple water valves are used to dispense fluid additives from multiple compartments, then the dispensing function is reliable, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single water valve is designed to serve multiple functions by supplying water to multiple fluid additive compartments sequentially. The valve manifold distributes water from this single valve to different compartments at different times during the wash cycle, eliminating the need for separate valves for each compartment while maintaining reliable dispensing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic timing control to switch the single water valve between different compartments during the wash cycle. The valve manifold dynamically redirects water flow to different compartments based on the cycle phase, allowing one valve to effectively replace multiple valves through time-based allocation.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple water valves are used to supply water to multiple fluid additive compartments, then each compartment receives adequate water flow, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-fills multiple compartments with fluid additives before the wash cycle begins. During the cycle, the single water valve sequentially flushes each compartment with water at the appropriate time, ensuring each compartment receives sufficient water flow when needed without requiring simultaneous water supply from multiple valves.
Solution Approach 2:
The single water valve operates periodically to supply water to different compartments at different times during the wash cycle. The valve manifold creates a periodic sequence of water delivery to each compartment, ensuring adequate water flow for flushing additives while using only one valve instead of multiple valves.
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 reduces the number of valves needed, lowering costs and complexity while maintaining effective dispensing of fluid additives during wash and rinse cycles, by using a single valve to supply water to multiple compartments and controlling the flow to ensure efficient flushing and mixing of additives.
Implementation Method 1
A method for operating a washing machine appliance to dispense fluid additives to a wash tub of the washing machine appliance using fewer valves includes the steps of establishing a flow of water through the second valve to the first compartment sufficient to cause fluid to exit from the first compartment through the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine appliance and a method for operating a washing machine appliance are provided. The washing machine appliance includes one or more features for dispensing fluid additives using fewer valves. The method includes one or more steps for dispensing fluid additives using fewer valves.