Patent Application
20130233030
Embodiments relate generally to washing machines and, more particularly, to an ultrasonic washing machine having one or more ultrasonic transducers in communication with washing fluid.
Conventional high-efficiency clothes washing machines may suffer from limitations related to cleaning clothes thoroughly while trying to minimize the use of water and detergents.
Embodiments were conceived in light of the above-mentioned limitations among other things.
In operation, the washing machine 10 washes clothes using washing fluid 3. A control unit (see, e.g.,
Through application of ultrasonic energy in addition to mechanical agitation, the amount of mechanical agitation can be reduced thereby reducing the abrasion of clothes being washed and also reducing the amount of electrical energy needed to perform a washing cycle. By achieving washing using ultrasonic energy, the amount of detergents being used may also be reduced.
An ultrasonic washing machine can be used for household laundry, industrial laundry and/or commercial laundry.
In operation, a control unit 6 communicates control signals to the ultrasonic transducers 2 via the control harness 4. As shown in
The operation of the washing machine 10 can be adjusted (e.g., by changing washing cycle parameters) based on the use of and settings associated with ultrasonic cleaning. In other words, the control unit 6 can take into account whether ultrasonic cleaning has been selected and at what power setting or what power level the ultrasonic cleaning has been selected for and can adjust other parameters of the washing cycle. In addition to potentially improving the cleaning of clothes being washed in the washing machine 10, the use of ultrasonic energy can permit a washing machine to be less noisy and may also reduce the formation of scale or mineral deposits on internal surfaces of the machine (e.g., drum, heater, pipes, or the like). As mentioned above, the use of ultrasonic energy can permit a washing machine to use less mechanical energy and less heat energy, thereby reducing the overall cost of operating the machine by reducing the electrical energy required to perform a clothes washing cycle.
Application of ultrasonic energy to the washing fluid can permit a machine having a larger drum size and thereby washing a larger quantity of clothes and still maintain the high level of cleaning of the clothes.
Use of ultrasonic energy may also permit a clothes washing cycle to occur in less time than using mechanical agitation alone.
Also, it will be appreciated that in addition to washing clothing, linens or other articles made of cloth, the ultrasonic washing machine described herein can be used for the disinfection and cleaning of other items such as vegetables, fruits or the like.
It is, therefore, apparent that there is provided, in accordance with the various embodiments disclosed herein, ultrasonic washing machines.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be, or are, apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, Applicant intends to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the spirit and scope of the invention.
