WO2006005146A2 - Method for reducing energy consumption in a laundry machine - Google Patents
Method for reducing energy consumption in a laundry machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2006005146A2 WO2006005146A2 PCT/BR2005/000124 BR2005000124W WO2006005146A2 WO 2006005146 A2 WO2006005146 A2 WO 2006005146A2 BR 2005000124 W BR2005000124 W BR 2005000124W WO 2006005146 A2 WO2006005146 A2 WO 2006005146A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- electric motor
- effective voltage
- energization
- washing means
- power supply
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F34/10—Power supply arrangements, e.g. stand-by circuits
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F2105/46—Drum speed; Actuation of motors, e.g. starting or interrupting
- D06F2105/48—Drum speed
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
- D06F37/30—Driving arrangements
- D06F37/304—Arrangements or adaptations of electric motors
Definitions
- the present invention refers to a method for reducing energy consumption during at least one of the operating phases of a laundry machine, which can be of the top or front load type, by adjusting the effective voltage applied to the electric motor on basis of the operating regime to be applied to said motor during one or more of its operating phases.
- the electric motors used in laundry machines are specified and designed to have the capacity of moving the whole mass composed by the mechanism of the laundry machine, including a washing means, which is formed in certain cases by a drum and an impeller which are rotatively driven by an electric motor, and by the load of clothes positioned to be washed inside the drum.
- a washing means which is formed in certain cases by a drum and an impeller which are rotatively driven by an electric motor, and by the load of clothes positioned to be washed inside the drum.
- the entire movable assembly of the machine comprising the washing means containing the load of clothes, starts from a state of total immobility to a state of rotating movement with a determined speed established in the machine design and which is sufficient to produce the desired washing effect or a certain degree of discharge of the water still remaining in the already washed load of clothes .
- the electric motor In the start of the spinning phase, for example, the electric motor has to make a huge effort to overcome the rest inertia of the whole mass formed by the movable parts of the machine and by the load of clothes contained in the drum, but after entering in a nominal operational regime, in which the rotating speed is already established, the electric motor makes little effort to maintain the rotating movement (or rotation) of the drum with the load of clothes.
- a substantial part of all the energy applied to the electric motor is transformed into heat, as it receives more energy than needed to maintain it working in the nominal rotation regime already established for spinning, since the amount of energy supplied to the electric motor is dimensioned to overcome the rest inertia in the beginning of spinning.
- the agitation and spinning phases are effected with the electric motor being supplied with 100% the effective voltage of the electric power supply and therefore receiving an amount of energy higher than necessary to maintain its operation within the designed nominal patterns of the machine, leading to an unnecessary consumption of energy, part of which being transformed into heat that is lost to the atmosphere and which tends to reduce the lifespan of the motor.
- prior art solutions are known to control the supply of energy to the electric motor, such system have a complex construction, modifying the characteristics of the energy received from the electric power supply and to be supplied to the electric motor during different operational phases of the laundry machine, requiring complex and high cost electronic arrangements, which are economically infeasible for some construction of laundry machines.
- the alterations electronically effected in the parameters of the electric energy supplied to the electric motor of the machine are continuously controlled by an electronic control module, further varying the motor speed by controlling the frequency of the electric energy supplied to the machine.
- the object of the invention disclosed in the patent cited above is to control the operation of the electric motor in all operating phases of the machine, by providing a rotation detecting means, a comparing means and a control means which must be constructed to process the data received from the rotation detecting means and to instruct the triac to operate to supply the electric motor with an effective voltage, necessary to maintain the rotation desired for each operating phase of the laundry machine.
- Said prior art method requires a more sophisticated control means and at least one rotation detecting means of the electric motor, increasing the cost of the end product.
- a method for reducing energy consumption during operation of an automatic laundry machine of the type comprising a washing means which is selectively and rotatively driven to wash a load of clothes placed in said machine,- an electric motor which is selectively and operatively coupled to the washing means to make it rotate in at least one direction during the agitation and spinning phases, and a control means which is operatively associated with the electric motor so as to instruct energization thereof from a power supply during said agitation and spinning phases .
- the method comprises the steps of: providing energization of the electric motor, upon start of each rotation of the washing means in a direction, in at least one of the agitation and spinning phases, with a certain percentage of the effective voltage of the electric power supply which is sufficient to start the electric motor; maintaining the energization of the electric motor with at least one effective voltage value at minimum equal to the certain percentage of the electric power supply during a predetermined time, defined by the control means and which is sufficient to allow the electric motor and the washing means to reach a rotation regime established for the respective operating phase being carried on in the laundry machine; and adjusting the effective voltage applied to the electric motor to at least one value that is sufficient to maintain a desired rotation regime, in the respective operating phase being carried on, after the respective predetermined time has elapsed.
- the invention allows reducing the consumption of energy supplied to the electric motor of the machine during the agitation and spinning phases by means of an extremely simple solution of low cost, which can be easily incorporated to the machine design without provoking any relevant increase in its cost to the end user.
- the heat of the electric motor is diminished during operation in the agitation and spinning phases, which allows said motor to operate in a more favorable temperature condition, increasing its lifespan, besides reducing energy consumption of the laundry machine as -mentioned above.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the different operational steps effected according to the present invention and according to different sequences of process steps; and Figure 2 is a simplified block diagram of the control means provided in the laundry machine and which are necessary to carry out the invention.
- the present method is applied to an automatic laundry machine of the type which comprises a tub 1, inside which is mounted a rotating cylindrical drum 2 for containing a load of clothes. It should be understood that the cylindrical drum 2 might be mounted with its axis disposed either horizontally or vertically.
- the laundry machine further comprises an electric motor 3 operatively coupled to the cylindrical drum 2 to make the latter rotate around its axis inside the tub 1 during different operational phases of the laundry machine.
- a control means 4 is provided to control the operations of the machine, driving the electric motor 3 and other components (not illustrated) of the system, such as water admission electro-valve, according to different operational conditions which include water level and time.
- said cylindrical drum 2 defines a washing means L to be selectively and rotatively driven to wash a load of clothes fed into the machine.
- the agitation and spinning phases are achieved with the cylindrical drum 2 being rotatively driven in a single direction, and the spinning phase is effected in a higher speed.
- the washing means L further comprises, besides the cylindrical drum 2, an impeller 6 mounted inside the cylindrical drum 2 and which is also selectively and operatively coupled to the electric motor 3.
- the agitation phase is usually carried on upon the impeller 6 being rotatively driven in one and in the other direction, while the cylindrical drum 2 remains usually stationary.
- the electric motor 3 is energized by instruction from the control means 4, in order to start rotating from a stop condition, accelerating to a condition of desired operational rotation, usually permanent, in which the rotation of the electric motor 3 is stabilized at a design nominal value.
- the control means 4 is operationally associated to a triac 5 through which the electric motor 3 is energized from an electric power supply.
- the control means 4 acts on the triac 5 varying its triggering angle in order to modify the value of the effective voltage applied in energizing the electric motor 3.
- the control means 4 presents its electronic structure programmed to operate the triac 5 according to a switching pattern designed to provide an effective voltage to the electric motor which is suitable to a respective operational condition of the laundry machine.
- the spinning phase in either of the two types of machines mentioned above, may have its start defined by fully energizing the electric motor 3 with 100% of the effective voltage of electric power supply, in order to start the electric motor 3 by increasing the rotation thereof from stop until a permanent rotation condition is achieved, with the cylindrical drum 2 and eventually the impeller 6 rotating in one direction and also in a permanent rotation condition which is desired, designed and set for the spinning phase.
- the full energization of the electric motor 3 with 100% of the electric power supply voltage is sustained for a predetermined amount of time, defined by the control means 4, sufficient for the electric motor 3 and the washing means L to which it is coupled to achieve the permanent rotation condition defined for the spinning phase.
- the predetermined amount of time is fixed and defined according to the most severe start condition to which the electric motor is to be subjected, in order to assure that during the acceleration of the electric motor 3 with maximum load there is no reduction of the effective voltage being applied thereto.
- control means 4 After the predetermined amount of time has elapsed, the control means 4 carries on a gradual variation of the triggering angle of the triac 5, in order to reduce the effective voltage applied to the electric motor 3 to a value necessary and sufficient to sustain the permanent rotation condition for the remaining of the spinning phase.
- the value of the reduced effective voltage to sustain the permanent rotation condition is calculated in order to assure a level of energization sufficient to sustain said permanent rotation condition under maximum load being applied to the electric motor.
- the value of the reduced effective voltage may be constant for the remaining of the spinning phase or may undergo periodic variations, when said value may be momentarily increased to assure the maintenance of the minimum desired rotation for the washing means L, which may comprise the cylindrical drum 2 and the impeller 6 or just the former in the case of front- load type laundry machines .
- the operational phases described above for the spinning phase may also be applied for promoting the agitation operations, particularly in front-load type machines in which the agitation phase is effected with the cylindrical drum with horizontal axis rotating in a single direction.
- the initial energization of the electric motor 3 in the agitation and spinning phases mentioned above is not necessarily- executed with 100% of the effective voltage of electric power supply, and the starting effective voltage may be substantially lower than the full effective voltage available in the electric power supply, it being sufficient that said voltage is adequate to rotate the rotating assembly of the machine with the load of clothes.
- the present method may comprise a sequence of phases which start with the energization of the electric motor 3 with a reduced value of effective voltage in relation to the full effective voltage available in the electric power supply, said reduced effective voltage then being increased, for a predetermined period of time, to achieve at least a sufficient value to maintain a desired rotation regime for the washing means L for the remaining of the operational phase being carried on, which may be a rotation in one direction of the washing means L in an agitation or spinning operation.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
- Control Of Ac Motors In General (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP05759365A EP1763604A2 (en) | 2004-07-08 | 2005-07-07 | Method for reducing energy consumption in a laundry machine |
US11/571,012 US20080053165A1 (en) | 2004-07-08 | 2005-07-07 | Method for Reducing Energy Consumption in a Laundry Machine |
MX2007000284A MX2007000284A (en) | 2004-07-08 | 2005-07-07 | Method for reducing energy consumption in a laundry machine. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
BRPI0402937-2 | 2004-07-08 | ||
BRPI0402937-2A BRPI0402937A (en) | 2004-07-08 | 2004-07-08 | method to reduce power consumption in a washing machine |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2006005146A2 true WO2006005146A2 (en) | 2006-01-19 |
WO2006005146A3 WO2006005146A3 (en) | 2006-07-13 |
Family
ID=36046285
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/BR2005/000124 WO2006005146A2 (en) | 2004-07-08 | 2005-07-07 | Method for reducing energy consumption in a laundry machine |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20080053165A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1763604A2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1985043A (en) |
BR (1) | BRPI0402937A (en) |
MX (1) | MX2007000284A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2006005146A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2011025101A1 (en) * | 2009-08-28 | 2011-03-03 | (주)엘지전자 | Device for controlling washing machine and control method thereof |
BR102013003829A2 (en) * | 2013-02-19 | 2014-11-04 | Whirlpool Sa | WASHER ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVING METHOD |
EP3969649A1 (en) * | 2019-05-13 | 2022-03-23 | Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag | Laundry-treating machine and method for controlling such a laundry-treating machine |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6029300A (en) * | 1997-09-10 | 2000-02-29 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Spin extractor |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1531336A (en) * | 1976-07-16 | 1978-11-08 | Mullard Ltd | Motor speed control circuits |
US4823067A (en) * | 1988-02-16 | 1989-04-18 | Weber Harold J | Energy conserving electric induction motor control method and apparatus |
JPH05103895A (en) * | 1991-10-15 | 1993-04-27 | Toshiba Corp | Abnormal vibration detector for washing machine |
JP3030228B2 (en) * | 1995-04-14 | 2000-04-10 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Centrifugal dehydrator |
KR100232265B1 (en) * | 1996-02-27 | 1999-12-01 | Sanyo Electric Co | Centrifugal dehydrator |
US5893280A (en) * | 1996-12-18 | 1999-04-13 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Spin extractor |
US6418581B1 (en) * | 1999-06-24 | 2002-07-16 | Ipso-Usa, Inc. | Control system for measuring load imbalance and optimizing spin speed in a laundry washing machine |
KR100786059B1 (en) * | 2000-12-01 | 2007-12-17 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | method for controlling dehydration speed in drum-type washing machine |
JP3651595B2 (en) * | 2001-12-13 | 2005-05-25 | 株式会社東芝 | Inverter device for washing machine and inverter device for washing dryer |
-
2004
- 2004-07-08 BR BRPI0402937-2A patent/BRPI0402937A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2005
- 2005-07-07 WO PCT/BR2005/000124 patent/WO2006005146A2/en active Application Filing
- 2005-07-07 MX MX2007000284A patent/MX2007000284A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2005-07-07 EP EP05759365A patent/EP1763604A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2005-07-07 US US11/571,012 patent/US20080053165A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2005-07-07 CN CNA2005800230604A patent/CN1985043A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6029300A (en) * | 1997-09-10 | 2000-02-29 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Spin extractor |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
BRPI0402937A (en) | 2006-02-21 |
EP1763604A2 (en) | 2007-03-21 |
MX2007000284A (en) | 2007-06-15 |
WO2006005146A3 (en) | 2006-07-13 |
CN1985043A (en) | 2007-06-20 |
US20080053165A1 (en) | 2008-03-06 |
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