Washing machine comprising a balancer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines experience vibration and noise due to unbalance caused by cloth entanglement, which existing balancers fail to fully address effectively, especially when the drum rotates at high speeds during dehydration.
Innovation Solution
A balancer system with a cylindrical drum, transmission coil, drive modules, gear rails, balancing weights, and a guide case that moves along the drum's circumference to adjust the center of gravity, utilizing wireless power transmission and a separate circuit board for control, allowing the balancer to operate independently without affecting the drum's center of gravity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a counter weight is used to counterbalance eccentricity, then the unbalance is reduced, but the structure becomes complex and the center of gravity of the drum is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical counterweight system with a magnetic field-based active balancer. The balancer uses a motor to rotate an imbalance weight, generating a counterbalancing force through controlled rotation rather than static mass distribution. This substitution of mechanical structure with a controlled dynamic system reduces structural complexity while maintaining unbalance reduction effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic balancing mechanism where the imbalance weight can rotate independently under motor control. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to varying load conditions and actively counterbalance eccentricity during drum rotation, rather than relying on a fixed counterweight structure. The dynamic nature enables precise control over the counterbalancing force without adding complex mechanical structures.
2Reliability
If a ball balancer with liquid sealing is used, then the unbalance is reduced, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and the structure is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex ball balancer mechanism with a simplified motor-driven active balancer. Instead of using balls, liquid sealing, and heat-welding processes, the invention uses an electric motor to rotate an imbalance weight, creating the necessary counterbalancing force through electrical control. This eliminates the need for complex manufacturing processes while achieving the same unbalance reduction effect.
3Ease of operation
If drive modules and reception coils are integrated in the balancer, then wireless power operation is achieved, but the center of gravity of the drum may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the reception coil and drive modules asymmetrically within the balancer structure, specifically placing them in the peripheral region away from the drum's center axis. This asymmetric positioning ensures that the mass distribution of these components does not significantly affect the drum's center of gravity, while still enabling effective wireless power reception and transmission. The design separates the wireless power function from the balancing function spatially.
4Device complexity
If multiple components are integrated in the guide case, then the number of parts is reduced, but the thermal management and component spacing become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the guide case into distinct functional regions: a peripheral region for housing the reception coil and drive modules, and a central region for the drum rotation axis. This spatial segmentation allows for proper thermal management by separating heat-generating components from sensitive areas, while still integrating multiple components within the single guide case structure. The segmentation strategy reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining thermal performance.
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
The balancer effectively reduces unbalance and noise by actively adjusting the center of gravity, improving the washing machine's operational stability and reducing the number of parts, while enabling wireless power operation and a simpler structure.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission coil generating a wireless power signal and transmitting power wirelessly
Implementation Method 2
a reception coil which generates power from a magnetic field formed by the transmission coil
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a balancer (300) and a washing machine including the same. The balancer (300) includes at least two drive modules (330) which provide a driving force; at least two gear rails (350) having a ring shape which are gear-coupled to each of the drive modules (330) and rotated; at least two balancing weights (360) which move along a circumference of a drum (124) by the rotation of each of the gear rails and change a center of gravity of the drum (124); a reception coil (310) which generates power from a magnetic field formed by a transmission coil (240); and a guide case (340) which accommodates at least the reception coil (310) and the drive modules (330).