Active Balancing Unit for Washing Machine Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing apparatuses generate significant vibration and noise during the dry-spinning cycle due to passive balancing devices that take a long time to balance the drum and may fail to position the balls accurately.
Innovation Solution
A washing apparatus with an actively controlled balancing unit, comprising a driving motor, driving gear, and flexible members, which moves within the balancer housing to reduce drum eccentricity and prevent interference between the driving gear and balancer housing gear, using a controller to determine the balancing unit's position based on voltage differences measured by coils.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If passive balancing devices with balls are used, then the structure is simple, but the balancing time is long and positioning accuracy is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the passive mechanical ball-based balancing system with an active electromagnetic driving system. The driving gear, driven by electromagnetic forces from coils, actively positions the balancing unit rather than relying on passive gravitational movement of balls. This substitution dramatically reduces balancing time while maintaining structural feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing unit incorporates its own driving mechanism (driving gear with electromagnetic actuation) that enables it to actively adjust its position without external intervention. The system self-regulates by detecting imbalance and autonomously moving the balancing unit to counteract eccentricity, eliminating the time delay inherent in passive systems.
2Device complexity
If passive balancing devices with balls are used, then the structure is simple, but the positioning accuracy is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the passive mechanical ball-based balancing system with an active electromagnetic driving system. The driving gear, driven by electromagnetic forces from coils, actively positions the balancing unit rather than relying on passive gravitational movement of balls. This substitution dramatically reduces balancing time while maintaining structural feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect the drum's rotational state and eccentricity, providing feedback to the control mechanism. This feedback enables the driving gear to precisely adjust the balancing unit's position, achieving accurate counterbalancing that passive ball systems cannot attain.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If actively controlled balancing unit is used, then vibration and noise are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a balancing unit with adjustable counterweights that are actively positioned to counteract the drum's eccentricity. The driving gear mechanism moves these counterweights to optimal positions, creating opposing forces that neutralize vibration and noise generated by unbalanced rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing unit transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic, actively controlled system. The driving gear enables real-time adjustment of the balancing unit's position in response to changing rotational conditions, allowing the system to adaptively counteract vibration and noise across varying operating speeds.
4Volume of moving object
If driving gear and balancer housing gear are positioned close together, then space is saved, but interference occurs during arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric design elements in the gear arrangement, specifically inclined portions on the gear teeth. These inclined surfaces create a self-guiding effect during assembly, allowing the driving gear to be positioned accurately relative to the balancer housing gear while preventing interference, thus saving space without compromising assembly ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined portions act as intermediary guiding surfaces that mediate the interaction between the driving gear and balancer housing gear during assembly. These inclined surfaces guide the gears into proper alignment, preventing interference while enabling compact positioning.
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 washing apparatus effectively minimizes vibration and noise across various rotation speeds by actively securing the balancing unit's position, ensuring efficient operation during both low and high-speed drum rotations.
Implementation Method 1
a driving motor and a driving gear provided with electricity from the driving motor
Implementation Method 2
a flexible member provided between the first mass and the first wheel. The flexible member pushes the first mass and the first wheel in the width-direction ends of the body
Implementation Method 3
the first wheel may be provided in the other width-direction portion of the body to roll on the inner circumferential surface of the balancer housing
Data Source
AI summary
A washing apparatus comprising a tub provided inside a cabinet; a drum provided inside the tub so as to be rotatable; a balancer housing installed on the front or rear side of the drum; and a balancing unit that includes a body, a drive motor, and a drive gear, the balancing unit movable in the balancer housing to reduce the eccentricity of the drum, wherein gear teeth are formed along an inner circumferential surface of the balancer housing, and the balancing unit is disposed in the balancer housing such that the drive gear is exposed to the outside of the body of the balancing unit to engage with the gear teeth.