Active Balancing Units for Washing Machine Vibration Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machines with passive balancers require continuous drum rotation for imbalance reduction, leading to inefficiencies and increased vibration.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine with actively movable balancing units controlled by a vibration sensor and controller, which adjusts the balancing units' movement to minimize tub vibration by rotating them in the same and different directions to achieve balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a passive balancer (ball balancer or liquid balancer) is used, then the structure is simple, but the drum needs to be continuously rotated to move the balancer to reduce imbalance, leading to increased vibration and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the passive balancer into an active balancer by equipping it with a driving mechanism (motor). The balancer can now actively move to the position opposite the laundry center of mass without requiring continuous drum rotation, thereby reducing balancing time while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The active balancer autonomously positions itself to counterbalance the laundry by moving to the opposite side of the drum based on vibration sensor feedback, eliminating the need for continuous drum rotation and reducing the time required for imbalance reduction
2Device complexity
If a passive balancer is used, then the device structure is simple, but the drum must rotate continuously to achieve balancing, resulting in increased vibration during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The active balancer with motor-driven movement can quickly reposition to the optimal balancing position without requiring prolonged drum rotation. This reduces the duration of vibration-generating operations while achieving the same balancing effect, thereby reducing overall harmful vibration
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses vibration sensors to detect the current imbalance state and provides feedback to the controller, which then actuates the balancer to the appropriate position. This closed-loop control enables precise balancing with minimal vibration by avoiding unnecessary continuous rotation
3Productivity
If an actively movable balancer is used, then the balancing speed is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses vibration sensors to detect imbalance and automatically actuates the balancer to the appropriate position. This automated feedback control achieves fast balancing while keeping the control logic relatively simple, managed by a microcontroller that processes sensor data and controls the balancer motor
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the vibration sensors and the balancer motor, translating vibration data into appropriate motor commands. This intermediary layer manages the complexity of coordinating multiple balancing units and sensors, enabling fast balancing without requiring complex direct coupling between sensors and motors
4Reliability
If multiple balancing units are used to address both front and rear vibrations, then the balancing effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing system is divided into multiple independent balancing units positioned at different locations (front and rear) of the drum. Each unit can independently respond to vibration in its specific zone, providing comprehensive balancing coverage while maintaining modular simplicity that avoids excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Different balancing units are positioned at specific locations (front and rear) to address local vibration problems in those zones. This localized approach ensures effective vibration reduction in each area without requiring a single complex balancing mechanism, thereby improving overall reliability while managing device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The washing machine includes a tub, a drum, a plurality of balancing units moving along the circumference of a front side or a rear side of the drum in order to reduce imbalance caused by concentration of laundry when the drum rotates, a vibration sensor sensing a vibration amount of the tub, and a controller moving the plurality of balancing units according to the vibration amount of the tub, measured by the vibration sensor. The controller controls a drum motor to rotate the drum at a constant rotation speed, moves the plurality of balancing units in the same rotation direction to minimize the vibration amount of the tub, measured by the vibration sensor, and thereafter moves the plurality of balancing units in different rotation directions to minimize the vibration amount of the tub, measured by the vibration sensor, thereby reducing imbalance.