Actuator Subframe Mounting for Quieter Domestic Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Domestic appliances such as steam irons and coffee makers generate annoying sound and vibration due to the operation of their actuators, which are not user-friendly and disturb both the user and those around them.
Innovation Solution
The appliance is equipped with a resilient member between the sub frame and the base frame to reduce the transmission of vibrating energy, using elastomer mounts for lateral movement and rotation, increasing the mass of the sub frame with a boiler or water reservoir, and employing a high-pressure resistant tube to synchronize actuator and boiler vibrations, thereby reducing structure-borne noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the actuator is rigidly mounted on the base frame, then the structural stability is improved, but the sound and vibration levels increase
Solution Approach 1:
A resilient member is introduced as an intermediary element between the base frame and the sub frame. This resilient member acts as a mediator that decouples the rigid connection, allowing the actuator to be firmly mounted while reducing the transmission of vibrations and sound to the base frame, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural stability and noise reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member provides beforehand cushioning by absorbing and dampening vibrations before they can propagate through the base frame. This preventive measure reduces structure-borne noise and vibration at the source, maintaining structural stability while mitigating harmful acoustic effects.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the mass of the sub frame is increased, then the vibration transmission is reduced, but the weight of the appliance increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply increasing the mass of the sub frame, the invention changes the parameters of the mounting system by introducing a resilient member with specific damping and elastic properties. This approach reduces vibration transmission through controlled energy dissipation and elastic deformation, achieving vibration isolation without proportionally increasing the overall appliance weight.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the resilient member allows lateral movement and rotation, then the vibration isolation is improved, but the positional stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow controlled lateral movement and rotation in response to vibrations, while maintaining overall positional stability during normal operation. The dynamic compliance of the resilient member enables it to adapt to vibrational forces, isolating the actuator from the base frame while preserving the necessary positional relationship for functional operation.
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
This arrangement significantly reduces sound and vibration levels by storing kinetic energy in the sub frame and distributing the dynamic load symmetrically, resulting in lower noise radiation and reduced wear on components.
Implementation Method 1
the vibration energy of the actuator is stored as kinetic energy in the moving sub frame, so that the transmission of vibrations induced by the actuator to the base frame is reduced
Implementation Method 2
By reducing the transmission of the vibrating energy induced by the actuator to the base frame of the domestic appliance, the structure born noise can be substantially reduced
Implementation Method 3
the resilient member comprises at least one elastomer mount
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a domestic appliance, such as a steam iron or a coffee making apparatus. Such appliances comprising a housing, a water reservoir, an actuator, for example, plunger pump and a boiler for providing hot water or steam for an appliance. An input of the plunger pump is connected to the water reservoir, an output of the plunger pump is connected to an inlet of the boiler. In operation, the plunger pump is reciprocating at the mains frequency. The operating plunger pumps introduces vibrations which are transmitted to the housing and radiated by the housing to the environment which cause soundsand noise which are not user friendly. In order to reduce the sound and noise the domestic appliance comprises a base frame, an actuator connected to the base frame, the actuator being provided with a drive member and the actuator being arranged for reciprocating movement of the drive member, wherein the domestic appliance further comprises a sub frame and a resilient member, whereby the actuator is mounted on the sub frame and the resilient member is arranged between the sub frame and the base frame for moveably mounting the sub frame at the base frame.