Auxiliary Washer Drawer Tub Structure for Capacity and Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Auxiliary washing machines face limitations in increasing washing capacity due to structural constraints, generate significant vibration and noise, and have difficulty in being installed in narrow interior spaces.
Innovation Solution
The auxiliary washing machine is designed with a tub structure integrated with a drawer body, featuring a rotating tub with a ring-shaped bottom portion, a moving piece, and a moving gasket to seal gaps, along with a bearing housing and suspension assembly to reduce vibration, and an extendable water supply/drain unit to facilitate easy installation and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the auxiliary washing machine is designed with a smaller size to fit under the main washing machine, then it can raise the installation position of the main washing machine and save space, but the washing capacity is limited by the available interior space
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary washing machine is divided into separate functional modules: the tub structure (420) is separable from the drawer (410), and the rotating tub (430) is independently mounted on a rotating shaft (431) that penetrates the drawer. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling the tub to be larger relative to the drawer volume while maintaining compact overall dimensions that fit under the main washing machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating shaft (431) is designed to penetrate the drawer (410) vertically, utilizing the vertical dimension rather than only horizontal space. This allows the tub structure to extend through the drawer depth, effectively increasing washing capacity without increasing the footprint or overall height of the auxiliary washing machine unit.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the tub structure is separated from the drawer to allow vibration movement, then vibration can be reduced, but the structural complexity increases and requires additional clearance space
Solution Approach 1:
A bearing housing (450) is introduced as an intermediary component between the rotating tub (430) and the drawer (410). The rotating shaft (431) passes through the bearing housing, which is independently mounted and not rigidly attached to the drawer. This intermediary structure allows the tub to rotate and vibrate independently while being supported, reducing vibration transmission to the drawer without requiring complex suspension mechanisms or excessive clearance spaces.
3Device complexity
If the rotating tub is supported by a motor mounted below the tub, then the structure is simplified, but vibration generated during rotation is transmitted to the drawer and cabinet
Solution Approach 1:
The motor (452) is extracted from direct mounting on the drawer or cabinet and is instead mounted on the bearing housing (450), which is independently supported. The rotating shaft (431) extends upward from the motor through the bearing housing and penetrates the drawer, allowing the motor-driven rotation to occur independently of the drawer structure. This extraction prevents vibration generated during rotation from being directly transmitted to the drawer and cabinet, while maintaining structural simplicity.
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 configuration enhances washing capacity, reduces vibration and noise, and allows for easier installation of components, even in narrow spaces, improving user convenience and durability.
Implementation Method 1
a moving gasket configured to seal a gap between the bottom portion and the moving piece and to allow the moving piece to be movable
Implementation Method 2
a bearing housing configured to support the rotating shaft
Implementation Method 3
a suspension assembly configured to support the bearing housing independently of the drawer and to reduce vibration generated via rotation of the rotating tub
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed are an auxiliary washing machine and a clothes treatment apparatus using the same. The clothes treatment apparatus (10) includes a main washing machine (20) configured to treat laundry and an auxiliary washing machine (30) located at one side of the main washing machine (20). The auxiliary washing machine (30) includes a frame (310) defining an accommodation space, a drawer (410) configured to be accommodated in the accommodation space, the drawer defining a space for storage of wash water, a rotating structure (430) placed within the drawer (410), the rotating structure (430) having a rotating shaft (431) penetrating the drawer (410) so as to treat laundry, a motor (452) provided below the drawer (410) and serving to rotate the rotating structure (430), and a front panel (320) located in front of the drawer (410), the front panel (320) defining a front external appearance of the auxiliary washing machine (30).