Washing Machine Door Hinge Wire Routing to Prevent Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines face challenges in securely and efficiently connecting electrical components inside the cabinet and door without exposing wires, affecting both functionality and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design that incorporates a hinge assembly with a wire guide portion and detachable wire cover, allowing wires to pass through the hinge while preventing exposure and foreign material entry, enhancing work efficiency and stability of the wire connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wires are connected between electrical components inside the door and electrical components inside the cabinet, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but wires become exposed to the outside which affects aesthetics and security
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly serves as an intermediary structure that provides a dedicated wire passage and wire cover to route wires between the door and cabinet interiors. The wire cover acts as a mediator that encloses the wires, preventing exposure while maintaining electrical connectivity between components.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire passage is nested within the hinge assembly structure, and the wire cover is coupled to enclose the wire passage. This nested arrangement allows wires to be routed through the hinge while being protected from external exposure, solving the contradiction between connectivity and wire exposure prevention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If wires are routed through the hinge assembly, then wire exposure is prevented, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides the mechanical hinge function for door rotation, incorporates a wire passage for electrical connectivity, and includes a wire cover for wire protection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate wire routing structures, thereby minimizing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire passage and wire cover are merged into the hinge assembly structure rather than being separate components. The wire cover is coupled to the wire guide portion of the hinge, combining wire protection functionality with the existing hinge structure, thus preventing wire exposure without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a wire cover is used to enclose the wire passage, then foreign materials are prevented from entering, but the assembly requires additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The wire cover serves multiple protective functions: it encloses the wire passage to prevent foreign material entry, protects the wires from damage, and maintains the aesthetic appearance by hiding wires. This multi-functionality justifies the additional component by providing multiple benefits from a single element.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire cover acts as an intermediary protective barrier between the external environment and the wire passage. It mediates by filtering out foreign materials while allowing the electrical connectivity function to proceed uninterrupted, thus preventing contamination without complicating the electrical system.
4Productivity
If the wire cover is detachably coupled, then work efficiency is improved during wire installation, but the connection stability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The wire cover is designed with detachable coupling that allows it to be easily removed during wire installation and then securely fastened in the operational state. This dynamic design enables the assembly to transition between accessible (for installation) and stable (for operation) states, improving work efficiency without compromising connection stability during normal use.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable wire cover allows preliminary wire installation to be performed before the cover is attached. Workers can prepare and install wires in the accessible state, then secure the cover to stabilize the connection, separating the installation phase from the operational phase for improved efficiency and reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a washing machine having an improved wire connection structure for electrically connecting electrical components. The washing machine comprises a cabinet (10) having an opening at a front side; a drum (15) rotatably disposed inside the cabinet; a door (20) configured to open and close the opening; a hinge (100, 500, 800, 900) configured to pivotably couple the door to the cabinet; and a wire (400) extending from an inside of the cabinet to the door. The hinge comprises a hinge body (110) coupled to the cabinet, a hinge arm (120) extending from the hinge body, a protrusion (130) protruding from the hinge arm to form a rotating axis of the door and having an incised portion (175), a wire guide portion (140, 540, 840, 940) configured to accommodate the wire along the protrusion and the hinge arm, and a hinge cover (170) covering the wire guide portion to prevent the wire accommodated in the wire guide portion from being exposed.