Drain Hose Holder Damping Structure for Quieter Washing Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing washing machine designs face challenges in reducing vibration-induced noise during the spin-drying process due to the direct transmission of vibrations from the drain hose to the cabinet, which is exacerbated by the close contact between the hose and the cabinet.
Innovation Solution
A holder with a damping portion is introduced, featuring open damping holes and a closed-loop surface, which spaces the drain hose away from the cabinet, absorbing vibrations and preventing their transmission, and is injection-molded from elastically deformable material to securely fix the drain hose.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the drain hose is fixed in close contact with the cabinet, then the fixing stability is improved, but the vibration transmission from the drain hose to the cabinet is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a holder as an intermediary component between the drain hose and the cabinet. The holder includes a damping portion with damping holes that acts as a mediator to absorb vibrations while maintaining the fixed connection. This resolves the contradiction by providing stable fixing through the holder structure while preventing direct vibration transmission through the damping mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping portion with damping holes is designed in advance to cushion and absorb vibrations before they can be transmitted to the cabinet. The holder is pre-configured with this vibration-absorbing structure, so when the drain hose is fixed during operation, the vibrations are already being damped, preventing harmful noise and vibration transmission.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the drain hose is spaced apart from the cabinet, then the vibration transmission is reduced, but the fixing stability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The holder serves as a mediator that maintains an optimal spacing between the drain hose and the cabinet while providing stable fixation. The holder's structure with the damping portion allows the drain hose to be held at a distance that reduces vibration transmission, yet the holder itself is firmly attached to the cabinet, ensuring overall fixing stability.
3Ease of manufacture
If a screw is used to fix the drain hose, then the assembly simplicity is improved, but the vibration absorption capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The holder merges multiple functions into a single component: it provides fixation (replacing or supplementing screws), creates spacing, and incorporates vibration damping through the damping portion with damping holes. This integrated design maintains ease of assembly while adding vibration absorption capability that a simple screw connection cannot provide.
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 improved holder enhances assembly between the cabinet and the holder while significantly reducing noise from vibration transmission, improving the overall operational quietness of the washing machine.
Implementation Method 1
the damping portion includes a first damping portion comprising an open damping hole coming in contact with the cabinet and a second damping portion comprising an open damping hole provided between the first damping portion and the accommodating portion, so that vibration transmitted from the drain hose to the cabinet are absorbed
Implementation Method 2
the holder is injection-molded from material that is elastically deformable
Data Source
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AI summary
There is proposed a washing machine including an improved holder capable of fixing a hose. The washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub provided inside the cabinet, a drain pump provided to discharge washing water accommodated in the tub to the outside of the cabinet, a drain hose configured to guide the washing water pumped by the drain pump to the outside of the cabinet, and a holder coupled to an outer surface of the cabinet to fix the drain hose to the cabinet, wherein the holder includes an accommodating portion provided to accommodate the drain hose and a damping portion configured to cause the drain hose to be spaced apart from the cabinet so that, when the washing water is drained, vibration of the drain hose due to the drain pump is prevented from being transmitted to the cabinet.