Drain Pump Mounting Structure for Washing Machine Vibration Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional washing machines experience damage to buffering members due to long-term contact with fixing screws, which are used to attenuate vibration and noise from the drain pump, leading to ineffective noise reduction over time.

Innovation Solution

A washing machine design featuring a drain pump with a case, a mounting bracket, and connection members made of rubber and injection-molded materials, where the second connection member is longer than the first, allowing it to protrude and prevent direct contact with the fastening member, thus reducing vibration and noise transmission while protecting the buffering member from damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If a buffering member is interposed between the fastening part and the fastening hole to reduce vibration and noise, then vibration and noise attenuation is improved, but the buffering member is damaged after long time use due to contact with the fixing screw

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration and noiseVSAvoidbuffering member durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a fastening pad as an intermediary component between the buffering member and the fastening screw. This pad absorbs the contact pressure and prevents direct interaction between the buffering member and the fixing screw, thereby eliminating the damage mechanism while preserving the vibration and noise attenuation function of the buffering member

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening pad serves as a preliminary protective layer that cushions the buffering member from mechanical damage before the damage can occur. By placing this protective element in advance in the assembly structure, the buffering member is shielded from the harmful contact forces during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 design effectively reduces vibration and noise transmission from the drain pump to the cabinet while preventing damage to the buffering member, ensuring prolonged durability and efficient noise attenuation.

Implementation Method 1

a first connection member (150) mounted to the mounting bracket (127), a second connection member (160) inserted in the first connection member (150)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The second connection member may be made by injection molding

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInjection molding:

Data Source

PatentUS8176756B2Drain pump and washing machine having the same

Publication Date: 2012.05.15 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A drain pump including a case including a mounting bracket; a first connection member mounted to the mounting bracket to be spaced from the cabinet; a second connection member inserted in the first connection member; and a fastening member passed through the cabinet and inserted in the second connection member so that the case is mounted to the cabinet. Since the first connection member is spaced from the cabinet, the second connection member can be prevented from being damaged by vibration of the drain pump.