Drawer Washing Machine Locking Device to Reduce Noise and Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional washing machines with locking devices experience noise and vibration due to clearances between members, which complicates their operation and user convenience, especially when sorting laundry and handling small loads.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine with a locking mechanism that uses an elastic member and a lever system, where the lever is inserted into a holder with a through hole, and a locking motor to restrict drawer withdrawal during operation, minimizing noise and vibration by filling clearance gaps and ensuring stable locking even with manufacturing or operational errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking device is added to restrict drawer withdrawal, then safety and operational reliability are improved, but noise and vibration occur due to clearances between members
Solution Approach 1:
An elastic member is introduced as an intermediary element between the lever and holder. This elastic member fills the clearance gap and absorbs impact forces, thereby eliminating noise and vibration while maintaining the locking function. The elastic member acts as a mediator that transmits the locking action while compensating for dimensional variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the connection between lever and holder is changed from rigid to elastic. By introducing an elastic member, the connection parameters are modified to include flexibility and damping characteristics, which eliminate noise and vibration while maintaining locking reliability.
2Reliability
If a locking device with multiple members is used, then locking function is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides the locking connection, fills clearance gaps, absorbs vibrations, and compensates for dimensional variations. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall locking device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member serves multiple purposes simultaneously: structural connection, clearance filling, vibration damping, and tolerance compensation. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed in the locking device, thereby simplifying the overall structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If clearance gaps exist between locking members, then ease of manufacture is improved, but noise and vibration occur during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The clearance gap, which would normally cause noise and vibration, is converted into a beneficial feature by filling it with an elastic member. The elastic member transforms the harmful clearance into a useful element that provides both tolerance accommodation and vibration damping, turning a disadvantage into an advantage.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the washing machine is designed for large capacity, then versatility is improved, but energy consumption and washing time increase for small loads
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine system allows dynamic selection of operating modes (full drum operation or drawer-only operation). This dynamic adaptability enables the system to optimize energy consumption by using only the necessary capacity for each washing task, whether that be the full drum for large loads or just the drawer for small loads.
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 solution effectively restricts drawer withdrawal during washing machine operation, reducing noise and vibration, improving user convenience and machine durability, while allowing controlled access and efficient energy use for small loads.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member installed in a portion of the holder to which the lever is inserted comes into close contact with the lever in a clearance formed between the holder and the lever
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine includes: a case defining a receiving space and an open surface, a drawer provided in the case and configured to slide out through the open surface of the case, the drawer being configured to perform at least one of a washing operation, a rinsing operation, a spin-drying operation, or an air-drying operation for laundry, and a locking device configured to limit a sliding motion of the drawer relative to the case. The locking device includes: a holder provided on an inner wall surface of the case, a lever provided in the drawer and configured to be inserted into the holder, and an elastic member provided in a portion of the holder to which the lever is inserted and configured to come into contact with the lever in a space between the holder and the lever.