Drum Balancer with Active Ring Actuator to Reduce Transient Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses face challenges in actively resolving unbalanced states of drums during rotation, leading to increased transient vibration and requiring excessive time to reach a balanced state, as their balancers rely on passive movement and are ineffective in precise control.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus with a balancing unit that includes a ring and actuator system, allowing the balancing unit to move 360 degrees within a receiving space, enabling active resolution of unbalanced states independently of drum rotation and precise position control, using a ring guide protrusion or groove and receiving-space features to facilitate smooth movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ball balancer or fluid balancer is used to resolve unbalanced state, then the unbalanced state can be resolved in steady state, but transient vibration increases and a lot of time is required to reach balanced state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the passive mechanical ball balancer or fluid balancer system with an active electromagnetic actuator system. The actuator uses electromagnetic force to actively move the balancing unit to the required position, substituting the slow passive mechanical movement with rapid electromagnetic actuation, thereby significantly reducing the time to reach balanced state while effectively resolving unbalanced conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing unit is equipped with its own actuator that enables it to autonomously move to the required position based on feedback from sensors detecting drum unbalance. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external intervention or complex mechanical linkages, allowing rapid and precise adjustment to resolve unbalanced states efficiently
2Reliability
If a ball balancer or fluid balancer is used to resolve unbalanced state, then the unbalanced state can be resolved, but transient vibration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator system detects unbalance conditions through sensors and proactively moves the balancing unit to the required position before the vibration becomes severe. This preliminary action prevents the development of large transient vibrations by correcting the mass distribution early in the unbalance development process, thereby resolving the unbalanced state while minimizing harmful transient vibration
3Device complexity
If passive movement of ball or fluid is used in balancer, then the structure is simple, but a lot of time is required to reach balanced state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the slow passive mechanical movement of balls or fluids with an active electromagnetic actuator system. The actuator uses electromagnetic force to rapidly position the balancing unit, substituting the time-consuming passive mechanical process with fast electromagnetic actuation, thereby significantly reducing the time to reach balanced state while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static or slowly moving passive balancer system into a dynamic active system. The balancing unit can now be rapidly positioned to any required location along the circumferential direction based on real-time feedback, enabling fast response to unbalance conditions and significantly reducing the time to achieve balanced state
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a clothes processing device comprising: a cabinet; a tub which is provided inside the cabinet and stores washing water therein; a drum which is rotatably provided inside the tub and stores clothes therein; a housing fixed to the drum; an accommodation space which is provided inside the housing and forms a closed curve; a balancing unit which is provided to be movable inside the accommodation space so as to solve an unbalanced state of the drum; a ring connected to the balancing unit in order to move the balancing unit; and an operation part for moving the ring, wherein the balancing unit is rotatable by 360 degrees along the accommodation space.