Drum Balancing Unit With Wireless Power for Active Unbalance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drum type washing machines experience unbalancing issues during high-speed rotation, leading to vibration and noise due to the discrepancy between the geometrical center of the rotational shaft and the actual center of gravity of the laundry, which existing balancers fail to address effectively by not allowing for active positioning.
Innovation Solution
A balancing unit that wirelessly receives power and moves along the circumference of the drum to adjust the center of gravity, using a transmission coil unit and reception coil unit to generate a magnetic field for electromagnetic induction, allowing the balancing unit to be positioned actively and minimize unbalancing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a ball balancer is used to correct unbalancing, then vibration and noise are reduced, but the balancer cannot be positioned actively at a desired location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely passive mechanical ball balancer system with an active electromagnetic positioning system. A motor drives a balance weight along a guide rail to actively adjust the center of gravity, substituting mechanical passivity with electromechanical activity. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both vibration reduction and active positioning capability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static, fixed-position ball balancer into a dynamic system where the balance weight can move along the guide rail. The motor-driven mechanism allows the balance weight to dynamically adjust its position based on detected unbalancing conditions, enabling active correction rather than passive adaptation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a counter weight is attached to correct partial disposition, then unbalancing is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the balancing function into separate modular components: a motor unit, a balance weight, and a guide rail system. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, reducing overall system complexity compared to a monolithic counterweight design while maintaining effective unbalancing correction.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail structure serves multiple functions: it guides the balance weight movement, supports the motor unit, and provides structural integration with the drum assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the unbalancing correction capability.
3Ease of operation
If wireless power transmission is implemented for the balancing unit, then ease of operation is improved, but energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electromagnetic fields as an intermediary to transmit power wirelessly from the stationary power source to the moving balancing unit. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for physical electrical connections, improving ease of operation while managing energy transmission efficiency through optimized electromagnetic coupling.
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 reduces vibration and noise by actively adjusting the center of gravity to align with the rotational shaft, improving the balance of the drum during spin-drying processes.
Implementation Method 1
A balancing unit that wirelessly receives power and moves along the circumference of the drum to adjust the center of gravity, using a transmission coil unit and reception coil unit to generate a magnetic field for electromagnetic induction
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine actively resolving unbalancing is provided. The washing machine includes: a drum accommodating laundry and configured to be rotatable; a balancing unit moving along the circumference of the drum and changing the center of gravity of the drum; and a wireless power transmission unit wirelessly supplying power to the balancing unit.