Laundry treating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in maintaining effective friction between lifters and laundry, leading to inefficient laundry operation due to excessive lifter height causing tumbling, or insufficient friction at lower heights resulting in incomplete washing, and rigidity issues that can lead to deformation and imbalance, as well as hygienic problems from trapped foreign substances.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a drum and lifters designed to maintain frictional action through a frame cover with upper plate protrusions that separate laundry from the cover upper plate, allowing water discharge while preventing deformation, and using a combination of synthetic resin for the lifter frame and stainless steel for the frame cover to ensure rigidity and prevent external force-induced deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the height of the lifter is increased to lift laundry higher, then the laundry can be raised to a greater height, but the laundry may excessively lift up and occur tumbling motion instead of rolling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the lifter, specifically optimizing the height and shape of the protrusion to achieve the right balance between lifting capability and preventing excessive tumbling. The lifter protrusion height is set within a specific range relative to the drum diameter to maintain stable rolling motion.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the height of the lifter is decreased to prevent tumbling, then the laundry motion stability is improved, but the friction between lifter and laundry is insufficient resulting in incomplete washing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the lifter protrusion dimensions and shape parameters to maximize frictional contact with laundry while maintaining stable rolling motion. The protrusion height, width, and curvature are carefully selected to provide sufficient friction force for effective washing.
3Strength
If the second member is made of metal to ensure strength, then the structural strength is improved, but plastic deformation occurs when the vertex is pressed causing imbalance and drum deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure where the first member (mounting structure) is made of metal for strength, while the second member (protruding part contacting laundry) is made of elastic material that can deform elastically and recover, preventing permanent deformation and imbalance.
Solution Approach 2:
The second member is designed as an elastic component that can flexibly deform under load and return to its original shape, accommodating pressing forces from laundry without causing permanent deformation or drum imbalance.
4Volume of moving object
If a dome shape is used for the second member to define accommodation space, then the laundry accommodation capability is improved, but the vertex cannot be supported causing internal space depression when pressed
Solution Approach 1:
The vertex of the dome-shaped second member is made of elastic material that can flexibly withstand pressing forces from laundry, deforming elastically to accommodate load while maintaining the overall dome shape and internal accommodation space.
5Device complexity
If the gap between the first member and second member is reduced to improve fit, then the structural compactness is improved, but foreign substances may be trapped causing hygienic problems
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic second member is designed with appropriate thickness and elasticity to maintain a minimum gap between itself and the first member, preventing foreign substance entrapment while maintaining structural compactness and hygiene.
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 apparatus ensures smooth operation by maintaining frictional contact between lifters and laundry, preventing deformation, and ensuring effective water discharge, thus improving washing efficiency and hygiene by maintaining lifter rigidity and preventing foreign substance entrapment.
Implementation Method 1
the second member is formed of an elastic material... when the vertex of the dome shape is pressed by an external force, elastic deformation of the second member may occur... the second member may be restored to its original shape
Implementation Method 2
a structure that can generate friction between the lifter and the laundry greater than a certain level... friction between the laundry and the drum while the laundry rolls
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus includes: a drum configured to rotate about a rotation axis and a lifter disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum and configured to rotate with the drum. The lifter includes: a lifter frame installed on the inner circumferential surface and a frame cover that is coupled to the lifter frame and that protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface toward the rotation axis. The frame cover includes: a cover upper plate that is spaced apart from the inner circumferential surface and that defines a water flow discharge hole configured to discharge, into the drum, washing water received into the lifter; a cover sidewall that extends from the cover upper plate toward the inner circumferential surface; and an upper plate protrusion that protrudes from the cover upper plate toward the rotation axis.