Drum Lifter with Shielded Coupling to Prevent Water Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lifters in laundry treating apparatuses face performance deterioration due to defective fastening members and unnecessary water discharge through the coupling portion between the drum and lifter, leading to inefficiencies in washing and water usage.

Innovation Solution

A lifter design featuring a first member with a hook portion and shielding portion that securely attaches to the drum's inner surface, preventing water discharge and ensuring stable coupling, while a second member accommodates washing water and discharges it efficiently through dedicated holes, with the first member being fixed using screw insertion holes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a lifter is coupled to the drum through an additional fastening member, then the lifter can be attached to the drum, but the coupling portion causes water discharge and potential performance deterioration due to fastening member failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifter attachment reliabilityVSAvoidwater discharge through coupling portion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lifter is divided into a body portion and a separate coupling portion that can be detachably coupled. The coupling portion includes a coupling hole that can be selectively connected to the drum's fastening hole, allowing the main lifter body to be detached when water discharge occurs, thus preventing damage while maintaining attachment capability when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling function is extracted as a separate detachable component from the main lifter body. This allows the coupling portion to be removed independently when it causes water discharge problems, while the lifter body remains intact and functional

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the lifter is firmly coupled to the drum inner surface, then attachment stability is improved, but water accommodated in the lifter may be discharged through the fastening portion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifter-drum coupling stabilityVSAvoidwashing water loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling between the lifter and drum is made dynamic rather than fixed. The coupling portion can be inserted into and removed from the drum's fastening hole, allowing the system to transition between coupled and uncoupled states based on operational needs, preventing water loss while maintaining stability during washing operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3581694A1Lifter for laundry treating apparatus
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3581694A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3581694A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3581694A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a lifter (100) for a laundry treating apparatus, the lifter (100) comprising a first member (110) mounted at an inner surface of a drum; and a second member (120) mounted on the first member (110), and protruded toward an inside of the drum, wherein the first member (110) comprises a washing water inlet portion (115) formed to overlap with part of a hole formed on the drum to introduce washing water, and wherein the second member (120) comprises a body (121) protruded toward an inside of the drum to accommodate washing water therein and a plurality of washing water discharge holes (125) located at an upper portion of the body (121) and formed along one direction to discharge washing water accommodated in the body (121) from an outside of the drum.