Drum Lifter Structure With Spacing Rib for Cleaner Washer Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines with lifters in the drum face issues such as foreign substance accumulation leading to hygiene problems, complex assembly, and increased manufacturing costs due to design and manufacturing errors, as well as vulnerability to deformation from external forces.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a lifter design featuring a spacing rib in the seating groove to maintain a uniform distance between the lifter frame and frame cover, preventing foreign substance accumulation, and a curved protruding surface for smooth assembly, along with a supporting rib and spacer for stability and deformation resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the lifter is assembled by joining the first member and second member together, then the lifter can be manufactured with modular components, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming due to potential design and manufacturing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the first member and second member into a single integrated lifter component. The upper plate, which was previously a separate component, is now integrated with the first member through a unified structure that includes positioning protrusions and recesses. This integration eliminates the need for separate assembly of these components, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining modular manufacturing benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifter is segmented into distinct functional portions: the first member with positioning features, the second member with corresponding engagement features, and the upper plate. These segments are designed with complementary positioning protrusions and recesses that enable precise alignment and straightforward assembly, reducing the complexity associated with modular manufacturing.
2Strength
If the gap between the outer surface of the first member and inner surface of the second member is made narrow, then the structural integrity is improved, but foreign substances may get stuck in the gap causing hygiene issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces curved surfaces and rounded edges in the gap region between the first and second members. The curved design prevents sharp corners where foreign substances could accumulate, while maintaining the structural integrity through optimized curvature radii that preserve strength without creating stagnant zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts or removes potential accumulation zones by designing the gap with slopes and drainage pathways that direct water and foreign substances away from stagnant regions. The upper plate is positioned to create flow channels that prevent foreign substance entrapment while maintaining the necessary structural gap.
3Reliability
If multiple mounting holes are formed in the drum for installing lifters, then the lifters can be securely mounted, but the drum becomes vulnerable to buckling and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates reinforcement ribs and stiffening structures in the drum at the locations where lifters will be mounted. These preliminary structural enhancements are designed into the drum before lifter installation, providing localized support that prevents buckling around mounting holes while maintaining overall drum integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction techniques in the drum, combining materials with different mechanical properties. The drum structure incorporates high-strength, low-weight materials that provide adequate support around mounting holes without requiring excessive material thickness, thereby preventing buckling while maintaining structural stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus includes: a drum and a lifter that is disposed at an inner circumferential surface of the drum, that revolves, that includes a frame cover and a lifter frame including (i) a frame base coupled to the inner circumferential surface and including a seating groove provided along a circumference of the frame base, (ii) a frame upper plate spaced apart from the frame base in a direction toward a center of the drum, and (iii) a frame sidewall connecting the frame upper plate to the frame base. The frame cover includes a cover upper plate and a cover sidewall having (i) a lower end mounted on the seating groove to couple to the frame base and (ii) an upper end connected to the cover upper plate. A spacing rib providing a space between the cover sidewall and the frame sidewall protrudes from the seating groove.