Direct-Drive Drum Rear Plate Airflow Layout for Heat Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating apparatuses face inefficiencies due to slipping between belts and drums, restricted rotation speed and direction changes, and space constraints when using belts for power transmission, as well as issues with air leakage and heat transfer in dryer designs.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a driving part directly connected to the drum, utilizing a rear plate with an air flow portion that allows efficient air supply and heat dissipation, reducing the need for separate components and minimizing heat transfer to the driving part.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a belt is used to transmit power from the driving part to the drum, then the drum can be rotated, but slipping occurs between the belt and the drum due to rotation speed and inertia, reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the belt from the power transmission system and directly couples the driving shaft to the drum through a flange connection. This extraction of the intermediate transmission element eliminates slipping losses entirely, as the driving force is transmitted through direct mechanical contact rather than friction-based belt传动.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flange as an intermediary component that directly connects the driving shaft to the drum. This flange serves as a rigid mediator that transmits torque without slipping, replacing the flexible belt connection and ensuring efficient power transfer while maintaining the ability to accommodate misalignment between the driving shaft and drum axes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a belt is used for power transmission, then the drum can be rotated, but the rotation speed and direction cannot be changed efficiently due to restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The direct coupling through the flange creates a dynamic connection that allows the driving shaft and drum to rotate at the same speed without the constraints of belt传动. This enables more flexible and responsive control of rotation speed and direction changes, as the system can accelerate and decelerate without the slip limitations inherent in belt-driven systems.
3Area of stationary object
If the driving part is disposed at the lower portion of the cabinet with air circulator and heat pump, then space can be utilized, but heat transfer to the driving part occurs causing thermal damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the driving part from the lower portion of the cabinet and relocates it to the rear surface. This spatial separation removes the driving part from the high-temperature zone where the air circulator and heat pump are located, eliminating the thermal damage risk while preserving the compact lower-section design for the heating components.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear surface of the cabinet acts as an intermediary location that allows the driving part to be positioned close to the drum for efficient power transmission while maintaining sufficient distance from the heat-generating components. This intermediary position enables both effective heat dissipation and functional connectivity.
4Device complexity
If the driving part is coupled to the rear panel at the rear of the drum, then the belt can be omitted, but space for component arrangement becomes constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the driving part mounting function with the cabinet rear panel structure. The driving part is directly coupled to the rear panel, which serves dual purposes: providing structural support for the driving part and maintaining the enclosed space of the cabinet. This integration eliminates the need for separate mounting structures and optimizes space utilization.
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
This design enhances drum rotation efficiency, increases cabinet space utilization, improves air supply to the drum, and prevents thermal damage to the driving part by effectively dissipating heat, leading to improved operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the rear surface central portion is disposed in front of the driving part and configured to suppress heat transfer between an interior of the drum and the driving part
Implementation Method 2
an air flow portion surrounding the driving part mounting portion and configured to provide air into the drum
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a laundry treating apparatus comprising: a cabinet, a drum rotatably disposed inside the cabinet and configured to receive laundry, and a driving part disposed at the rear plate and configured to provide a rotation force to the drum, wherein the rear plate includes: a driving part mounting portion, and an air flow portion surrounding the driving part mounting portion, wherein the air flow portion includes a flow space having an open front surface facing the drum, wherein the drum rear surface includes: a rear surface central portion facing the driving part mounting portion, and an air passage surrounding the rear surface central portion, wherein the rear surface central portion is disposed in front of the driving part, and wherein the air passage is disposed to be spaced radially outward apart from the driving part.