Drum-Type Washing Machine Pipe Connection Air-Flow Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drum-type washing machines experience noise during the spin-drying process due to air flow disturbances at pipe connection portions, which affect user comfort.
Innovation Solution
An air-flow noise reduction mechanism is implemented at the pipe connection portions, using partition plates or partial cover plates to rectify air flow and reduce turbulence, and an auxiliary flow path is provided to prevent clogging by chemicals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the drum rotates at high speed during spin-drying, then water is discharged efficiently through centrifugal force, but air flow disturbances occur at pipe connection portions causing noise
Solution Approach 1:
A flow rectifying plate is installed as an intermediary component at the pipe connection portion to mediate between the high-speed rotating drum and the water discharge system. The plate rectifies the air flow disturbed by drum rotation, reducing turbulence and noise while maintaining the efficient water discharge function.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow rectifying function is extracted as a separate component (flow rectifying plate) from the pipe connection structure. This allows the rectifying function to be added without fundamentally changing the existing pipe connection design, enabling noise reduction while preserving water discharge efficiency.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If partition plates are added to rectify air flow and reduce noise, then noise is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow rectifying function is segmented into multiple simple partition plates arranged within the pipe connection portion. Each plate creates a simple planar structure that collectively achieves flow rectification. This segmented approach reduces noise effectively while keeping individual components simple and the overall structure manageable.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the pipe connection portion is modified to reduce air flow disturbance, then noise is reduced, but water flow may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The flow rectifying plate is designed with local quality variations - it has a specific arrangement and orientation of partition structures that are optimized for the local flow conditions at the pipe connection portion. This localized optimization rectifies air flow to reduce noise while maintaining adequate water flow passage through the connection portion.
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 mechanism effectively reduces noise during spin-drying by suppressing changes in air flow velocity and flow within the tub, enhancing user experience and maintaining water flow.
Implementation Method 1
an air-flow noise reduction mechanism installed in at least one of the plurality of pipe connection portions to reduce air-flow caused by rotation of the drum
Implementation Method 2
the drum in which wet laundry is accommodated rotates at high speed to discharge, by a centrifugal force, water contained in the laundry into the tub through spin-drying holes formed in the drum
Data Source
AI summary
A drum-type washing machine including a casing having an inlet through which laundry is loaded and unloaded, a tub arrangeable in the casing so that while the tub is arranged in the casing, an inside of the tub is accessible through the inlet, the tub being able to store water, a drum arrangeable in the tub to rotate about an axis extending in forward and rearward directions while the laundry is loaded into the drum, a plurality of pipe connection portions, arrangeable on a side surface of the tub, to be connected to pipes, and an air-flow noise reduction mechanism, arrangeable in at least one pipe connection portion among the plurality of pipe connection portions, to control air-flow caused by rotation of the drum.