Drum Washer Frame Structure for High-Speed Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drum washing machines suffer from insufficient rigidity due to the lack of reinforcement in their frame structures, particularly in the upper and lower portions, which limits design flexibility and fails to withstand increased dynamic and static loads from larger and faster rotating components.
Innovation Solution
The drum washing machine incorporates side frames with inclined planes, top brackets, a front frame, and a bottom panel with a horizontal and vertical portion, all formed from steel plates, to enhance rigidity by distributing loads and preventing distortion, eliminating the need for sheathing members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the frame structure uses only basic side frames and front frames, then the device complexity is low, but the rigidity against dynamic and static loads is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure is divided into multiple functional segments: side frames with inclined planes, top brackets, front frames, and bottom panels. Each segment performs a specific structural function, allowing the complex rigidity requirement to be met through coordinated simple parts rather than a monolithic complex structure
Solution Approach 2:
The side frames incorporate inclined planes that add a dimensional element to the structure. These inclined planes connect the top brackets to the side frames at angles, creating a three-dimensional load distribution network that enhances rigidity without simply adding more vertical or horizontal members
2Strength
If sheathing members such as top cover and door panel are added to maintain rigidity, then the rigidity is improved, but the design freedom is severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The side frames are designed with curved surfaces instead of flat panels. The continuous curved geometry provides structural rigidity through shape alone, eliminating the need for additional sheathing members that would limit design freedom. The curvature itself becomes the structural reinforcement element
Solution Approach 2:
The frame structure utilizes changes in geometric parameters, specifically the inclination angles and curvature radii of the side frames, to achieve the required rigidity. By optimizing these parameters, the structure gains strength without adding mass or complex components that would constrain design options
3Productivity
If the washing machine is designed with large size and high rotational speed, then the productivity is improved, but the rigidity of the frame against dynamic excitation load deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure is pre-designed with top brackets and inclined planes positioned to counteract the specific dynamic loads generated by high-speed rotation. The structural reinforcement is placed in advance at the exact locations where dynamic excitation forces will act during high-speed operation, preventing vibration and instability before they occur
Solution Approach 2:
The frame structure combines different material properties and structural forms: steel plates for the side frames providing tensile strength, and strategically placed reinforcement elements providing compressive resistance. This composite approach allows the frame to withstand the high dynamic loads from large-scale, high-speed operation while maintaining the required productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A drum washing machine having an improved frame structure, the rigidity of which is reinforced. The drum washing machine includes side frames forming side surfaces thereof, where inclined planes are formed between front and upper surfaces of the side frames so that additional frames for reinforcing the rigidity of upper parts of the side frames are respectively connected to the upper surfaces of the side frames and upper regions of the front surfaces of the side frames. The drum washing machine further includes top brackets respectively connected to the upper surfaces, the inclined planes, and the upper regions of the front surfaces of the side frames for reinforcing the rigidity of upper parts of the side frames. The drum washing machine further includes a front frame, and a bottom panel or a top panel, connected to the side frames for reinforcing the rigidity of front, lower and upper parts of the side frames. The drum washing machine efficiently supports load increased according to large-scale and high-speed trends of the washing machine, and provides a frame structure capable of withstanding all loads without using a sheathing member, thus having various designs without limit.