Drum Washing Machine Hole Cap for Insert Hole Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drum type washing machines face issues with hole cap loss and difficulty in blocking insert holes after installation, leading to potential damage from water ingress and electrical components being exposed during transportation.
Innovation Solution
A hole cap coupling structure that is elastically deformable with slits for the transit bolt to pass through, allowing it to be secured in place without needing to be separated, and a bolt holder with ribs to reduce friction and a bushing member for impact absorption and sealing, ensuring the hole cap remains fixed and functional.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hole cap is provided to block the insert holes after installation, then water ingress and damage to electronic components are prevented, but the hole cap may be lost during transportation or installation
Solution Approach 1:
The hole cap is nested within the insert hole structure itself. The hole cap has an extended portion that fits into a corresponding recess in the cabinet, creating a nested configuration where the hole cap is housed within the cabinet structure. This prevents the hole cap from being lost while still allowing it to be removed when needed for bolt insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The hole cap structure is merged with the cabinet by providing an extended portion that fits into a recess in the cabinet rear surface. This merging creates a unified structure where the hole cap and cabinet work together as an integrated system, eliminating the need for separate retention mechanisms while preventing hole cap loss.
2Loss of substance
If a fixing hook is provided on the outer surface of the cabinet to prevent hole cap loss, then the hole cap is secured, but the fixing hook may be separated from the fixing hole
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing a fixing hook on the outer surface that protrudes outward, the solution inverts the approach by providing a recess in the cabinet rear surface that receives the extended portion of the hole cap. This inversion moves the retention mechanism from an external protruding element to an internal recessed structure, eliminating the separation problem while maintaining security.
3Ease of operation
If the hole cap is made elastically deformable with slits for the transit bolt, then the hole cap can be easily installed and removed, but the hole cap may not provide sufficient structural strength
Solution Approach 1:
The hole cap is made from an elastomer material that provides flexible, elastically deformable properties. This flexible shell can be compressed to allow bolt insertion through the slits and then returns to its original shape to provide sealing and structural function. The elastomeric material balances flexibility for ease of operation with sufficient strength for structural integrity.
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
Prevents hole cap loss and ensures the hole cap blocks the insert hole effectively, even when the transit bolt is released, without requiring additional steps beyond the fastening and releasing process, while maintaining a sealed gap between the tub and cabinet.
Implementation Method 1
a hole cap configured to be inserted in the insert hole from an inside of the cabinet and elastically deformable, the hole cap comprising a plurality of slits for the transit bolt to pass through them
Implementation Method 2
a bushing member configured to be inserted in the insert hole while surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the bolt holder so as to absorb impact
Data Source
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AI summary
There is disclosed a drum (40) type washing machine comprising a tub (20) mounted in a cabinet (10) and supported by a damper (65) and a spring (60) in the cabinet (10); a coupling boss (30) at a rear surface of the tub (20); a transit bolt (100) configured to be coupled to the coupling boss (30) via an insert hole (120,12) formed at a rear surface of the cabinet (10) so as to fix the tub (20) to the cabinet (10) when transporting the drum (40) type washing machine; and a hole cap (150) configured to be inserted in the insert hole (12) from an inside of the cabinet (10) and elastically deformable, the hole cap (150) comprising a plurality of slits (154) for the transit bolt (100) to pass through them.