Drum Washer Stirring Body Wetting to Prevent Motor Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

In drum washing machines, dry washings can cause high friction between the stirring body and the drum, leading to increased load on the driving motor and potential locking issues due to the higher friction coefficient in a dry state, which affects cleaning performance and operational reliability.

Innovation Solution

A water supply mechanism that splashes water onto the surface of the rotating body, reducing the friction coefficient and alleviating the load on the driving motor by using a structure with a water storage part and outflow port to draw and splash water from an outer tank onto the rotating body and washings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a stirring body is arranged at the rear part of the drum to improve detergency, then washing performance is improved, but friction between the stirring body and dry washings increases causing motor locking

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedetergencyVSAvoidmotor locking
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Water is supplied to the stirring body before the washing process begins, pre-wetting the stirring body surface to reduce friction with dry washings from the start, preventing motor locking while maintaining improved detergency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The physical state of the stirring body surface is changed from dry to wet by water supply, altering the friction coefficient between the stirring body and washings, thereby reducing load on the driving motor while maintaining washing effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the drum and stirring body rotate at different speeds to enhance agitation, then cleaning performance improves, but load on the driving motor increases due to dry friction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoiddriving motor load
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The stirring body is pre-wetted with water before rotation begins, ensuring that during differential rotation the reduced friction condition is maintained, allowing higher agitation speeds without excessive motor load

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Water is used as a hydraulic medium to reduce friction between the stirring body and washings, enabling the differential rotation mechanism to operate with lower power consumption while maintaining cleaning performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 solution enhances cleaning performance by reducing friction and preventing motor locking, thereby improving the operational reliability of the drum washing machine.

Implementation Method 1

A water supply mechanism that splashes water onto the surface of the rotating body, reducing the friction coefficient

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction by water lubrication: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentEP3178981B1Drum washing machine
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 HAIER ASIA INT CO LTD
  • EP3178981B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3178981B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3178981B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a drum washing machine which can realize improvement of cleaning performance and prevent poor operation of a driving part and other faults from occurring. The drum washing machine (1) includes: a drum (22) configured in an outer tank (20) and capable of rotating by using an inclination axis as a center; a stirring body (24) configured at a rear part of the drum (22) and including main blades in contact with washings on a surface; a driving unit enabling the drum (22) and the stirring body (24) to rotate at different rotating speeds; and a water supply mechanism part configured to splash water to a surface of the stirring body (24). The water supply mechanism part includes a first water storage part (725a) capable of moving between a position in water soaked in the outer tank (20) and a position higher than the water and storing water when soaked in water of the outer tank (20), and a first outflow port (727a) capable of enabling water stored in the first water storage part (725a) to flow out to the surface of the stirring body (24) at an upper position.