Drum type washing machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

In drum type washing machines, the clutch mechanism for switching between different rotation speeds of the drum and stirring body is prone to poor precision, leading to incorrect operation and reduced reliability.

Innovation Solution

A clutch mechanism with a driving unit that includes a motor, wing shaft, drum shaft, and a clutch mechanism part with engaging flange and recess parts, allowing precise switching between first-shaft and second-shaft driving forms, utilizing a planetary gear mechanism and cam-driven clutch driving apparatus for accurate engagement and disengagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a clutch mechanism part is arranged to switch between first-shaft and second-shaft driving forms, then the drum and stirring body can rotate at different rotation speeds during washing and rinsing, but switching precision deteriorates leading to incorrect operation and reduced reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving form switching capabilityVSAvoidswitching precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control part executes preliminary switching treatment by rotating the driving motor to engage the engaging flange part with the engaged recess before the clutch mechanism part is fully actuated. This preliminary engagement ensures that the concave-convex parts are already aligned when the clutch body moves to the first position, preventing dislocation and ensuring precise switching between driving forms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control part monitors the switching process and executes corrective rotation of the driving motor based on the engagement status of the clutch mechanism. If dislocation is detected or anticipated, the control part adjusts the rotation angle to ensure proper alignment of concave-convex parts, creating a feedback loop that maintains switching precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the drum and stirring body rotate at different rotation speeds during washing and rinsing, then detergency is improved, but the driving mechanism complexity increases due to the clutch mechanism part

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetergency performanceVSAvoiddriving mechanism structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The driving motor serves multiple functions by directly driving the drum during dewatering operations and driving the stirring body during washing and rinsing operations. The clutch mechanism part enables the driving motor to switch between these different driving targets, allowing one motor to perform multiple driving functions and reducing the need for separate motors for each component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The clutch mechanism part enables dynamic switching between two driving configurations: the first-shaft driving form where the drum and stirring body rotate at the same speed, and the second-shaft driving form where they rotate at different speeds. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt its driving mode based on the operational requirements of washing, rinsing, or dewatering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3156535B1Drum type washing machine
Publication Date: 2020.05.06 HAIER ASIA INT CO LTD
  • EP3156535B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3156535B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3156535B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a drum type washing machine which can carry out switching of a driving form of a driving part through a clutch mechanism part (600) in good precision. A driving unit (30) includes a driving motor (100) and the clutch mechanism part (600), where the clutch mechanism part (600) switches a driving form of the driving unit (30) between a first-shaft driving form and a second-shaft driving form, the first-shaft driving form is a form that enables a wing shaft (200) for transmitting rotation to a stirring body (24) and a drum shaft (300) for transmitting rotation to a drum (22) to integrally rotate at a same rotation speed, and the second-shaft driving form is a form that enables the wing shaft (200) and the drum shaft (300) to respectively rotate at different rotation speeds. By moving a clutch body (610) of the clutch mechanism part (600) to a first position so as to engage an engaging flange part (613) at the first position with an engaged recess (114) that rotates along with rotation of the driving motor (100), the driving form is switched to the first-shaft driving form. A control part (701) executes first-shaft switching treatment, where the first-shaft switching treatment is treatment that enables the clutch mechanism part (600) to work to move the clutch body (610) to the first position and then enables the driving motor (100) to rotate to engage the unengaged engaging flange part (613) with the engaged recess (114).