Drum-type washing apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The rigidity of the wrapper in front-loading washing machines is compromised due to the formation of dewatering holes, leading to deformation during high-speed spinning and increased laundry loads, while reducing the number of holes lowers dewatering efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A pattern structure on the inner surface of the washing tub with alternating even and uneven areas around dewatering holes, where the uneven areas protrude towards the spinning axis, enhancing rigidity without sacrificing dewatering and washing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dewatering holes are formed on the wrapper surface, then dewatering efficiency is improved, but the rigidity of the wrapper is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The wrapper surface is divided into different regions: even areas that maintain high rigidity and uneven areas that provide dewatering functionality. By locally differentiating the surface structure, the patent achieves both structural strength and drainage efficiency without compromising overall wrapper integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrapper surface is segmented into multiple even areas and uneven areas, with dewatering holes strategically positioned in the uneven areas. This segmentation allows the wrapper to maintain structural rigidity in even areas while providing effective dewatering through uneven areas, resolving the contradiction between strength and drainage functionality.
2Strength
If the number of dewatering holes is reduced to maintain rigidity, then wrapper strength is improved, but dewatering efficiency is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly distributing dewatering holes across the entire wrapper surface, the patent concentrates them in localized uneven areas. This allows the majority of the wrapper surface to maintain high rigidity while still providing sufficient dewatering capacity through the strategically positioned uneven areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrapper is segmented such that even areas provide structural support while uneven areas handle dewatering functions. This functional segmentation enables the wrapper to achieve both high rigidity and effective dewatering without requiring a high density of holes across the entire surface.
3Productivity
If a continuous pattern structure is formed on the wrapper to improve washing efficiency, then washing performance is improved, but the rigidity of the wrapper is further lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous pattern structure is applied only in uneven areas where dewatering holes are present, while even areas maintain a smooth, continuous surface for structural integrity. This localized application of pattern structures allows the wrapper to achieve both washing efficiency and rigidity by assigning different functions to different surface regions.
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 pattern structure improves the wrapper's resistance to deformation and maintains high dewatering and washing efficiency by distributing stress and accommodating water effectively during spinning.
Implementation Method 1
In a washing process or a dewatering process, centrifugal force is caused by the laundry inside the spinning drum and acts on the patterned shape of the wrapper
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of dewatering holes through which water is drained from the inside of the wrapper to the outside of the wrapper during a washing process
Data Source
AI summary
A drum-type washing apparatus includes: a housing including a door in a front thereof to be opened and closed; and a washing tub supported to spin inside the housing, having a cylindrical shape opened toward the door to accommodate laundry therein, and including a pattern on which a plurality of dewatering holes for discharging wash water are arranged on an inner circumferential surface thereof, the pattern including: a first pattern including an even area provided at least one side of a first dewatering hole along the inner circumferential surface, and a second pattern provided at least one side of a second dewatering hole different from the first dewatering hole along the inner circumferential surface and including an uneven area having lower flatness than the even area.