Washing Machine Drum Water Balancing for Leak-Proof Vibration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Washing machines experience vibrations and reduced spin-drying performance due to uneven laundry distribution during high-speed rotation, leading to noise and machine wear, which existing solutions like adding weights or liquid fail to fully address effectively.

Innovation Solution

A washing machine design featuring a cylindrical stationary protrusion on the tub with a rotating cylindrical housing, an insert between the supply and distribution lines, and sealing elements to deliver water to receptacles on the drum for balancing unbalanced loads, ensuring leak-proof transfer and controlled distribution of water to counteract the imbalance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If liquid is added to the machine for balancing, then vibration is reduced, but leakage and seepage occur during water transfer

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevibrationVSAvoidleakage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an insert as an intermediary component between the supply line and distribution line. This insert includes sealing elements that prevent direct contact and potential leakage between the rotating and stationary parts, while still enabling water transfer for balancing purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct mechanical connection with a sealing-based system. Instead of rigid mechanical joints that may leak, the system uses sealing elements within the insert to create a leak-proof water transfer path from the supply line to the distribution line.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Stability of the object's composition

If weights are added to increase inertia, then balancing is improved, but transportation of the machine becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebalancingVSAvoidtransportation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a dynamic water-based balancing system instead of static weights. Water can be dynamically added or removed from the drum based on the detected imbalance, providing flexible balancing without permanent additions that would affect transportation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the balancing approach from adding mass (weights) to changing the distribution of existing mass (water). By controlling water distribution in the drum, the system achieves balancing without increasing the overall machine weight or complicating transportation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If water is delivered to receptacles on the drum, then unbalanced load is balanced, but precise leak-proof delivery is difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload balancingVSAvoidwater delivery precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The insert serves as a precision intermediary mechanism that ensures accurate water delivery. It includes aligned openings in the sealing elements that precisely connect the supply line outlet to the distribution line inlet, enabling leak-proof and precise water transfer to the correct receptacles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses opening positions in the sealing elements as indicators for precise alignment. The openings are strategically positioned to align with supply and distribution lines at specific rotational positions, ensuring water is delivered to the correct receptacles for effective balancing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

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

Effectively balances unbalanced loads during rotation, reducing vibrations and noise, enhancing spin-drying performance by ensuring precise and leak-proof delivery of water to the required receptacles, thus improving machine operation and user satisfaction.

Implementation Method 1

The sealing elements prevent water passage between the compartments by confining the compartment leak-proofingly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

the required amount of water is provided to be delivered from the supply line to the distribution line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 3

the unbalanced load is balanced by means of the fluid transferred to the receptacles on the drum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2499288B1A washing machine wherein the unbalanced load is balanced
Publication Date: 2018.08.08 ARCELIK AS
  • EP2499288B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2499288B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2499288B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a washing machine (1 ) comprising one or more than one receptacle (12) placed on the drum (2) wherein a sufficient amount of water delivered for counterbalancing the unbalanced load is stored when there is an unbalanced load.