Heat Pump Dryer Compressor Mounting Pins for Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current heat pump laundry dryers face challenges with noise and complexity due to the use of additional components like metal sheet interfaces and vibration absorbers, which increase weight, cost, and assembly time, while also being inefficient in noise reduction.

Innovation Solution

A heat pump laundry treatment apparatus where the compressing device is fixed to the basement using integrally formed pins, which act as both a support and a vibration damping element, reducing the number of components and noise sources, and ensuring reliable coupling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a metal sheet interface and vibration absorbers are used to fix the compressing device, then the compressing device is securely fixed, but the weight, cost, complexity, and noise increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the fixation function and vibration damping function into a single integrated component - the pin with elastomeric element. This eliminates the need for separate metal sheet interfaces and vibration absorbers, reducing component count while maintaining both secure fixation and vibration isolation. The pin structure combines rigid fixation (through the pin body) with flexible vibration absorption (through the elastomeric element) in one element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pin with integrated elastomeric element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical fixation of the compressing device, acts as a vibration damping element, and serves as a mounting structure. This multi-functional design replaces multiple specialized components (fixation plate, vibration absorbers, fasteners) with a single universal element that performs all necessary functions.

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

2Reliability

If a metal sheet interface and vibration absorbers are used to fix the compressing device, then the compressing device is securely fixed, but the noise and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful vibrations and noise generated by the compressing device into a beneficial function by integrating a vibration damping element directly into the fixation pin. The elastomeric material absorbs and dissipates vibrational energy, transforming the harmful mechanical vibrations into heat through internal friction, thereby reducing noise transmission to the dryer housing while maintaining secure fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If multiple components are used to fix the compressing device, then secure fixation is achieved, but assembly time and labor increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple fixation and vibration damping components into a single integrated pin assembly. Instead of installing separate metal sheets, vibration absorbers, and fasteners in multiple steps, the integrated pin can be installed in one operation, significantly reducing assembly time and labor requirements while maintaining secure fixation and vibration isolation functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 simplifies the assembly process, reduces noise, and enhances mechanical resistance against vibrations, thereby improving the operational efficiency and user experience of the heat pump laundry treatment apparatus.

Implementation Method 1

the pin acts as a support for a vibration damping element which is interposed between the pin and the compressing device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

the process air exhausted from the drum is cooled and dehumidified by heat exchange carried out by the evaporator of the heat pump system. The dehumidified air is heated by heat exchange carried out by the condenser of the heat pump system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP2931962B1Heat pump laundry treatment apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 ELECTROLUX HOME PROD CORP NV
  • EP2931962B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2931962B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2931962B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a eat pump laundry treatment apparatus (1), in particular a heat pump laundry dryer or a heat pump washing machine having drying function. A heat pump laundry treatment apparatus (1) according to the invention comprises a cabinet (2) that houses a rotatable laundry drum (3) for treating laundry using process air, the drum (3) being accessible by a user through a door (4) of the apparatus (1), wherein the laundry treatment apparatus (1) comprises:a basement (9) which constitutes a bottom portion of said cabinet (2) for supporting operational components for carrying out a drying process on laundry, a process air circuit (12) for circulating the process air through the drum (3), a heat pump assembly (14) having a refrigerant loop, in which the refrigerant fluid is circulated through a first and a second heat exchanger (15,16), the heat pump assembly (14) comprising a compressing device (17) that is received in a seat (8) formed in the basement (9) and that is removably fixed thereon. The apparatus of the invention is characterized in that the compressing device (17) is fixed to a bottom wall (31) of said basement (9) by at least one pin (20) which is integrally formed with the basement (9) bottom wall (31).