Dryer Drum Transport Lock With Pin-Cam Disengagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry dryers face issues during transportation, including drum damage and noise due to friction and contact with rollers, and existing solutions are cumbersome, difficult to access, and may cause imbalances or lose securing devices.
Innovation Solution
A transportation device using pin-cam assemblies that disengage the drum from rollers during transport and engage when in place, allowing easy operation and accessibility, suitable for various drum support types, and can be manufactured at competitive costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drum is supported by rollers during transportation, then the drum can be easily moved, but the drum may be damaged and generate noise during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a transportation device that is pre-configured to engage with the drum before transportation occurs. The device includes engagement elements that automatically or manually activate to secure the drum to the transportation platform, preventing damage and noise during transport while allowing easy deployment when needed.
2Reliability
If fixing means are provided to protect the drum during transportation, then drum damage is prevented, but the device becomes more complex and difficult to access
Solution Approach 1:
The transportation device is designed with multi-functionality to reduce overall system complexity. The same structural elements serve both as support during transportation and as integral parts of the drum mounting system during normal operation. This universal design eliminates the need for separate, complex fixing mechanisms while maintaining drum protection capabilities.
3Reliability
If wedges are used to lift the drum during transportation, then contact with rollers is prevented, but the wedges can be lost or disposed after use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the transportation protection function with the drum support structure by integrating the engagement elements directly into the transportation device. This combination ensures that the protection mechanism cannot be lost or separated from the system, while maintaining ease of operation through automatic or simple manual engagement and disengagement features.
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
Prevents drum damage and noise during transport, maintains accessibility, and ensures easy installation and operation, addressing the limitations of existing solutions.
Implementation Method 1
a cam member (420) associated to the pin member (410) such that a rotation of the pin member (410) about its longitudinal axis causes the cam member (420) to rotate about said longitudinal axis
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
The invention relates to a laundry dryer (1) comprising a cabinet (2), a drum (3) rotatably accommodated within said cabinet (2), and a transportation device (40) associated to the cabinet (2) and configured for being movable between an enabled position, where the transportation device (40) engages the drum (3) and a disabled position, where the transportation device (40) does not engage the drum (3). The drum (3) further comprises a first region having a first strength and a second region having a second strength which is lower than the first strength, and said transportation device (40), when placed in said enabled position, engages a radially outer portion of the first region of the drum (3). The invention further relates to a method of disabling a transporting device (40) provided to engage a drum (3) of a laundry dryer (1), the method comprising a disabling procedure which includes rotating the drum (3) to cause disengagement of the transportation device (40) from the drum (3).