Fluid Flow Guide Structure for Washing Machine Creep Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Continuous motion washing machines experience material creep in components due to continuous force from washing items, leading to misalignment and reduced efficiency over time.
Innovation Solution
A fluid flow guide component with a contoured surface and flexible support that absorbs impacts and vibrations, featuring an expansion slot mechanism to allow for automatic fit adjustments and indicate when replacement is necessary, ensuring continuous operation without misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid fluid flow guide component is used in a continuous motion washing machine, then the wash action efficiency is maintained, but material creep occurs due to continuous force from washing items leading to misalignment and reduced efficiency over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using a flexible fluid flow guide component instead of a rigid one. The flexible material allows the component to absorb continuous forces from washing items without experiencing material creep, thereby maintaining alignment stability and preventing misalignment over time while preserving wash action efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies this principle by designing the fluid flow guide component with flexible motion capability. This dynamic design allows the component to adapt to continuous forces during operation, preventing the material creep that would occur with a static rigid structure, thus maintaining both reliability and dimensional stability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a flexible fluid flow guide component is used to absorb impacts and vibrations, then noise and vibrations are reduced, but the component may experience misalignment due to continuous deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using a flexible fluid flow guide component that absorbs impacts and vibrations, thereby reducing noise and harmful vibrations. The flexible material is specifically selected to provide cushioning while maintaining sufficient structural integrity to prevent misalignment, thus resolving the contradiction between vibration absorption and alignment precision.
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 solution effectively reduces noise, vibrations, and misalignment issues by absorbing impacts and allowing for flexible motion, maintaining efficient wash action and extending the component's lifespan by providing a clear replacement indicator.
Implementation Method 1
The guide surface includes at least one region contoured inconsistently from the contour of at least one corresponding wall of the washing machine wash tank. The support for the guide surface creates a gap between the guide surface and at least one wall of the washing machine wash tank. The fluid flow guide surface defines a washing area within the wash tank that is located generally opposite of the gap with respect to the fluid flow guide surface. The guide surface, support and/or associated gap at least partially isolates impacts, noise or other vibrations acting on the guide surface from acting on the walls of the washing machine wash tank.
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine and/or a fluid flow structure for a washing machine wash tank is provided. The wash tank is generally rectangular and includes a bottom wall, two side walls and two end walls extending upward from said bottom wall. The wash tank further includes at least one flow directional opening in at least one of the walls. In a preferred embodiment, the wash tank includes plurality of flow directional openings positioned along one of the side walls of the wash tank. A fluid flow structure is located within said wash tank, which includes a fluid flow guide surface, and a support for said guide surface. The guide surface includes an expansion structure that is designed to counteract expansion of the guide surface that occurs during operation of the washing machine. In one embodiment the expansion structure is an expansion slot that engages a portion of the guide surface. As the guide surface expands the expansion slot is pressed against the portion of the guide surface, causing the expansion slot to expand into a relief area associated with the expansion slot at a location generally opposite of the portion of the guide surface.