Damper, especially friction damper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Friction dampers in washing machines with spin cycles experience undesirable rattling noises due to manufacturing tolerances leading to excessive play and movement of the plunger within the housing.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating flexible compensating elements, such as wave-shaped or linear slats, on the plunger or housing to stabilize the plunger's displacement along the central longitudinal axis, reducing play between the plunger and housing walls, and providing support to eliminate rattling noises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a clearance is provided between the plunger and housing walls to enable frictionless displacement, then the plunger can move smoothly, but excessive clearance due to manufacturing tolerances causes play and rattling noises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible compensating elements (thin-walled structures or films) that are attached to the plunger or housing. These elements flexibly compensate for the clearance between the plunger and housing walls, eliminating play and rattling noises while preserving the smooth displacement capability. The flexible nature of these elements allows them to adapt to the clearance without restricting the plunger's movement.
2Ease of manufacture
If the plunger is designed with a simple cylindrical shape for easy manufacturing, then production is straightforward, but manufacturing tolerances lead to excessive play between plunger and housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the plunger or housing structure by introducing compensating elements as separate components. These elements can be attached to the plunger or housing and are designed to compensate for manufacturing tolerances. This segmentation allows the main plunger body to remain simple for easy manufacturing, while the added compensating elements address the play issue without complicating the core design.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If compensating elements are added to eliminate play and reduce rattling, then acoustic properties improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compensating elements are designed as flexible thin-walled structures or films that can be easily attached to the plunger or housing. This design minimizes the added complexity while effectively eliminating play and rattling noises. The flexible nature of these elements allows them to be integrated into the existing damper structure without requiring major design changes or complex assembly procedures.
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 compensating elements effectively reduce rattling noises by stabilizing the plunger's movement, ensuring a stable displacement and preventing undesirable tilting or movement, thereby enhancing the acoustic properties of the damper.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one compensating element is in particular flexible, in particular compensating, in particular elastic, and/or in particular resilient
Implementation Method 2
A friction lining is held on the plunger, which rubs against opposing housing walls
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A damper, in particular for washing machines with a spin cycle, comprises a housing (2) having a central longitudinal axis (3) and enclosing a housing interior (21) at least partially by means of housing walls (25), a plunger (4) which is displaceable in the housing (2) along the central longitudinal axis (3) and extends out of the housing (2), fastening elements (7, 10) arranged at free ends (5, 9) of the housing (2) and the plunger (4) and at least one compensating element (28) for compensating for any play between the housing walls (25) and the plunger (4).