Garment washing and/or drying machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing and drying machines face issues with vibrations due to uneven weight distribution and reduced capacity caused by motor placement, leading to undesirable translational and rotational movements during cycles.
Innovation Solution
A garment washing and/or drying machine design featuring a drum with permanent magnets on its side portion for magnetic interaction with an electromagnet, allowing controlled rotational and translational movement, eliminating the need for belt-driven systems and enabling a deeper drum capacity with reduced vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a traditional motor placement is used in washing machines, then the machine structure is simple, but vibrations occur due to uneven weight distribution and the drum capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical motor placement with a magnetic field-based drive system. Electromagnets mounted on the drum interact with permanent magnets on the stator to produce rotational and translational movement without a physical motor connected to the drum, eliminating vibration sources and allowing deeper drum design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces translational movement along the drum axis in addition to traditional rotational movement. This dual-mode movement capability allows the drum to move both rotationally and translationally, solving the vibration problem while maximizing drum capacity
2Speed
If belt-driven systems are used to drive the drum, then the structure is simple, but power transmission is less efficient and spin speeds are slower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates belt-driven mechanical transmission systems and replaces them with direct magnetic field interaction between electromagnets and permanent magnets. This provides more efficient power transmission and enables faster spin speeds without the intermediary mechanical components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamically controllable electromagnets that can adjust their magnetic field strength and positioning to optimize power transmission and drum movement. This dynamic control system enables precise speed regulation and efficient power transfer
3Volume of moving object
If the drum is made deeper to increase capacity, then the drum capacity increases, but vibrations and translational movements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical drive connections with magnetic field interaction, allowing the drum to move smoothly without mechanical constraints that cause vibration. The electromagnets can precisely control drum movement, maintaining stability even with deeper drum designs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters by introducing controlled translational movement along the drum axis in addition to rotation. This parameter change allows the system to accommodate deeper drums while maintaining stability through active magnetic field control
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 design reduces vibrations, increases drum capacity, and allows for smoother power transmission and faster spin speeds by centralizing the inertia axis and applying torque effectively, while maintaining control over drum movement.
Implementation Method 1
the drum comprising at least one magnet located on the side portion of the drum, for magnetic interaction with a corresponding at least one electromagnet in the main body portion of the washing machine
Implementation Method 2
a controller for controlling electrical current supplied to the at least one electromagnet so as to control a magnetic field to which the at least one magnet on the drum is subjected
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
There is disclosed a washing and/or drying machine (102). The washing and/or drying machine (102) comprises a main body portion (104) and a drum (106, 406, 506) located within the main body portion (104). The drum (106, 406, 506) comprises an open end (430) for receiving garments (112, 560) placed in the drum (106, 406, 506) and a closed end (432) for containing the garments within the drum (106, 406, 506), the closed end (432) being opposite the open end (430). The drum (106, 406, 506) comprises a side portion (436) connecting the open end (430) to the closed end (432). The drum (106, 406, 506) comprises at least one magnet (438) located on the side portion (436) of the drum (106, 406, 506), for magnetic interaction with a corresponding at least one electromagnet (442) in the main body portion (104) of the washing machine (102). There is further provided a controller (450) for controlling electrical current supplied to the at least one electromagnet (442) so as to control a magnetic field to which the at least one magnet (438) on the drum (106, 406, 506) is subjected. This enables the controller (4501) to control movement of the drum (106, 406, 506), in use.