Hinged Drum Bearing Housing for Tool-Free Sealed Dryer Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bearing housings for tumble dryer drums have a short service life and are difficult to assemble self-retainingly on the rear wall due to the bayonet-type locking mechanism, which requires access from inside the housing.
Innovation Solution
A bearing housing design featuring pivotally connected shell-shaped housing parts with a hinge, allowing for tool-free assembly and self-retention, along with a sealing mechanism using a lubricated felt seal and clip connection for secure attachment around the bearing axis, and a swivel limiter for correct mounting on the rear wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bayonet-type locking mechanism is used to fix the bearing housing on the rear wall, then the bearing housing can be securely fixed, but the assembly becomes difficult because access from inside the housing is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional bayonet locking approach by providing access to the locking mechanism from the outside of the housing rather than from inside. The locking elements are arranged on the outer surface of the bearing housing, allowing technicians to perform the bayonet-type locking operation from the exterior, thus eliminating the need to disassemble or access the interior of the housing for assembly purposes.
2Reliability
If the bearing housing is designed as a separate component with two shell-shaped parts, then the bearing can be sealed and protected, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing housing is divided into two separate shell-shaped parts that can be assembled around the bearing component. This segmentation allows the bearing to be pre-assembled with its sealing elements, then the two housing shells are joined together using external locking mechanisms, simplifying the overall assembly process while maintaining the sealed protection of the bearing.
3Ease of operation
If the bearing housing parts are pivotally connected by a hinge, then tool-free assembly is enabled, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The two shell-shaped housing parts are connected by a hinge that allows them to pivot relative to each other during assembly. This dynamic connection enables the housing parts to be opened flat for easy installation around the bearing, then pivoted together to enclose the bearing, achieving tool-free assembly while the hinge structure remains integrated into the housing design.
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 design enhances assembly ease, provides a durable and sealed bearing system, and ensures correct mounting without tools, improving the service life and operational reliability of the bearing housing.
Implementation Method 1
the bearing housing consists of a first and second shell-shaped housing part, which are pivotally connected to one another by means of a hinge
Implementation Method 2
The seal can consist of a felt that is impregnated with lubricant, for example, so that a lubricating, sealed axle system is provided
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a bearing (1) for a drum of a tumble dryer arranged in a housing, with a drum axis (2) mounted so that it can rotate horizontally or at an angle, which comprises a bearing part (4) fastened to the rear drum base (3), which is carried out as a separate component by a trained bearing housing (5) is enclosed, which on the rear wall (6) of the housing of the tumble dryer can be fixed. According to the invention, the bearing housing (5) consists of a first and a second shell-shaped housing part (7) and (8), which are pivotally connected to one another by means of a hinge (9), and the two housing parts (7, 8) are mounted on the bearing part (4 ) can be fixed in a self-retaining manner, and the bearing housing (5) sealingly encloses the bearing part (4) in the region of the drum axis (2).