Insulating Beam Housing for Laundry Appliance Control Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating appliances face challenges with the assembly and insulation of control unit devices due to heavy metal beam elements, which are not suitable for direct support and require separate handling, leading to increased manufacturing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A beam element made of electrical insulating material, acting as both a structural connector and a housing for the control unit device, simplifies assembly by integrating the control unit device within the appliance's support structure, eliminating the need for separate components and providing electrical insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal beam elements are used to structurally connect front and rear walls, then structural strength is improved, but electrical insulation of control device is compromised and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the beam element and control device housing into a single integrated component. The beam element is designed with an internal cavity that directly accommodates the control device, eliminating the need for separate housing and fastening operations. This integration reduces the number of parts and assembly steps while maintaining structural strength through the beam's design.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support to connect front and rear walls, acts as an electrical insulator to protect the control device, and serves as a housing for mounting the control device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, simplifying the overall structure.
2Strength
If separate box and metal beam elements are used, then structural support is provided, but assembly time and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the beam element and control device housing into a single integrated component. The beam element is designed with an internal cavity that directly accommodates the control device, eliminating the need for separate housing and fastening operations. This integration reduces the number of parts and assembly steps while maintaining structural strength through the beam's design.
3Strength
If metal beam elements are used, then structural connection is achieved, but electrical insulation of control device from surrounding components is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction for the beam element, combining metal or rigid plastic for structural strength with integrated insulating features. The beam element may incorporate insulating coatings, molded-in insulating sections, or the insulating material itself forms part of the beam structure, creating a composite that provides both mechanical strength and electrical insulation properties.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a laundry treating appliance, such as a washing machine or a machine having laundry drying functions; a laundry treating appliance according to the invention comprises a cabinet assembly (1) including a front wall (3), a rear wall (4), side panels (31, 32) arranged between the front and rear walls (3, 4) and one or more beam elements (10) for structurally connecting the front and rear walls (3, 4), the cabinet assembly (1) accommodating operational components which are required for carrying out a treatment on laundry and a control unit device designed to control the operational components, the appliance having one of the beam elements (10) made of an electrical insulating material and formed as a box member (6) having an interior housing (50) for accommodating the control unit device therein.