Laundry treating appliance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating appliances face limitations in efficiently utilizing space within the treating chamber, particularly in accommodating varying laundry loads and achieving optimal capacity without compromising balance and functionality.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a non-balancing extension collar that projects beyond a balancing ring to increase the effective volume of the laundry treating chamber, allowing for adjustable capacity without requiring different basket heights and maintaining balance through the balancing ring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple basket sizes are used to accommodate different laundry loads, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The basket volume is made dynamically adjustable through the extension collar mechanism. The extension collar can be positioned at different heights along the basket support structure, allowing the effective basket volume to be changed based on laundry load size. This dynamic adjustment replaces the need for multiple fixed-size baskets, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A single basket structure with an adjustable extension collar serves multiple functions: it can accommodate both small and large laundry loads, and the extension collar itself serves both as a structural support element and as a volume-adjustment mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate baskets of different sizes, reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple basket sizes are manufactured, then the adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The basket system is segmented into modular components: a base basket structure and a separate extension collar. The extension collar can be manufactured as a standardized component that attaches to the base basket at various positions. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing of individual components while enabling multiple basket configurations, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension collar serves as a universal component that can be used with the same base basket structure to create different effective basket volumes. Instead of manufacturing entirely different baskets for different sizes, the same base basket配合different extension collar configurations provides multiple size options, significantly simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A clothes washer comprising a cabinet defining a cabinet interior. A tub is located within the cabinet interior and defines a liquid chamber having access via a tub opening. A suspension couples the tub to the cabinet. A basket is located within the liquid chamber and defines a basket interior, which defines at least a portion of a treating chamber. The basket has an open top upon which the balancing ring is mounted. An extension is coupled to the balancing ring to increase the volume or capacity of the treating chamber.