Laundry Appliance Bellows Assembly with Deflector for Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry appliances with bellows assemblies face challenges in maintaining the independence of the tub from the cabinet while ensuring effective water distribution and minimizing wear on the bellows assembly due to self-contact and contact with the tub and cabinet.
Innovation Solution
A bellows wash assembly with sinusoidal folds and a deflector system that directs water along the interior surface of the bellows assembly, reducing self-contact and contact with the tub and cabinet, and an automatic wash system to clear laundry materials, combined with a sliding and rotating door mechanism for enhanced access and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the bellows assembly allows the tub to move independently of the cabinet, then the tub independence is improved, but the bellows assembly experiences increased wear due to self-contact and contact with the tub and cabinet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes laundry materials from the bellows assembly interior surface using a wash assembly with spray nozzles and squeegees. This prevents laundry materials from causing additional wear and tear on the bellows assembly while maintaining its flexibility and tub independence movement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows wash assembly is automatically actuated during the wash cycle to clean the bellows interior surface. The system uses water spray and mechanical scraping actions to self-clean the bellows assembly, removing laundry materials that could cause wear, thereby extending the bellows service life while maintaining its adaptive movement function.
2Productivity
If water is distributed along the interior surface of the bellows assembly, then water distribution effectiveness is improved, but the bellows assembly experiences increased wear from water-related contact
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows wash assembly operates continuously during the wash cycle to spray water and scrape the interior surface of the bellows assembly. This continuous action effectively distributes water for cleaning purposes while simultaneously removing laundry materials that would otherwise cause wear, maintaining the bellows reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The squeegee blades act as intermediaries between the water spray and the bellows interior surface. They facilitate water distribution while mechanically removing laundry materials, thereby achieving effective water distribution without allowing direct contact between laundry materials and the bellows surface that would cause wear.
3Device complexity
If a traditional hinged door is used, then the door mechanism is simple, but the sealing efficiency and user access are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is designed to perform multiple movements - sliding along guides and rotating into position. This dynamic multi-stage motion allows the door to achieve better sealing engagement with the cabinet opening while providing easier user access to the drum, transforming a simple static hinged door into an actively controlled access mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly adds a sliding dimension to the traditional rotation motion. By first sliding along horizontal guides and then rotating into the final closed position, the door achieves superior sealing efficiency and user accessibility without significantly increasing overall system complexity, as the sliding motion occurs in a different dimensional plane than the rotation.
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 solution reduces wear on the bellows assembly, ensures effective water distribution, and provides an automatic wash function, while the sliding and rotating door mechanism enhances user access and sealing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A bellows wash assembly is disposed proximate an upper portion of the bellows assembly and is configured to dispense water along an interior surface of the bellows assembly
Data Source
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AI summary
A laundry appliance (10) includes a cabinet (14) defining a front opening (18) in a front panel (58). The front opening (58) is defined by a lip (374) having a curved edge (378). The lip (374) defines a plurality of apertures (386) spaced-apart around the front opening (18). A tub (20) is disposed within the cabinet (14). The tub (20) defines an access opening (90) aligned with the front opening (18). A drum (22) is disposed within the tub (20). A bellows assembly (42) extends between the cabinet (14) and the tub (20). The bellows assembly (42) includes a projection (382) coupled to the curved edge (378) of the cabinet (14). A deflector (74) has a rim (358) and a chute (362), wherein the chute (362) extends toward the drum (22). The rim (358) is configured to snap-fit over the projection (382) of the bellows assembly (42). The rim (358) includes a plurality of hooks (390) where each hook (390) is configured to extend through an aperture (386) and interlock with the cabinet (14).