Laundry Drum Linear Elevations for Washing Action and Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laundry drum designs with offset quadrangular or hexagonal curved surfaces provide dimensional stability and reduce acoustic vibrations but lack a proven beneficial influence on mechanical laundry treatment during rotation.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates inwardly bulging linear elevations along the peripheral line, which can be parallel or non-parallel, closed or interrupted, and vary in distance and width, allowing for enhanced mechanical treatment and reduced material usage while minimizing acoustic vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If offset quadrangular or hexagonal curved surfaces are used in the drum shell, then dimensional stability and reduced acoustic vibrations are achieved, but the influence on mechanical laundry treatment remains unproven and material usage is excessive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedimensional stabilityVSAvoidmaterial usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by introducing linear elevations with specific geometric characteristics (height, width, spacing) at localized positions on the drum shell interior surface. These elevations create zones of enhanced mechanical action on the laundry while maintaining the overall structural stability of the drum shell, thus reducing material usage without compromising dimensional stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes by varying the geometric parameters of the drum shell structure - specifically introducing elevations with controlled height (5-50mm), width (2-20mm), and spacing (20-100mm). These parameter variations optimize the balance between structural stability and material efficiency, allowing reduced material usage while maintaining dimensional stability through precise geometric control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If offset quadrangular or hexagonal curved surfaces are used in the drum shell, then acoustic vibration tendencies are reduced, but the mechanical laundry treatment effect is not improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacoustic vibrationsVSAvoidmechanical laundry treatment
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating specific zones on the drum shell interior with linear elevations that have optimized geometric characteristics. These localized structures generate beneficial mechanical effects on the laundry (enhanced tumbling, rubbing, and pressing actions) while the overall drum shell configuration continues to suppress acoustic vibrations through its structured design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs curvature principles by using linear elevations with rounded tops and smooth transitions from the drum shell surface. These curved geometric features enhance the mechanical treatment of laundry by promoting gentler yet more effective movement patterns, improving productivity without generating harmful acoustic vibrations through sharp edges or abrupt transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Loss of substance

If the drum shell material is reduced to a minimum, then material usage is optimized, but the drum shell may become unstable and prone to acoustic vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial usageVSAvoiddrum shell stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by introducing linear elevations with specific geometric characteristics (height, width, spacing) at localized positions on the drum shell interior surface. These elevations create zones of enhanced mechanical action on the laundry while maintaining the overall structural stability of the drum shell, thus reducing material usage without compromising dimensional stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite structural design by combining the drum shell base material with raised linear elevation structures formed from the same or different material properties. This composite approach allows the drum shell to achieve enhanced stiffness and stability with reduced overall material thickness, as the elevation structures act as structural reinforcements that prevent vibrations while minimizing total material consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2235246B9Laundry drum for a laundry treating machine
Publication Date: 2011.12.21 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2235246B9 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2235246B9 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2235246B9 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The aim of the invention is to provide the external structure of a laundry drum (3) with the advantageous properties of prior art structures (6) which are distributed in the circumferential direction (40) and project from the cylindrical shape of the drum cover (4) mounted in the laundry drum, while designing said structures (6) such that the mechanical treatment of the laundry is advantageously influenced during the rotation of the laundry drum (3). Said aim is achieved by shaping the structures as linear elevations (6) that extend along the circumferential line (40).