Laundry Drum Oval Cross-Section Design for Increased Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses have limited capacity due to the size of their drums, restricting the amount of laundry that can be treated.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus with a drum having a cross-sectional shape that is a simple closed curve, such as an elliptical shape, allowing for a larger capacity by varying the distance between the rotational axis and the drum's surface, with straight portions not exceeding 10% of the circumference, enabling more efficient use of space within the same cabinet dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the drum size is increased to accommodate more laundry, then the treatment capacity is improved, but the cabinet dimensions and structural integrity become compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The drum cross-section is designed as an oval shape rather than a perfect circle, allowing the drum to accommodate more laundry volume while maintaining structural integrity. The oval geometry distributes mechanical stresses more effectively during rotation, preventing deformation even as the drum size increases to hold larger laundry loads
2Quantity of substance
If the drum size is increased to accommodate more laundry, then the treatment capacity is improved, but the cabinet dimensions exceed standard sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the oval cross-sectional shape to optimize space utilization within the cabinet. By varying the radius of curvature in different directions (longer radius in vertical direction, shorter in horizontal direction), the drum achieves maximum volume capacity while fitting within standard cabinet footprint dimensions, effectively using three-dimensional space more efficiently
3Ease of manufacture
If the drum cross-section is circular, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the space utilization within the cabinet is not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The drum cross-section transitions from a circular shape with constant radius to an oval shape with variable radius of curvature. This parameter change increases the drum's volume capacity to accommodate more laundry while still maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes. The oval geometry can be achieved through standard forming techniques, balancing manufacturing ease with enhanced capacity
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 apparatus can accommodate more laundry than conventional models with the same cabinet size, enhancing its treatment capacity without compromising the drum's structural integrity during rotation.
Implementation Method 1
The heater 30 heats air flowing into the drum 10
Implementation Method 2
The drum 10 is rotatably positioned in the cabinet 1
Implementation Method 3
The drum 10 includes lifters 14 on an inner surface thereof so that laundry received in the drum 10 may be lifted and dropped
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A laundry treatment apparatus is provided comprising a cabinet (1 ) having a prescribed shape; a supporter (11, 12) provided in the cabinet (1 ); a drum (10) configured to rotate and provided on the supporter (11, 12), the supporter (11, 12) supporting a circumferential portion of the drum (10), a cross section of the drum being a simple closed curve where first distance between a rotational axis of the drum and a first location on an inner surface of the drum is different from second distance between the rotational axis of the drum and a second location on the inner surface of the drum; and a motor (72) to rotate the drum.