Laundry Drum Prism Embossing for Water Scooping and Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry drum designs either lack sufficient mechanical treatment effect due to insufficient arched structures or are unstable and difficult to produce, with existing solutions failing to effectively distribute flood holes and provide adequate scooping and drainage during rotation.
Innovation Solution
A drum with a structure comprising multiple rows of prism-like embossings, featuring a steep and shallow angle surface, which improves laundry distribution and drainage, and increases rigidity, allowing for efficient water scooping and drainage through strategically placed flood holes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a drum shell with a pure corrugated or ribbed structure is used to imitate washboard effect, then the mechanical treatment of laundry is improved, but the structural stability deteriorates and production difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The corrugated structure is segmented into multiple discrete arched elements arranged in rows around the drum shell. Each element has a specific arch height and spacing, creating a distributed pattern that provides mechanical treatment while maintaining structural integrity. The segmentation allows the structure to be produced from standard sheet material rather than requiring complex formed panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The arched elements are positioned with varying arch heights and spacing to create different local characteristics. Elements with greater arch heights provide enhanced mechanical treatment in specific zones, while the overall distribution maintains structural stability. The local variation in element geometry optimizes the washboard effect in different drum regions.
2Strength
If the number of arched elements is increased to improve washboard effect, then the mechanical treatment is enhanced, but the production difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The structure uses multiple relatively small arched elements distributed in rows around the drum shell. This segmentation approach achieves the desired mechanical treatment effect through distributed action of many elements rather than relying on a few large elements, while the elements can be formed from standard sheet material using conventional manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The arched elements are repeated in multiple rows around the drum shell, creating a patterned distribution. This replication of the basic arch shape in standardized increments allows the structure to be produced efficiently from sheet material using forming processes, avoiding the need for custom-formed complex panels.
3Productivity
If flood holes are provided in the drum wall for water exchange, then water drainage is improved, but the structural integrity and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Flood holes are positioned specifically in the regions where the arched elements rise most prominently from the drum shell alignment. This localized placement utilizes the natural structural protrusions of the arched elements as optimal locations for water exchange, providing effective drainage while minimizing holes in structurally critical areas. The positioning exploits the existing geometry to achieve both drainage and structural goals.
4Productivity
If a corrugated structure is used to improve scooping effect, then water scooping capability is enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scooping function is achieved through multiple discrete arched elements arranged in rows rather than a continuous corrugated structure. Each element contributes to the scooping action during drum rotation, and the segmented approach allows the structure to be formed from sheet material using conventional processes, reducing manufacturing complexity compared to continuous formed corrugations.
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 enhances the mechanical treatment of laundry, reduces 'dead liquor' by lowering the water level, and increases the drum's stability, while being easier to produce and maintain.
Implementation Method 1
the structure has its own scooping effect, through which water can be scooped from a quantity of water stored in the tub at the bottom during the rotation of the drum and conveyed onto the laundry from above
Implementation Method 2
the flat, unperforated surface ensures drainage with high contact pressure of the laundry
Implementation Method 3
the steep, perforated surface ensures good and barrier-free water drainage
Implementation Method 4
the new structure also shows an increase in the rigidity of the entire drum
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
In order for a drum (1) of a laundry treatment machine to generate a different effect in accordance with the direction of rotation of the drum (1) which is rotatably mounted within a housing of the laundry treatment machine and has at least one bottom disk (3) and a jacket (5) that are individually or jointly provided with a curved structure, the flood holes should also be arranged and distributed in a way that is more gentle to the laundry than in prior art. Furthermore, the structure should have an inherent scooping effect which allows water to be scooped from an amount of water stored at the bottom of the lye container when the drum rotates and be conducted onto the laundry from above. For this purpose, the curved structure consists of at least two rows of prism-type embossings (6) which encompass at least part of the drum (1) and have a substantially rectangular base. The prism surface (10) oriented in the circumferential direction (7) of the drum (1) extends at a steep angle while the opposite surface (9) extends at a flat angle relative to the drum jacket (5). The lateral faces (25) of the embossings extend at least nearly at 90 degrees from the jacket (5). Flood holes (8) required for treating the laundry are located within the steep surface (10).