Laundry Drum Reinforcement Ribs for Lifting Rib Stress Cracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing laundry processing drum in washing machines experiences stress concentration and potential cracking at the junction of lifting ribs and the drum wall due to high centrifugal forces during spinning, leading to a shortened service life.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating strengthening ribs on the drum wall near the lifting ribs, which extend axially and protrude into the accommodating cavity, to distribute stress and enhance structural integrity, while also increasing laundry friction for improved cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If lifting ribs are integrally formed on the drum wall to lift laundry during rotation, then the cleaning function is achieved, but the junction area experiences stress concentration and potential cracking during high-speed spinning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning functionVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by adding strengthening ribs specifically at the stress concentration zones near the lifting rib junctions, while keeping other areas of the drum wall unchanged. This localized reinforcement targets the specific problem area without modifying the overall drum structure or lifting function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The strengthening ribs are pre-formed as integral parts of the drum wall structure before the drum enters service. This preliminary action of pre-reinforcing the vulnerable junction areas prevents stress concentration and cracking from developing during high-speed spinning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If strengthening ribs are added near lifting ribs to reinforce stress concentration areas, then the service life is prolonged, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The strengthening ribs are merged with the drum wall as integral formed structures, creating a unified component rather than separate attachments. This combining approach reinforces the drum structure without adding discrete parts, fasteners, or complex assembly requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The strengthening ribs are positioned only at specific locations where stress concentration occurs near the lifting rib junctions, rather than uniformly across the entire drum. This localized approach adds minimal structural complexity only where needed to solve the specific reliability problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 strengthening ribs reinforce the stress concentration areas, prolonging the drum's service life and enhancing cleaning efficiency by reducing friction with the tub and increasing friction with laundry.

Implementation Method 1

the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the laundry in the drum 95 mainly concentrates on the lifting ribs 96

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

the laundry falls freely, so as to achieve the function of cleaning the laundry

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFree fall: Free Fall

Implementation Method 3

Incorporating strengthening ribs on the drum wall near the lifting ribs, which extend axially and protrude into the accommodating cavity, to distribute stress and enhance structural integrity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStress distribution:

Implementation Method 4

enhancing cleaning efficiency by reducing friction with the tub and increasing friction with laundry

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2507425B1Laundry processing drum and laundry processing apparatus using the same
Publication Date: 2015.04.22 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2507425B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2507425B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A laundry processing drum 30 for a laundry processing apparatus 100 is provided. The laundry processing drum 30 includes a main body 31 having a drum wall 31 that basically shapes like a cylinder, and a front cover 32 and a rear cover 33 respectively disposed on opposite axial ends of the drum wall 31. The front cover 32 and the rear cover 33 define an accommodating cavity 34 together with the drum wall 31, so as to accommodate laundry to be processed. The main body 31 includes at least one lifting rib 311 integrally formed on the drum wall 31 and protruding into the accommodating cavity 34, so as to lift the laundry during rotation of the laundry processing drum 30, and at least one strengthening rib 312 disposed on the drum wall 31 close to the lifting rib 311. Through the structure, the strength of the laundry processing drum 30 is improved, and the service life of the laundry processing apparatus 100 is prolonged.