Laundry Machine Housing Wall with Integrated Fastening Seams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing one-piece housing walls for laundry treatment machines are not optimized for material efficiency while maintaining stability, leading to potential structural weaknesses and increased manufacturing complexity.
Innovation Solution
The fastening openings are arranged in a second standing seam at the free end of the fastening tab, with first standing seams extending over and connecting to these seams, allowing for a more robust and simplified construction that reduces material thickness without compromising stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the housing wall is made thinner to save material, then material usage is reduced, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing wall is segmented into multiple functional sections (front section, base section, ceiling section, two side sections) that are interconnected through standing seams and fastening tabs. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently while maintaining overall structural integrity through the connection mechanisms, enabling thinner material usage without compromising stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a simple flat panel design to a three-dimensional structured housing wall with standing seams and fastening tabs that extend in multiple directions. The standing seams create vertical and horizontal rigidity, while fastening tabs provide additional dimensional stability, allowing the use of thinner material while maintaining structural strength.
2Strength
If traditional fastening methods are used, then connection strength is sufficient, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is merged into the housing wall structure itself through integrated fastening tabs that are formed as part of the sheet metal housing wall. This eliminates the need for separate fastening components and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining connection strength through the integrated design of standing seams and fastening tabs.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing wall structure provides its own fastening capability through the integrated fastening tabs and standing seams that are formed during the sheet metal forming process. The structure is self-sufficient for connection purposes, eliminating the need for additional external fastening components and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a one-piece housing wall (2) of a housing of a laundry treatment machine for connection with a remainder of the housing, comprising a front section (4), a bottom section (6), a top section (8) and two spaced-apart side sections (10, 12), wherein the two side sections (10, 12) each have a first standing seam (14) extending parallel to the front section (4) at their free ends, and the front section (4) is connected to the bottom section (6) and/or the top section (8) by means of the two side sections (10, 12), and wherein the two side sections (10, 12) each have at least one fastening tab (16) extending parallel to the bottom section (6) and/or the top section (8) and perpendicular to the first standing seam (14) of this side section (10, 12) for fastening the side sections (10, 12).12) on the bottom section (6) and/or the top section (8) and in the housing wall (2) in the area of the bottom section (6) and the top section (8) at least two fastening openings (18, 20) are arranged for fastening the housing wall (2) to the rest of the housing, characterized in that the fastening openings (18, 20) are arranged in a second standing seam (22) formed at a free end of the respective fastening tab (16).