Laundry Drum Lifter Structure to Prevent Water Loss at Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lifters in laundry treating apparatuses face performance deterioration due to defective fastening members and unnecessary water discharge through the coupling portion between the drum and lifter, leading to inefficiencies in washing and water usage.
Innovation Solution
A lifter design featuring a first member with a hook portion and shielding portion that securely attaches to the drum's inner surface, preventing water discharge and ensuring effective coupling, while a second member accommodates washing water and discharges it efficiently through dedicated holes, with the first member being fixed using screw insertion holes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lifter is coupled to the drum through an additional fastening member, then the lifter can be attached to the drum, but the coupling portion may cause performance deterioration due to defects or failures of the fastening member
Solution Approach 1:
The lifter is divided into a first member (coupling portion) and a second member (lifter body), allowing the coupling function to be separated from the lifter body. The first member includes a hook portion that engages with the drum's fastening hole, while the second member provides the washing water accommodation function. This segmentation eliminates the need for additional fastening members and reduces coupling structure complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The first member is inserted into the fastening hole of the drum in a nested manner, with the hook portion engaging inside the hole. The shielding portion then covers the fastening hole from the inside, creating a nested structure that secures the lifter to the drum without external fastening members, thereby improving attachment reliability while reducing complexity.
2Ease of operation
If water flows into the lifter, then the lifter can perform washing functions, but water may be discharged through the fastening portion between the drum and lifter
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding portion is extracted as a separate functional element from the first member, specifically designed to cover the fastening hole. This shielding structure prevents water that flows into the lifter from discharging through the coupling portion, thereby eliminating water loss while preserving the washing function. The shielding portion can be positioned at the rear surface or side surface of the first member to effectively block water discharge paths.
3Strength
If the hook portion is inserted into the fastening hole and slid, then secure attachment is achieved, but the fastening hole remains exposed and may discharge water
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding portion is designed to cover the fastening hole beforehand, preventing water from entering or discharging through the coupling portion. By providing this protective barrier in advance, the system prevents the harmful effect of water discharge while maintaining the secure attachment provided by the hook portion engaged in the fastening hole.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a lifter (100) for a laundry treating apparatus, the lifter (100) comprising: a first member (110) made of plastic, a first side of which is coupled to an inner surface of a drum; and a second member (120) made of stainless steel, and disposed to protrude toward an inside of the drum, and coupled to a second side of the first member (110), wherein the first member (110) is located between the inner surface of the drum and the second member (120).