Laundry Drum Lifter Structure for Leak-Safe Water Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating apparatus lifters suffer from performance deterioration due to defects in fastening members and unnecessary discharge of washing water through the coupling between the drum and lifter, leading to inefficiencies in washing and water usage.
Innovation Solution
A lifter structure featuring a first member with a hook portion and shielding portion that securely attaches to the drum, preventing water discharge through the fastening hole while allowing efficient water introduction and discharge, thereby maintaining performance and reducing water usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a lifter is coupled to the drum through an additional fastening member, then the lifter can be securely attached to the drum, but the performance of the lifter deteriorates due to defects or failure of the fastening member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the additional fastening member from the coupling system between the lifter and drum. Instead of using separate fastening components, the lifter body itself is designed with an integrated coupling structure that directly engages with the drum, eliminating the fastening member and its associated failure points.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling function is merged into the lifter body structure itself. The lifter body includes a coupling portion that is integrally formed with the main body, combining the structural support and attachment functions into a single unified component rather than separate parts.
2Productivity
If water is introduced into the lifter, then the lifter can perform washing function by spraying water to laundry, but water is discharged through the fastening portion between the drum and lifter causing unnecessary water loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the fastening member that created the water discharge problem. By removing the separate fastening component and using an integrated coupling structure, the water-tight sealing between lifter and drum is improved, preventing water leakage while maintaining the water introduction function for washing.
3Ease of manufacture
If a conventional lifter structure with separate fastening members is used, then the lifter can be attached to the drum, but defects or failure of the fastening member cause performance deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling structure is merged into the lifter body as an integral component. The coupling portion is formed as part of the lifter body structure, eliminating the need for separate fastening members and reducing the number of parts that can fail while maintaining ease of assembly through the simplified integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
A lifter for a laundry treating apparatus includes a first member mounted at an inner side of a drum; and a second member mounted on the first member and protruded toward an inside of the drum, wherein the first member includes a hook protruded and formed along a circumference of the first member, at least part of which is disposed to cover an inner circumferential surface of the drum when inserted into a fastening hole of the drum and then slid in one direction; and a shield protruded and formed at an inner side of the first member and configured to completely cover the fastening hole when the hook is inserted into the fastening hole and then slid in one direction.