Laundry Appliance Friction-Welded Hollow Structure for Leak Tightness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating appliances face issues with leakage during washing and drying due to inadequate friction welding strength and the generation of welding burs, which can trap wool or fluff, affecting the drying process and dirt accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A hollow mechanism formed by friction welding of first and second members with protruding welding ribs that create closed geometric units, such as hexagons, providing a stronger and more reliable connection, reducing weld burs on the outer circumference and minimizing wool or fluff adherence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If friction welding is used to connect the first member and the second member, then the assembly process is simplified and production efficiency is improved, but welding burs are generated and tightness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The welding rib is segmented into multiple closed geometric units (such as hexagons, rectangles, or triangles) that are joined to each other to form a continuous sealing structure. This segmentation allows the welding rib to maintain both the efficiency of friction welding and the tightness required to prevent leakage, as each closed unit contributes to the overall sealing performance while being manufacturable through standard friction welding processes.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional linear welding ribs are used, then the welding process is simple, but the welding strength and tightness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The welding rib structure transitions from a one-dimensional linear form to a two-dimensional closed geometric pattern. This dimensional change increases the welding area and contact surface between the first and second members, thereby enhancing welding strength and tightness while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the use of standard friction welding processes.
3Productivity
If welding burs are present on the welding ribs, then the welding process is complete, but wool or fluff adheres to the burs and affects drying performance
Solution Approach 1:
The welding rib is designed with different local qualities through the closed geometric unit structure, where the continuous closed form creates smoother surfaces compared to traditional linear ribs. This local quality improvement reduces the formation and accumulation of welding burs, thereby minimizing the adherence of wool or fluff and maintaining drying performance.
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 tightness and strength of the welding joints, preventing leakage and reducing dirt accumulation by minimizing weld burs, thus improving the overall performance and efficiency of the laundry treating appliance.
Implementation Method 1
the first member and the second member being fixedly connected through friction welding of the first flat surface and the second flat surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
Laundry treating appliance including a hollow mechanism (4, 6) including a first member and a second member, the first member having a first flat surface before assembly, the second member having a second flat surface before assembly, the first member and the second member being fixedly connected through friction welding of the first flat surface and the second flat surface to form the hollow mechanism, and at least one of the first flat surface and the second flat surface having protruding welding ribs (7) that constitute edges of several closed geometric units (70) joined to each other. The welding ribs (7) that form the closed geometric units (70) joined to each other have a longer welding line, a larger area, and higher welding strength, thus achieving a firmer and more reliable connection between the first member and the second member and higher tightness of welding points.