Liquid Balancer Flow Path Design for Transient Drum Unbalance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses struggle to actively eliminate drum unbalance and vibration during transient states, as existing balancing units are ineffective in anticipating and addressing unbalance as soon as it occurs, leading to noise and vibration issues.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus with a balancing unit that includes a flow path structure and guide dividers to direct liquid into specific balancers, a sensing unit to detect unbalance, and a controller to supply liquid strategically to balancers based on the drum's rotation and unbalance position, ensuring active elimination of unbalance in both plane parallel to the diameter and longitudinal directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ball balancers or fluid balancers are used to control unbalance, then unbalance can be controlled in steady state, but unbalance cannot be actively eliminated in transient state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting unbalance in transient state before it develops into full vibration, and by strategically supplying liquid to balancers in advance of the unbalance condition. The controller detects unbalance and supplies liquid to the appropriate balancer proactively, rather than reactively responding to established vibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulics by introducing liquid into the balancer through a flow path structure. The liquid supply mechanism uses fluid dynamics to rapidly adjust balancer weight distribution, enabling fast response to transient unbalance conditions without mechanical moving parts.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If balancing units are added to eliminate unbalance, then vibration control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the balancing function with the existing drum structure by mounting balancers directly to the drum surface and integrating the flow path structure with the drum geometry. This combination eliminates separate balancing mechanisms while achieving effective unbalance control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the drum's own rotation and the liquid already present in the washing machine to achieve balancing. The liquid supplied to the balancer comes from the washing machine's water supply system, and the drum's rotation naturally distributes the liquid within the balancer, eliminating the need for separate pumping or distribution mechanisms.
3Reliability
If liquid is supplied to balancers to eliminate unbalance, then unbalance control is effective, but liquid supply precision must be high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the liquid supply system into multiple independent flow paths, each leading to a specific balancer. The flow path structure includes separate inlets and internal partitions that ensure liquid is directed precisely to the intended balancer without cross-contamination or misdirection, simplifying the control requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring drum rotation state and unbalance conditions through sensors, then adjusting liquid supply to the appropriate balancer based on real-time data. The controller receives feedback from detectors about laundry distribution and drum position, and adjusts liquid supply accordingly to maintain balance.
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 apparatus effectively eliminates drum unbalance and vibration by actively supplying liquid to agitate laundry, reducing noise and ensuring balanced operation throughout the washing process.
Implementation Method 1
the ball or liquid moves toward the lowermost point of the rotation trace of the drum when the unbalance inducing laundry moves toward the uppermost point of the rotation trace of the drum
Data Source
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AI summary
A balancing unit for a laundry treatment apparatus, comprising: a feeder (57) for supplying liquid; at least three balancers (55) for being mounted on a drum of said apparatus, being configured to store liquid supplied from the feeder (57), wherein the balancers are disposed to be spaced apart from one another by a same angle along the circumference of the drum; a flow path structure for being mounted on a side surface of the drum to guide the liquid supplied from the feeder (57) to said balancers (55), wherein the flow path structure includes a first flow path (51) having: a first flow path body (511) for defining a liquid storage space; and first flow path dividers (515) arranged to divide the liquid storage space into same number of subspaces as said balancers (55), and wherein the first flow path dividers (515) are respectively positioned at an inlet (557) of said balancers (55).