Mixer Shaft Coupling with Flexible Diaphragm for Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mixer household appliances emit significant noise due to misalignment between the rotor and drive shafts, which existing solutions have not adequately addressed.
Innovation Solution
A mixer design featuring a flexible diaphragm and bearing member that aligns the rotor shaft with the drive shaft, reducing noise by allowing perpendicular displacement and providing a tight connection through coupling members with conical surfaces and angled slots, ensuring precise alignment and minimizing radial and axial play.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid coupling arrangement is used between the drive shaft and rotor shaft, then the connection is strong and stable, but misalignment between shafts causes noise and binding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane (diaphragm) as the coupling arrangement between the drive shaft and rotor shaft. This membrane is capable of flexing to accommodate misalignment between the shafts while maintaining a sealed connection. The flexibility of the membrane allows it to deform elastically when shafts are not perfectly aligned, preventing binding and reducing noise without compromising connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the coupling medium from rigid to flexible. By using a membrane with specific elastic properties rather than a rigid mechanical coupling, the system can dynamically adapt to alignment variations. The membrane's ability to change its deformation state based on alignment conditions resolves the contradiction between connection stability and noise reduction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a two-piece shaft assembly with spline connection is used, then bearing misalignment is accommodated, but the shaft and bearings may still bind under certain conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical spline connection system with a flexible membrane coupling. Instead of relying on mechanical elements like splines and bearings that can bind under misalignment, the system uses the elastic deformation of the membrane to transmit torque while accommodating shaft position variations. This substitution eliminates the binding issue inherent in mechanical spline connections.
3Ease of operation
If the container unit is removably connected to the base unit, then ease of cleaning and maintenance is improved, but connection stability and alignment precision may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane acts as an intermediary element between the removable container unit and the base unit. It provides both the sealing function needed for removable connections and the alignment compensation function needed to maintain shaft alignment precision. The membrane's elasticity allows it to maintain precise alignment while accommodating the tolerances introduced by removable connections.
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 significantly reduces noise emission during operation by ensuring precise alignment of the rotor and drive shafts, resulting in a quieter mixing experience.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible diaphragm provides flexibility in a direction perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis such that the bearing member is displaceable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis to align the rotor shaft with the drive shaft along the longitudinal axis when the container unit is connected to the base unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A mixer appliance having a base unit and a container unit. The base unit has a motor with a drive shaft. The container unit has a container and a rotor with a rotor shaft and a rotor element. A coupling arrangement connects the drive shaft and the rotor shaft when the container unit is connected to the base unit. A longitudinal axis extends through the drive shaft, coupling arrangement, and rotor shaft. The container unit has a bottom portion with a flexible diaphragm and a bearing member. The bearing member is supported by the flexible diaphragm, and the rotor shaft extends through the bearing member. The flexible diaphragm provides flexibility perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, such that the bearing member is displaceable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis to align the rotor shaft with the drive shaft along the longitudinal axis when the container unit is connected to the base unit.