Laundry apparatuses having dynamic balancing assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry machines face challenges with vibrations during the spin cycle due to uneven load distribution, leading to noise, damage, and instability, which are not adequately addressed by existing balancing assemblies that often compromise capacity or require larger machine sizes, limiting their use in smaller spaces.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic balancing assembly with counterweight devices positioned within an orbital balancing passage around the motor, allowing for adjustable angular positions to balance the load, reducing vibrations and maximizing the machine's capacity without increasing its size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional balancing assemblies are mounted to the drum, then vibration reduction is achieved, but drum capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing assembly is repositioned from the drum periphery to the motor housing, utilizing three-dimensional space in a different location. This dimensional relocation allows the balancing mechanism to function without occupying drum capacity, resolving the contradiction between vibration reduction and load capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor housing serves as an intermediary structure that hosts the balancing assembly. By using the motor housing as the mounting location rather than the drum, the system achieves vibration balancing while preserving full drum capacity for laundry load.
2Quantity of substance
If laundry machine size is increased to accommodate greater load capacity, then drum capacity is improved, but space availability in smaller homes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing assembly incorporates movable counterweights that can dynamically adjust their position during the spin cycle. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to effectively balance varying load conditions without requiring a larger machine structure, maintaining compact size while handling different load capacities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of balancing mass distribution by using adjustable counterweights that can reposition themselves. This parameter adjustment enables effective vibration control across different load conditions without increasing the overall machine volume.
3Stability of the object's composition
If counterweight devices are positioned within an orbital balancing passage, then load balancing is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight devices are designed to automatically position themselves within the orbital balancing passage based on the load distribution. This self-adjusting mechanism reduces the need for complex external control systems, achieving effective load balancing while minimizing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing assembly is pre-configured with the orbital passage and counterweight mechanisms during manufacturing. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the balancing function is inherently built into the structure, reducing the need for additional complex control systems during operation.
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 dynamic balancing assembly effectively reduces vibrations, enhances load capacity, and allows for a more compact design, enabling efficient operation in smaller spaces while maintaining stability and reducing noise and damage risks.
Implementation Method 1
During the spin cycle, the drum typically spins laundry positioned therein at a rotational velocity sufficient for the centripetal acceleration to exceed gravitational acceleration causing the wet laundry to be pinned against the inside surface of the drum. The offset of the center of mass of the rotating laundry from the primary rotation axis of the drum can generate strong vibrations
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A laundry apparatus (100) includes a tub (110), a drum (130), a control unit (24), a motor (140), and a dynamic balancing assembly (150). The drum is positioned within a fluid containment envelope of the tub and rotatable relative to the tub about a primary rotation axis. The motor is coupled to the tub and operatively coupled to the drum to cause rotation of the drum. The dynamic balancing assembly includes an orbital balancing passage (152) arranged concentrically around the motor, a first counterweight device (170a), and a second counterweight device (170b). The first and second counterweight devices are positioned within the orbital balancing passage and are responsive to the control unit to move the first and second counterweight devices along the orbital balancing passage to adjust an angular position of the first and second counterweight devices. A cross-sectional plane (190) passes through the dynamic balancing assembly, the motor, and the fluid containment envelope of the tub.