Parallel-Channel Washing Machine Bellow for Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry washing machines face challenges in delivering different detergent mixtures during various washing phases and in effectively dampening vibrations that can cause obstructions and damage to components.
Innovation Solution
The washing machine is designed with a bellow duct divided into sub-ducts, allowing for separate delivery of different detergent mixtures and enhanced vibration dampening through an elastically deformable bellow with a flat projection portion and curved fins, preventing direct contact and obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single bellow duct is used to deliver detergent mixture, then the structure is simple, but different detergent mixtures cannot be delivered during different washing phases
Solution Approach 1:
The single bellow duct is divided into multiple parallel sub-ducts, each capable of delivering different detergent mixtures independently. This segmentation allows the system to deliver different detergent solutions during different washing phases while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If a rigid duct is used to deliver detergent mixture, then the structure is stable, but vibrations from drum rotation cause obstructions and damage to components
Solution Approach 1:
The bellow duct is constructed with flexible material that can elastically deform to absorb vibrations generated by drum rotation. This flexibility prevents vibration transfer to the fixed tank duct and detergent tank, protecting these components from damage while maintaining reliable detergent delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic nature of the bellow duct acts as a pre-designed cushioning element that absorbs vibrational energy before it can propagate to the rigid components. This beforehand cushioning protects the tank duct and detergent tank from vibration-induced obstructions and damage.
3Reliability
If the bellow duct is made highly flexible to absorb vibrations, then vibration dampening is improved, but the duct may become obstructed by excessive deformation
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the duct into multiple parallel sub-ducts reduces the deformation burden on each individual sub-duct. This segmentation allows the overall structure to remain flexible for vibration absorption while each sub-duct maintains sufficient structural integrity to prevent obstruction.
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
This solution allows for precise delivery of detergent mixtures during different washing phases and significantly reduces vibration transfer to the tank duct, improving machine efficiency and longevity by preventing obstructions and enhancing vibration absorption.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable bellow, having a ring shaped main portion sealingly connected to the casing and to the tub
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A laundry washing machine (1) comprising: a casing (10); a tub (11) suspended in the casing (10); an elastically deformable bellow (20), having a ring shaped main portion (21) sealingly connected to the casing (10) and to the tub (10), at an opening (12) thereof, and a projection portion (30), made in one piece with the main portion (21) and radially extending from the main portion (21) to a distal end (31); a detergent tank (17) adapted to receive detergents to be mixed to water before being supplied to the tub (11); a tank duct (18) connected upstream to the detergent tank (17) and having a downstream end (19); a bellow duct (32) formed within the projection portion (30) of the bellow (20), from an inlet mouth (33), formed at the distal end (31) of the projection portion (30) and connected to the downstream end (19) of the tank duct (17), to an outlet mouth (34), formed in the main portion (21) of the bellow (20), at the projection portion (30), and open into the tub (11). The tank duct (18) comprises at least two separate and parallel tank sub-ducts (41, 42), suitable for receiving different detergent mixtures from different areas in the detergent tank (17); and the bellow duct (32) comprises at least two separate and parallel bellow sub-ducts (51, 52, 58, 59), suitable for receiving different detergent mixtures from different sub-ducts (41, 42) of the tank duct (18). Thus, different detergent mixtures are collected and supplied in different sub-ducts, first in the tank duct (18), then in the bellow duct (32).