Drum Washer Rear Balancer Support to Prevent Ball Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing balancer system in drum type washing machines is prone to failure due to repeated collisions with the ball under centrifugal force, leading to a weakened connection between the balancer housings and potential ball ejection from the race over long use.
Innovation Solution
A drum type washing machine design where the rear balancer is supported by a shaft flange with an annular groove on the rear cover, ensuring the balancer housings remain secured even if the connection between them weakens, preventing the balls from moving out of the race.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ball is accommodated in the balancer housing to reduce vibration, then vibration reduction efficacy is improved, but the connection part between housings is weakened due to repeated collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a cushioning member between the first and second balancer housings. This cushioning member absorbs the impact forces generated when the ball collides with the housings during spin tub rotation, preventing the repeated collisions from weakening the connection part between housings while maintaining the vibration reduction function.
2Reliability
If the ball collides with the balancer housings during rotation, then vibration is reduced, but the first balancer housing separates from the second housing over time
Solution Approach 1:
The cushioning member is installed in advance between the housings to absorb collision impacts before they can cause separation. This maintains the structural integrity of the balancer housing assembly while allowing the ball to continue its vibration-reducing collisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushioning member acts as an intermediary element between the ball and the balancer housings. It mediates the collision forces, allowing the ball to perform its vibration reduction function while protecting the housing connection from damage.
3Ease of manufacture
If the connection part is weakened by long-term use, then assembly simplicity is maintained, but the ball may move out of the race
Solution Approach 1:
By installing the cushioning member beforehand, the patent prevents the connection part from weakening to the point where the ball could escape. This maintains both the simple assembly structure and the reliable ball containment over the product lifetime.
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 stabilizes the balancer system, preventing ball ejection and maintaining vibration reduction efficacy even after long-term use, simplifying assembly by aligning the balancer's rotational center with the shaft's center.
Implementation Method 1
the ball accommodated in the balancer housing is subject to centrifugal force during the rotation of spin tub
Data Source
AI summary
A drum type washing machine including a balancer capable of rapidly reducing vibration of a spin tub. The drum type washing machine includes a spin tub which is rotated by receiving rotational force from a driving motor through a rotating shaft, a rear balancer having an annular shape and being coupled to the spin tub, and a shaft flange provided at a center portion thereof with the rotating shaft and coupled to the spin tub so as to uniformly transfer the rotational force to the spin tub. The rear balancer is supported on a rear surface of a rear cover by the shaft flange. Thus, the balls accommodated in the balancer are prevented from moving out of the balancer, even if the balancer is broken due to long-period use.