Side-Loading Drum Washer Layout for Vibration Damping and Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drum type washing machines face issues with vibration imbalance during washing and dewatering, limiting capacity due to the need for spacing between the tub and cabinet, and inconvenient laundry loading and unloading requirements that necessitate bending or sitting.
Innovation Solution
A drum type washing machine design featuring a tub fixed directly to the cabinet, a lateral laundry loading entrance, a motor assembly positioned on one side of the drum, and a suspension system that includes main and sub-dampers to attenuate vibrations, allowing for increased capacity and convenient loading without bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the tub is spaced apart from the cabinet to prevent collision during vibration, then the cabinet and tub are protected from damage, but the capacity or volume of the tub is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine system is divided into three independent components: the cabinet, the tub, and the drum. The tub is separated from the cabinet and supported by a suspension assembly, allowing each component to function independently. This segmentation enables the tub to be positioned closer to the cabinet without risking collision, as the suspension system absorbs vibrations and movements.
Solution Approach 2:
A suspension assembly acts as an intermediary between the tub and the cabinet. This intermediate structure includes springs and dampers that absorb and attenuate vibrations, preventing direct transmission of collision forces to the cabinet while allowing the tub to maintain a compact position, thereby maximizing its capacity.
2Device complexity
If the door and openings are provided to face the front side for conventional loading, then the structure is simple, but the user must bend or sit down causing inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The laundry loading entrance is repositioned from the front side to the lateral side of the tub. This spatial reconfiguration changes the loading dimension from vertical (requiring bending) to horizontal (allowing standing operation), significantly improving user convenience while maintaining structural simplicity through the side-opening design.
3Stability of the object's composition
If springs and dampers are used to attenuate vibration, then vibration is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension assembly merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure. It combines the support function (holding the tub), the vibration attenuation function (through springs and dampers), and the collision prevention function (by isolating the tub from the cabinet). This merging reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate systems for each function.
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 design effectively attenuates vibrations, increases the washing machine's capacity by eliminating the need for excessive spacing, and allows for easy laundry loading and unloading without straining the user, enhancing overall usability and vibration characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a suspension assembly provided to support a weight of the drum and attenuate vibration of the drum
Data Source
AI summary
A drum type washing machine is provided, in which vibration is efficiently attenuated, by a maximum capacity within a size-fixed cabinet is provided, and by which a user does not bend over or sit down to load laundry into the washing machine. The drum type washing machine includes a cabinet forming an exterior of the drum type washing machine, a tub fixed within the cabinet, the tub having a laundry loading entrance at an outer circumference of the tub, a drum rotatably provided within the tub, the drum having an opening on a lateral side of the drum to communicate with the laundry loading entrance of the tub, a motor assembly provided next to one side of the drum to rotate the drum, and a suspension assembly provided to support a weight of the drum and attenuate vibration of the drum.