Suspensionless Laundry Drum with Dynamic Counterweight Balancing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry machines experience vibrations and noise due to load imbalances during the spin cycle, which can damage components and require larger sizes to accommodate balancing assemblies, limiting their use in smaller spaces.
Innovation Solution
A laundry apparatus with a dynamic balancing assembly that includes counterweight devices orbiting around the primary rotation axis, controlled by a unit that detects load imbalances using sensors, allowing for effective balancing without the need for displaceable suspension members, thus maximizing load capacity and minimizing size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional balancing assemblies are mounted to the drum, then vibration and noise are reduced, but the drum capacity is reduced and the machine size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing system is segmented into two independent parts: (1) a rigid tub mounting system that anchors the tub to the exterior housing without displaceable suspension, and (2) a dynamic counterweight assembly that orbits around the primary rotation axis to counteract load imbalance. This segmentation allows the drum to be mounted rigidly while maintaining drum capacity, and the counterweights are positioned in the annular space between the drum and tub rather than inside the drum, preserving drum volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The counterweight devices are positioned in the annular space between the drum and tub, utilizing the radial dimension rather than occupying axial or longitudinal space. The counterweights orbit around the primary rotation axis in a plane perpendicular to the axis, effectively using the available annular volume to provide balancing without reducing drum capacity or increasing overall machine footprint.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the machine size is increased to accommodate balancing assemblies, then vibration reduction is achieved, but the machine cannot be used in smaller homes and apartments
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight devices are nested within the annular space between the drum and tub, utilizing the existing structural volume of the laundry machine. The counterweights orbit in the radial direction within this annular region, effectively nesting the balancing mechanism within the existing machine geometry without requiring additional external space or increasing the machine's overall footprint.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If displaceable suspension members are used to support the tub, then vibration is reduced, but the drum capacity is reduced and machine size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces displaceable suspension members with a counterweight-based balancing system. The counterweight devices are configured to orbit around the primary rotation axis, generating centrifugal forces that counteract the load imbalance and vibration. This anti-weight approach eliminates the need for displaceable suspension, allowing the tub to be rigidly mounted and maximizing drum capacity without compromising vibration reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical displaceable suspension system with a dynamic counterweight balancing system. Instead of using elastic or movable suspension members to isolate vibration, the invention uses actively controlled counterweights that generate opposing centrifugal forces to counteract imbalance, replacing a passive mechanical isolation system with an active force-balancing system.
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 and noise, enabling larger laundry capacities within smaller spaces by eliminating the need for traditional suspension systems, enhancing operational stability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
one or more counterweight devices configured to be orbited about the primary rotation axis to counteract a detected load imbalance in the drum
Implementation Method 2
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
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry apparatus includes an exterior housing, a tub, one or more tub mounts rigidly mounting the tub to the exterior housing, a drum positioned within the tub and rotatable relative to the tub, a control unit, a motor, one or more load imbalance sensors, and a dynamic balancing assembly. The motor is communicatively coupled to the control unit and operatively coupled to the drum. The one or more load imbalance sensors are communicatively coupled to the control unit and configured to output a load imbalance signal to the control unit, the load imbalance signal being indicative of a load imbalance within the drum. The dynamic balancing assembly is includes one or more counterweight devices configured to be orbited about the primary rotation axis to counteract a detected load imbalance in the drum. The tub is unsupported by any displaceable suspension members extending between the tub and the exterior housing.