Transport bolt assembly for a laundry appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transport bolt assemblies for laundry appliances do not prevent the appliance from being operated while immobilizing the drum, which can cause damage to internal components and hinder the functioning of suspension features during operation.
Innovation Solution
A new transport bolt assembly design that includes a bolt with varying radii and a washer with an appendage, along with a hollow cylindrical bushing and spacer, which prevents the power cord from being plugged in until the bolt assembly is removed, ensuring the appliance cannot be operated with the bolts in place, and retains components as a unit to prevent loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transport bolt assemblies are used to immobilize the drum during transportation, then the drum is prevented from moving around and causing damage, but the appliance can still be operated with the bolts in place which can damage internal components and hinder suspension features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a power cord retention mechanism as an intermediary element that mediates between the transport bolt assembly and the power cord. The retention mechanism includes a power cord receiver with a retention member that physically blocks the power cord from being inserted into the electrical outlet, thereby preventing appliance operation while bolts are installed. This intermediary mechanism ensures that the harmful effect of operating the appliance with bolts in place is eliminated without affecting the bolt's primary function of immobilizing the drum during transport.
2Ease of operation
If transport bolt assemblies are designed to be simple and easy to install, then ease of operation is improved, but components may be lost during removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components of the transport bolt assembly into a unitary structure or tightly integrated assembly. The transport bolt, washer, and retention mechanism are designed to work together as a single removable unit, where the retention mechanism is either integrally formed with the bolt or securely attached to it. This merging ensures that when the bolt is removed from the drum, all components remain attached to each other, preventing loss of any individual component while maintaining ease of installation and removal.
3Ease of operation
If the power cord is made accessible for easy plugging, then ease of operation is improved, but the appliance can be operated with transport bolts still in place causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a power cord retention mechanism as an intermediary element that mediates between the transport bolt assembly and the power cord. The retention mechanism includes a power cord receiver with a retention member that physically blocks the power cord from being inserted into the electrical outlet, thereby preventing appliance operation while bolts are installed. This intermediary mechanism ensures that the harmful effect of operating the appliance with bolts in place is eliminated without affecting the bolt's primary function of immobilizing the drum during transport.
Data Source
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AI summary
A laundry appliance (10) comprises: a tub (14) comprising a bolt receiver (42); a cabinet (12) at least partially enclosing the tub (14) within an interior (16), the cabinet (12) comprising a first aperture (50) providing access to the bolt receiver (42) from an exterior (46), a second aperture (52) adjacent the first aperture (50), and an exterior surface (44) facing the exterior (46); a power cord (38); and a transport bolt assembly (54). The transport bolt assembly (54) comprises: a bolt (56) inserted into the bolt receiver (42) of the tub (14) through the first aperture (50); and a washer (78) comprising a body (80), a hole (82) through the body (80), through which the bolt (56) is disposed, and an appendage (84) extending away from the body (80) of the washer (78) and into the second aperture (52) of the cabinet (12) trapping the power cord (38) between the exterior surface (44) of the of the cabinet (12) and the appendage (84) of the washer (78).