Laundry treating appliance with drive attachment mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines require robust drive attachment mechanisms to withstand overturning forces, which often result in heavy and costly basket bases, especially in vertical axis washing machines that need high spin speeds, and these mechanisms do not effectively reduce total indicated runout.
Innovation Solution
A drive attachment mechanism comprising a two-piece basket base, a bushing assembly with upper and lower bushing inserts, and a lock nut that couples the upper end of the bushing assembly with the drive shaft, allowing for a lighter weight basket base while maintaining robustness and reducing total indicated runout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a robust drive attachment mechanism is used to withstand overturning forces, then the strength and reliability are improved, but the weight and cost of the basket base increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The basket base is divided into two separate portions: an upper basket base portion and a lower basket base portion. The drive attachment mechanism is specifically configured in the lower basket base portion, allowing the upper portion to be lighter while maintaining overall structural integrity and drive attachment robustness.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive attachment mechanism is extracted and concentrated in the lower basket base portion, which is designed to withstand overturning forces. This allows the upper basket base portion to be minimized in weight while the lower portion provides the necessary structural support for the drive system.
2Strength
If a robust drive attachment mechanism is used to withstand overturning forces, then the strength and reliability are improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the basket base into two portions allows for optimized manufacturing of each section. The lower portion can be designed for structural strength to withstand overturning forces, while the upper portion can be manufactured more simply, reducing overall material costs and manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Concentrating the drive attachment mechanism in the lower basket base portion allows for focused engineering of the attachment features where they are most needed, while minimizing material usage and manufacturing complexity in the upper portion.
3Device complexity
If conventional drive attachment mechanisms are used, then the structure is simple, but the total indicated runout is not effectively reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The two-piece basket base configuration with integrated bushing assemblies in the lower portion provides precise alignment features that reduce runout, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not require complex additional components.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.