Variable Lifter Blade Design for Washer-Dryer Vibration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laundry washers and dryers face inefficiencies due to fixed lifters that cause vibration and hinder laundry movement during high-speed spinning, compromising washing and drying effectiveness in washer-dryer combination machines.

Innovation Solution

A plurality of variable lifters rotatably hinged on the inner cylindrical surface of a drum, adjusting posture with drum rotation direction and speed to facilitate washing, dewatering, and drying by pushing laundry up, collapsing during high-speed spinning, and re-erecting for tumble-drying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If prominently protruding lifters are used to lift and drop laundry for washing and drying, then washing and drying efficacy is improved, but vibration is generated during high-speed drum spin for dewatering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewashing and drying efficacyVSAvoidvibration during high-speed spinning

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lifter is designed with rotational freedom about a hinge axis, allowing it to dynamically change its posture from protruding (for washing/drying) to collapsed (for dewatering). This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the lifter structure responsive to different operational phases rather than fixed in one configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The lifter's effective height and projection distance are changed as operational parameters based on drum rotation speed and direction. During high-speed spinning, centrifugal force causes the lifter to collapse, reducing its projection distance to zero or minimal value, thereby eliminating vibration while maintaining washing functionality during lower-speed operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If lifters are firmly fixed to the drum cylindrical wall to perform washing functions, then laundry flipping and rubbing is improved, but laundry movement along the drum circumference is hindered causing excessive vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelaundry flipping and rubbingVSAvoidlaundry circumferential movement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lifter is hinged to allow rotational movement, transforming it from a fixed obstacle to a dynamic element that can yield to laundry movement during dewatering while maintaining its washing function during other phases. This resolves the contradiction between providing washing action and allowing free laundry movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If short and low lifters are used to allow free laundry movement during high-speed spinning, then vibration is reduced, but washing and drying functionality is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration during high-speed spinningVSAvoidwashing and drying functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using permanently short and low lifters, the invention employs lifters that are prominently protruding during washing/drying phases but collapse during high-speed spinning. This dynamic transformation allows the system to achieve both strong washing/drying functionality and minimal vibration during dewatering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The lifter alternates between protruding and collapsed states periodically based on the operational phase (washing, drying, or dewatering). This periodic action allows the system to optimize for different functions at different times, achieving both strong washing/drying and minimal vibration during spinning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 enhances washing efficacy by preventing vibration-induced pilings, improving dewatering efficiency, and reducing drying time while maintaining effective laundry movement, thereby enhancing overall performance in washer-dryer combination machines.

Implementation Method 1

the lifter yields to the weight of overlaying laundry articles, and further collapses to the drum cylindrical wall when drum spins in high-speed for centrifugal dewatering

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

the lifter pushes the laundry up to drop from the apex of rotation path... to lift the laundry up and drop from apex of rotation path to make the laundered items rub against each other

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS11802361B2Laundry treating apparatus with variable lifters

Publication Date: 2023.10.31 WANG JYHJIA ERIC

AI summary

A laundry treating apparatus having a horizontally rotatable drum with a plurality of variable lifter blades protruding from the drum inner cylindrical surface toward drum inner space and in parallel to the axis of drum rotation. The variable lifter blade is rotatably mounted on a hinge rod which is attached to the drum inner cylindrical wall such that the lifter blade is predisposed to tilt to a variable angle in relation to the drum circumference by different directions and speeds of drum rotation and influence from the laundry mass.