Wash Drum with Removable Rear Cover Inserts for Adjustable Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Typical wash drums for laundry machines have fixed wash volumes, making it costly and time-consuming to adjust wash capacity without retooling, limiting flexibility in accommodating varying wash loads.
Innovation Solution
A wash drum with a perforated cylindrical wall and adjustable rear cover inserts that allow for multiple wash capacities, enabling the wash drum to be adapted to different wash volumes by attaching or removing rear cover inserts, which can include impellers, to define various wash capacities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wash drum is designed for a specific wash volume, then the structural design is simple and manufacturing is easier, but the flexibility to adjust wash capacity is limited and requires retooling
Solution Approach 1:
The rear cover is divided into a removable insert portion and a fixed outer cover portion. The insert can be detached and replaced to change wash capacity, while the outer cover remains fixed. This segmentation allows capacity adjustment without redesigning the entire rear cover structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear cover insert is designed to be removable and replaceable, transforming the fixed wash capacity into an adjustable one. The dynamic configuration allows the same drum to adapt to different wash volume requirements by simply changing the insert component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If retooling is performed to adjust wash capacity, then the wash capacity can be changed, but the cost and time to implement changes increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the rear cover into removable insert and fixed outer cover, the patent enables capacity changes through simple insert replacement rather than complete retooling. This reduces both the time and cost required to adjust wash capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows for the discarding of outdated insert configurations and recovery/reuse of the fixed outer cover structure. When capacity needs to change, only the insert portion needs to be replaced while the main structural components remain in use.
3Adaptability or versatility
If retooling is performed to adjust wash capacity, then the wash capacity can be changed, but the cost to implement changes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented rear cover design with removable insert allows capacity adjustment through inexpensive insert replacement rather than costly retooling of the entire rear cover or drum structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic, replaceable insert design transforms a static, expensive-to-modify structure into an adaptable one where capacity changes require minimal investment in new components.
4Manufacturing precision
If the rear cover insert is positioned away from the second end, then the second opening is substantially closed off and wash capacity is defined, but the space near the second end is not utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The position of the rear cover insert along the drum axis determines the effective wash capacity. By adjusting the insert position or using inserts of different lengths, the usable volume parameter can be precisely controlled to match different washing needs.
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
Enables flexible adjustment of wash capacity without retooling, reducing costs and implementation time, while providing a range of wash volumes to suit different laundry needs.
Implementation Method 1
the central disc member of the rear cover insert may include one or more impellers projecting into the wash chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A wash drum apparatus and method of adjusting the wash capacity for a laundry washing machine. The wash drum may include one or more rear cover inserts that may adjust the wash capacity of the wash drum. The rear cover insert may include one or more impellers. The wash drum may include a rear cover.