Washing Machine Balancer With Magnetic Mass Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machines experience vibration and noise due to unbalanced drum rotation during spin-drying cycles, potentially damaging components, as laundry often accumulates unevenly, leading to eccentric rotation.
Innovation Solution
A balancer system is integrated into the washing machine, featuring a balancer housing with an annular channel, movable masses, and a magnet to restrain these masses, utilizing magnetic and centrifugal forces to stabilize drum rotation within a predetermined RPM range, while a damping fluid prevents abrupt movements and supports the masses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a magnet is directly fixed to the balancer housing to restrain masses, then the magnetic restraint function is achieved, but the assembly process becomes complex and work efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The balancer assembly is segmented into distinct functional modules: the magnet case (separate housing) contains the magnet, while the balancer housing contains the channel and masses. This segmentation allows the magnet to be pre-assembled with its mounting features in the magnet case, then the entire magnet case assembly is installed as a unit onto the balancer housing, simplifying the overall assembly process and improving work efficiency while maintaining the magnetic restraint function.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnet case acts as an intermediary component between the magnet and the balancer housing. Instead of directly fixing the magnet to the balancer housing, the magnet case serves as a mediator that houses the magnet and provides standardized mounting interfaces, thereby simplifying the assembly process and improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining the magnetic restraint functionality.
2Productivity
If the balancer structure is simplified to improve assembly efficiency, then work efficiency is improved, but the drum capacity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The magnet is nested within the magnet case, which is then nested onto the balancer housing. This nested structure allows the magnetic restraint system to be compactly integrated without protruding into the drum interior space. The channel containing the masses is also nested within the balancer housing, maximizing the use of space in the radial direction without compromising drum capacity, while maintaining simplified assembly through modular integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic restraint system is arranged in the axial direction (along the rotation axis of the drum) rather than occupying radial space that would reduce drum capacity. The magnet case extends axially from the balancer housing, utilizing the axial dimension for the magnetic restraint function, thereby maintaining drum capacity while achieving simplified assembly through modular design.
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 balancer effectively offsets unbalanced loads, stabilizing drum rotation, reducing vibration and noise, and enhancing the efficiency and capacity of the washing machine by ensuring uniform laundry distribution and minimizing component damage.
Implementation Method 1
a magnet provided at one side of the balancer housing to restrain the mass
Implementation Method 2
A damping fluid to push the mass when force is applied to the mass may be contained in the channel
Implementation Method 3
a balancer mounted to the drum to offset unbalanced load generated in the drum during rotation of the drum
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine having a balancer to offset unbalanced load generated during rotation of a drum. The washing machine includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet, and a balancer mounted to the drum to offset unbalanced load generated in the drum during rotation of the drum. The balancer includes a balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein, at least one mass movably disposed in the channel, a magnet provided at one side of the balancer housing to restrain the mass, and a magnet case to receive the magnet.