Washing Machine Balancer Housing With Supports for Dynamic Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines with ball balancers face issues such as deformation under centrifugal force, complex assembly, and internal debris from fusion scraps causing noise and vibration, leading to reduced lifespan and inefficient dynamic balancing.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates annular-shaped balancer housings with protruding supports to enhance strength and guide the balancer's position, and fusion ridges and grooves to collect debris, preventing internal interference and ensuring smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ball balancers are used with fused upper and lower plates, then the balancer can maintain dynamic balance, but the walls deform under centrifugal force reducing lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The balancer is divided into multiple structural components: upper plate, lower plate, and reinforcing ribs. The ribs segment the wall structure to provide additional support against centrifugal force, preventing deformation while maintaining the enclosed space for steel balls.
Solution Approach 2:
The balancer combines plastic material for the housing with metallic steel balls inside. The plastic provides structural integrity and the steel balls provide balancing mass, creating a composite system that maintains dynamic balance while resisting deformation.
2Reliability
If conventional ball balancers are installed on spin tub, then dynamic balance is maintained, but assembly takes time due to lack of positioning guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The balancer structure includes built-in positioning features (protrusions and recesses) that automatically guide correct installation orientation. The balancer serves its own positioning function during assembly, eliminating the need for external alignment tools or complex procedures.
3Ease of manufacture
If fusion scraps fall inward during fusion, then manufacturing is simplified, but ball motion is prevented causing vibration and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful fusion scraps are extracted from the ball motion space by creating a separate collection area. The protrusion-recess structure directs scraps away from the internal cavity where steel balls move, isolating the harmful byproduct from the functional space.
4Ease of manufacture
If fusion scraps fall outward during fusion, then manufacturing is simplified, but external debris affects balancer operation
Solution Approach 1:
The outward-falling fusion scraps, instead of being purely harmful, are redirected by the external protrusion to form a protective seal or filling material around the fusion joint. This converts the waste material into a beneficial element that enhances the seal and protects against external contamination.
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 increases balancer durability, reduces assembly time, and minimizes noise and vibration by maintaining structural integrity and cleanliness within the balancer, enhancing the washing machine's operational performance.
Implementation Method 1
the ball balancers are continuously supplied with centrifugal force that is generated when the steel balls make a circular motion
Data Source
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AI summary
A washing machine is provided that has at least one balancer (20,30) that increases durability by reinforcing the strength of the balancer and is installed on a rotating tub in a rapid and convenient way. The balancer includes first and second housings (22,23,32,33) that have an annular shape and are fused to form a closed internal space, and the first housing including at least one support (24,34) for reinforcing the strength of the balancer. A spin tub (10) includes an annular recess corresponding to the balancer so as to be coupled with the balancer. The support (24,34) protrudes from the first housing and comes into contact with a wall of the recess and guides the balancer to be maintained in the recess in place. The supports (24,34) are continuously formed along and perpendicular to the opposite walls of the first housing, or are disposed parallel to the opposite walls of the first housing at regular intervals.