Washer Damper Mount Reinforcement for Vibration Damage Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional washing machines suffer from damage to the damper fixing unit due to its fragile connection to the bottom plate, which is prone to damage from repetitive vibration and shock over time, especially when the unit is formed by cutting the bottom plate.

Innovation Solution

The damper fixing unit is reinforced by forming a peripheral portion around the cut area to have a height greater than the thickness of the bottom plate, with reinforcing ribs added to the connecting areas, providing increased rigidity and preventing damage from shocks and loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the damper fixing unit is formed by cutting a portion of the bottom plate, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the boundary between the cut portion and the damper fixing unit becomes fragile and prone to damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing processVSAvoidboundary strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing reinforcing portions at specific locations (around cut portions of the bottom plate) rather than uniformly reinforcing the entire structure. These localized reinforcing portions are formed by bending peripheral portions of the bottom plate upward, creating raised regions that specifically strengthen the fragile boundary areas where cutting occurred, while leaving other areas of the bottom plate unchanged.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the damper fixing unit is formed by cutting the bottom plate, then fabrication costs are reduced, but the unit becomes vulnerable to damage from repetitive vibration and shock over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefabrication costVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by forming the reinforcing portions simultaneously with the cutting process to create the damper fixing unit. The peripheral portions are bent upward during the same fabrication process that creates the cut portions, so the reinforcement structure is prepared in advance before the unit is subjected to operational stresses from vibration and shock.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If reinforcing portions are formed by bending peripheral portions around cut portions, then the rigidity of the damper fixing unit is enhanced, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproverigidityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by integrating the reinforcing portions as integral parts of the bottom plate structure rather than adding separate reinforcement components. The reinforcing portions are formed by bending existing peripheral portions of the bottom plate upward, combining the functions of structural support and reinforcement into a single unified element, thereby avoiding additional parts and assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP1760183B2Washing and/or Drying Machine Having a Damper Connecting Structure Including a Reinforcing Portion
Publication Date: 2016.08.24 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP1760183B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1760183B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1760183B2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A drum type washing machine capable of preventing/reducing damage to a damper fixing unit provided on a bottom plate for securing a damper at a fixed position by a reinforced rigidity of the damper fixing unit. The drum type washing machine includes a water tub installed in a body, at least one damper to support the water tub, and a damper fixing unit provided on the bottom plate of the body to secure the damper at a fixed position. The damper fixing unit is formed via cutting of the bottom plate and has a reinforced rigidity by a reinforcing portion formed around each cut portion of the bottom plate.