Top-Loading Washer Drum Balancer Layout for Vibration Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional top-loading washing machines with hydraulic balancers only at the upper portion of the drum do not effectively reduce vibrations generated during drum rotation.
Innovation Solution
A top-loading washing machine design featuring balancers at both the upper and lower sides of the drum, with a hub and lower balancer configuration that includes a balancer body, fixing portions, and embedded masses to absorb vibrations, allowing for effective vibration reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a hydraulic balancer is disposed only at the upper portion of the drum, then the structure is simple, but vibrations generated by the drum cannot be effectively reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The single balancer at the upper portion is segmented into two separate balancers: an upper balancer disposed at the upper portion of the drum and a lower balancer disposed at the lower portion of the drum. This segmentation allows each balancer to independently counterbalance vibrations from different regions of the drum, significantly improving vibration reduction effectiveness while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing solution transitions from a one-dimensional approach (single upper balancer) to a two-dimensional distribution (upper and lower balancers positioned at different vertical locations). This dimensional expansion enables comprehensive vibration counterbalancing across the entire drum height, addressing the limitation of the single-point balancing approach
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a lower balancer is added to the drum structure, then vibration reduction effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lower balancer is integrated with the hub structure through a fixing portion that couples the balancer fixing portion to the hub fixing portion. This merging of the lower balancer with the existing hub assembly reduces overall structural complexity compared to adding a completely separate balancing mechanism, while still achieving improved vibration reduction effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The lower balancer utilizes the existing hub structure and drum base as its mounting foundation, rather than requiring an independent support structure. The hub fixing portion and drum base serve dual purposes: supporting the drum rotation and providing the mounting structure for the lower balancer, thereby reducing additional structural complexity
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 dual balancer system significantly reduces drum vibrations during rotation, enhancing the machine's stability and ease of assembly, while allowing for adjustable balancing based on washing capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a lower balancer fixed to the hub, for reducing vibrations generated when the drum rotates
Implementation Method 2
a mass moving in the storage space
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a top-loading type washing machine which includes a drum including a drum body opened at upper and lower sides thereof, and a drum base coupled to the lower side of the drum body, a hub fixed to the drum base, an upper balancer installed to the drum body, for reducing vibrations generated when the drum rotates, and a lower balancer fixed to one of the hub and the drum base, for reducing vibrations generated when the drum rotates. The top-loading type washing machine can effectively remove eccentricity or vibrations generated during the rotation of the drum, since the lower balancer is installed at the lower side of the drum.