Washer Drum Counterbalancing for High-Spin Load Imbalance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Laundry treating appliances experience undesirable vibrations and movements due to load imbalances during the spin phase, as laundry items do not distribute evenly in the drum, leading to centrifugal forces that can cause items to become 'plastered' against the drum wall, preventing effective liquid extraction.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that detect imbalances and form a counterbalance using articles within the laundry load, by controlling the rotational speed and position of the drum to satellize laundry items and create a counterbalancing force, allowing for even distribution and reduced vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the drum is rotated at high spin speeds for liquid extraction, then liquid removal efficiency is improved, but load imbalance causes undesirable vibrations and movements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid removal efficiencyVSAvoidvibrations and movements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects load imbalance during the spin cycle and automatically redistributes the laundry load by pausing the drum, rotating it to a specific orientation, and allowing gravity to relocate items. This creates a counterbalancing effect that eliminates the harmful vibrations while maintaining the ability to operate at high spin speeds for effective liquid extraction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Productivity

If laundry items are distributed unevenly in the drum, then centrifugal force holds items against the drum wall for extraction, but this creates load imbalance and vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextraction efficiencyVSAvoidload distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the load distribution during the spin cycle by detecting imbalance conditions and automatically pausing the drum to allow gravity to redistribute items. This dynamic intervention maintains stable load composition while preserving the centrifugal extraction effect during active spinning phases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the drum is paused to redistribute load and form counterbalance, then vibrations are reduced, but cycle time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovevibrationsVSAvoidcycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial redistribution actions only when imbalance is detected, rather than continuously redistributing the load. The drum is paused briefly just long enough to achieve counterbalance, avoiding excessive cycle time extension while still effectively reducing vibrations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

This approach enables effective counterbalancing of imbalances, allowing for higher spin speeds during extraction, improving water removal efficiency and reducing vibrations, thus enhancing the operational stability and efficiency of laundry treating appliances.

Implementation Method 1

the drum is rotated at speeds high enough to impart a centrifugal force on the load great enough to hold (a/k/a 'plaster' or 'satellize') the load to the peripheral wall of the drum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force