Washer Drum Water Balancing for Unbalanced Spin Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Washer/dryers experience unbalanced load distribution during spinning, leading to vibrations, noise, and machine wear due to uneven laundry distribution, which existing solutions like adding weights or fluid balancing mechanisms do not adequately address.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of troughs between the drum rear wall and shaft bearing, rotating with the drum, to continuously deliver water to specific chambers using centrifugal force, ensuring balanced load distribution without the need for valve timing calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is delivered to chambers through valve timing control, then unbalanced load can be balanced, but the device complexity increases due to valve timing calculations and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating trough structure automatically delivers water to chambers based on its rotational position and centrifugal force, eliminating the need for external valve timing control. The system uses its own rotation to regulate water delivery timing and amount, achieving self-service load balancing without complex control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical valve timing control system with a centrifugal force-based water delivery system. The rotating trough uses centrifugal force generated by drum rotation to control water flow to chambers, substituting complex mechanical valve timing with a simpler centrifugal force mechanism
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fixed weights are added to increase inertia, then vibration from unbalanced load is reduced, but the machine becomes difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dynamic water balancing system where water is delivered to rotating chambers based on detected unbalanced load conditions. The balancing mass is variable and dynamically adjustable through water delivery, replacing fixed weights with a dynamic balancing mechanism that reduces vibration without compromising transportation ease
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles by using water as the balancing medium delivered through fluid channels to rotating chambers. This hydraulic balancing system replaces solid fixed weights with a fluid-based dynamic balancing mechanism that provides vibration reduction while maintaining machine portability
3Reliability
If water is continuously delivered to chambers using centrifugal force, then load balancing is maintained during rotation, but the device complexity increases due to trough and bearing configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the water delivery function with the existing drum rotation mechanism. The rotating trough is integrated with the drum structure, and water delivery occurs through the rotation itself rather than through separate delivery mechanisms. This merging reduces overall device complexity while maintaining continuous load balancing
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating trough structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both a structural component of the drum assembly and a water delivery mechanism. The same rotational motion that drives the drum also drives the water delivery to chambers, providing multi-functionality that reduces the need for separate balancing mechanisms
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
Effectively counterbalances unbalanced loads by mechanically delivering water to the required region, minimizing vibrations and noise, and enhancing spinning performance by maintaining even load distribution throughout the washing and spinning cycles.
Implementation Method 1
maintaining the water received from the main supply and passing through the feeder line to be continuously delivered to the distribution line and the chambers by the centrifugal force effect generated due to rotation of the drum
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a washer/dryer (1) that comprises one or more chambers (12) disposed on the drum (2) wherein a sufficient amount of water for counterbalancing the unbalanced load is delivered and stored when there is an unbalanced load.