Washer Drum Connector With Water Passages for Clean Power Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in preventing particles from remaining in the connector and cleaning it, which affects the transfer of rotation power and weight minimization.
Innovation Solution
A connector design with a rotary shaft, first and second body hubs, and radially extending arms, along with a connecting portion that forms paths to allow water passage and maintain spacing, ensuring stable rotation power transfer and weight minimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the connector is fixed to the rear surface of the drum, then the rotation power can be transferred from the motor to the drum, but particles remain in the connector and it becomes difficult to check and clean
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into multiple segments including a first body, second body, and connecting portion with water passages. This segmentation allows water to flow through the connector to wash away particles, solving the cleanability problem while maintaining the rotation power transfer function through the motor shaft connection
2Ease of manufacture
If the connector structure is simplified to improve ease of manufacture, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stability of rotation power transfer may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The connector merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure: power transfer through the motor shaft connection, water flow passage through integrated water holes, and structural support through the first and second bodies. This merging maintains reliability while simplifying manufacturing compared to separate components
3Weight of moving object
If the connector design is optimized to minimize weight, then the overall apparatus weight is reduced, but the structural strength for stable rotation power transfer may be weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The connector uses a thin-walled cylindrical structure for the first and second bodies that provides sufficient structural strength for power transfer while minimizing material usage and weight. The design relies on the material properties and geometric configuration rather than thick walls to achieve the required strength-to-weight ratio
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(a)
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus comprises a tub providing a space in which water is stored; a drum rotatably provided inside the tub in a cylindrical shape, providing a space in which laundry is stored, and having a first surface provided with a drum inlet allowing laundry to be loaded or taken out therethrough, a second surface provided to face the first surface, and a circumferential surface connecting the first surface with the second surface; a first body having a first body hub fixed to the second surface and located in the center of rotation of the drum, and a first body arm extended from the first body hub to a rim of the second surface; a second body having a second body hub located in the tub, to which a rotary shaft of the drum is fixed, and a second body arm extended from the second body hub along the same direction as the direction where the first body arm is extended from the first body hub; and a connecting portion provided to connect the first body with the second body so as to maintain the state that the first body is spaced apart from the second body, forming a path between the first body and the second body to allow water to pass therethrough.