Drum Washer Duct Assembly for Compact Drying and Vibration Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The miniaturization of drum washing machines with drying functions is hindered by the need for separate spaces for the drying and condensing ducts, which increases the overall size and allows vibration to be transmitted to the cabinet, requiring additional durability measures.

Innovation Solution

An improved assembly structure that couples the condensing duct to the tub and the drying duct to the cabinet, using a flexible buffer coupling member to mediate vibrations and reduce the overall size by eliminating the need for a separate space for the ducts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the condensing duct and drying duct are assembled to the cabinet with separate spaces, then vibration delivery is minimized, but the overall size of the washing machine increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration isolationVSAvoidoverall size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the condensing duct and drying duct into a closely integrated assembly where the condensing duct is positioned at the rear of the tub and the drying duct is positioned at the upper portion of the condensing duct. This merging eliminates the need for separate spaces while maintaining vibration isolation through the integrated structure and buffer coupling member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drying duct is positioned at the upper portion of the condensing duct, creating a nested arrangement where one duct is effectively placed within or adjacent to the other. This nesting approach allows both ducts to occupy overlapping or adjacent spaces, reducing the overall volume required while maintaining functional separation and vibration isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If the condensing duct and drying duct are assembled to the tub, then assembly space is easy to secure, but vibration is directly delivered to the cabinet requiring additional durability measures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly spaceVSAvoidvibration transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The buffer coupling member acts as an intermediary element between the condensing duct and drying duct. This mediator absorbs and attenuates vibrations generated by the tub, preventing direct transmission to the cabinet while maintaining the ease of assembly achieved by coupling to the tub.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The buffer coupling member is formed of flexible material, which allows it to deform and absorb vibration energy. This flexibility provides effective vibration isolation while maintaining the simple assembly structure that couples to the tub.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If separate spaces are provided for drying duct and condensing duct, then vibration delivery is minimized, but miniaturization of the washing machine becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration isolationVSAvoidminiaturization capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes vertical positioning where the drying duct is positioned at the upper portion of the condensing duct. This dimensional arrangement allows both ducts to coexist in a compact footprint by utilizing the vertical dimension, enabling miniaturization while maintaining vibration isolation through the buffer coupling member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 configuration allows for increased capacity without enlarging the machine, effectively minimizing vibration transmission and enhancing durability by using a flexible buffer coupling member to absorb vibrations between the condensing and drying ducts.

Implementation Method 1

a buffer coupling member configured to mediate the condensing duct and the drying duct

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 2

The buffer coupling member may be formed of flexible material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

The condensing duct may be configured to condense moisture in air that is introduced from an inside of the drum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 4

The drying duct may be configured to heat air being introduced from the condensing duct to supply the heated air to an inside of the drum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS9163345B2Drum washing machine

Publication Date: 2015.10.20 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A drum washing machine including a cabinet, a tub disposed at an inside of the cabinet, a drum rotatively disposed at an inside of the tub, a condensing duct configured to condense moisture in air that is introduced from an inside of the drum, and a drying duct configured to heat air being introduced from the condensing duct to supply the heated air to an inside of the drum, wherein the condensing duct is coupled to a rear of the tub, while the drying duct is positioned at an upper portion of the condensing duct and is coupled to the cabinet, and in between the condensing duct and the drying duct, a buffer coupling member configured to mediate the condensing duct and the drying duct is provided.