Washer Drum Exoskeleton Suspension for Larger Tub Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating appliances have limited capacity due to the need to support a rotating drum with a suspension system, which restricts the tub's movement and vibrational damping, thereby limiting the volume of laundry that can be treated.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating appliance with a statically mounted tub and an exoskeleton that supports the drum, allowing the suspension system to extend through the tub and chassis, minimizing space and enabling larger drum capacity without increasing the cabinet size, while using seals to prevent liquid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the tub is dynamically connected to the suspension system to support drum movement and dampen vibration, then the drum can be supported and vibration transmitted, but the tub capacity is limited and the volume of laundry that can be treated is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented between the tub and the exoskeleton. The tub provides liquid containment while the exoskeleton provides structural support for the drum and motor. This separation allows the tub to be optimized for capacity without compromising support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The exoskeleton acts as an intermediary structure between the drum and the tub. It directly supports the drum and motor, eliminating the need for the tub to provide structural support, thus maximizing tub capacity while maintaining support strength.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the tub is dynamically connected to support movement, then the drum can move within the tub, but the space required for suspension limits the drum size and laundry volume
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system is extracted from the tub structure and repositioned to connect the exoskeleton directly to the chassis. This removes the space-consuming suspension-tub connection and allows the tub to be fully dedicated to maximizing drum capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension system is reconfigured to extend through openings in the tub rather than being contained within it. This dimensional reorganization allows the suspension to function without occupying valuable interior space that would otherwise be available for drum capacity.
3Strength
If the tub wall thickness is increased to provide structural support, then the tub can support the drum, but the internal space for laundry treatment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The structural support function is extracted from the tub walls and assigned to the exoskeleton. This allows the tub walls to be minimized to only the thickness needed for liquid containment, maximizing internal space while maintaining structural support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tub is designed with different wall thickness characteristics in different locations - thinner walls where structural support is not needed and thicker walls or reinforcement where liquid containment is critical. The exoskeleton provides localized structural support where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating appliance comprising a chassis defining an interior with at fixed tub disposed in the interior, the tub defining a liquid chamber. An exoskeleton is disposed within the liquid chamber and houses a drum defining a treating chamber for treating laundry. A suspension comprising one or more suspension component mounts the exoskeleton to that chassis through an opening in the tub. The interior is sealed from the liquid chamber by a plurality of seals at the openings and suspension components extending through the openings, preventing liquid from spilling into the interior from the liquid chamber.