Washer Tub Heater Layout for Compact Space and Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional top-loading laundry treatment apparatuses face challenges such as tub vibration, limited space for heaters, difficulty in injection molding of tub support and heater receiving portions, overheating, and damage to heaters due to drum rotation, especially in compact designs.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a tub with a receiving portion protruding from the bottom surface to accommodate a heater, three or more support members to stabilize the tub, and an ejection unit using centrifugal force to remove impurities from the door, allowing for efficient heater installation and vibration control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the apparatus is designed with minimum volume, then the size is reduced, but the space for installing a heater on the bottom surface of the tub becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving portion protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the tub body in the vertical dimension, creating additional space for the heater without increasing the horizontal footprint of the apparatus. This allows the heater to be installed in a compact apparatus while maintaining sufficient installation space.
2Device complexity
If the tub support unit is simplified, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to prevent tub vibration in the height direction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tub support unit is divided into multiple connectors (first connector, second connector, third connector) that are distributed around the tub perimeter. Each connector provides localized support and vibration prevention, while the overall structure remains relatively simple and easy to manufacture.
3Device complexity
If the tub support unit and heater receiving portion are integrated, then the number of parts is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to injection molding constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The tub support unit is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support for the tub, prevents vibration through multiple connectors, and incorporates the receiving portion for the heater. This multi-functionality allows integration without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity, as all features can be formed in a single injection molding process.
4Device complexity
If water is not supplied to the heater, then the system complexity is reduced, but the heater overheats
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is positioned within the tub structure where it automatically receives water from the tub's water supply system. The heater serves itself by being integrated into the water-containing environment, eliminating the need for separate water supply lines while preventing overheating through continuous water availability.
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 enables effective heater installation, prevents overheating and damage, and ensures efficient impurity removal, while maintaining a compact volume and allowing for simultaneous injection molding of support and heater components.
Implementation Method 1
an ejection unit configured to eject water supplied through the guide toward the door
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a laundry treatment apparatus including a housing (3), a tub (4) provided inside the housing (3) for providing a space for storage of water, a drum (5) rotatably provided inside the tub (4) for receiving laundry therein, a heater (411) for heating the water stored in the tub (4), a tub through-portion (415) formed in the tub (4) so that the heater (411) is inserted into a space located between a bottom surface of the drum (5) and a bottom surface of the tub (4), three or more first support members (61) provided at the housing (3), second support members (63) protruding from a circumferential surface of the tub (4), the second support members (63) being provided in the same number as the first support members (61), and a plurality of connectors (65) for connecting the first support members (61) and the second support members (63) to each other, and at least one of the second support members (63) protrudes from the circumferential surface of the tub (4) in a direction parallel to a direction in which the heater (411) is inserted into the tub through-portion (415).