Washing Machine Hinge Bracket Structure for Front Panel Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Front loading washing machines experience flimsy hinge support and reduced front panel stiffness due to limited mounting methods, leading to a perceived lack of quality and inefficiency in steel bracing solutions.
Innovation Solution
A bracket system is introduced that mounts the hinge between the front panel and a flange, providing robust support and increasing panel stiffness by extending between these components, allowing for improved door operation and reduced panel deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hinge is mounted to the front panel using only fasteners that extend through the front panel into the bracket, then the mounting structure is simple, but the hinge receives limited support during opening and closing of the door
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket extends in a new dimension by reaching from the front panel through the drum interior to engage the flange on the rearward side of the drum. This three-dimensional configuration provides multiple engagement points (front panel, drum interior, and flange) that distribute mounting stresses and significantly enhance hinge support during door operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is positioned within the drum interior space, nesting the mounting structure inside the existing drum cavity. This allows the bracket to engage the flange from the rearward side without adding external components, providing enhanced support while maintaining a compact overall structure.
2Strength
If steel bracing is added to increase the stiffness of the appliance's front panel, then the panel stiffness is improved, but the overall cost of producing the appliance increases and valuable space within the cabinet is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mounting support for the hinge, acts as structural bracing to increase front panel stiffness, and utilizes the existing drum interior space. By combining these functions into a single component, the invention eliminates the need for separate steel bracing elements, reducing both cost and space consumption while maintaining enhanced panel stiffness.
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine appliance is provided with a door rotatably mounted to a cabinet of the appliance with a hinge. The hinge is supported by a bracket that extends between a front panel of the appliance and a flange. By extending between the front panel and the flange, the bracket can provide robust support for the hinge.