Washer Lid Hinge Cam Structure for Smooth Damped Closing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treatment machines face challenges with lid durability and ease of opening due to the weight and design of the lid, which often results in a strong force requirement for opening and potential shaking during closure, as existing hinge devices fail to uniformly deliver a braking force, leading to instability.
Innovation Solution
A hinge part is introduced, comprising a hinge housing filled with viscous fluid, an elastic member, and a pair of cams with height-different contact surfaces, allowing the elastic member to be deformed and generating a torque that decelerates the lid's closing speed, enabling easier opening with reduced force and stabilizing the lid's operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the lid is made of metallic material or includes glass to form a lid window, then the lid structure is improved, but the weight of the lid increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge device incorporates a spring mechanism that acts as a counterweight to the lid's weight. The spring stores potential energy when the lid is closed and releases it during opening, effectively counterbalancing the weight of the heavy metallic lid with glass window, reducing the effort needed to open it
2Speed
If a typical hinge device with elastic member is used to decelerate the lid, then the lid pivoting speed is reduced, but the braking force is not uniformly delivered causing shaking
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge device is segmented into multiple functional components: a spring for elastic energy storage, a damper for viscous damping, and a cam mechanism for force transmission. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, with the damper providing uniform braking force across the lid's movement to prevent shaking
3Reliability
If the lid is designed to be closed strongly, then the sealing is improved, but the impact force on the main body increases affecting durability
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge device incorporates a damper that provides viscous damping force before the lid completes its closing motion. This beforehand cushioning gradually reduces the lid's kinetic energy, ensuring the lid closes securely for sealing while preventing excessive impact force on the main body that would compromise durability
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
The solution provides a stable and durable lid operation by evenly distributing the braking force, reducing the force needed to open the lid and preventing shaking, while effectively managing the increased weight and enhancing the stiffness of the hinge part.
Implementation Method 1
a hinge part pivotably supporting the lid with respect to the main body, the hinge part including: a hinge housing filled with a fluid having a certain viscosity
Implementation Method 2
an elastic member disposed inside the hinge housing... the elastic member to be deformed and generating a torque that decelerates the lid's closing speed
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a laundry treatment machine which may include at least one hinge that supports a lid on a main body. The hinge may include a hinge housing, an elastic member disposed inside the hinge housing, and a pair of cams disposed in the housing to move in linkage with the lid and the elastic member. The cams may include contact surfaces that are inclined relative to each other in an axial direction of the cams, and when a contact surface of one of the cams slides along a contact surface of the other cam, a distance between the pair of cams may be changed to deform the elastic member. The contact surface of at least one of the cams may be divided into at least three sections by a prescribed angular range along the circumferential direction, each of the three sections having a separate contact surface.