Washer Tub Support and Heater Layout for Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional top-loading laundry treatment apparatuses face issues with tub vibration, limited space for heaters, overheating, and damage due to drum rotation, as well as difficulties in injection molding and maintaining cleanliness by allowing impurities to remain on the door.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a tub with a receiving portion for heater installation, three or more first support members, and second support members that protrude from the tub's circumferential surface, along with connectors forming a right angle with the housing, allowing for efficient heater placement, vibration control, and impurity removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the tub is fixed inside the cabinet using a conventional tub support unit, then the tub can be supported, but the tub cannot be effectively prevented from vibrating in the height direction
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is divided into multiple independent support members (three or more) distributed around the tub's circumferential surface. Each support member independently contacts the tub at different locations, providing distributed support that reduces vibration in the height direction while maintaining stability.
2Volume of stationary object
If the laundry treatment apparatus is designed with minimum volume, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the space for heater installation becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is installed in the narrow space between the drum and the tub bottom surface by creating a tub through-portion that allows the heater to be inserted into this interstitial space. This nesting approach utilizes otherwise wasted space, enabling heater installation without increasing the overall apparatus volume.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the heater is installed on the bottom surface of the tub in a minimum volume apparatus, then heating function is provided, but the heater may be damaged due to drum rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is extracted from the traditional bottom surface mounting location and repositioned to the interstitial space between the drum and tub bottom. The tub through-portion allows the heater to be inserted into this protected space, shielding it from direct contact with the rotating drum while maintaining its heating function.
4Volume of stationary object
If the tub support unit is designed to minimize space, then the apparatus volume is reduced, but injection molding of the support unit and heater receiving space becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The tub support unit and the heater receiving space (tub through-portion) are merged into a single integrated tub structure. This unified design allows both the support function and heater accommodation to be achieved through one injection molding process, eliminating the need for separate molding operations while maintaining minimum volume.
5Adaptability or versatility
If water is not supplied to the heater, then the heater can be installed, but the heater overheats
Solution Approach 1:
Water acts as an intermediary cooling medium that is supplied to the heater through the tub through-portion. The water flows around the heater in the interstitial space, absorbing excess heat and preventing overheating, while the same water is subsequently used for washing laundry, converting the cooling function into a useful washing resource.
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 the tub is securely supported while allowing for easy impurity removal from the door, enhancing the overall performance and efficiency of the laundry treatment apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a heater that is configured to heat water in the tub
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treatment apparatus includes a housing. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a tub. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a drum. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a heater. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a tub through-portion formed in the tub so that the heater is inserted into a space located between a bottom surface of the drum and a bottom surface of the tub. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes three or more first support members. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes second support members that protrude from a circumferential surface of the tub, a number of the second support members being equal to a number of the three or more first support members. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a plurality of connectors that are each configured to connect a first support member and a second support member.