Washing Drum Electromagnetic Balancing for Low-Noise Spin Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines experience mechanical vibrations and noise due to imbalanced laundry distribution in the drum, leading to mechanical stress and unpleasant noise, which current imbalance compensation devices do not adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A household appliance with a laundry drum equipped with an imbalance compensation device featuring ferromagnetic or permanent magnetic compensation elements and an electromagnet that generates a magnetic holding force, allowing compensating elements to be held in place until a predetermined speed is reached, at which point centrifugal forces overcome the magnetic force, enabling them to move and balance the drum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If compensating elements are allowed to move freely to balance the drum at high speeds, then vibrations are reduced, but the elements cause noise and instability at low speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic holding system replaces mechanical constraints that would physically restrict the compensating elements. The electromagnet creates a controllable magnetic field that can hold the elements stationary during low-speed operation, eliminating noise and instability issues, while allowing free movement during high-speed operation when the field strength becomes insufficient against centrifugal force.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an electromagnetic holding device is added to control compensating elements, then low-speed noise is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While the electromagnet adds a component, it replaces complex mechanical spring systems, linkages, and physical constraints with a simpler electromagnetic field-based solution. The electromagnet can be integrated into the existing housing structure, and its control is achieved through simple electrical switching based on rotational speed detection, overall reducing mechanical complexity despite adding an electromagnetic component.
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 solution effectively reduces vibrations and noise by allowing compensating elements to automatically release and balance the drum at higher speeds, preventing unwanted movement at lower speeds and reducing resonance-related noise, thus enhancing the operational stability and quietness of the appliance.
Implementation Method 1
The holding device comprises an electromagnet designed to generate a magnetic field that exerts a magnetic holding force between the electromagnet and the magnetic balancing elements
Implementation Method 2
The electromagnet is designed to generate a magnetic field that exerts a magnetic holding force between the electromagnet and the magnetic balancing elements
Implementation Method 3
during supercritical operation of the washing machine, tends to shift to the side opposite the unbalance mass – with respect to the diameter of the washing machine drum – thus creating a counterweight for the unbalance mass and consequently achieving overall equilibrium
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a household appliance (1) for caring for pieces of laundry (31), having at least one washing drum (3) for receiving pieces of laundry (31) and having at least one imbalance compensation device (13 and 14), which is arranged on the washing drum (3), and which has a housing (18, 21), in which a plurality of compensation elements (20, 23, 27, 29, 32 and 33) are movably contained, wherein at least some compensation elements (20, 23, 27 and 29) are ferromagnetic or permanent magnetic and the imbalance compensation device (13 and 14) comprises at least one holding apparatus (26 and 30) rotationally coupled to the washing drum (3), wherein the holding apparatus (26 and 30) comprises an electromagnet (42) which is designed to generate a magnetic field, which effects a magnetic holding force between the electromagnets (42) and the magnetic compensation elements (20, 23, 27 and 29). The invention also relates to a method for operating a household appliance (1).