Washing machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines, particularly industrial ones, face issues with vibration damping due to load imbalance, leading to mechanical stress, noise, and frequent replacement of shock absorbers, which are costly and require continuous maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A suspension system using metal-cable shock absorbers with coils and mounting brackets, providing effective vibration damping across multiple planes and directions, reducing movement at low speeds and maintaining stability at high speeds without the need for continuous maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If passive shock-absorbing systems (springs and shock absorbers) are used to damp vibrations, then vibration damping is effective in certain intensity ranges, but the system is not effective during transients or major imbalance conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies active dynamics by using actuators that can dynamically adjust their response based on real-time vibration conditions. The system transitions from static passive damping to dynamic active control, allowing the suspension system to adapt its characteristics to different operating conditions including transients and major imbalances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control through sensors that detect the degree of imbalance and provide information to the control unit. This feedback loop enables the system to monitor vibration conditions continuously and adjust actuator responses accordingly, ensuring effective damping across all vibration intensity ranges.
2Reliability
If oil-hydraulic shock absorbers are used in the suspension system, then vibration damping is provided, but the components are subject to wear and require frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical oil-hydraulic shock absorber system with an active suspension system using actuators controlled by electronic control units. This substitution eliminates the wear-prone mechanical components while maintaining vibration damping functionality through controlled actuation, significantly extending system service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters of the shock-absorbing system by transitioning from passive mechanical energy dissipation to active controlled force application. This parameter change from mechanical to electronically-controlled operation eliminates wear mechanisms inherent in oil-hydraulic systems.
3Reliability
If active systems with actuators and electronic control units are used, then effective vibration damping is achieved across all conditions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves multi-functionality by using the same actuator and control unit infrastructure for multiple purposes: vibration damping, imbalance compensation, and adaptive suspension control. This universal approach reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate dedicated systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the suspension system with the vibration damping and imbalance compensation functions into a single integrated active system. By combining these functions rather than using separate systems, the patent reduces overall complexity while maintaining comprehensive vibration control capabilities.
4Reliability
If the washing unit is suspended by springs and supported by shock absorbers, then vibration damping is provided, but the structure is complex and prone to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the springs from the traditional suspension system, retaining only the essential shock-absorbing function through active actuators. This extraction simplifies the overall structure by removing unnecessary components while maintaining or improving vibration damping performance.
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 significantly reduces mechanical wear, noise, and maintenance costs by providing effective vibration damping across a wide range of frequencies, increasing the permissible load imbalance and reducing the need for frequent part replacement, while also offering design simplicity and cost savings.
Implementation Method 1
The suspension system using metal-cable shock absorbers with coils and mounting brackets, providing effective vibration damping across multiple planes and directions
Implementation Method 2
metal-cable shock absorbers with coils
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A washing machine comprises a frame (14), and a washing unit (16) and a drive unit (20) for said washing unit (16) which are connected to the frame by means of a suspension system (18). The machine is characterized in that the suspension system (18) comprises metalcable shock absorbers.