Washing machine and balancing ring for washing machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing balancing rings in washing machines generate collision noise during low-speed rotation due to uncontrolled movement of mass bodies, which is not effectively mitigated by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A balancing ring with a shell and annular inner cavity containing mass bodies, where a magnet on the mass body and an attraction member on the shell provide magnetic attraction at low speeds, and centrifugal force allows movement at higher speeds to achieve balance, with additional magnets and a compression spring to minimize collisions and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the balancing ring rotates at low speed, then the magnetic attraction force can fix the mass body to reduce collision noise, but the mass body cannot move to achieve balancing effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the mass body movable within the annular inner cavity, allowing it to transition between fixed and mobile states. At low speeds, magnetic attraction fixes the mass body to reduce noise; at high speeds, centrifugal force overcomes magnetic attraction, enabling the mass body to move and achieve balancing effect. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction between noise reduction and balancing effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the magnetic attraction force is strong enough to fix the mass body at low speeds, then collision noise is reduced, but the mass body cannot overcome the magnetic attraction to move for balancing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by designing the magnetic attraction force to be overcome by centrifugal force at different rotational speeds. The magnetic attraction force is calibrated to be sufficient at low speeds for noise reduction but weak enough to be overcome at high speeds, allowing the mass body to move for balancing. This speed-dependent parameter change resolves the contradiction between fixing the mass body and enabling its movement.
3Reliability
If the mass body is allowed to move freely within the annular inner cavity, then balancing effect is achieved at high speeds, but collision noise is generated at low speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using magnetic attraction to pre-fix the mass body at low speeds before the balancing operation begins. This preliminary fixation prevents collision noise during low-speed rotation and washing phases. When high-speed rotation begins, centrifugal force automatically overcomes the magnetic attraction, allowing the mass body to move to its balancing position. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction between preventing noise and enabling movement.
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 effectively reduces noise by ensuring mass body stability at low speeds and balanced movement at higher speeds, preventing collisions and enhancing the balancing mechanism's efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic performance of the first magnet is specified in a manner in which when the balancing ring rotates relative to a central axis thereof at a speed lower than a predetermined rotating speed, a magnetic attraction force generated by the first magnet is sufficient for fixing the mass body
Implementation Method 2
when the balancing ring rotates relative to a central axis thereof at a speed higher than or equal to the predetermined rotating speed, a centrifugal force overcomes the magnetic attraction forces, so that the mass body can move within the annular inner cavity
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A balancing ring for a washing machine (1) comprises a shell (14) including an annular inner cavity (12), the annular inner cavity (12) including at least two mass bodies (20) capable of moving along the annular inner cavity (12), where a centripetal side of the mass body (20) is provided with a first magnet (21), and a centripetal side of the shell (14) is provided with an attraction member (16) that can be magnetically attracted. When the balancing ring is stationary or rotates around a central axis at a speed lower than a predetermined rotating speed, the mass body (20) is fixed by magnetic attraction forces of the first magnet (21) and the attraction member (16), and the mass body (20) rotates together with the shell (14) of the balancing ring. According to another aspect, when the balancing ring rotates around the central axis at a speed higher than or equal to the predetermined rotating speed, a centrifugal force overcomes the magnetic attraction force, so that the mass body (20) can move within the annular inner cavity (12) and move to an appropriate position to achieve balance. The present invention also discloses a washing machine including the balancing ring.