Laundry washing machine equipped with a bearing assembly for the washing drum
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry washing machine bearing assemblies are costly to manufacture and prone to mechanical stress, affecting the reliability and maintenance costs due to their design requirements for varying load capacities and rotation speeds.
Innovation Solution
A bearing assembly with a first element fixedly attached to the tub and a second element removably connected, using metallic or polymeric materials with fastening devices and rolling devices like bearings to support the shaft, allowing for easier assembly and replacement, thus reducing manufacturing and maintenance costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bearing assemblies use bulky and stronger components for higher capacity and rotation speed, then reliability and mechanical stress resistance are improved, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly is divided into a first element (support structure) and a second element (bearing component), which can be separately manufactured and then assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability through specialized design of each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The first element is designed with a universal structure that can support different types of bearings and accommodate varying load capacities and rotation speeds. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for completely different bearing assemblies for different machine specifications, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability across various applications.
2Strength
If bearing assemblies are designed for higher load capacity and rotation speed, then mechanical stress resistance is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the bearing assembly into separately manufacturable first and second elements, each component can be produced using standard manufacturing processes at optimal scales. This reduces tooling costs and allows for more efficient production, lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining the strength required for high load capacity and rotation speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows for parameter changes in the second element (such as bearing type, size, and material) to match specific mechanical stress requirements without changing the fundamental structure of the first element. This modular approach to parameter adjustment reduces manufacturing costs by avoiding complete redesigns for different performance levels.
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 reduces manufacturing and maintenance costs while enhancing the reliability of the bearing assembly by distributing mechanical stresses effectively and facilitating component replacement, applicable to both high-capacity and high-speed washing machines.
Implementation Method 1
a bearing assembly supporting the shaft at a wall of the tub, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a first element fixedly provided to the wall and a second element apt to support the shaft with respect to the tub and to allow rotation of the shaft
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a laundry washing machine (1) comprising a tub (3) and a drum (4) rotatable inside the tub (3) by means of a shaft (50) which is supported by said tub (3) at a wall (36) thereof by means of a bearing assembly (100). The bearing assembly (100) comprises a first element (102) fixedly provided to the wall (36) and a second element (104) removably connected to the first element (102).