Door-hinge assembly in a washing machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door-hinge assemblies for washing machines face challenges in reliably and efficiently conveying fluids and electrical wiring due to the stress and movement caused by the hinged connection, leading to complex, bulky, and expensive solutions.
Innovation Solution
A door-hinge assembly with integrated channels within the hinge bodies that create continuous ducts for hydraulic and electrical connections, protected by elastomeric sealing rings, allowing for compact, robust, and reliable fluid and wiring conduction without external deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulic ducts and electrical wires are extended close to the door hinge to reduce relative movement, then the distance and relative movement between door and housing are reduced, but foldable and bulky ducts and wiring are required to accommodate movement and provide protection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hinge structure with the fluid conduction system by integrating channels directly into the hinge bodies. The first hinge body and second hinge body each contain channels that connect at the pivoting interface, creating a continuous fluid pathway that moves with the hinge. This eliminates the need for separate flexible ducts and reduces structural complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly serves multiple functions: it provides the mechanical pivoting connection between door and housing, and simultaneously acts as the fluid conduction pathway. The hinge bodies are designed with internal channels that extend from the housing side to the door side, allowing the same component to fulfill both structural and hydraulic roles, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If foldable and bulky ducts are used to accommodate relative movement and provide protection, then protection is provided, but the solutions are expensive and not very reliable in the long term
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the fluid channels directly into the hinge bodies, the patent eliminates separate protective ducts. The hinge structure itself provides the protection, and the channels are sealed within the solid hinge material. This integrated approach removes the interfaces between separate components that would be prone to failure, thereby improving long-term reliability while maintaining protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting coupling interface acts as an intermediary that maintains liquid-tight sealing while accommodating the relative motion between door and housing. The sealing elements at this interface protect the internal channels from environmental exposure while allowing the hinge to pivot, providing both protection and reliability without requiring bulky external ducts.
3Reliability
If channels are formed inside hinge bodies to create continuous ducts, then a protected conduction path is obtained, but the hinge structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hinge structure with the wiring protection function by forming channels within the hinge bodies. These channels provide a protected pathway for electrical wires from the housing to the door. While this adds some complexity to the hinge manufacturing, it eliminates the need for separate wire conduits and reduces the number of components, thereby improving reliability through fewer interfaces and connection points.
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 provides a reliable, protected, and space-efficient hydraulic and electrical connection system that is structurally simple and robust, reducing the risk of damage from movement and environmental exposure.
Implementation Method 1
the rotary coupling interfaces isolate the interior of the first and second channels from the outside environment, e.g. by means of an elastomeric sealing ring between a respective first and second channel
Data Source
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AI summary
A door-hinge assembly (1) in a washing machine (2) having a housing (3) which forms a laundry loading opening (4), wherein the door-hinge assembly (1) comprises: a door (5) configured to close the laundry loading opening (4), a hinge (6) comprising one or more first hinge bodies (7) which are fixedly connected to the housing (3) and one or more second hinge bodies (8) connected to the door (5), wherein said one or more first hinge bodies (7) are pivotally connected to said one or more second hinge bodies (8) about a single hinge axis (9), so as to obtain a pivoting connection, about the hinge axis (9), between said door (5) and said housing (3); characterized in that it comprises one or more first channels (10) formed inside said one or more first hinge bodies (7), and one or more second channels (11) formed inside said one or more second hinge bodies (8) and connected to said one or more first channels (7) in one or more corresponding pivoting coupling interfaces (12) about said hinge axis (9), so as to obtain one or more continuous ducts (13) extending from the housing (3) through the hinge (6) up to the door (5).