Washing machine driving system and a washing machine with the same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing washing machine driving systems face challenges in achieving a high reduction ratio while maintaining a compact size, efficient assembly, and maximizing drum volume, particularly due to the arrangement of planetary gear assemblies and clutch assemblies on the drum shaft, which complicates the fastening of the drum shaft and sun gear.

Innovation Solution

The washing machine driving system separates the drum shaft from the motor and positions the planetary gear assembly in between, constraining the axial degree of freedom of the drum shaft, allowing for a compact design that includes a miniaturized sun gear and clutch assembly, while using a small motor to achieve a high reduction ratio.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the planetary gear assembly and clutch assembly are arranged in series on the drum shaft axis, then the drum volume is reduced, but the reduction ratio is improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereduction ratioVSAvoiddrum volume
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from arranging components in series along the axial direction to arranging the planetary gear assembly and clutch assembly in parallel at different radial positions on the drum shaft. This dimensional change allows both components to occupy different spatial zones without interfering with each other's function, thereby maintaining drum volume while achieving the required reduction ratio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the drum shaft into multiple functional segments: a first drum shaft portion for the planetary gear assembly and a second drum shaft portion for the clutch assembly. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's position and function, enabling high reduction ratio without compromising drum volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the sun gear is provided separately from the drum shaft, then assembly is simplified, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the sun gear with the first drum shaft portion to form an integrated sun gear drum shaft assembly. This combination simplifies the overall structure by reducing the number of separate components and assembly steps, while still maintaining the advantage of separate provision during the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Volume of moving object

If the drum shaft and motor are integrated, then the structure is compact, but the axial degree of freedom is constrained and assembly becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem compactnessVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the drum shaft into multiple portions with distinct functions: the first drum shaft portion connects to the planetary gear assembly while the second drum shaft portion connects to the clutch assembly. This segmentation provides the necessary axial degree of freedom for assembly while maintaining overall system compactness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a carrier as an intermediary component between the motor and the drum shaft components. The carrier facilitates the transmission of rotational force while allowing independent positioning and assembly of the planetary gear assembly and clutch assembly, thereby simplifying the assembly process while maintaining compact structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12612723B2Washing machine driving system and a washing machine with the same
Publication Date: 2026.04.28 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • US12612723B2 patent drawing
  • US12612723B2 patent drawing
  • US12612723B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A planetary gear assembly includes a gear housing, a carrier including a carrier flange positioned inside the gear housing, and a carrier shaft extending in an axial direction from the carrier flange toward a front side of the gear housing and coupled to a drum shaft, a sun gear including a front end that is coupled to the carrier while spaced apart from a back end of the drum shaft, and a back end that protrudes toward a back side of the gear housing and is coupled to a rotor frame of a motor, a key bolt including a bolt head coupled to the front end of the sun gear and a bolt shaft extending backward along the axial direction and penetrating the sun gear, pinion gears coupled to the carrier flange and tooth-coupled to the sun gear, and a ring gear tooth-coupled to the pinion gears.