Washing Machine Drum Hatch with Nested Damper for Quiet Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Top-loading washing machine drums face issues with noisy and cumbersome snap opening of the access hatch, which poses a risk of injury and is aesthetically unpleasing, due to the large size of friction dampers required to slow down the hatch movement, making installation difficult and unsightly.
Innovation Solution
The drum features a plastic hinge body with a damping seat and a plastic leaf body with a damper cavity, allowing for easy and cost-effective injection molding of the damper components, concealing the dampers and torsion springs from view, and protecting users and clothes from their edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If friction dampers are used to slow down the opening movement of the hatch leaves, then the violent snap opening is prevented, but the dampers become large in size making fixation difficult and appearance unpleasant
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is nested within the hinge body structure. The hinge body contains a hollow cavity that accommodates the damper piston and damping mechanism, allowing the damper to be integrated into the hinge assembly rather than being a separate external component. This nesting approach reduces the overall space required while maintaining the damping function.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge and damper are merged into a single integrated assembly. The hinge body serves dual purposes: providing the rotational connection for the hatch leaf and housing the damper mechanism. The elastic element is integrated within the hinge body, combining the pivoting function with the damping function in one compact unit.
2Force
If large friction dampers are used to provide sufficient braking force, then the opening movement is adequately controlled, but the fixation and receiving of the damper becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge and damper are merged into a single integrated assembly. The hinge body serves dual purposes: providing the rotational connection for the hatch leaf and housing the damper piston and damping mechanism. This integration eliminates separate fixation steps and simplifies the overall assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper components are nested within the hollow cavity of the hinge body. The piston fits within the cavity, and the elastic element is stored within the same space. This nested arrangement allows all components to be contained within a compact volume and simplifies assembly by reducing the number of separate fixation operations required.
3Force
If dampers are made large to provide sufficient resistance, then the braking effect is adequate, but the appearance becomes unpleasant to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is nested within the hollow cavity of the hinge body, which is itself integrated into the hatch leaf structure. This nested arrangement conceals the damper components within the existing structural elements, making them invisible or minimally visible from the exterior. The hinge body acts as a housing that camouflages the mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The functional damper components are merged with the structural hinge body, creating a unified assembly where the damping mechanism is not a separate visible add-on but an integral part of the hinge structure. This merging allows the damping function to be achieved without compromising the clean lines and aesthetic appearance of the hatch assembly.
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
This solution facilitates easy assembly and concealment of the damper, reducing the risk of injury and improving aesthetics while ensuring effective damping of the hatch movement without compromising the appearance or functionality.
Implementation Method 1
biased by elastic means (35) into the open position
Implementation Method 2
friction means or dampers associated with the hinges of the leaves
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A drum (1) for a washing machine comprises an access hatch (2) with at least one leaf (3, 4) connected to the drum (1) in a rotary manner and pushed by elastic means (35) into an open position, a damper (47) having a stationary portion (46) and a mobile portion (48), a leaf body (8) made of plastic material connected to a metal frame (5) of the leaf (3, 4), a plastic hinge body (36) connected to the drum (1) made of metal, wherein the plastic hinge body (36) forms a damping seat (45) that receives the stationary portion (46) of the damper (47) and the plastic leaf body (8) forms a damper cavity (49) that receives a thrusting tab (64) of the mobile portion (48) of the damper (46).