Washing Machine Dual Balancing Units for Spin-Cycle Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machines generate significant noise and vibration during the spin-drying cycle due to eccentric rotation of the drum, which is exacerbated by non-uniform laundry distribution, making it difficult to maintain stable operation and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A control method for a washing machine that employs two or more independently movable balancing units, maintaining a phase difference between them to sense and adjust for the weight of laundry, thereby reducing drum eccentricity and noise through controlled movement of the balancing units during rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional balancers are used to reduce vibration and noise, then vibration and noise are reduced, but the balancer structure becomes complex and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine is divided into multiple balancing units (at least two) that operate independently. Each balancing unit has its own counterweight that can move separately, allowing the system to handle different vibration frequencies and directions more effectively without requiring a single complex balancer structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing units are designed to be movable rather than fixed. The counterweights can shift position dynamically in response to detected vibration and noise levels, allowing the system to adapt to changing operating conditions during the spin-drying cycle.
2Productivity
If the drum rotates at high velocity during spin-drying, then drying efficiency is improved, but vibration and noise become serious
Solution Approach 1:
The system includes sensors that continuously monitor vibration and noise levels during drum rotation. This feedback is used to control the movement of counterweights in the balancing units, allowing real-time adjustment to maintain balance even at high rotation velocities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters (position of counterweights, phase difference between balancing units) in response to operating conditions. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system can maintain effective balancing across different rotation speeds from low to high velocity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple balancing units are used to reduce vibration and noise, then vibration and noise are reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple balancing units are combined in a coordinated manner with maintained phase differences. This merging approach allows the units to work together synergistically, reducing vibration and noise more effectively than a single complex balancer while keeping individual unit structures relatively simple.
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 approach effectively reduces noise and vibration by ensuring balanced drum rotation, improving user comfort and operational efficiency by maintaining a stable phase difference between balancing units to counteract laundry weight and distribution issues.
Implementation Method 1
vibration and noise of the washing machine becomes serious in a spin-drying cycle in which the drum is rotated at a high velocity
Implementation Method 2
identically maintaining a phase difference between the two or more balancing units
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a washing machine and a control method thereof. The control method of the washing machine, including two or more balancing units which are independently movable, includes sensing the weight of laundry to be washed while identically maintaining a phase difference between the two or more balancing units and rotating a drum, and reducing eccentricity of the drum while moving at least one of the two or more balancing units simultaneously with rotation of the drum.