Washing Machine Friction Damper With Single Lining Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of existing friction dampers, particularly those used in washing machines, is complex and costly due to their design.
Innovation Solution
A friction damper design featuring a continuous window at the inside end of the ram with a single friction lining that rubs against the inner walls of the housing, allowing for adjustable damping characteristics and simplified production by using a single friction lining for two surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional friction damper design with multiple friction linings and complex housing structure is used, then the damping performance can be achieved, but the production complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a first housing part and a second housing part that can be separately produced and then assembled together. This segmentation allows each part to be manufactured more easily using standard injection molding processes, avoiding the need for complex single-piece housing production while maintaining the required structural integrity and damping performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction lining is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides friction damping, contacts both the first and second housing parts, and is integrated with the ram structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining effective damping.
2Reliability
If friction linings are placed on both sides of the ram as in traditional designs, then damping effectiveness is improved, but the number of components and production complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using separate friction linings on both sides of the ram, the invention merges the friction function into a single integrated friction lining that contacts both housing parts. This unified friction lining is attached to the ram and extends to contact both the first and second housing parts, achieving bilateral damping with a single component rather than multiple separate linings.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single friction lining is used to contact two housing parts, then production is simplified and cost is reduced, but the damping characteristics must be precisely controlled through design
Solution Approach 1:
The friction lining is designed with specific geometric parameters (length, width, thickness) that allow it to dynamically adapt to the housing parts during operation. The lining's dimensions and material properties are optimized to provide consistent friction characteristics despite variations in assembly tolerances, enabling precise damping control through design rather than requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping characteristics are controlled by optimizing key parameters of the friction lining including its length along the ram, width contacting the housing parts, thickness, and material friction coefficient. By carefully selecting and adjusting these parameters during the design phase, the desired damping performance is achieved while maintaining simple and cost-effective production processes.
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 design enables cost-effective production and adjustable damping characteristics, improving the running properties of washing machines by reducing ground forces and enhancing acoustics through controlled freewheeling and friction force build-up.
Implementation Method 1
a friction lining (17) arranged in the recess (14). The friction lining (17) has two friction surfaces (20) which form the top and bottom of the cuboid and run parallel to one another. One friction lining (17) is in direct contact with the friction surfaces (28) lying opposite one another.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Damper, in particular for washing machines with a spin cycle, with a housing (2; 2d; 2e) having a central longitudinal axis (3) and enclosing a housing interior (21) at least partially by housing walls (24, 25), a tappets (4th ; 4b; 4c), at free ends (5, 9) of the housing (2; 2d; 2e) and the plunger (4; 4b; 4c) arranged fastening elements (7, 10), and at least one, in the at least a friction lining recess (14; 14b; 14c) arranged and rubbing against opposite housing walls (25) (17; 17a).