A laundry washing and/or drying machine comprising a hinge group
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Solution Overview
Problem
Washing and/or drying machine doors often close unintentionally due to a shift in the center of gravity relative to the hinge group, causing user dissatisfaction as they require constant reopening.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a hinge group with bearings and a threshold force mechanism, where the bearing requires a specific force to rotate, preventing the door from closing due to its own weight by engaging protrusions and recesses, ensuring the door remains open without external assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the door is mounted on the machine body using a conventional hinge group, then the door can be opened and closed, but the door closes by itself when the center of gravity shifts due to mounting errors or weight changes
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing's rotational threshold force parameter is specifically designed to be greater than the force generated by the door's weight and center of gravity shift. This parameter change ensures that the bearing remains stationary under normal door weight but can rotate when sufficient external force is applied, preventing the door from closing by itself while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the bearing allows free rotation to enable door opening, then the door can be easily opened, but the door cannot prevent unintentional closing due to center of gravity shift
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing transitions from a static friction-based system to a dynamic threshold-based system. The bearing remains locked until the applied force exceeds the rotational threshold, at which point it smoothly transitions to allow rotation. This dynamic behavior maintains door position reliably while enabling easy opening when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing acts as an intermediary element between the door weight force and the hinge rotation. It mediates by selectively allowing or preventing rotation based on whether the applied force exceeds the threshold, thus controlling the transmission of rotational movement while maintaining reliability.
3Device complexity
If the hinge group uses a simple pivot mechanism, then the structure remains simple, but it cannot prevent the door from closing due to weight-induced momentum
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge group is segmented into distinct functional components: the hinge body, hinge arm, bearing, and shaft. This segmentation allows the bearing to be designed with specific threshold properties independent of the overall hinge structure, maintaining relative simplicity while achieving reliable door position control through the specialized bearing component.
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
Prevents the door from unintentionally closing by ensuring the force from the door's weight does not exceed the threshold necessary for the bearing to rotate, maintaining the door in an open position without user intervention, thus enhancing user satisfaction and machine reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the bearing requires a specific force to rotate, preventing the door from closing due to its own weight
Implementation Method 2
the bearing comprises at least one protrusion, and the hinge arm comprises at least one recess suitable for engaging with said protrusion
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a laundry washing and/or drying machine (1) comprising at least one hinge group (12) having at least one hinge body (8) which is fixed onto the body (3), at least one hinge arm (9) which is fixed to the hinge body (8) from one end and which extends outwards from the hinge body (8), at least two shafts (10) which extend in opposite directions from the ends of the hinge arm (9) which are not connected to the hinge body (8), and at least two bearings (11) each connected to the hinge arm (9) from one end so as to house a respective shaft (10) and to rotate around the shaft (10) axis and which are placed into the housing (7) so as to be fixed to the frame (4). The at least two bearings (11) are connected to the hinge arm (9) such that a threshold force of a certain amplitude has to be applied onto at least one thereof so as to rotate around the axis of the shaft (10).