Washing Machine Spin Speed Control for Load Imbalance and Vibration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating appliances experience undesirable vibrations and prolonged spin phases due to load imbalances during high-speed drum rotation, which can lead to inefficient liquid extraction and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A controller determines the magnitude of load imbalance and adjusts the drum's extraction speed using a non-linear polynomial algorithm to optimize rotation speed, ensuring efficient liquid extraction while minimizing vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the drum rotation speed is increased during the spin phase to extract liquid efficiently, then liquid extraction efficiency is improved, but vibrations and movements increase due to load imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the drum rotation speed variable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts the rotation speed during the spin phase based on real-time load imbalance detection, allowing the system to optimize between extraction efficiency and vibration control throughout the operation cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter (rotation speed) based on the state of the system (load imbalance magnitude). By detecting imbalance and adjusting speed accordingly, the system adapts its parameters to resolve the contradiction between extraction efficiency and vibration control
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the drum rotation speed is decreased to reduce vibrations from load imbalance, then vibrations are reduced, but the spin phase takes longer to complete and liquid extraction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts rotation speed during the spin phase rather than maintaining a constant low speed. This allows the drum to operate at higher speeds when imbalance is manageable, reducing total spin time while still controlling vibrations when necessary
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous liquid extraction action throughout the spin phase by keeping the drum rotating at optimized speeds. Rather than interrupting or significantly prolonging the spin phase, the system continuously extracts liquid at efficient rates while managing vibrations through speed modulation
3Productivity
If a fixed high rotation speed is used during the spin phase, then liquid extraction is maximized, but the system cannot adapt to different load imbalance conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by detecting the load imbalance magnitude during the spin phase and using this information to adjust the drum rotation speed. This closed-loop control system continuously monitors conditions and adapts the extraction process accordingly
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static fixed-speed approach to a dynamic variable-speed approach. The drum rotation speed becomes a variable parameter that changes in response to detected load conditions, enabling adaptation to different imbalance scenarios while maintaining extraction efficiency
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 allows for tailored extraction speeds based on load imbalance, reducing vibrations, shortening extraction phases, and enhancing energy efficiency by optimizing liquid removal.
Implementation Method 1
One or more of the cycles of operation may include rotating the drum at high speeds during a spin or water extraction phase to extract liquid from the laundry items
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating appliance and method of operating a laundry treating appliance that includes wetting the laundry load in a drum according to a selected cycle of operation and determining a magnitude of imbalance of the wetted laundry load. A controller of the laundry treating appliance is configured to determine a first extraction speed for rotating the drum based on the magnitude of imbalance.