Washing Machine Support Device Design to Reduce Casing Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry non-uniformly distributed inside the drum of a washing machine generates rotating unbalance and undesired vibrations during centrifugation, leading to increased vibrations of the casing.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design where the tub is mounted on a separate support device with damping elements as the sole mechanical connection to the casing, and the casing is stifferly connected to the foot section, decoupling vibrations and noise from the tub to the casing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the tub is directly mounted to the casing, then the structure is simple and rigid, but vibrations are directly transferred to the casing causing excessive vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is segmented into a support device separate from the casing, with the tub mounted to the support device rather than directly to the casing. This segmentation creates an intermediate structure that isolates vibration sources from the casing, reducing vibration transfer while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Damping elements are introduced as intermediary components between the support device and the casing. These damping elements act as mediators that absorb and dissipate vibrational energy, preventing direct transmission of vibrations from the tub through the support device to the casing.
2Stability of the object's composition
If stiff connection is used between support device and casing, then structural stability is improved, but vibration coupling between support device and casing increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the mounting structure have different stiffness characteristics optimized for their specific functions. The connection between support device and casing uses damping elements with controlled stiffness to minimize vibration coupling, while the connection between tub and support device uses sufficiently stiff elements to maintain structural stability during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffness parameter of the connections is carefully controlled and differentiated. The damping elements provide a specific stiffness range that is sufficient to maintain structural stability but low enough to decouple vibrations, achieving an optimal balance between stability and vibration isolation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If damping elements are made softer to improve vibration isolation, then vibration transmission is reduced, but load-bearing capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The damping elements utilize composite material characteristics combining elastic and viscous properties. This allows the elements to exhibit soft, vibration-damping behavior under dynamic loading conditions while maintaining sufficient load-bearing capacity to support the tub and its contents during washing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping elements exhibit dynamic characteristics where their effective stiffness varies with loading conditions and frequency. Under static or low-frequency loads, they provide sufficient support capacity, while under high-frequency vibrational loads, they exhibit softer characteristics that isolate vibrations effectively.
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 significantly reduces vibrations transferred to the casing by suspending a majority of the tub's weight and decoupling it from the casing, minimizing noise and vibration transmission.
Implementation Method 1
elastic damping elements provided between the support device and a foot section
Implementation Method 2
the damping element(s) comprise, in particular consist of, a material having a hardness between 35 Shore A and 80 Shore D, and/or the damping element(s) comprise, in particular consist of, an elastomer
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A washing machine for laundry comprising a casing (10), a tub (1) enclosing a rotatable drum (2) for receiving laundry, and a support device (3) arranged inside the casing (10), wherein the tub (1) is mounted on said support device (3) and said support device (3) is mechanically decoupled from the casing (10) in order to reduce vibrations in the casing (10).