Collapsible Washing Machine Spacer for Transport Shock Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spacers for washing machines, either bi-component or monolithic, face challenges during packing and transport due to high mechanical stress, leading to potential damage from uncontrolled oscillations and require complex installation or modification of the cabinet.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic spacer with a collapsible section and an elastically deformable base is designed to provide a secure, shock-absorbing connection between the oscillating assembly and the cabinet, allowing for effective absorption of traction forces during transport and preventing damage to the appliance's structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastic connection elements are adjusted loosely to allow oscillating assembly displacement, then structural integrity is preserved during operation, but uncontrolled oscillations cause damage during packing and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer incorporates an elastically deformable base that transitions between flexible and rigid states. During normal operation, the elastic elements allow movement while the spacer remains flexible. During transport, the spacer becomes rigid to prevent oscillations, demonstrating dynamic adaptation of mechanical properties based on operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer's mechanical parameters change based on operational phase. The elastically deformable base provides flexibility during installation and normal operation, then transitions to a rigid state during transport to prevent oscillations. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between needing flexibility for structural integrity and rigidity for preventing harmful oscillations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid spacer is used to prevent oscillations during transport, then uncontrolled movements are stopped, but the spacer cannot absorb sudden shocks and traction forces
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer dynamically adjusts its mechanical properties through the elastically deformable base. During transport, it provides rigidity to prevent oscillations, but can transition to absorb sudden shocks and traction forces, resolving the contradiction between maintaining rigid connection and absorbing impact forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastically deformable base acts as a pre-configured cushioning element that can absorb sudden shocks and traction forces during transport. This beforehand cushioning capability allows the spacer to prevent oscillations while protecting against impact damage.
3Strength
If bi-component spacers with rubber collars are used, then shock absorption is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the rigid cylindrical stem and the elastically deformable base into a single monolithic spacer component. This combination maintains the shock absorption capability of the elastic base while simplifying the overall structure and installation process compared to bi-component designs with separate rubber collars.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer is made from composite materials with different mechanical properties - a rigid material for the cylindrical stem providing structural support, and an elastically deformable material for the base providing shock absorption. This composite structure achieves both strength and flexibility in a single integrated component.
4Device complexity
If monolithic spacers are used, then device complexity is reduced, but they cannot effectively absorb sudden shocks and traction forces
Solution Approach 1:
The monolithic spacer incorporates composite materials with different mechanical properties - a rigid portion for structural support and an elastically deformable base for shock absorption. This allows a single-component design to maintain both simplicity and shock absorption capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the monolithic spacer have different mechanical properties - the cylindrical stem is rigid for structural support while the base is elastically deformable for shock absorption. This local differentiation of material properties within a single component enables both simplicity and shock absorption capability.
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
The spacer effectively absorbs sudden shocks and traction forces, preventing damage to the cabinet and ensuring secure connection during transport and storage, while maintaining structural integrity and simplifying installation by using standard holes on the cabinet.
Implementation Method 1
A first peculiarity of the spacer consists in that the enlarged head is situated upstream a section that can collapse elastically in axial direction, which is incorporated in the cylindrical stem
Implementation Method 2
A second peculiarity of the spacer consists in that it incorporates a second elastically deformable section - a sort of base - on the enlarged head, designed to remain in external position on the back wall of the cabinet of the washing machine
Data Source
Figure 1A~6B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a packing spacer for washing machines, of the type having a monolithic structure obtained from one material, comprising a tubular cylindrical stem (1) with enlarged head (2), both crossed by an axial conduit for a fixing screw (V); said spacer (D) being provided, on the cylindrical stem (1), with a section (4, 40, 400) that collapses elastically when the spacer is subjected to axial compression.