Energy transmission alternati̇ves for vortex paddle concept which are developed to increase washing performance on washing machine

Nowadays, studies on the machines which make human life easier are increasing with improvements in all sectors. Time, as the most valuable resource, shows that systems which do maximum work with minimum effort are used more and it is vital for firms to develop systems like to this. Especially, indoor machines' qualities like esthetics, productivity and functionality are in the priority study subjects of companies' R&D departments. In the last 100 years, washing machines have been evolving and becoming more automatic as an inevitable durable consumption product in houses. Considering the usage prevalence and the number of brands in competition, it is apparent that companies must continuously innovate if they want to endure in these difficult conditions. Washing machines that simplify human life have been researched and it is being researched in Arçelik Inc. R&D department. Besides adding new qualities, applying to patents and pursuing technologies that are invested, Arçelik research's about problems of current products and its developable parts. Also, Arçelik conducts studies about consumers by making surveys and doing face to face meetings in order to see consumer's basic needs and real problems. As a result of these studies, it is possible to be classified consumer's insights as energy, performance, design, fabric care, convenience and hygiene. Main duties are washing machines are providing convenience in house works and cleaning clothes, so it would not be wrong to evaluate the most important insights of washing machines as performance and providing convenience. Differentiation in competition will be possible by designing consumer's comfort enhancing, time saving and high performanced washing machines. In this thesis, vortex paddle which is a concept to be designed in order to increase the performance of washing machine is studied. Increasing the mechanic effect on textile is to be predicted through the moving part on the vortex paddle. The goal of this thesis is to solve the problem about transferring energy into drum to rotate the moving part. During the study, historical development of washing machine has been researched. To understand the needs of the washing machine and avoid damage to the existing system, machine's structural components and systems within machine's general working principle have been investigated. Experiments about improving washing performance have been analyzed. By deducting from these experiments, it has been decided that how and when vortex paddle should work. Various methods about energy transfer have been investigated and these methods have been used when searching for solution alternatives. Movable paddle designs and powering methods patents have been researched. While creating solution alternatives, differentiation from these patents has been an important criterion. To determine criterions for design, vortex paddle design has been inspected in detail. In consideration of the literature and patent researches have been schematized as four different design alternatives that includes different energy transfer methods. Each alternative has its own advantages and disadvantages. To evaluate the alternatives, system targets and their bottom diffraction weights have been explained and judged them by a group for unbiased results. To create detailed design of the selected concept, engine has been chosen and load design of paddle and sizes have been calculated. Machine that will be used for design has been determined and designed on CAD software in consideration of these information. For a functional and safe system, energy transfer method and impermeability have been studied in detail. With minimum cabling, new energy transmission paths have been determined and adapted to the system. For these purpose, several methods in the market have been investigated. New sealing elements have been adapted to the system by examining the existing sealing elements of the washing machine. Adaptation between existing units have been provided by making revisions on shaft, flange and pulley screw. While designing, montage scenario has been made and given. Prototyping has been done in order to see system errors and montage failures. Metal parts have been produced by CNC and metal injection methods and plastic parts have been produced by using different 3D printing methods and different materials. At the end of research, benefits of project and developments have been explained later on the project. By means of concept that has been work on design in detail, the energy coming from the washing machine mainboard directly activates the motor in the drum. Thanks to the communication between the motor in the vortex paddle and washing machine mainboard, operating mode of vortex paddle can be changed with the program that selected by the user. In order to prevent the delicate fabric from textile abrasion, the rotational parts will remain stationary and paddle will perform the functions of lifting textiles and intaking water as an existing paddle does. In stained laundry washing program, the vortex paddle will improve the washing performance with movements such as continuous rotation in one direction or turning left and right at regular intervals to create scrubbing effect. In this way, more controlled washing algorithms will be provided to the users. Also, because of electric energy transfer in to the drum, researches that can be made in future have been investigated. Another benefit of transferring electrical energy into the drum is that it is possible to operate many electronic components inside the drum. By increasing the control mechanisms of the washing machine, it is possible to gain benefits such as increasing washing performance, decreasing user errors or creating more convenient washing machine for users. Therefore, it will be possible to control the drum which is the part that users intervene during washing process by adding new features to the drum. These features to be added to the drum which is the part that laundries directly contact with the machine, the can be listed as detecting fabric type, color and stain amount. This study provides components which are able to increase the washing performance and decrease user errors. The material from this thesis can be used to inspire future studies. This project has been directed by Arçelik Inc. Central R&D. Within this project, Arçelik Inc' s opportunities have been used while researching machines, solid modeling and prototyping.