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Dylan Knight (RIGHT), 22,
designed a hollow plastic counterweight to replace the concrete blocks found in
the top and bottom of most washing machines to stop them vibrating during spin
cycles. The invention reduces the weight of washing machines by a third (Image credit: Nottingham Trent University)
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●Student's plastic component
reduces the weight of washing machines by a third ●It replaces the concrete blocks
found in the top and bottom of most machines ●The 3.5kg (7.7lb) container is
filled with water to provide the same function ●The invention could cut the
weight of trucks carrying the machines, which would in turn cut carbon
emissions
It really is as simple as ‘just add water’, and
could soon prove a godsend for delivery drivers and householders alike.
A university student has developed a plastic
component that reduces the weight of washing machines by a third - and it’s a
wonder nobody has thought of doing it before.
Dylan Knight, 22, designed a hollow plastic
counterweight to replace the concrete blocks found in the top and bottom of
most washing machines to stop them vibrating during spin cycles.
HOW WOULD
THIS CUT EMISSIONS?
If the plastic reservoir became standard, it would cut the weight
of trucks carrying the machines which would in turn cut emissions.
It could also reduce the risk of physical injury when lifting and
installing the product in the home.
Research suggests that reducing the weight of a truck carrying
washing machines by 100kg (220lb) could save approximately 8.5g (0.3oz) of CO2
and 0.35 litres of fuel per 100km (62miles) in transportation distance.
Around 3.5 million washing machines are sold annually in the UK.
If each was fitted with the
new lightweight device, the carbon savings would equate to around 44,625 tonnes
(49,190 tons) of CO2 and a reduced fuel consumption of 183,750 litres over a
31-mile (50km) delivery route.
Once in situ in the home, the 3.5kg (7.7lb)
plastic container is filled with water to provide the same function.
It saves on fuel, carbon emissions, and maybe even back injuries, thanks to
the reduction in weight.
The ingenious device is now in the process of
being patented, and manufacturers are in discussions to incorporate the simple
technology into future designs.
Mr Knight came up with the weight-saving solution
as part of a final-year project for his degree in intelligent engineering
systems at Nottingham Trent University.
A normal washing machine is weighted by 25kg
(55lb) of concrete to stop it moving while on a spin cycle.
But when Mr Knight, supervised by Professor Amin
Al-Habaibeh, swapped the upper ballast block for his plastic design - which
weighs less than 3kg (6.6lb) when unfilled - vibration sensors in the drum
found it was just as effective.
The new design would make machines easier and
cheaper to transport.
Mr Knight, from Grove Park, West London, said:
‘Concrete is actually quite bad for the environment due to the CO2 released
when it’s produced.
‘The use of concrete is also the reason why
washing machines are normally very heavy to move.
‘The hollow container is left unfilled until the
appliance is installed.
'We found it worked as good as a concrete
counterweight, stopping the spinning drum from heavily vibrating the machine.
‘Everyone thinks the idea must have been thought
of before - no one can really believe it - but I promise you it definitely works.’
Mr Knight was given the ‘live brief’ to design a
replacement for the concrete ballast after a new product design company, Tochi
Tech Ltd, approached the university with the idea of replacing concrete
counterweights with water.
The firm, based in Keyworth, Nottingham, has
applied for a patent for the counterweight, having come up with the basic idea.
Samer Hamadeh, its managing director, was
yesterday abroad ‘exploring commercial possibilities’ with manufacturers to utilize
the design.
He said he was unable to comment any further.
If the plastic reservoir became standard, it
would cut the weight of trucks carrying the machines which would in turn cut
emissions.
It could also reduce the risk of physical injury
when lifting and installing the product in the home.
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Once in situ in the home,
the 3.5kg (7.7lb) plastic container (right) is filled with water to provide the
same function as a normal concrete block (left). It saves on fuel, carbon
emissions, and maybe even back injuries, thanks to the reduction in weight
|
Research suggests that reducing the weight of a
truck carrying washing machines by 100kg (220lb) could save approximately 8.5g
(0.3oz) of CO2 and 0.35 litres of fuel per 100km (62miles) in transportation
distance.
Around 3.5 million washing machines are sold
annually in the UK.
THE PLASTIC
COUNTERWEIGHT
Mr Knight came up with the weight-saving solution as part of a
final-year project for his degree in intelligent engineering systems at
Nottingham Trent University.
A normal washing machine is weighted by 25kg (55lb) of concrete to
stop it moving while on a spin cycle.
But when Mr Knight, supervised by Professor Amin Al-Habaibeh,
swapped the upper ballast block for his plastic design - which weighs less than
3kg (6.6lb) when unfilled - vibration sensors in the drum found it was just as
effective.
The new design would make machines easier and cheaper to
transport.
The ingenious device is now
in the process of being patented, and manufacturers are in discussions to
incorporate the simple technology into future designs.
If each was fitted with the new lightweight
device, the carbon savings would equate to around 44,625 tonnes (49,190 tons)
of CO2 and a reduced fuel consumption of 183,750 litres over a 31-mile (50km)
delivery route.
As concrete is heavier than water, the containers
need to be bigger than the blocks, to make up the weight difference.
Higher-end appliances often use the more
expensive, but denser, cast iron for ballast.
Cast iron is also stronger than concrete, making
it more resistant to impact and strains and less prone to fatigue from stresses
generated by repeated spin cycles.
Some machines use complex damping systems in lieu
of any sort of ballast.
Professor Al-Habaibeh said that only the top
concrete ballast was replaced by a plastic alternative for the university
project because of the cost implications of manually producing the vacuum
formed reservoir.
But he said that the product could be produced
differently on a mass scale, and there was no reason why the lower block of
concrete couldn’t be replaced by washing machine manufacturers.
The professor in intelligent engineering systems,
added: ‘This sustainable solution not only reduces cost and energy needed for
transportation, but also provides ergonomic and health and safety benefits to
those physically handling washing machines.
He said there was no issue with Tochi Tech
patenting the design as the basic concept was their idea, adding: ‘The purpose
of a university is to educate and advance technology and society where we can.
‘That is what we have done here and we are always
happy to work with companies in this aim.
'I’m delighted Dylan proved the concept.’
He said 90 per cent of the machines they looked at during the project used concrete as a counterweight.
Culled from DAILY MAIL UK
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