U.S. patent application number 10/722457 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-12 for drum type washing machine having vibration attenuating means.
Invention is credited to Je, Sang Man, Kang, Yu Beom, Kim, Gon.
Application Number | 20040154353 10/722457 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32822523 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040154353 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Gon ; et al. |
August 12, 2004 |
Drum type washing machine having vibration attenuating means
Abstract
Disclosed is a drum type washing machine having a vibration
attenuating means, by which vibrations generated from driving the
drum type washing machine are attenuated. The present invention
includes a cabinet forming an exterior, a tub provided in the
cabinet to have a front opening and to hold water, and detergent
therein, a motor in rear of the tub 200 to have a horizontally
installed rotational shaft, a drum in the tub to be rotated by the
motor, and a vibration attenuating means that includes a damper
unit under the tub to attenuate vertical and horizontal vibrations
of the tub and an elastic member over the tub to attenuate a
front-to-rear vibration of the tub.
Inventors: |
Kim, Gon; (Jinhae-si,
KR) ; Kang, Yu Beom; (Changwon-si, KR) ; Je,
Sang Man; (Koje-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
32822523 |
Appl. No.: |
10/722457 |
Filed: |
November 28, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/23.1 ;
68/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 37/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/023.1 ;
068/024 |
International
Class: |
D06F 035/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 29, 2002 |
KR |
P2002-0075318 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet forming an
exterior; a tub provided in the cabinet to have a front opening and
to hold water, and detergent therein; a motor in rear of the tub
200 to have a horizontally installed rotational shaft; a drum in
the tub to be rotated by the motor; and a vibration attenuating
means comprising: a damper unit under the tub to attenuate vertical
and horizontal vibrations of the tub; and an elastic member over
the tub to attenuate a front-to-rear vibration of the tub.
2. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
damper unit is installed at right and left sides under the tub.
3. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
damper unit is installed at a middle portion between front and rear
sides under the tub.
4. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
elastic member is installed at front and rear sides over the
tub.
5. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
elastic member is installed at a middle portion between right and
left sides over the tub.
6. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 5, the cabinet
comprising: a base plate installed as a bottom of the cabinet; a
pair of side plates on both sides of the base plate; a rear plate
in rear of the base plate and the side plates; a front plate in
front of the base plate and the side plates; and a top plate on the
side, rear, and front plates.
7. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 6, the elastic
member comprising: a front spring having one end connected to an
upper front side of the tub to extend in an upper front direction
and the other end connected to a lower front side of the top plate;
and a rear spring having one end connected to an upper rear of the
tub to extend in an upper rear direction and the other end
connected to a lower rear side of the top plate.
8. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 6, the elastic
member comprising: a front spring having one end connected to an
upper front side of the tub to extend in an upper front direction
and the other end connected to a lower front side of the top plate;
and a rear spring having one end connected to an upper rear of the
tub to extend in an upper rear direction and the other end
connected to an upper side of the rear plate.
9. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 6, the elastic
member comprising: a front spring having one end connected to an
upper front side of the tub to extend in an upper front direction
and the other end connected to an upper side of the front plate;
and a rear spring having one end connected to an upper rear of the
tub to extend in an upper rear direction and the other end
connected to a lower rear side of the top plate.
10. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 6, the
elastic member comprising: a front spring having one end connected
to an upper front side of the tub to extend in an upper front
direction and the other end connected to an upper side of the front
plate; and a rear spring having one end connected to an upper rear
of the tub to extend in an upper rear direction and the other end
connected to an upper side of the rear plate.
11. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 6, the tub
comprising a connecting member at the upper front and rear sides to
have the elastic member connected thereto.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application(s)
No. 10-2002-0075318 filed on Nov. 29, 2002 which is/are hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more
particularly, to a drum type washing machine having a vibration
attenuating means, by which vibrations generated from driving the
drum type washing machine are attenuated.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a washing machine holds water and detergent in a
lower part of a tub. After laundry is put in a drum installed
inside the tub, the drum is rotated to perform washing, rinsing,
and dewatering.
[0006] Such a washing machine is an apparatus for eliminating dirt
or filth attached to the laundry by applying a mechanical force
thereto together with a detergent.
[0007] Specifically, a drum type washing machine is an apparatus
for eliminating dirt or filth attached to the laundry by putting
the laundry, water, and detergent in a drum horizontally installed
to rotate by a driving force of a motor. The drum type washing
machine barely has entanglement and damage of the laundry, consumes
less water, and even has washing effects of beating and
rubbing.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a drum type
washing machine according to a related art, in which an internal
view is shown in part. And, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a
drum type washing machine according to a related art.
[0009] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a drum type washing machine
according to a related art consists of a cabinet 10 forming an
exterior, a tub 20 provided in the cabinet to hold laundry, water,
and detergent therein, a motor 30 in rear of the tub 20 to have a
horizontally installed rotational shaft, a drum 40 provided in the
tub 20 to hold the laundry, a damper 50 installed at right and left
lower sides of the tub 20 to attenuate vertical and horizontal
vibrations of the tub 20, and an elastic means 60 installed at
right and left upper sides of the tub 20 to attenuate the vertical
and horizontal vibrations of the tub 20.
[0010] The cabinet 10 consists of a top plate 11 provided on a
topside, a base plate 12 provided on a bottom side, and a cabinet
cover 13 provided on a front side to have an entrance (not shown in
the drawing) at a central portion to put in/out the laundry.
[0011] A door 13 is installed at the cabinet cover 13 to prevent
the laundry from popping out through the entrance. And, a gasket 21
is installed between the door 13a and the tub 20 to alleviate a
shock caused by a rotation of the drum 40 and to play a role as a
packing in preventing water leakage.
[0012] A control panel 11a for controlling an operation of the drum
type washing machine is installed on the top plate 11. And, a
plurality of lifters 41 are installed on an inside of the drum 40
to pull up the laundry to a predetermined height to fall by
gravity.
[0013] Meanwhile, a water supply hose 16, a water supply valve (not
shown in the drawing), and a detergent box 17 are installed in an
upper part of the cabinet 10 to supply the water and detergent to
the tub 20. And, a drain pump 18 and a drain hose 19 are installed
at one side under the tub 20 to circulate or discharge the
water.
[0014] The damper 50 consists of a left damper 51 having one end
connected to the left lower side of the tub 20 and the other end
connected to a top of the base plate 12 and a right damper 52
having one end connected to the right lower side of the tub 20 and
the other end connected to the top of the base plate 12.
[0015] And, the elastic means 60 consists of a left spring 61
having one end connected to a left upper lateral side of the
cabinet 10 and the other end connected to a left upper side of the
tub 20 and a right spring 62 having one end connected to a right
upper lateral side of the cabinet 10 and the other end connected to
a right upper side of the tub 20.
[0016] However, the above-constructed drum type washing machine
according to the related art attenuates the vertical and horizontal
vibrations using the damper 50 and elastic means 60 but fails to
attenuate a front-to-rear vibration, whereby the tub severely
shakes in front-to-rear directions. Specifically, the front-to-rear
vibration recently raises a big problem in a large-capacity
high-speed drum type washing machine.
[0017] And, the front-to-rear vibration of the tub 20 makes shocks
appearing on parts such as the damper 50 and the gasket 21 to
degrade their endurances. Moreover, the front-to-rear vibration as
affects operations of the drum 40 inside the tub 20 and the motor
30 in rear of the tub 20 so that the drum type washing machine is
unstably driven during washing, rinsing, and dewatering.
[0018] To overcome such a problem, a new drum type washing machine
enabling to attenuate the front-to-rear vibration is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a drum
type washing machine having a vibration attenuating means that
substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to
limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0020] An object of the present invention, which has been devised
to solve the foregoing problem, lies in providing a drum type
washing machine having a vibration attenuating means, which enables
to attenuate vertical, horizontal, and front-to-rear
vibrations.
[0021] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination
of the following or may be learned from a practice of the
invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention
will be realized and attained by the subject matter particularly
pointed out in the specification and claims hereof as well as in
the appended drawings.
[0022] To achieve these objects and other advantages in accordance
with the present invention, as embodied and broadly described
herein, there is provided a drum type washing machine including a
cabinet forming an exterior, a tub provided in the cabinet to have
a front opening and to hold water, and detergent therein, a motor
in rear of the tub 200 to have a horizontally installed rotational
shaft, a drum in the tub to be rotated by the motor, and a
vibration attenuating means that includes a damper unit under the
tub to attenuate vertical and horizontal vibrations of the tub and
an elastic member over the tub to attenuate a front-to-rear
vibration of the tub.
[0023] The damper unit is installed at right and left sides under
the tub, and more preferably, at a middle portion between front and
rear sides under the tub.
[0024] The elastic member is installed at front and rear sides over
the tub, and more preferably, at a middle portion between right and
left sides over the tub.
[0025] The cabinet includes a base plate installed as a bottom of
the cabinet, a pair of side plates on both sides of the base plate,
a rear plate in rear of the base plate and the side plates, a front
plate in front of the base plate and the side plates, and a top
plate on the side, rear, and front plates.
[0026] In the above-constituted drum type washing machine, the
elastic member includes a front spring having one end connected to
an upper front side of the tub to extend in an upper front
direction and the other end connected to a lower front side of the
top plate and a rear spring having one end connected to an upper
rear of the tub to extend in an upper rear direction and the other
end connected to a lower rear side of the top plate.
[0027] The elastic member may include a front spring having one end
connected to an upper front side of the tub to extend in an upper
front direction and the other end connected to a lower front side
of the top plate and a rear spring having one end connected to an
upper rear of the tub to extend in an upper rear direction and the
other end connected to an upper side of the rear plate.
[0028] And, the elastic member may include a front spring having
one end connected to an upper front side of the tub to extend in an
upper front direction and the other end connected to an upper side
of the front plate and a rear spring having one end connected to an
upper rear of the tub to extend in an upper rear direction and the
other end connected to a lower rear side of the top plate.
[0029] Moreover, the elastic member may include a front spring
having one end connected to an upper front side of the tub to
extend in an upper front direction and the other end connected to
an upper side of the front plate and a rear spring having one end
connected to an upper rear of the tub to extend in an upper rear
direction and the other end connected to an upper side of the rear
plate.
[0030] Besides, the tub includes a connecting member at the upper
front and rear sides to have the elastic member connected
thereto.
[0031] Therefore, the above-constructed drum type washing machine
attenuates the vertical, horizontal, and front-to-rear vibrations
and reduces noise generated from driving the washing machine.
[0032] It is to be understood that both the foregoing explanation
and the following detailed description of the present invention are
exemplary and illustrative and are intended to provide further
explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a drum type
washing machine according to a related art, in which an internal
view is shown in part;
[0035] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a drum type washing
machine according to a related art;
[0036] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a drum type
washing machine according to the present invention, in which an
internal view is shown in part;
[0037] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a drum type washing
machine according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0038] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a drum type washing
machine according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0039] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a drum type washing
machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0040] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a drum type washing
machine according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0041] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiment(s) of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings,
like elements are indicated using the same or similar reference
designations where possible.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a drum type
washing machine according to the present invention, in which an
internal view is shown in part.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 3, a drum type washing machine according
to the present invention includes a cabinet 100, a tub 200 provided
in the cabinet to hold laundry, water, and detergent therein, a
motor 300 in rear of the tub 200 to have a horizontally installed
rotational shaft, a drum 400 provided in the tub 200, and a damper
500 attenuating vibrations of the tub 200.
[0044] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a drum type washing
machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a drum type washing machine
according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6
is a cross-sectional view of a drum type washing machine according
to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a
cross-sectional view of a drum type washing machine according to a
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 4, a drum type washing machine according
to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet
100 forming an exterior, a tub 200 provided in the cabinet to hold
laundry, water, and detergent therein, a motor 300 in rear of the
tub 200 to have a rotational shaft horizontally penetrating into
the tub 200, a drum 400 provided in the tub 200 to be connected to
the rotational shaft of the motor 300 to hold the laundry, and a
vibration attenuating means for attenuating vibrations generated
from the tub 200 when the drum 400 is driven to rotate by a driving
force of the motor 300.
[0046] The cabinet 100 includes a base plate 120 installed as a
bottom, a pair of side plates 120 provided on both sides of the
base plate 120, a rear plate 150 provided in rear of the base plate
120 and the side plates 140, a front plate 130 provided in front of
the base plate 120 and the side plates 140, and a top plate 110
provided on the side, rear, and front plates.
[0047] In this case, the front plate 130 includes an entrance at a
center through which the laundry is put in/out and a door 131
opening/closing the entrance to prevent the laundry from being
thrown away through the entrance.
[0048] A gasket 210 is installed between the door 131 and the tub
200 to alleviate a shock generated from the tub 200 and to play a
role of a packing for preventing water from leaking outside.
[0049] A control panel 111 controlling an operation of the drum
type washing machine is installed on a the top plate 110.
[0050] And, a plurality of lifters 410 are installed on an inside
of the drum 400 to pull up the laundry to a predetermined height to
fall by gravity.
[0051] Moreover, a water supply hose 160, a water supply valve (not
shown in the drawing), and a detergent box 170 are installed in an
upper part of the cabinet 100 to supply the water and detergent to
the tub 200. And, a drain pump 180 and a drain hose 190 are
installed at one side under the tub 200 to circulate or discharge
the water.
[0052] The vibration attenuating means includes a damper unit 500
installed left and right sides beneath the tub 200 to attenuate
vertical and horizontal vibrations of the tub 200 and an elastic
member 600 installed onto front and rear sides of the tub 200 to
attenuate a front-to-rear vibration of the tub 200.
[0053] The damper unit includes a left damper 510 having one end
connected to a left bottom side of the tub 200 to extend in a left
lower direction and the other end connected to an upper left side
of the base plate 120 and a right damper 520 having one end
connected to a right bottom side of the tub 200 to extend in a
lower right direction and the other end connected to a right upper
side of the base plate 120.
[0054] In this case, both ends of each of the dampers 510 and 520
are hinge-coupled with the tub 200 and the base plate 120,
respectively to support the tub 200.
[0055] The elastic member 600 includes a front spring 611 having
one end connected to an upper front side of the tub 200 to extend
in an upper front direction and the other end connected to a lower
front side of the top plate 110 and a rear spring 612 having one
end connected to an upper rear of the tub 200 to extend in an upper
rear direction and the other end connected to a lower rear side of
the top plate 110.
[0056] Spring connecting members 220 and 230 are provided at the
upper front and rear sides of the tub 200, to which the one ends of
the front and rear springs 611 and 612 are connected, to be
connected to the one ends of the front and rear springs 611 and
612, respectively.
[0057] Openings are formed at the spring connecting members 220 and
230 to have the one ends of the springs 611 and 612 fitted thereto
for coupling.
[0058] And, spring fixing members 240 and 250 are provided at the
lower front and rear sides, to which the other ends of the front
and rear springs 611 and 612 are connected, to have the other ends
of the front and rear springs 611 and 612 fixed thereto.
[0059] An operation of the above-constructed drum type washing
machine according to the present invention is explained as
follows.
[0060] First of all, once a power is applied to the drum type
washing machine, water is supplied to the tub 200 according to an
amount of the laundry put in the drum 400 via the water supply hose
160.
[0061] After the tub 200 is sufficiently filled with the supplied
water, a washing step is executed so that the drum 400 is rotated
by the driven motor 300.
[0062] Once the drum rotates, the laundry in the drum 400 is lifted
up to fall down to remove the dirt or filth attached to the
laundry.
[0063] After completion of the washing step, a draining step is
initiated to discharge the used water in the tub 200 outside the
cabinet using the drain pump and hose 180 and 190.
[0064] In rear half of the draining step, a dewatering step is
executed by having the drum 400 rotate at high sped to remove water
contents involved in the laundry.
[0065] After completion of the draining step, new water is supplied
to the tub 200 and the drum 400 is then rotated to perform a
rinsing step for rinsing the laundry.
[0066] Thus, in the washing, rinsing, and dewatering steps, the
drum 400 is rotated by the motor to generate vibrations to vibrate
the tub 200 outside the drum 400.
[0067] In such a case, the horizontal and vertical vibrations of
the tub 200 are alleviated by the damper unit 500 and the
front-to-rear vibration of the tub 200 is alleviated by the elastic
member 600, whereby the overall vibrations of the washing machine
are attenuated.
[0068] The elastic member enables to attenuate the vertical
vibration together with the damper unit as well as the
front-to-rear vibration of the tub.
[0069] Meanwhile, the installation structure of the elastic means
600 can be variously modified according to the positions to which
the front and rear springs 611 and 621 are fixed.
[0070] Such modifications are explained in the description of
second to fourth embodiments of the present invention as
follows.
[0071] In the description of second to fourth embodiments of the
present invention, overall elements of the present invention except
the elastic member are the same of the first embodiment of the
present invention, thereby being skipped in the following.
[0072] Referring to FIG. 5, the elastic member 600 according to a
second embodiment of the present invention includes a front spring
612 having one end connected to an upper front side of the tub 200
to extend in an upper front direction and the other end connected
to a lower front side of the top plate 110 and a rear spring 622
having one end connected to an upper rear of the tub 200 to extend
in an upper rear direction and the other end connected to an upper
side of the rear plate 150.
[0073] And, spring fixing members 241 and 251, to which the other
ends of the front and rear springs 612 and 622 are connected, are
provided at the lower front side of the top plate 110 and the upper
side of the rear plate 150, respectively.
[0074] Referring to FIG. 6, the elastic member 600 according to a
third embodiment of the present invention includes a front spring
613 having one end connected to an upper front side of the tub 200
to extend in an upper front direction and the other end connected
to an upper side of the front plate 130 and a rear spring 623
having one end connected to an upper rear of the tub 200 to extend
in an upper rear direction and the other end connected to a lower
rear side of the top plate 110.
[0075] And, spring fixing members 242 and 252, to which the other
ends of the front and rear springs 613 and 623 are connected, are
provided at the upper side of the front plate 130 and the lower
rear side of the top plate 110, respectively.
[0076] Referring to FIG. 7, the elastic member 600 according to a
fourth embodiment of the present invention includes a front spring
614 having one end connected to an upper front side of the tub 200
to extend in an upper front direction and the other end connected
to an upper side of the front plate 130 and a rear spring 624
having one end connected to an upper rear of the tub 200 to extend
in an upper rear direction and the other end connected to an upper
side of the rear plate 150.
[0077] And, spring fixing members 243 and 253, to which the other
ends of the front and rear springs 614 and 624 are connected, are
provided at the upper side of the front plate 130 and the upper
side of the rear plate 150, respectively.
[0078] Accordingly, the drum type washing machine according to the
present invention has the following effects or advantages.
[0079] First of all, the damper unit including the left and right
dampers attenuate the vertical and horizontal vibrations of the tub
and the elastic member including the front and rear springs
attenuates the front-to-rear vibration as well as the vertical
vibration of the tub, whereby the overall vibrations and noise are
remarkably reduced.
[0080] Secondly, the present invention remarkably reduces the
front-to-rear vibration of the tub to prevent the internal parts
near the tub from being damaged by shocks according to the
vibrations, whereby endurances of the internal parts are
preserved.
[0081] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications
and variations, provided they come within the scope of the appended
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *