U.S. patent application number 12/449697 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-10 for drum type washing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Jae Won Chang, Min Gyu Jo, Hee Tae Lim, Hyun Seok Seo.
Application Number | 20100139331 12/449697 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39710614 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100139331 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lim; Hee Tae ; et
al. |
June 10, 2010 |
Drum Type Washing Machine
Abstract
This invention relates to a drum type washing machine including
a cabinet, a tub provided in the cabinet, a drum rotatably provided
in the tub, a bearing housing including a huh having a rotating
shaft of the drum passed therethrough and bearings placed in a
center portion thereof, a supporting portion which extends from an
outside circumference of the hub integrally, and a fastening
portion provided integrally with the supporting portion, a
connective supporter fastened to the fastening portion for
supporting the bearing housing, and a vibration attenuating device
between the connective supporter and the cabinet for attenuating
vibration.
Inventors: |
Lim; Hee Tae; (Changwon-si,
KR) ; Seo; Hyun Seok; (Geun-cheon-gu, KR) ;
Jo; Min Gyu; (Geum-cheonp-gu, KR) ; Chang; Jae
Won; (Geum-cheon-gu, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KED & ASSOCIATES, LLP
P.O. Box 221200
Chantilly
VA
20153-1200
US
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
39710614 |
Appl. No.: |
12/449697 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
February 22, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2008/001050 |
371 Date: |
February 17, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/140 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 37/22 20130101;
D06F 37/20 20130101; D06F 37/269 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/140 |
International
Class: |
D06F 23/00 20060101
D06F023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 23, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0018281 |
Claims
1. A drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a tub
provided in the cabinet; a drum rotatably provided in the tub; a
bearing housing including a hub having a rotating shaft of the drum
passed therethrough and bearings placed in a center portion
thereof, a supporting portion which extends from an outside
circumference of the hub integrally, and a fastening portion
provided integrally with the supporting portion; a connective
supporter fastened to the fastening portion for supporting the
bearing housing; and a vibration attenuating device between the
connective supporter and the cabinet for attenuating vibration.
2. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
plurality of the connective supporters are provided in symmetry
under the bearing housing.
3. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
connective supporter includes; an extension portion extended in a
radial direction of the bearing housing, and a connection portion
bent from the extension portion and connected to the vibration
attenuating device.
4. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
connection portion is provided parallel to a bottom of the cabinet
substantially, and at least one vibration attenuating device is
connected to an underside of the connection portion.
5. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
connective supporter further includes reinforcing ribs for
reinforcing strength of the connective supporter.
6. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
stator of a motor for driving the drum is fastened to the
supporting portion.
7. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
bearing housing includes; a first bearing housing for direct
supporting of the rotating shaft of the drum, and a second bearing
housing provided on an outside of the first bearing housing.
8. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
first bearing housing is injection molded inserted in the second
bearing housing.
9. The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
supporting portion and the fastening portion are provided at the
first bearing housing.
10. A drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a drum
rotatably provided in the cabinet; a bearing housing including a
first bearing housing having a hub with a rotation shaft of the
drum passed therethrough; a supporting portion along an outside
circumference to the first bearing housing, and a second bearing
housing having a fastening portion adjacent to the supporting
portion; a vibration attenuating device in the cabinet for
attenuating vibration generated by the drum; and a plurality of
connective supporters for distributing force from the bearing
housing and transmissing the distributed force to the vibration
attenuating device.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to washing machines, and more
particularly, to a drum type washing machine which enables to
enhance rigidity of a system thereof and make the drum type washing
machine lighter.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In general, the washing machine performs steps of washing,
rinsing, and spinning for removing dirt from laundry by using
interaction between the detergent and the water. In the washing
machines, there are cylinder type, agitator type, pulsator type
washing machines according to washing types.
[0003] The agitator type washing machine washes laundry by rotating
a blade like agitator upright from a center of a washing tub in
left/right directions, and the pulsator type washing machine washes
the laundry with water circulation formed by rotating a disc like
pulsator. The drum type washing machine washes the laundry by
placing water, detergent, and the laundry in the drum having a
plurality of projections on the drum and rotating the drum around a
horizontal axis at a slow speed to cause impacts as the laundry is
dropped after lifted by the projections and friction between the
laundry. Since the drum type washing has advantage in that there is
almost no damage of the laundry and water consumption is low, it is
a trend that use of the drum type washing machine increases.
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a related art drum type washing machine,
schematically. The related art drum type washing machine will be
described briefly with reference to FIG. 1.
[0005] The related art drum type washing machine is provided with a
drum 1 for holding washing objects, a tub 2 and a cabinet 7 both
surrounding the drum 1, and a motor 5 for driving the drum 1. The
related art drum type washing machine is also provided with a drum
driving shaft 4 rotated by the motor 5 for rotating the drum 1. The
drum driving shaft 4 is supported on a bearing housing 3 on a rear
wall of the tub 2. Under the tub 2, there is a damper 6 for
reducing transmission of vibration from the tub 2 caused by
rotation of the drum to the cabinet 7.
[0006] At the end, if the drum 1 having the laundry introduced
thereto rotates, the vibration is transmitted from the drum 1 to
the bearing housing 3, and therefrom to the tub 2. The vibration is
dampened by the damper before the vibration is transmitted from the
tub 2 to the cabinet 7.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0007] However, the related art drum type washing machine has the
following problems.
[0008] First, the bearing housing fixedly secured to the tub and
the damper under the tub amplify vibration of the tub at the time
the drum vibrates, to increase noise from an entire system. The
amplified vibration of the tub requires enhancing strength of the
entire system.
[0009] Second, the misalignment of the bearings in the bearing
housing causes difficulty in placing the drum driving shaft in the
bearings.
[0010] Third, the location of the bearing housing which supports
the drum at the rear wall of the tub requires an excessive rigidity
of the rear wall of the tub.
Technical Solution
[0011] To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is
to provide a drum type washing machine which enables to enhance
rigidity of a system thereof and make the drum type washing machine
lighter.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a drum
type washing machine which enables to reduce vibration from an
entire system when the drum vibrates.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a drum
type washing machine which enables to reduce a number of components
of, and a time period required for assembling, a bearing
housing.
[0014] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a drum type washing machine includes a
cabinet, a tub provided in the cabinet, a drum rotatably provided
in the tub, and a bearing housing including a hub having a rotating
shaft of the drum passed therethrough and bearings placed in a
center portion thereof, a supporting portion which extends from an
outside circumference of the hub integrally, and a fastening
portion provided integrally with the supporting portion.
[0015] In another aspect of the present invention, a drum type
washing machine includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably mounted in the
cabinet, a bearing housing including a first bearing housing having
a hub with a rotation shaft of the drum passed therethrough, a
supporting portion along an outside circumference to the first
bearing housing, and a second bearing housing having a fastening
portion adjacent to the supporting portion, a vibration attenuating
device in the cabinet for attenuating vibration generated by the
drum, and a plurality of connective supporters for distributing
force from the bearing housing and transmissing the distributed
force to the vibration attenuating device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide
further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of
the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the disclosure.
[0017] In the drawings:
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a related art drum type washing machine,
schematically;
[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a section of a drum type washing machine
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
schematically;
[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the drum type
washing machine in FIG. 2 with a partial cut away view; and
[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a first bearing
housing mounted to the drum type washing machine in FIG. 2.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to the specific
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a section of a drum type washing machine
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
schematically, and FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the
drum type washing machine in FIG. 2 with a partial au away
view.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the drum type washing machine
may include a cabinet 70 which forms an exterior of the drum type
washing machine, a drum 10 rotatably provided in the cabinet 70, a
rotating shaft 40 for rotating the drum 10, and a motor 50
connected to the rotating shaft 40. Of course, the drum type
washing machine has a bearing housing 300 for supporting the
rotating shaft 40. The bearing housing 300 includes a first bearing
housing 310 for direct supporting of the rotating shaft 40, and a
second bearing housing 320 on an outside of the first bearing
housing 310.
[0025] The drum type washing machine also may include a vibration
attenuating device 60 for attenuating vibration transmitted from
the drum to the cabinet 70. In the meantime, a connective supporter
400 for supporting the bearing housing 300 may be provided between
the vibration attenuating device 60 and the bearing housing
300.
[0026] In detail, the connective supporter 400 has one side
fastened to a layer side of the bearing housing with a fastening
member 30, and the other side fixedly secured to the vibration
attenuating device 60. The vibration attenuating device 60 is
projected from a bottom of the cabinet 70, and may include
attenuating members, such as dampers or springs. The bearing
housing 300 and the connective supporter 400 will be described in
detail, later.
[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the first bearing
housing mounted to the drum type washing machine in FIG. 3.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 4, the first bearing housing 310 may
include a hub 311 for placing the bearings (see 21 and 22 in FIG.
2) therein, a supporting portion 312 which extends from an outside
circumference of the hub 311, and a fastening portion 313 which
also extends from an outside circumference of the hub 311 longer
than the supporting portion 312. In this instance, it is preferable
that the hub 311, the supporting portion 312, and the fastening
portion 313 are formed integrally.
[0029] The supporting portion 312 may have at least one first
fastening boss 312a for fastening a stator (see 51 in FIG. 3) of
the motor thereto, and the fastening portion 313 may have at least
one second fastening boss 313a for fastening the connective
supporter 400 thereto.
[0030] In detail, the hub 311 may have a center opening 311a with a
front bearing 21 and a rear bearing 22 placed in opposite sides
thereof for rotatably supporting the rotating shaft (see 40 in FIG.
2).
[0031] The supporting portion 312 surrounds the outside
circumference of the hub 311 and is extended in a radial direction
therefrom. It is preferable that the supporting portion 312 has a
thickness of, for an example, 2-3 mm, and has a shape repeatedly
projected and recessed substantially with reference to a plane
perpendicular to an axis of the hub 311 along a circumferential
direction. The projected portion of the supporting portion 312 may
have the fastening boss 312a for fastening the stator 51 of the
motor as described before.
[0032] In the meantime, the fastening portion 313 is an extension
from the hub 311 longer than the supporting portion 312. It is
preferable that the fastening portion 313 is fabricated of a stiff
material thicker than the supporting portion 312. This is because
the connective supporter 400 is fastened to the second fastening
boss 313a of the fastening portion 313 for supporting weight of the
drum 10 and the bearing housing 300.
[0033] In the embodiment, a plurality of the fastening portions 313
are formed in a radial direction of the bearing housing 300, for an
example, two as shown in the drawing. The connective supporter 400
is fastened to each of the second fastening bosses 313a of the
fastening portions 313. Of course, numbers of the fastening
portions 313 and the connective supporters 400 are not limited to
two, but appropriate variations thereof are possible.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 again, the connective supporter
400 may include an extension portion 410 extended downward in a
radial direction of the bearing housing 300, and a connection
portion bent from the extension portion 410. Preferable, a
plurality of the connective supporters 400 are provided, and more
preferably, the connective supporters 400 are provided
symmetrically under the bearing housing 300.
[0035] As a result, the extension portion 410, extended in the
radial direction of the bearing housing 300 from a lower side
thereof, uniformly distributes force to the connective supporter
400. The connection portion 420 transmits the distributed force
from the extension portion 410 to the vibration attenuating device
60. In detail, the connection portion 420 is mounted parallel to
the bottom of the cabinet 70 substantially, and may be connected to
a first vibration attenuating device 61 having a damper and a
second vibration attenuating device 63 having a spring at an
underside of the connection portion 420.
[0036] The extension portion 410 may have reinforcing ribs 411 for
reinforcing strength of the connective supporter 400 for sustaining
the force to the extension portion 410.
[0037] In the meantime, the second bearing housing 320 is connected
to the first bearing housing 310 on a front side of the first
bearing housing 310, i.e., on a front side of the supporting
portion 312.
[0038] The first bearing housing 310 may be injection molded
inserted in the second bearing housing 320, or fabricated
separately and coupled with the second bearing housing 320. In a
case the first bearing housing 310 is injection molded inserted in
the second bearing housing 320, the first bearing housing 310 and
the second bearing housing 320 will be fabricated as one unit. In
the meantime, the second bearing housing 320 may be formed of
plastic, and the first bearing housing 310 may be formed of metal,
for an example, aluminum.
[0039] In the meantime, since the front bearing 21 and the rear
bearing 22 are placed in the same component of hub 311, there is no
axis misalignment between the front bearing 21 and the rear bearing
22.
[0040] Moreover, since only a component with heavy weight, i.e.,
only the fastening portion 313 fastened to the connective supporter
400 is fabricated of the stiff material, while the supporting
portion 312 fastened to the second bearing housing 320 is
fabricated of thin material, total weight and size can be
reduced.
[0041] 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 the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0042] The drum type washing machine of the present invention has
the following advantages.
[0043] First, the bearing housing, having the supporting portion
for mounting the stator of the motor thereto and the fastening
portion for mounting the connective supporter thereto fabricated as
one unit, permits to reduce a number of components, and a time
period, required for assembly of the bearing housing.
[0044] Second, while the related art vibration attenuation device
supports the tub directly, because the connective supporter of the
present invention extended in the radial direction of the bearing
housing distributes force to the bearing housing, vibration noise
from an entire system can be reduced.
[0045] Third, the direct fastening of the stator of the motor and
the connective supporter to the strong first bearing housing
improves system stiffness, and makes an entire system lighter.
* * * * *