U.S. patent application number 13/258965 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-19 for laundry machine.
Invention is credited to Min Gyu Jo, Young Suk Kim, Ig Geun Kwon, Hyun Seok Seo.
Application Number | 20120011900 13/258965 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43505909 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120011900 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kwon; Ig Geun ; et
al. |
January 19, 2012 |
LAUNDRY MACHINE
Abstract
The present invention relates to a laundry machine having an
improved supporting structure of a damper for supporting a tub
(200), including a tub (200) for holding washing water, a drum
(400) rotatably mounted in the tub (200), vibration means for
attenuating vibration transmitted from the drum (400), and a
bushing (1130) disposed between a base (110) and the vibration
attenuation means in a compressed and deformed state for
restricting movement of one end of the vibration attenuation
means.
Inventors: |
Kwon; Ig Geun; (Changwon-si,
KR) ; Kim; Young Suk; (Seoul, KR) ; Seo; Hyun
Seok; (Seoul, KR) ; Jo; Min Gyu; (Seoul,
KR) |
Family ID: |
43505909 |
Appl. No.: |
13/258965 |
Filed: |
May 27, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
May 27, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2010/003377 |
371 Date: |
September 22, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/140 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 37/22 20130101;
D06F 37/268 20130101; D06F 37/20 20130101; F16F 1/38 20130101; F16F
1/3732 20130101; D06F 37/269 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/140 |
International
Class: |
D06F 21/04 20060101
D06F021/04; D06F 37/22 20060101 D06F037/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 28, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0047192 |
Aug 27, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0079950 |
May 18, 2010 |
KR |
10-2010-0046481 |
Claims
1. A laundry machine comprising: a tub for holding washing water; a
drum rotatably mounted in the tub; vibration attenuation means for
attenuating vibration transmitted from the drum; and a bushing
disposed between a base and the vibration attenuation means in a
compressed and deformed state for restricting movement of one end
of the vibration attenuation means.
2. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bushing
includes; an upper bushing disposed over the base and passed
through by the one end of the vibration attenuation means, and a
lower bushing disposed under the base and passed through by the one
end of the vibration attenuation means.
3. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lower
bushing has a height higher than a height of the upper bushing
before the bushing is coupled to the base.
4. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lower
bushing and the upper bushing have same heights after they are
coupled to the base.
5. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the upper
bushing has a thickness of 11 mm.about.12 mm before the upper
bushing is mounted, and the lower bushing has a thickness of 12
mm.about.13 mm before the lower bushing is mounted.
6. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the
upper bushing and the lower bushing has an outside diameter of
30.about.50 mm.
7. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the busing is
formed of rubber having a hardness of 55.about.65 Hs at a room
temperature.
8. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base
includes a spring supporting portion projected upward to a
predetermined height from a bottom surface.
9. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spring
supporting portion is positioned on a front side of opposite sides
of the bottom surface of the base.
10. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the spring
supporting portion includes a bushing seating portion which is
formed as recessed downward for seating the bushing thereon.
11. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bushing
seating portion includes; a fastening rib projected downward
(bent?) from a center portion, and a through-hole passed through
the bushing seating portion.
12. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the
vibration attenuation means further includes; a cylinder, a piston
inserted into the cylinder, a spring engaged between the cylinder
and the piston to exert a spring force therebetween, and a spring
supporting portion connected to the cylinder or the piston and
positioned on an upper side of the bushing for supporting the
spring.
13. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of the
upper bushing and the lower bushing has a pass through hole in a
center thereof.
14. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein the
fastening rib is placed in the hole in the lower bushing.
15. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein one end of
the piston is mounted passing through the upper bushing, the lower
bushing, and the fastening rib.
16. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a rotation shaft connected to the drum; a bearing housing rotatably
supporting the rotation shaft; a motor for rotating the rotation
shaft; and a suspension unit including the vibration attenuation
means, the suspension unit attached to the bearing housing for
attenuating vibration of the drum.
17. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tub is
supported more rigidly than the drum is supported by the vibration
attenuation means.
18. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a driving unit including a rotation shaft connected to the drum, a
bearing housing rotatably supporting the rotation shaft, and a
motor for rotating the rotation shaft; and a flexible member for
sealing a rear side of the tub to prevent water from leaking to the
driving unit from the tub and allowing the driving unit to move
relative to the tub.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to laundry machines, and more
particularly, to a laundry machine having an improved supporting
structure of a damper for supporting a tub.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In general, the drum type washing machine has the tub
mounted in a cabinet which forms an exterior of the drum type
washing machine for holding washing water. There is a drum
rotatably mounted in the tub for holding laundry. The drum is
rotated by a motor, and since vibration transmits from the drum to
the tub, a vibration attenuation structure, such as springs,
dampers, balancers is provided for attenuating the vibration.
[0003] The tub is suspended from an inside of the cabinet with
springs and the like, and the motor is mounted to a rear of the tub
for rotating the drum in the tub. That is, it is configured that
the drum and the tub are connected with the motor mounted to the
rear of the tub.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0004] In the meantime, in such a related art drum type, vibration
takes place at the drum due to weight imbalance caused by leaning
of the laundry to one side as the drum type washing machine rotates
at a high RPM. Consequently, the vibration transmits from the drum
to the tub and the cabinet, making the tub and surrounding
components to vibrate together.
[0005] Therefore, in order to maintain a coupled state even such
transmission of the vibration securely, improvement of the
supporting structure is required.
Solution to Problem
[0006] To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is
to provide a laundry machine in which a damper supporting structure
is improved.
[0007] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a laundry machine includes a tub for
holding washing water, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub, a
vibration attenuation means for attenuating vibration transmitted
from the drum, and a bushing disposed between a base and the
vibration attenuation means in a compressed and deformed state for
restricting movement of one end of the vibration attenuation
means.
[0008] The bushing includes an upper bushing disposed over the base
and passed through by the one end of the vibration attenuation
means, and a lower bushing disposed under the base and passed
through by the one end of the vibration attenuation means.
[0009] The lower bushing has a height higher than a height of the
upper bushing before the bushing is coupled to the base.
[0010] The lower bushing has and the upper bushing have same
heights after they are coupled to the base.
[0011] The upper bushing has a thickness of 11 mm.about.12 mm
before the upper bushing is mounted, and the lower bushing has a
thickness of 12 mm.about.13 mm before the lower bushing is
mounted.
[0012] Each of the upper bushing and the lower bushing has an
outside diameter of 30.about.50 mm.
[0013] The busing is formed of rubber having a hardness of
55.about.65 Hs at a room temperature.
[0014] In the meantime, the base includes a spring supporting
portion projected upward to a predetermined height from a bottom
surface.
[0015] The spring supporting portion is positioned on a front side
of opposite sides of the bottom surface of the base.
[0016] The spring supporting portion includes a bushing seating
portion which is formed as recessed downward for seating the
bushing thereon.
[0017] The bushing seating portion includes a fastening rib
projected downward from a center portion, and a through-hole passed
through the bushing seating portion.
[0018] The vibration attenuation means further includes a cylinder,
a piston inserted into the cylinder, a spring engaged between the
cylinder and the piston to exert a spring force therebetween,
and
[0019] a spring supporting portion connected to the cylinder or the
piston and positioned on an upper side of the bushing for
supporting the spring.
[0020] Each of the upper bushing and the lower bushing has a pass
through hole in a center thereof.
[0021] The fastening rib is placed in the hole in the lower
bushing.
[0022] One end of the piston is mounted passing through the upper
bushing, the lower bushing, and the fastening.
[0023] An embodiment of the present invention can be made such that
the suspension unit is connected to the driving unit for
supportably buffering vibration of the drum. Though, in the related
art, the suspension unit is connected to the tub for buffering both
the tub and the drum, the laundry machine of the present invention
may have a structure in which vibration of the drum is isolated
from the vibration of the tub.
[0024] In the meantime, the tub is supported rigidly more than the
drum being supported by the suspension unit. An example in which
the tub is supported rigidly more than the drum being supported by
the suspension unit is as follows.
[0025] First, at least a portion of the tub can be formed as one
unit with the cabinet.
[0026] Second, the tub may be supportably connected with screws,
rivets, rubber bushings or supportably fixed by welding, adhesive
sealing. In this case, such a connection member has rigidity
greater than the suspension unit with respect to a direction of a
major vibration of the drum.
[0027] Moreover, a flexible member may be included for reducing
transmission of vibration from the drum to the tub. The flexible
member may be made to make flexible connection of the tub to the
driving unit for preventing leakage from the driving unit and the
tub and enabling the driving unit to move relative to the tub. Such
a flexible member may be the rear gasket.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0028] The present invention has following advantageous
effects.
[0029] The laundry machine can improve a damper supporting
structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0030] 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.
[0031] In the drawings:
[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a laundry
machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a base of the
laundry machine in FIG. 1.
[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a suspension unit
of the laundry machine in FIG. 1.
[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged sectional view of A part in
FIG. 3.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0036] 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.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the laundry machine includes a
cabinet 100 which forms an exterior of the laundry machine, a tub
200 fixedly supported on the cabinet 100, a drum 400 rotatably
mounted in the tub 200, a bearing housing 500 for supporting the
drum 400, a rear gasket 300 and a suspension unit 600 for
supporting the tub 200.
[0038] The cabinet 100 includes a base which forms a bottom
surface, one pair of side panels 120 which form opposite sides, and
a rear panel 130 which forms a rear of the laundry machine
(detailed structure of the base will be described later in
detail).
[0039] The tub 200 includes a tub front 210 and a rear tub 220 both
of which are cylindrical, and a tub back which forms a rear wall of
the rear tub 220, which are assembled with screws to form a space
for housing the drum therein. The rear tub 220 has an opening in a
rear surface, of which inside circumference is connected to an
outside circumference of the rear gasket 300, and an inside
circumference of the rear gasket 300 is connected to the tub back
230. The tub back 230 has a pass through hole in a center for
placing a rotation shaft therethrough.
[0040] The rear gasket 300 is formed of a flexible material for
preventing the vibration from transmitting from the tub back 230 to
the rear tub 220. The rear gasket 300 is sealably connected to the
tub back 230 and the rear tub 220 respectively for preventing the
washing water from leaking from the tub 200.
[0041] The tub back 230, vibrating with the drum 400 when the drum
400 rotates, is spaced from the rear tub 220 adequately for
preventing the tub back 230 from interfering with the rear tub 220.
Since the rear gasket 300 is formed of the flexible material, the
tub back 230 is enabled to make a relative motion without
interference with the rear tub 220. The rear gasket 300 may have a
corrugated portion (not shown) which can be extended adequately for
enabling the tub back 230 to make the relative motion.
[0042] The drum 400 includes a drum front 410, a drum center 420,
and a drum back 430, and there are balancers 310 and 330 mounted to
a front and a rear of the drum 400. The drum back 430 is connected
to and supported on a spider 450, and the spider 450 is connected
to the rotating shaft 460. The drum 400 rotates in the tub 200 by
rotation force transmitted thereto through the rotation shaft
460.
[0043] The rotation shaft 460 is passed through the tub back 230
and connected to the motor (not shown), directly. In detail, a
rotor of the motor and the rotation shaft 460 are connected
directly. There is the bearing housing 500 on the rear surface 128
of the tub back 230 between the motor and the tub back 230 for
supporting the rotation shaft 460, rotatably.
[0044] The bearing housing 500 has a stator (not shown) fixed
thereto, the rotor is mounted to surround the stator, and the rotor
is connected to the rotation shaft 460, directly. In this instance,
the motor may be an outer rotor type motor.
[0045] The bearing housing 500 is mounted on the base 110 of the
cabinet 100 suspended by the suspension unit 600.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 3, the suspension unit 600 includes three
vertical suspensions and two tilted suspensions which support in
tilted positions in a front to rear direction. The suspension unit
is connected to the cabinet base 110, not fixedly, but elastically
for enabling the drum to move in front/rear directions and
left/right directions in a certain extent.
[0047] That is, the suspension unit 600 is elastically supported
with respect to supporting points connected to the base for
enabling the suspension unit 600 to move in the front/rear
directions and in the left/right directions in a certain extent. In
order to make such elastic supporting available, the vertical
suspensions are mounted to the base 110 through rubber bushings,
respectively.
[0048] In the suspension unit 600, the vertical suspensions are a
first cylinder spring 610, a second cylinder spring 620, and a
third cylinder spring 630 which are vibration attenuation means for
buffering vibration of the drum elastically, and the tilted
suspensions are a first cylinder damper 640 and a second cylinder
damper 650 for attenuating the vibration of the drum.
[0049] That is, in a vibration system including spring damping
means, it can be configured that vertical ones serve as a spring,
and tilted ones serve as the damping means.
[0050] As described before, the tub 200 is fixedly secured to the
cabinet 100, and the vibration of the drum 400 is supportably
buffered. It can be said that it is in a mode that supporting
structures for supporting the tub 200 and the drum 400 are
separated from each other, and it may also be said that it is in a
mode that the drum 400 does not vibrate even if the tub 20
does.
[0051] The suspension unit 600 will be described in more
detail.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 3, the suspension unit 600 includes first
and second axial direction brackets 660 and 670, a first cylinder
spring 610 connected thereto respectively, a second spring 620 and
a third cylinder spring 630, and a first cylinder damper 640 and a
second cylinder damper 650.
[0053] The cylinder spring is mounted between the cylinder and the
piston 624, for damping the vibration. The cylinder is connected to
the axial direction bracket, and the piston is connected to a base
side. The spring is supported on a spring supporting portion 626.
Owing to the spring, a length of the cylinder spring can vary
securely at damping. The cylinder has a piston moving in the
cylinder for providing the damping effect by friction
resistance.
[0054] The first cylinder spring 610 is connected between the first
axial direction bracket 660 and the base 110, and the second
cylinder spring 620 is connected between the second axial direction
bracket 670 and the base 110. The third cylinder spring 630 is
connected between the bearing housing and the base 110,
directly.
[0055] In the meantime, referring to FIG. 2, the base 100 includes
a bottom portion 112 which is a bottom of the base 110, a front
frame 114, a rear frame 116, and side frames 118 bent upward from
four corners of the bottom portion 112.
[0056] The bottom portion 112 has a press processed portion 112a
bent upward by press processing on an inner side of the front frame
114, the rear frame 116, and the side frames 118 spaced
therefrom.
[0057] There are spring supporting portions 1120 at a front side of
each of spaces between the press processed portion 112a and the
side frames 118, and at a center of a space between the press
processed portion 112a and the rear frame 116.
[0058] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, each of the spring supporting
portions 1120 has an upward projection from the bottom portion 112
to have a predetermined height higher than the bottom portion 112,
and is fastened to one of the first to third springs 610, 620 and
630 (Since the cylinder springs are coupled in the same method, for
convenience's sake, the embodiment will be described with reference
to the second cylinder spring).
[0059] The spring supporting portion 1120 has a bushing seating
portion 1122 which is constructed as a portion of the upward
projection is pressed down, and the bushing seating portion 1122
has a pass through hole 1122a in center of the bushing seating
portion 1122. The pass through hole 1122a also has a fastening rib
1122b cylindrically projected downward as the pass through hole
1122a is pressed down.
[0060] A bushing 1130 to be described later is seated on the
bushing seating portion 1122, and the fastening rib 1122b is placed
in the bushing 1130.
[0061] The bushing 1130 includes an upper bushing 1132 coupled to
an upper side of the bushing seating portion 1122 and a lower
bushing 1134 coupled to an lower side of the bushing seating
portion 1122.
[0062] At a center of the upper bushing 1132 and the lower bushing
1134, there is a hole 1136 which is passed through for placing the
piston of the second cylinder 620 therein. After the upper bushing
1132 is seated, the fastening rib 1122b is placed in the hole 1136
in the lower bushing 1134 at first to seat the lower bushing 1134
thereon.
[0063] Thereafter, the upper bushing 1132 and the lower bushing
1134 are coupled, and the piston 624 is passed through the upper
bushing 1132 and the spring supporting portion 626 in a state the
spring supporting portion 626 of the second cylinder damper 620 is
seated on the upper bushing 1132, and an end of piston 624 the
projected to an outside of the lower bushing 1134. For this, the
spring supporting portion 626 also has a pass through hole in a
center. As a nut is fastened to the projected end of the piston
624, the second cylinder spring 620 is fastened.
[0064] The lower bushing 1134 has a height higher than the upper
bushing 1132. However, at the time of fastening the bushing 1130,
the lower bushing 1134 is fastened with a nut in a state the lower
bushing is positioned at a lower side of the bushing seating
portion 1122 and coupled to the piston 624. Therefore, since the
lower bushing 1134 is fastened in a state the lower bushing 1134 is
compressed and deformed, and the upper bushing 1132 is fastened in
a state the upper bushing 1132 is not compressed, heights of the
upper bushing 1132 and the lower bushing 1134 can be the same or
the height of the upper bushing 1132 is higher.
[0065] In the embodiment of the present invention, both the upper
bushing 1132 and the lower bushing 1134 have outside diameters 40
mm respectively, and the upper busing 1130 has thickness of 11.5
mm, and the lower bushing 1134 has thickness of 12.5 mm, both
before mounting. Though the upper bushing 1132 and the lower
bushing 1134 have thicknesses different from each other, the upper
bushing 1132 and the lower bushing 1134 are mounted to have the
same thickness in a mounted state.
[0066] That is, at the time of mounting, a nut is fastened to a
lower end of the piston 624 until thicknesses of the upper bushing
1132 and the lower bushing 1134 become the same. The upper bushing
1132 and the lower bushing 1134 serve to support rotational moment
acting on the cylinder springs more securely for reducing vibration
of the drum 400.
[0067] The upper bushing 1132 and the lower bushing 1134 may be
formed of Isobutylene-Isoprene rubber, with hardness in a range of
55.about.65 HS at a room temperature, preferably 60 HS. If the
bushing 1130 has a weak rigidity weak, front/rear direction or
left/right direction amplitude of the drum is liable to increase,
and has a rigidity strong excessively, abnormal vibration is liable
to take place in a steady state at the time of spinning.
[0068] Thus, the first to third cylinder springs are mounted to the
base 110 with the rubber bushings 1130 disposed therebetween,
respectively. Therefore, the cylinder spring makes motion relative
to the base 110 as far as the elasticity of the bushing 1130
allows.
[0069] The fastening of the cylinder spring to the base with the
rubber bushings 1130 disposed therebetween allows a certain extent
of freedoms to the cylinder spring. Such a fastening structure
enables to buffer the drum, flexibly relatively.
[0070] 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.
* * * * *