U.S. patent application number 13/859917 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-17 for washing machine having damping apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Dong Ha JUNG, Dae Uk KANG, Jeong Hoon KANG, Hyun Mook KIM, Min Sung KIM, Gyu Sung NA.
Application Number | 20130269396 13/859917 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49323848 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130269396 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NA; Gyu Sung ; et
al. |
October 17, 2013 |
WASHING MACHINE HAVING DAMPING APPARATUS
Abstract
A washing machine having a structure in which a drum can stably
rotate. The washing machine includes a cabinet including an outer
frame that constitutes an exterior, an inner frame connected to an
inner side of the outer frame, and a lower frame coupled to a lower
part of the outer frame; a drum rotatably disposed in the inner
frame; a base plate coupled to a lower part of the drum; a driving
unit coupled to the base plate and driving the drum; and a damping
apparatus that connects the base plate and the lower frame so as to
absorb vibration occurring while the drum rotates.
Inventors: |
NA; Gyu Sung; (Yongin-si,
KR) ; KANG; Dae Uk; (Hwaseong-si, KR) ; KANG;
Jeong Hoon; (Seoul, KR) ; KIM; Min Sung;
(Yongin-si, KR) ; KIM; Hyun Mook; (Osan-si,
KR) ; JUNG; Dong Ha; (Yongin-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
49323848 |
Appl. No.: |
13/859917 |
Filed: |
April 10, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/131 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 37/20 20130101;
D06F 37/40 20130101; D06F 37/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/131 |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/20 20060101
D06F037/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 16, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0039204 |
Claims
1. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet comprising an outer
frame that constitutes an exterior, an inner frame connected to an
inner side of the outer frame, and a lower frame coupled to a lower
part of the outer frame; a drum rotatably disposed in the inner
frame; a base plate coupled to a lower part of the drum; a driving
unit coupled to the base plate and configured to rotate the drum;
and a damping apparatus configured to connect the base plate and
the lower frame so as to absorb vibration occurring while the drum
rotates.
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the damping
apparatus comprises: a support bracket coupled to a bottom surface
of the base plate; and a plurality of dampers having ends connected
to the support bracket and the other ends connected to the lower
frame.
3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the plurality
of dampers are disposed in a radial form centering on a rotation
central axis of the drum.
4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the plurality
of dampers comprise a first damper and a second damper that are
adjacent to each other and an angle between a virtual first
extension line that extends from one end of the first damper toward
the rotation central axis of the drum and a virtual second
extension line that extends from one end of the second damper
toward the rotation central axis of the drum is between 45.degree.
and 135.degree..
5. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein at least one
of the plurality of dampers has one end connected to the support
bracket and the other end connected to a corner of the lower
frame.
6. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein an angle
between a virtual third extension line that extends from one end of
at least one of the plurality of dampers toward a ground and the
ground is between 5.degree. and 30.degree..
7. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the support
bracket comprises: a body configured to surround at least a portion
of the driving unit; a fixing part bent from an upper side of the
body toward an outer side of the body and having at least one
fixing hole through which the support bracket is fixed to the
bottom surface of the base plate; and a plurality of fastening
parts configured to protrude from sides of the body and connect the
plurality of dampers to the support bracket.
8. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the plurality
of dampers are rotatably coupled to the support bracket and the
lower frame.
9. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein positions of
the plurality of dampers are biased toward one of front and rear of
a virtual first division plane that divides the cabinet in front
and rear directions while passing through a rotation central axis
of the drum.
10. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein positions of
the plurality of dampers are biased toward one of right and left of
a virtual second division plane that divides the cabinet in right
and left directions while passing through the rotation central axis
of the drum.
11. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a tub disposed in the
cabinet and configured to store washing water; a drum rotatably
disposed in the tub; a pulsator rotatably disposed in the drum; a
motor disposed in a lower part of the tub and configured to provide
power for rotating the drum; a clutch configured to selectively
transfer power of the motor to the drum or pulsator; a base plate
configured to fix the clutch and the motor and coupled to a lower
part of the tub; and a damping apparatus configured to connect the
base plate and the lower frame so as to absorb vibration occurring
while the drum rotates, wherein the damping apparatus comprises a
support bracket coupled to a bottom surface of the base plate; and
a plurality of dampers having ends connected to the support bracket
and the other ends connected to a lower part of the cabinet and
disposed in a radial form centering on a rotation central axis of
the drum.
12. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the
plurality of dampers are rotatably coupled to the support bracket
and the lower part of the cabinet.
13. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the
plurality of dampers comprise a first damper and a second damper
that are adjacent to each other and an angle between the first
damper and the second damper centering on the rotation central axis
of the drum is between 45.degree. and 135.degree..
14. The washing machine according to claim 12, wherein an angle
between the first damper and the second damper and a ground is
between 5.degree. and 30.degree..
15. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein positions of
the plurality of dampers are biased toward one of front and rear of
a virtual first division plane that divides the cabinet in front
and rear directions while passing through the rotation central axis
of the drum.
16. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein positions of
the plurality of dampers are biased toward one of right and left of
a virtual second division plane that divides the cabinet in right
and left directions while passing through the rotation central axis
of the drum.
17. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the support
bracket comprises a collision prevention surface for preventing the
motor and the clutch from colliding with the lower part of the
cabinet while the drum rotates.
18. The washing machine according to claim 11, further comprising
at least two suspension members to couple the base plate to an
upper part of the cabinet.
19. The washing machine according to claim 18, wherein upper ends
of the at least two suspension members are coupled to respective
corners of the cabinet via a coupling rib disposed at each of the
respective corners of the cabinet.
20. The washing machine according to claim 19, further comprising a
connection bracket coupled to a space between the base plate and
lower ends of the at least two suspension members, wherein the
connection bracket includes an avoidance groove that is bent and
formed in the lower end of the connection bracket so as to prevent
interference with a draining groove of the washing machine.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2012-0039204, filed on Apr. 16, 2012 in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a washing
machine having a damping apparatus that absorbs vibration occurring
while a drum of the washing machine rotates.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A washing machine as a machine that washes clothes using
power, generally includes a tub in which washing water is stored, a
drum rotatably installed in the tub, a pulsator rotatably installed
at the bottom of the drum, and a motor and a clutch for rotating
the drum and the pulsator.
[0006] In general, the washing machine performs a washing operation
of removing dirt from laundry and a dehydration operation of
removing moisture of laundry.
[0007] In the washing operation, the pulsator rotates in a state in
which laundry and detergent water are put in the drum, and laundry
put into the drum is stirred with washing water so that dirt can be
removed from laundry. In the dehydration operation, the drum
rotates to remove moisture that remains in laundry.
[0008] In the dehydration operation, since the drum rotates in a
state in which detergent water used in the washing operation is
discharged from the drum, when laundry is put eccentrically into
the drum, the drum eccentrically rotates and vibrates. Such a
phenomenon may occur more remarkably, in particular, in a section
in which revolutions per minute (rpm) of the drum is increased to
reach rpm required for the dehydration operation (hereinafter,
referred to as a `transition section`).
[0009] Also, when force is applied to the drum due to movement
between the drum and a cabinet, the drum eccentrically rotates and
vibrates in a section in which the drum rotates at rpm required for
the dehydration operation after passing through the transition
section (hereinafter, referred to as a `normal status
section`).
[0010] Vibration caused by eccentric rotation of the drum in the
transition section or normal status section may cause collision
between the drum and the tub or between the drum and the cabinet.
Thus, a solution thereof is required.
SUMMARY
[0011] Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to
provide a washing machine having an improved structure in which a
drum may be stably rotated while the washing machine performs a
dehydration operation.
[0012] Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in
part in the description which follows and, in part, will be
apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
disclosure.
[0013] In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure,
there is provided a washing machine including: a cabinet including
an outer frame that constitutes an exterior, an inner frame
connected to an inner side of the outer frame and a lower frame
coupled to a lower part of the outer frame; a drum rotatably
disposed in the inner frame; a base plate coupled to a lower part
of the drum; a driving unit coupled to the base plate and
configured to rotate the drum; and a damping apparatus configured
to connect the base plate and the lower frame so as to absorb
vibration occurring while the drum rotates.
[0014] The damping apparatus may include: a support bracket coupled
to a bottom surface of the base plate; and a plurality of dampers
having ends connected to the support bracket and the other ends
connected to the lower frame.
[0015] The plurality of dampers may be disposed in a radial form
centering on a rotation central axis of the drum.
[0016] The plurality of dampers may include a first damper and a
second damper that are adjacent to each other, and an angle between
a virtual first extension line that extends from one end of the
first damper toward the rotation central axis of the drum and a
virtual second extension line that extends from one end of the
second damper toward the rotation central axis of the drum may be
between 45.degree. and 135.degree..
[0017] At least one of the plurality of dampers may have one end
connected to the support bracket and the other end connected to a
corner of the lower frame.
[0018] An angle between a virtual third extension line that extends
from one end of at least one of the plurality of dampers toward a
ground and the ground may be between 5.degree. and 30.degree..
[0019] The support bracket may include: a body that surrounds at
least a portion of the driving unit; a fixing part that is bent
from an upper side of the body toward an outer side of the body and
has at least one fixing hole through which the support bracket is
fixed to the bottom surface of the base plate; and a plurality of
fastening parts that protrude from sides of the body and connect
the plurality of dampers to the support bracket.
[0020] The plurality of dampers may be rotatably coupled to the
support bracket and the lower frame.
[0021] Position of the plurality of dampers may be biased toward
one of a front and rear of a virtual first division plane that
divides the cabinet in front and rear directions while passing
through a rotation central axis of the drum.
[0022] Position of the plurality of dampers may be biased toward
one of a right and left of a virtual second division plane that
divides the cabinet in right and left directions while passing
through the rotation central axis of the drum.
[0023] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
there is provided a washing machine including: a cabinet; a tub
disposed in the cabinet and configured to store washing water; a
drum rotatably disposed in the tub; a pulsator rotatably disposed
in the drum; a motor disposed in a lower part of the tub and
configured to provide power for rotating the drum; a clutch
configured to selectively transfer power of the motor to the drum
or pulsator; a base plate configured to fix the clutch and the
motor and coupled to a lower part of the tub; and a damping
apparatus configured to connect the base plate and the lower frame
so as to absorb vibration occurring while the drum rotates, wherein
the damping apparatus includes: a support bracket coupled to a
bottom surface of the base plate; and a plurality of dampers having
ends connected to the support bracket and the other ends connected
to a lower part of the cabinet and disposed in a radial form
centering on a rotation central axis of the drum.
[0024] The plurality of dampers may be rotatably coupled to the
support bracket and the lower part of the cabinet.
[0025] The plurality of dampers may include a first damper and a
second damper that are adjacent to each other, and an angle between
the first damper and the second damper centering on the rotation
central axis of the drum may be between 45.degree. and
135.degree..
[0026] An angle between the first damper and the second damper and
a ground may be between 5.degree. and 30.degree..
[0027] Position of the plurality of dampers may be biased toward
one of front and rear of a virtual first division plane that
divides the cabinet in front and rear directions while passing
through the rotation central axis of the drum.
[0028] Position of the plurality of dampers may be biased toward
one of right and left of a virtual second division plane that
divides the cabinet in right and left directions while passing
through the rotation central axis of the drum.
[0029] The support bracket may include a collision prevention
surface for preventing the motor and the clutch from colliding with
the lower part of the cabinet while the drum rotates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a washing machine
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the washing machine
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I of
FIG. 2;
[0034] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II of
FIG. 2;
[0035] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the
combination relationship of a damping apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0036] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 5 at a
different angle; and
[0037] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the damping apparatus illustrated
in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to
like elements throughout.
[0039] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a washing machine 1
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the washing machine 1 includes a
cabinet 10 that constitutes the exterior, a drum 30 that is
rotatably disposed in the cabinet 10, and a driving unit that is
disposed in a lower part of the drum 30 so as to rotate the drum
30.
[0041] An upper frame 15 in which a laundry port 14 through which
laundry may be inserted into the drum 30 is formed, is disposed in
an upper part of the cabinet 10. A door 16 is disposed on the upper
frame 15 so as to open/close the laundry port 14.
[0042] A lower frame 18 is disposed in a lower part of the cabinet
10, and a mounting portion 19 on which the washing machine 1 may be
mounted on a bottom surface, is coupled to the lower frame 18.
[0043] Suspension members (see 21 of FIG. 2) are connected to the
upper part of the cabinet 10 so as to suspend and support the drum
30 in the cabinet 10.
[0044] The drum 30 is rotatably disposed in the cabinet 10, and a
plurality of through holes 36 are formed in an upper part of the
drum 30 along the circumference of the drum 30.
[0045] A pulsator 35 is rotatably installed at the bottom of the
drum 30. The pulsator 35 stirs laundry put into the drum 30
together with washing water.
[0046] A water supply unit 50 for supplying washing water into the
drum 30 is installed at the upper part of the drum 30. The water
supply unit 50 includes a water supply valve 53 that regulates the
supply of water and a water supply pipe 51 that connects the water
supply valve 53 and a detergent supply unit 60.
[0047] One side of the water supply pipe 51 is connected to an
external water supply source (not shown), and the other side of the
water supply pipe 51 is connected to the detergent supply unit
60.
[0048] The detergent supply unit 60 includes a case 61 disposed in
the upper frame 15 and a detergent container 63 which is detachably
mounted on the case 61 and accommodates each detergent. A discharge
hole 65 through which washing water in which detergent is dissolved
is discharged, is formed at the bottom of the case 61.
[0049] Water supplied via the water supply pipe 51 is supplied into
the drum 30 together with detergent via the detergent supply unit
60.
[0050] A first draining hose 82 and a second draining hose 84 are
disposed in the lower part of the drum 30 and guide washing water
toward an outer side of the cabinet 10 after a washing or
dehydration operation is completed.
[0051] The driving unit includes a clutch 120 that selectively
rotates the drum 30 and the pulsator 35, a driving motor 150 that
drives the clutch 120, a flange member 140 that transfers
rotational force of a driving shaft 124 of the clutch 120 to the
drum 30 by connecting the driving shaft 124 of the clutch 120 to a
bottom 32 of the drum 30, and a base plate 160 on which the clutch
120 and the driving motor 150 are fixed.
[0052] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the washing machine 1
illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along
a line I-I of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken
along a line II-II of FIG. 2.
[0053] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4, the drum 30 is directly
disposed in the cabinet 10 at a predetermined interval with the
cabinet 10. That is, an additional configuration which is disposed
between the cabinet 10 and the drum 30 and in which washing water
is stored, is omitted.
[0054] The cabinet 10 includes an outer frame 10a that constitutes
an exterior of the washing machine 1 and an inner frame 10b that is
connected to an inner side of the outer frame 10a.
[0055] The inner frame 10b may be configured in an approximately
cylindrical form. An outer circumferential surface of the inner
frame 10b may be connected to an inner side of at least a portion
of the outer frame 10a via a rib (not shown) or may contact the
inner side of at least a portion of the outer frame 10a.
[0056] The inner frame 10b is inclined toward a direction in which
the radius of the inner frame 10b increases from the lower part of
the inner frame 10b. Most of the water that is discharged from the
drum 30 via the plurality of through holes 36 in the dehydration
operation falls along an inner circumferential surface of the inner
frame 10b and flows into a draining groove 22. Since the inner
frame 10b is inclined in such a way that water discharged from the
drum 30 slowly flows along an inclined surface of the inner frame
10b, a phenomenon that water splashes toward an outer side of the
draining groove 22 while flowing into the draining groove 22, does
not occur.
[0057] Also, the inner frame 10b may have the same inclination
angle as an inclination angle a of each of sidewalls 34 so as to be
disposed in parallel to the sidewalls 34. When the drum 30 rotates,
the drum 30 moves not only in a vertical direction but also in its
radial direction. A gap between the drum 30 and the cabinet 10 is
necessary so as to prevent interference with the inner frame 10b of
the cabinet 10 caused by movement of the drum 30 in the radial
direction of the drum 30. The inner frame 10b and the sidewall 34
are disposed in parallel to each other so that space utility of the
cabinet 10 can be maximized and simultaneously a predetermined gap
between the drum 30 and the cabinet 10 can be maintained.
[0058] The outer frame 10a and the inner frame 10b may be formed
integrally with each other using injection molding so as to improve
productivity. In this case, the cabinet 10 including the outer
frame 10a and the inner frame 10b may be formed of a material, such
as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polypropylene (PP). The
reason why the cabinet 10 may be manufactured using injection
molding in this way is that the cabinet 10 includes the outer frame
10a and the inner frame 10b and thus its strength is increased.
That is, after an injection molding material, such as ABS or PP, is
injected into a mold and is solidified so as to manufacture the
cabinet 10 using injection molding, the cabinet 10 is not damaged
while the mold is separated from the cabinet 10.
[0059] The outer frame 10a and the inner frame 10b may be formed of
different materials and may be coupled to each other. That is, in
order to increase the strength of the cabinet 10, the outer frame
10a may be formed of metal, the inner frame 10b may be formed of
plastic, and the outer frame 10a and the inner frame 10b are
coupled to each other, thereby forming the cabinet 10.
[0060] The draining groove 22 is bent along the circumference of
the inner frame 10b and is formed in a lower end of the inner frame
10b.
[0061] The draining groove 22 includes a first bent part 22a that
is bent from the lower end of the inner frame 10b in its central
direction and a second bent part 22b that is bent from an end of
the first bent part 22a in a direction perpendicular to the
ground.
[0062] The first bent part 22a serves as a bottom surface on which
water discharged from the drum 30 via the through holes 36 formed
in the upper part of the drum 30 in the dehydration operation and
directly fallen or flowing along the outer circumferential surface
of the drum 30 or the inner circumferential surface of the inner
frame 10b is received. The second bent part 22b constitutes a flow
passage on which water fallen to the bottom surface together with
the inner circumferential surface of the lower end of the inner
frame 10b is stored and then is discharged outward.
[0063] A draining hole 24 which communicates with the draining
groove 22 and through which water stored in the draining groove 22
is guided to the outer side of the draining groove 22, is formed on
one side of the first bent part 22a. The above-described second
draining hose 84 is connected to an end of the draining hole 24,
and water that passes through the draining hole 24 is finally
discharged from the cabinet 10 via the second draining hose 84 and
the first draining hose 82 connected to the second draining hose
84.
[0064] The drum 30 is disposed in the inner frame 10b so as to be
rotatable in the vertical direction.
[0065] The drum 30 includes the bottom 32 and the sidewalls 34 that
are connected to the bottom 32 and constitute a space in which
washing water is stored.
[0066] A plurality of ribs 32a are formed on the bottom 32. The
plurality of ribs 32a form an air flow in the radial direction of
the drum 30, i.e., in a direction from a center of the drum 30 to
the inner frame 10b of the cabinet 10 and prevent water that is
fallen along the outer circumferential surface of the drum 30 from
moving to a center of the drum 30, in which the clutch 120 and the
driving motor 150 are disposed, along the bottom 32 of the drum
30.
[0067] The sidewalls 34 extend from the bottom 32 and are inclined
in a direction in which the diameter of the drum 30 increases. If
the drum 30 rotates at a high speed of about 280 rpm or more during
the dehydration operation, water dehydrated from the laundry may
reach the sidewalls 34 due to a centrifugal force and then may
smoothly move to the upper part of the drum 30 along an inner
circumferential surface of the inclined sidewall 34.
[0068] The inclination angle .alpha. between the sidewall 34 and a
straight line l perpendicular to the bottom 32 may preferably be
about 2.degree. to 10.degree.. If the inclination angle .alpha. is
excessively small, that is, less than 2.degree., water may not
smoothly move to the upper part of the drum 30 along the inner
circumferential surface of the sidewall 34, and thus dehydration
performance may be degraded. If the inclination angle .alpha. is
excessively large, that is, greater than 10.degree., the upper part
of the drum 30 is widened so that the entire width of the cabinet
10 may be increased.
[0069] The through holes 36 through which water dehydrated from
laundry may be discharged from the drum 30 are formed in upper
parts of the sidewalls 34.
[0070] At least one through hole 36 may be formed in a
circumferential direction of the sidewalls 34, and a height at
which the through hole 36 is formed, may be approximately half or
more of the height of the drum 30 because washing water in the drum
30 should be prevented from flowing out through the through hole 36
in the washing operation.
[0071] Water that is discharged from the drum 30 through the
through hole 36 flows downward along the outer circumferential
surface of the drum 30 or the inner circumferential surface of the
inner frame 10b or directly falls through a discharge flow passage
33 formed between the sidewall 34 and the inner circumferential
surface of the inner frame 10b and flows into the draining groove
22.
[0072] Also, the drum 30 may further include a guide rib 38 that
guides water discharged from the drum 30 through the through hole
36 toward the draining groove 22.
[0073] The guide rib 38 is disposed between the second bent part
22b that constitutes the draining groove 22 and the inner
circumferential surface of the inner frame 10b, extends from a
lower end of the sidewall 34 to a predetermined length, in
particular, prevents water that falls along the outer
circumferential surface of the drum 30 from moving to the center of
the drum 30, in which the clutch 120 and the driving motor 150 are
disposed, along the bottom 32 of the drum 30, and simultaneously
naturally guides introduction of water to the draining groove
22.
[0074] An interference prevention groove 39 is formed between the
side of the bottom 32 and the guide rib 38 to a predetermined depth
and prevents interference between the drum 30 and the second bent
part 22b due to vertical vibration of the drum 30 while the washing
machine 1 operates.
[0075] The depth of the interference prevention groove 39 or a
length at which the guide rib 38 extends from the lower end of the
sidewall 34, is related to a width at which the drum 30 vibrates in
the vertical direction during the washing or dehydration operation.
As the width at which the drum 30 vibrates in the vertical
direction increases, the depth of the interference prevention
groove 39 should be increased, whereas the length at which the
guide rib 38 extends from the lower end of the sidewall 34, should
be decreased.
[0076] In this way, the guide rib 38 may be positioned between the
second bent part 22b and the inner circumferential surface of the
inner frame 10b, and the second bent part 22b may be accommodated
in the interference prevention groove 39 so that the entire height
of the cabinet 10 can be reduced. That is, in consideration of the
width at which the drum 30 vibrates in the vertical direction, the
guide rib 38 is accommodated in the draining groove 22 and the
second bent part 22b is accommodated in the interference prevention
groove 39 while the drum 30 vibrates, so that the height of the
cabinet 10 can be reduced by a length at which the guide rib 38 and
the second bent part 22b overlap each other.
[0077] The driving unit for driving the drum 30 or the pulsator 35
disposed in the drum 30 is coupled to the lower part of the drum
30.
[0078] The driving unit includes the clutch 120 that selectively
rotates the drum 30 and the pulsator 35, a driving motor 150 that
drives the clutch 120, a flange member 140 that connects the
driving shaft 124 of the clutch 120 and the bottom 32 of the drum
30 and transfers rotational force of the driving shaft 124 to the
drum 30, and a base plate 160 that fixes the clutch 120 and the
driving motor 150.
[0079] A shaft coupling portion 31 is formed at the center of the
bottom 32 of the drum 30, is coupled to the flange member 140, and
fixes and supports the flange member 140. The shaft coupling
portion 31 includes a shaft coupling wall 31a that protrudes from
the bottom 32 toward the outer side of the drum 30 downward, and a
shaft insertion hole 31 b that is formed in the inner side of the
shaft coupling wall 31a so that one end of the flange member 140
may be inserted into the inner side of the drum 30 through the
shaft insertion hole 31 b.
[0080] The flange member 140 is inserted in and fixed to the shaft
insertion hole 31b and couples the driving shaft 124 and the drum
30.
[0081] The flange member 140 includes a first through hole 142
formed through the center of the flange member 140 so as to be
coupled to the driving shaft 124, and a second through hole 144
formed in a circumferential direction of the first through hole
142.
[0082] The second through hole 144 serves as a movement path on
which washing water stored in the drum 30 moves to the outer side
of the drum 30 after the washing operation is completed.
[0083] The clutch 120 includes a housing 122 and a driving shaft
124 that is rotatably coupled to the center of the housing 122.
Deceleration units that decelerate various bearings for rotating
and supporting the driving shaft 124 and the driving shaft 124, are
disposed in the internal space of the housing 122.
[0084] The driving shaft 124 penetrates the first through hole 142
formed in the flange member 140 and is connected to the drum 30 and
the pulsator 35.
[0085] The driving shaft 124 includes a first connector 124a
coupled to the first through hole 142 and a second connector 124b
that extends from the first connector 124a and is coupled to the
pulsator 35. The first connector 124a and the second connector 124b
rotate simultaneously or individually depending on the washing or
dehydration operation. In the washing operation, the second
connector 124b rotates and allows the pulsator 35 coupled to the
second connector 124b to rotate, and in the dehydration operation,
the first connector 124a and the second connector 124b rotate
simultaneously and allow the drum 30 and the pulsator 35 to
simultaneously rotate. A pulley 134 is coupled to the other end of
the driving shaft 124 so that rotational force of the driving motor
150 may be transferred to the clutch 120 via a driving belt
135.
[0086] A base plate cover 162 is coupled to a space between the
flange member 140 and the base plate 160. The base plate cover 162
communicates with the second through hole 144 and forms a space 161
in which washing water introduced through the second through hole
144 together with the base plate 160 may be moved to a draining
case 174. Also, sealing members 164 are inserted between the flange
member 140 and the base plate cover 162 and between the base plate
cover 162 and the base plate 160 so as to prevent leakage of
washing water.
[0087] The draining case 174 is coupled to the lower part of the
base plate 160. The draining case 174 accommodates washing water
that is introduced after passing through the space 161 formed by
the base plate cover 162 and the base plate 160. A draining pipe
176 that drains washing water flowing into the draining case 174,
is disposed at one end of the draining case 174, and the first
draining hose 82 is connected to the draining pipe 176 and guides
washing water toward the outer side of the cabinet 10. A valve 178
is disposed on the draining pipe 176 so that washing water in the
draining case 174 may be selectively drained during the washing
operation.
[0088] Washing water used in the washing or rinsing operation is
introduced into the space 161 between the base plate cover 162 and
the base plate 160 via the second through hole 144 formed in the
flange member 140, and then is drained to the outer side of the
cabinet 10 via the draining case 174 and the first draining hose
82. As described above, washing water dehydrated from laundry in
the dehydration operation is discharged from the drum 30 via the
through hole 36, flows along the outer circumferential surface of
the drum 30 or the inner circumferential surface of the inner frame
10b, is introduced into the draining groove 22, and then is drained
to the outer side of the cabinet 10 via the draining hole 24 and
the second draining hose 84 connected to the draining hole 24.
[0089] The base plate 160 is coupled to the upper part of the
cabinet 10 using suspension members 21. At least two suspension
members 21 are coupled to a corner of the cabinet 10 formed by the
rectangular outer frame 10a and the cylindrical inner frame 10b,
and support the drum 30. A coupling rib 10c is disposed at the
corner of the cabinet 10 and supports and couples one end of the
suspension member 21. The coupling rib 10c may be injection molded
integrally with the outer frame 10a and the inner frame 10b.
[0090] A connection bracket 180 is coupled to a space between the
base plate 160 and the suspension members 21. The connection
bracket 180 includes an avoidance groove 181 that is bent and
formed in the lower end of the connection bracket 180 so as to
prevent interference with the draining groove 22 while the washing
machine 1 operates. The base plate 160 and the connection bracket
180 may be formed integrally with each other.
[0091] The drum 30 is connected to the clutch 120 and the base
plate 160 that fixes the clutch 120 at the lower part of the drum
30. The base plate 160 is configured to be coupled to the upper
part of the cabinet 10 via the suspension members 21, and a load
applied to the drum 30 is transferred to the suspension members 21
via the base plate 160, and the suspension members 21 absorb
vibration caused by the load applied to the drum 30.
[0092] As described above, the cabinet 10 is configured in a double
structure including the outer frame 10a and the inner frame 10b and
has enough strength to support a load applied to the drum 30, the
clutch 120, and the driving motor 150 connected via the suspension
members 21.
[0093] Hereinafter, a damping apparatus 200 that absorbs vibration
occurring while the drum 30 rotates together with the suspension
member 21 will be described in detail.
[0094] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the
combination relationship of the damping apparatus 200 according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 6 is an exploded
perspective view of FIG. 5 at a different angle, and FIG. 7 is a
bottom view of the damping apparatus 200 illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0095] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, the damping apparatus
200 is configured to connect the base plate 160 and the lower frame
18 and to absorb vibration occurring while the drum 30 rotates. The
damping apparatus 200 includes a support bracket 210 coupled to a
bottom surface of the base plate 160 and a plurality of dampers 220
and 240, of which ends 220a and 240a are connected to the support
bracket 210 and the other ends 220b and 240b are connected to the
lower frame 18.
[0096] The support bracket 210 includes a body 212 that surrounds
at least a portion of the driving unit including the clutch 120 and
the driving motor 150, a fixing part 214 that is bent from the
upper side of the body 212 and toward the outer side of the body
212, and a plurality of first fastening parts 216 that protrude
from sides of the body 312 and connect a plurality of dampers 220
and 240 to the body 212.
[0097] The body 212 is coupled to approximately the center of the
base plate 160, and one side of the body 212 is open not to
interfere with the driving belt 135 that connects the clutch 120
and the driving motor 150. A collision prevention surface 212a is
disposed at the lower side of the body 212 so as to prevent the
clutch 120 and the driving motor 150 from colliding with the lower
part of the cabinet 10 while the drum 30 rotates.
[0098] At least one fixing hole 214a for fixing the support bracket
210 to the bottom surface of the base plate 160 is formed through
the fixing part 214.
[0099] The plurality of first fastening parts 216 extend from the
sides of the body 212 toward approximately the corner of the lower
frame 18 to a predetermined length, and a pair of first fastening
parts 216 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined gap
in parallel so that one ends 220a and 240a of the plurality of
dampers 220 and 240 may be accommodated in the pair of first
fastening parts 216. First fastening holes 216a are formed through
the first fastening parts 216 so that the dampers 220 and 240 may
be rotatably coupled to the first fastening parts 216. The dampers
220 and 240 rotate around a virtual shaft S1 that connects centers
of the first fastening holes 216a while the drum 30 rotates, and
absorb vibration of the drum 30.
[0100] The plurality of dampers 220 and 240 are rotatably coupled
to the support bracket 210 and the lower frame 18 and absorb
vibration occurring while the drum 30 rotates, thereby stabilizing
rotation of the drum 30 and preventing the drum 30 from colliding
with the inner frame 10b.
[0101] The plurality of-dampers 220 and 240 may be disposed in a
radial form centering on a rotation central axis Lc of the drum 30
so as to effectively absorb vibration caused by eccentric rotation
of the drum 30. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, one ends 220a
and 240a of the dampers 220 and 240 may be directed toward the
rotation central axis Lc of the drum 30, and the other ends 220b
and 240b of the dampers 220 and 240 may be directed toward the
corner of the lower frame 18.
[0102] An angle (see .beta. of FIG. 7) between a virtual first
extension line L1 that extends from one end 220a of the first
damper 220 toward the rotation central axis Lc of the drum 30, and
a virtual second extension line L2 that extends from one end 240a
of the second damper 240 toward the rotation central axis Lc of the
drum 30 may be between 45.degree. and 135.degree..
[0103] In this way, the reason why the first damper 220 and the
second damper 240 are disposed in such a way that the angle .beta.
between the first extension line L1 and the second extension line
L2 is between 45.degree. and 135.degree., is that, if the angle
.beta. between the first extension line L1 and the second extension
line L2 is less than 45.degree., when the rotation central axis Lc
of the drum 30 is eccentric to a direction that is closer to the
y-axis than the x-axis while the drum 30 rotates, the first damper
220 and the second damper 240 may absorb vibration of the drum 30;
however, when the rotation central axis Lc of the drum 30 is
eccentric to a direction that is closer to the x-axis than the
y-axis, the first damper 220 and the second damper 240 may not
effectively absorb vibration of the drum. If the angle .beta.
between the first extension line L1 and the second extension line
L2 is greater than 135.degree., when the rotation central axis Lc
of the drum 30 is eccentric to a direction that is closer to the
x-axis than the y-axis while the drum 30 rotates, the first damper
220 and the second damper 240 may absorb vibration of the drum 30;
however, when the rotation central axis Lc of the drum 30 is
eccentric to a direction that is closer to the y-axis than the
x-axis, the first damper 220 and the second damper 240 may not
effectively absorb vibration of the drum 30.
[0104] The plurality of dampers 220 and 240 may be disposed in such
a way that angles .gamma.1 and .gamma.2 (see FIG. 3) between a
virtual third extension line L3 and a virtual fourth extension line
L4 that extend from the other ends 220b and 240b toward the ground,
are between 5.degree. and 30.degree..
[0105] In this way, the reason why the plurality of dampers 220 and
240 are disposed in such a way that angles .gamma.1 and .gamma.2
between the virtual third extension line L3 and the virtual fourth
extension line L4 and the ground are between 5.degree. and
30.degree., is that, if the angles .gamma.1 and .gamma.2 between
the third extension line L3 and the fourth extension line L4 and
the ground are less than 5.degree. or greater than 30.degree., the
first damper 220 and the second damper 240 may not effectively
absorb vibration of the drum 30 that occurs in the z-axis
direction.
[0106] Also, positions of the plurality of dampers 220 and 240 may
be biased toward one of the front and rear of a virtual first
division plane (see P1 of FIG. 2 or 7) that divides the cabinet 10
in front and rear directions while passing through the rotation
central axis Lc of the drum 30.
[0107] In this way, the reason why the positions of the plurality
of dampers 220 and 240 are biased toward one of the front and rear
of the first division plane P1 is that, when the first damper 220
and the second damper 240 are disposed in the front and rear of the
cabinet 10 divided by the first division plane P1, as described
above, when the rotation central axis Lc of the drum 30 is
eccentric to a direction that is close to the x-axis or y-axis, the
dampers 220 and 240 cannot effectively absorb vibration of the drum
30.
[0108] In the above principle, the positions of the plurality of
dampers 220 and 240 may be biased toward one of the right and left
of a virtual second division plane (see P2 of FIG. 2 or 7) that
divides the cabinet 10 in right and left directions while passing
through the rotation central axis Lc of the drum 30.
[0109] As described above, a pair of dampers, i.e., the first
damper 220 and the second damper 240 are used to absorb vibration
caused by eccentric rotation of the drum 30. However, the number of
dampers is not limited to a pair, and more dampers may be used. In
such a case, as described above, an angle formed by a pair of
dampers that are adjacent to each other, may be between 45.degree.
and 135.degree., and an angle between the damper and the ground may
be between 5.degree. and 30.degree..
[0110] A plurality of second fastening parts 226 are disposed on
the lower frame 18 so as to connect the plurality of dampers 220
and 240 to the corner of the lower frame 18.
[0111] The plurality of second fastening parts 226 extend from the
corner of the lower frame 18 toward approximately the rotation
central axis Lc of the drum 30 to a predetermined length, and a
pair of second fastening parts 226 are spaced apart from each other
by a predetermined gap in parallel so that the other ends 220b and
240b of the dampers 220 and 240 may be accommodated in the pair of
fastening parts 226. Second fastening holes 226a are formed through
the second fastening parts 226 so that the dampers 220 and 240 may
be rotatably coupled to the second fastening parts 226. The dampers
220 and 240 are rotated around a virtual shaft S2 that connects
centers of the second fastening holes 226a while the drum 30
rotates, and absorb vibration of the drum 30.
[0112] As described above, the damping apparatus 200 is disposed
between the base plate 160 and the lower frame 18, thereby
effectively absorbing vibration caused by eccentric rotation of the
drum 30 that may occur both in a transition section and a normal
status section. Thus, the drum 30 can be stably rotated without the
fear of colliding with the cabinet 10.
[0113] It is apparent that the damping apparatus 200 may be
disposed in the washing machine 1 of FIG. 1 having no additional
configuration for storing washing water, although not shown, in a
washing machine having an additional configuration for storing
washing water, like a tub, so as to connect the lower part of the
tub and the lower part of the cabinet 10 and may be used to absorb
vibration of the drum 30.
[0114] As described above, according to the embodiments of the
present disclosure, a damping apparatus is installed between a drum
and a lower frame so that vibration of the drum that may occur
during dehydration can be reduced and the drum can be stably
rotated.
[0115] Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have
been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *