U.S. patent application number 15/017691 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-10 for balance ring for a washing machine appliance.
The applicant listed for this patent is General Electric Company. Invention is credited to Phillip John Duckworth.
Application Number | 20170226682 15/017691 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59497443 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170226682 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Duckworth; Phillip John |
August 10, 2017 |
Balance Ring for a Washing Machine Appliance
Abstract
A washing machine appliance includes a tub and a basket
rotatably mounted within the tub. A balance ring is disposed on the
basket. The balance ring includes a ring body defining an internal
volume and a dilatant balancing fluid disposed within the internal
volume of the ring body. The dilatant balancing fluid may
distribute within the internal volume of the ring body in order to
assist with reducing noise and vibration of the basket during
rotation of the basket within the tub.
Inventors: |
Duckworth; Phillip John;
(Louisville, KY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
General Electric Company |
Schenectady |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59497443 |
Appl. No.: |
15/017691 |
Filed: |
February 8, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 37/245
20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/24 20060101
D06F037/24 |
Claims
1. A washing machine appliance, comprising: a tub; a basket
rotatably mounted within the tub; a balance ring disposed on the
basket, the balance ring comprising a ring body defining an
internal volume; and a dilatant balancing fluid disposed within the
internal volume of the ring body.
2. The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the dilatant
balancing fluid comprises a non-Newtonian shear thickening fluid
having a shear viscosity that increases with applied shear
stress.
3. The washing machine appliance of claim 2, wherein the shear
viscosity of the dilatant balancing fluid increases when the basket
is accelerating.
4. The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the dilatant
balancing fluid comprises water and starch.
5. The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the dilatant
balancing fluid comprises silica and polyethylene glycol.
6. The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the balance
ring further comprises a plurality of baffles mounted to the ring
body within the internal volume of the ring body.
7. The washing machine appliance of claim 6, wherein the baffles of
the plurality of baffles are circumferentially distributed on the
ring body within the internal volume of the ring body.
8. The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the ring body
is sealed such that the internal volume of the ring body is closed
from ambient air about the ring body.
9. The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the balance
ring is disposed on the basket at a top portion of the basket.
10. The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the basket is
positioned and oriented for rotating within the tub about a
vertical axis.
11. A vertical axis washing machine appliance, comprising: a tub; a
basket positioned within the tub, the basket mounted within the tub
such that the basket is rotatable about a vertical axis; a balance
ring disposed on the basket at a top portion of the basket, the
balance ring comprising a ring body defining an internal volume;
and a dilatant balancing fluid disposed within the internal volume
of the ring body.
12. The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 11,
wherein the dilatant balancing fluid comprises a non-Newtonian
shear thickening fluid having a shear viscosity that increases with
applied shear stress.
13. The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 12,
wherein the shear viscosity of the dilatant balancing fluid
increases when the basket is accelerating.
14. The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 11,
wherein the dilatant balancing fluid comprises water and
starch.
15. The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 11,
wherein the dilatant balancing fluid comprises silica and
polyethylene glycol.
16. The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 11,
wherein the balance ring further comprises a plurality of baffles
mounted to the ring body within the internal volume of the ring
body.
17. The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 16,
wherein the baffles of the plurality of baffles are
circumferentially distributed on the ring body within the internal
volume of the ring body.
18. The vertical axis washing machine appliance of claim 11,
wherein the ring body is sealed such that the internal volume of
the ring body is closed from ambient air about the ring body.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The subject matter of the present disclosure relates
generally to balance rings for appliances, such as washing machine
appliances.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] During the operation of a washing machine, particularly
during spin cycles, the machine can sometimes experience an extreme
vibration. These vibrations can cause displacement of the washing
machine as it "walks" across a surface, such as a floor. Typically,
this event is due to the different shapes and densities of the
clothing or other articles that are being washed which, after the
washing cycle and draining the wash basket, can stick together and
cause differences in the center of mass inside the wash basket. The
vibration problem can also be caused by the introduction of
relatively heavier articles into the wash basket, e.g., shoes.
[0003] By way of example, after the washing cycle and draining of
the washing liquid from the wash basket, the shoes or other,
relatively heavier articles may be located on one side of the wash
basket or in a manner that causes the center of mass of the
combined wash basket and articles (such as the shoes, clothes, and
other items being washed) to be off center. As the wash basket is
rotated, particularly at high speeds, the off-centering and
centrifugal forces creates an imbalance that can generate undesired
strain in the washing machine components, an undesirable level of
noise and/or "walking" of the appliance. In an extreme or prolonged
situation, the imbalance created by the excessive vibration can
also wear-out and damage the washing machine components.
[0004] As a result, in order to counter the out of balance wash
load, various devices have been proposed. For example, washing
machines have been equipped with balance rings, which are typically
placed on the top and sometimes bottom of the wash basket. Inside
the ring (or toroid) a weight such as a fluid and/or movable metal
objects has been inserted. During operation, the ring acts as a
counterweight to the out of balance load of clothes because the
fluid and/or metal object moves to a position within the ring that
counters the centrifugal forces created by the articles in the wash
basket so as to balance the overall mass of the articles in the
wash basket.
[0005] Thus, for balance rings that incorporate a fluid, during
spinning of the wash basket the fluid must be able to redistribute
so to act as a counterweight to an out of balance of mass of the
articles in the wash basket. Sometimes, however, as the rotational
speed of the wash basket increases during a spin cycle, one or more
critical speeds (i.e. resonant modes) are reached. At these
critical speeds, the translational motion of the balance ring can
be severe enough distribute the fluid in a manner that prevents it
from properly counteracting the out of balance wash load. In fact,
the fluid may even be distributed in a manner that reinforces the
tub motion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present subject matter provides a washing machine
appliance. The washing machine appliance includes a tub and a
basket rotatably mounted within the tub. A balance ring is disposed
on the basket. The balance ring includes a ring body defining an
internal volume and a dilatant balancing fluid disposed within the
internal volume of the ring body. Additional aspects and advantages
of the invention will be set forth in part in the following
description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be
learned through practice of the invention.
[0007] In a first exemplary embodiment, a washing machine appliance
is provided. The washing machine includes a tub and a basket
rotatably mounted within the tub. A balance ring is disposed on the
basket. The balance ring includes a ring body defining an internal
volume. A dilatant balancing fluid is disposed within the internal
volume of the ring body.
[0008] In a second exemplary embodiment, a vertical axis washing
machine appliance is provided. The vertical axis washing machine
appliance includes a tub and a basket positioned within the tub.
The basket is mounted within the tub such that the basket is
rotatable about a vertical axis. A balance ring is disposed on the
basket at a top portion of the basket. The balance ring includes a
ring body defining an internal volume. A dilatant balancing fluid
is disposed within the internal volume of the ring body.
[0009] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description and appended claims. The accompanying
drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention,
including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill
in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes
reference to the appended figures.
[0011] FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of washing machine
appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
subject matter.
[0012] FIG. 2 provides a section view of the exemplary washing
machine appliance of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 provides a section view of a balance ring according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the
drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the
invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, 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 scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features
illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with
another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is
intended that the present invention covers such modifications and
variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view an exemplary vertical axis
washing machine 50 including a cabinet 52 and a top cover 54. FIG.
2 provides a side, section view of washing machine 50. A backsplash
56 extends from cover 54. A control panel 58 including a plurality
of input selectors 60 is coupled to backsplash 56. Control panel 58
and input selectors 60 collectively form a user interface input for
operator selection of machine cycles and features, and in one
embodiment, a display 64 indicates selected features, a countdown
timer, and/or other items of interest to machine users. A lid 62 is
mounted to cover 54 and is rotatable about a hinge (not shown)
between an open position (not shown) facilitating access to a wash
tub 78 located within cabinet 52, and a closed position (shown in
FIG. 1) forming an enclosure over wash tub 78.
[0016] A wash basket 76 is located within wash tub 78 in spaced
apart relationship from tub 78. Articles for washing are placed
within basket 76. A motor 80 is used to selectively spin wash
basket 76 during various cycles of the appliance. Wash basket 76
includes a plurality of openings 70 that facilitate the movement of
fluid in and out of basket 76 within wash tub 78. When wash basket
76 is rotated at high speed during e.g., a spin cycle, openings 70
in wash basket 76 allow fluid to be wrung from the articles such as
clothing located in basket 76.
[0017] An agitation element such as agitator 72 with blades 74,
impeller, auger, or oscillatory basket mechanism, or some
combination thereof is disposed in basket 76 to impart an
oscillatory motion to articles and liquid in basket 76 using motor
80. In different embodiments, agitation element 72 can include a
single action element (i.e., oscillatory only), double action
(oscillatory movement at one end, single direction rotation at the
other end) or triple action (oscillatory movement plus single
direction rotation at one end, singe direction rotation at the
other end). As illustrated in FIG. 2, agitation element 72 is
oriented to rotate about a vertical axis A.
[0018] Operation of washing machine 50 is controlled by a
controller or processing device (not shown), that is operatively
coupled to the user interface input or control panel 58 located on
washing machine backsplash 56 (shown in FIG. 1), which allows e.g.,
for user manipulation to select washing machine cycles and
features. More particularly, in response to user manipulation of
the user interface input, the controller operates the various
components of washing machine 50 to execute selected machine cycles
and features.
[0019] For example, in an illustrative embodiment, laundry items
are loaded into basket 76, and washing operation is initiated
through operator manipulation of control input selectors 60 (shown
in FIG. 1). Wash tub 78 is filled with water and mixed with
detergent to form a wash fluid, and contents of the basket 76 are
agitated with agitation element 72 for cleansing of laundry items
in basket 76. More specifically, agitation element 72 is moved back
and forth in an oscillatory back and forth motion.
[0020] After the agitation phase of the wash cycle is completed,
wash tub 78 can be drained with a pump assembly (not shown).
Laundry items are then rinsed and portions of the cycle repeated,
including the agitation phase, depending on the particulars of the
wash cycle selected by a user. One or more spin cycles may also be
used. In particular, a spin cycle may be applied after the wash
cycle and/or after the rinse cycle in order to wring wash fluid
from the articles being washed. During a spin cycle, wash basket 76
is rotated at relatively high speeds.
[0021] While described in the context of a specific embodiment of
vertical axis washing machine appliance 50, using the teachings
disclosed herein it will be understood that vertical axis washing
machine appliance 50 is provided by way of example only. Other
washing machine appliances having different configurations,
different appearances, and/or different features may also be
utilized with the present subject matter as well.
[0022] As previously described, the articles inside basket 76 can
sometimes cause an imbalance leading to undesirable vibrations of
washing machine 50 during operation. Accordingly, for this
exemplary embodiment, washing machine 50 is equipped with balance
rings 66 and 68 that operate to counteract imbalances in the wash
load placed into wash basket 76. Balance rings 66 and 68 are shown
in cross section in FIG. 2 but should be understood to extend
circumferentially about wash basket 76. For this exemplary
embodiment, balance rings 66 and 68 are mounted to an exterior
surface 82 of wash basket 76 and other techniques for positioning
on basket 76 may also be used. Also, although shown with a balance
ring positioned at both a top and bottom of wash basket 76, it
should be understood that only one such balance ring--particularly
at the top of wash basket 76 as with balance ring 66--may be used
in other exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter.
Balance rings 66 and 68 include features for controlling movement
of a fluid in such rings that offsets an imbalance of articles in
wash basket 76.
[0023] FIG. 3 provides a top, section view of a balance ring 100
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.
Balance ring 100 may be used in or with any suitable washing
machine appliance. For example, balance ring 100 may be used in or
with washing machine 50, as one of balance rings 66 and 68. Thus,
balance ring 100 is described in greater detail below in the
context of washing machine 50. Balance ring 100 includes features
for movement of a dilatant balancing fluid F in balance ring 100 in
order to offset an imbalance of articles in wash basket 76, as
discussed in greater detail below.
[0024] As may be seen in FIG. 3, balance ring 100 includes a ring
body 110. Ring body 110 may include an inner wall 112 and an outer
wall 114, e.g., that are radially spaced apart from each other.
Inner wall 112 of ring body 110 may be positioned at or on wash
basket 76. Conversely, outer wall 114 of ring body may be spaced
apart from wash basket 76. Inner wall 112 and outer wall 114 of
ring body 110 may be annular, as shown in FIG. 3. Ring body 110 may
be constructed of or with any suitable material, such as plastic or
metal. As an example, ring body 110 may be constructed with a
single piece of integrally formed material or with multiple molded
plastic components mounted to each other. Thus, inner wall 112 and
outer wall 114 of ring body 110 may be formed from a common piece
or from separate pieces of material.
[0025] Ring body 110 also defines a chamber or internal volume 116.
Internal volume 116 may be disposed or defined between inner and
outer walls 112 and 114 of ring body 110. Internal volume 116 of
ring body 110 is partially filled with a dilatant balancing fluid
F, as discussed in greater detail below.
[0026] A plurality of baffles 118 may be mounted to or formed on
ring body 110 at internal volume 116 of ring body 110. As an
example, baffles 118 may be mounted to or formed on outer wall 114
of ring body 110, e.g., such that baffles 118 extend radially from
outer wall 114 of ring body 110 towards inner wall 112 of ring body
110, as shown in FIG. 3. In alternative exemplary embodiments,
baffles 118 may be mounted to or formed on inner wall 112 of ring
body 110, e.g., such that baffles 118 extend radially from inner
wall 112 of ring body 110 towards outer wall 114 of ring body 110.
Any suitable combination of the above described baffle positions
may also be utilized in ring body 110.
[0027] Baffles 118 may interrupt a flow of the dilatant balancing
fluid F within internal volume 116 of ring body 110. Thus, baffles
118 may assist with forming a series of adjacent compartments
within internal volume 116 of ring body 110 and thereby assist with
distribution of the dilatant balancing fluid F within internal
volume 116 of ring body 110 during operation of washing machine 50.
In certain exemplary embodiments, balance ring 100 need not include
baffles 118, e.g., due to the physical characteristics of the
dilatant balancing fluid F.
[0028] As discussed above, the dilatant balancing fluid F is
disposed within internal volume 116 of ring body 110. Thus, the
dilatant balancing fluid F may flow through internal volume 116 of
ring body 110 in order to offset an imbalance of articles in wash
basket 76. In particular, the dilatant balancing fluid F is a
non-Newtonian shear thickening fluid. Thus, a shear viscosity of
the dilatant balancing fluid F increases with applied shear stress,
and the shear viscosity of the dilatant balancing fluid F is
greater when wash basket 76 is accelerating than when wash basket
76 is not accelerating. Such physical characteristics of the
dilatant balancing fluid F can assist with distributing the
dilatant balancing fluid F in a desirable manner within internal
volume 116 of ring body 110. For example, by increasing the shear
viscosity of the dilatant balancing fluid F, flow of the dilatant
balancing fluid F within internal volume 116 of ring body 110 is
impeded when wash basket 76 is accelerating. Conversely, the
dilatant balancing fluid F may flow more freely within internal
volume 116 of ring body 110 when wash basket 76 is not accelerating
(e.g., stopped or rotating at a constant velocity). Thus, motion of
the dilatant balancing fluid F within internal volume 116 of ring
body 110 may be limited when wash basket 76 is accelerating, and
the dilatant balancing fluid F may quickly move and redistribute
within internal volume 116 of ring body 110 when wash basket 76 is
not accelerating. In such a manner, noise and vibration of wash
basket 76 and/or balance ring 100 may be reduced during operation
of washing machine 50.
[0029] The dilatant balancing fluid F may be any suitable
non-Newtonian shear thickening fluid. For example, the dilatant
balancing fluid F may include a mixture of water and starch, e.g.,
cornstarch. As another example, the dilatant balancing fluid F may
include a mixture of silica and polyethylene glycol. Ring body 110
may be closed in order to seal the dilatant balancing fluid F
within internal volume 116 of ring body 110. Thus, internal volume
116 of ring body 110 may be non-contiguous with ambient air about
balance ring 100. By sealing the internal volume 116 of ring body
110, dilution of the dilatant balancing fluid F may be limited or
prevented. For example, water in washing machine 50 may blocked
from entering internal volume 116 of ring body 110 and thereby
diluting the dilatant balancing fluid F. In such a manner, the
dilatant balancing fluid F may be encased or enclosed within
balance ring 100 in order to maintain the non-Newtonian shear
thickening properties of the dilatant balancing fluid F.
[0030] It should be understood that the present subject matter may
be used in or within any suitable balance ring in alternative
exemplary embodiments. For example, dilatant balancing fluid F may
be used within the balance ring described in U.S. Pat. No.
9,150,994 of Paul Owen Davis, which is hereby incorporated by
reference for all purposes. Thus, it should be understood that the
exemplary balance ring 100 described above is not intended to limit
the present subject matter to the particular balance ring structure
shown in FIG. 3.
[0031] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and
using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated
methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the
claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled
in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope
of the claims if they include structural elements that do not
differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include
equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from
the literal languages of the claims.
* * * * *