U.S. patent application number 17/406615 was filed with the patent office on 2022-04-21 for balancer and laundry treatment apparatus including the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Kwanwoong JEONG, Jihong LEE, Jihun PARK.
Application Number | 20220120010 17/406615 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220120010 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Jihong ; et
al. |
April 21, 2022 |
BALANCER AND LAUNDRY TREATMENT APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME
Abstract
A laundry treatment apparatus includes a drum having an entrance
formed in a top side to put laundry therethrough, a balancer
provided to the drum to resolve unbalancing of the drum may include
a recess part configured to reduce a top side of a space for
storing liquid in the balancer. Accordingly, the center of gravity
of the balancer can be lowered and a laundry receiving space can be
increased.
Inventors: |
LEE; Jihong; (Seoul, KR)
; JEONG; Kwanwoong; (Seoul, KR) ; PARK; Jihun;
(Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG Electronics Inc. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/406615 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2021 |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/24 20060101
D06F037/24; D06F 37/18 20060101 D06F037/18; D06F 29/00 20060101
D06F029/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 15, 2020 |
KR |
10-2020-0133619 |
Claims
1. A balancer disposed at a drum of a laundry treatment apparatus
and configured to compensate unbalancing of the drum, the drum
being configured to accommodate laundry and having a drum entrance
defined at a top side of the drum and configured to receive the
laundry therethrough, the balancer defining an inner space for
accommodating liquid therein, the balancer comprising: a recess
that is defined at a top side of the balancer to thereby reduce the
inner space of the balancer.
2. The balancer of claim 1, further comprising: a balancer housing
that is coupled to the top side of the drum, the balancer housing
defining a balancer perforated hole that is in communication with
the drum entrance and configured to introduce the laundry
therethrough to the drum entrance, wherein the balancer housing
further defines a circulation flow path therein that has a ring
shape and that is configured to define a moving route of the liquid
within the balancer housing, and wherein the recess has a concave
shape recessed from an outside of the balancer housing toward an
inside of the circulation flow path, the recess being defined at a
position vertically above a level of the liquid moving along the
circulation flow path by a centrifugal force.
3. The balancer of claim 2, wherein the balancer housing has: an
outer surface that is located at an outermost side of the balancer
housing and defines the recess; an inner surface that is located at
an innermost side of the balancer housing and surrounds the
balancer perforated hole; and a bottom surface that connects the
outer surface of the balancer housing to the inner surface of the
balancer housing, and wherein the outer surface, the inner surface,
and the bottom surface of the balancer housing are surfaces of an
integral part corresponding to the balancer housing.
4. The balancer of claim 3, wherein the outer surface of the
balancer housing comprises: a drum connecting part that is
configured to be connected to the drum and extends in a height
direction of the drum; and a projected part that extends from the
drum connecting part in the height direction of the drum, the
projected part defining the outermost side of the balancer housing
and being connected to the recess, and wherein the recess, the
projected part, and the drum connecting part are parts of the
integral part.
5. The balancer of claim 3, further comprising: a partition that is
disposed between the outer surface of the balancer housing and the
inner surface of the balancer housing, the partition dividing the
circulation flow path into (i) a first chamber located closer to
the outer surface of the balancer housing than to the inner surface
of the balancer housing and (ii) a second chamber located closer to
the inner surface of the balancer housing than to the outer surface
of the balancer housing.
6. The balancer of claim 5, wherein the recess is recessed into the
first chamber.
7. The balancer of claim 6, wherein the circulation flow path
comprises: a first circulation flow path that has a first ring
shape and is defined within the first chamber, the first
circulation flow path being configured to guide the liquid; and a
second circulation flow path that has a second ring shape and is
defined within the second chamber, the second circulation flow path
being configured to guide the liquid, and wherein the first
circulation flow path and the second circulation flow path are
configured to independently guide the liquid based on rotation of
the drum.
8. The balancer of claim 3, wherein the recess comprises: a first
recess extension part that extends from the outer surface of the
balancer housing toward the inner surface of the balancer housing;
and a second recess extension part that extends from the first
recess extension part in a height direction of the drum.
9. An apparatus for treating laundry, comprising: a drawer cabinet;
a drawer body configured to be inserted into and withdrawn from the
drawer cabinet; a tub disposed in the drawer body and configured to
receive water; a drum comprising a drum body that is rotatably
disposed in the tub and that is configured to accommodate the
laundry, the drum defining a drum entrance configured to receive
the laundry therethrough; and a balancer that is connected to a top
side of the drum body, that accommodates liquid therein, and that
is configured to reduce vibration generated from rotation of the
drum, the balancer comprising: a balancer housing that is coupled
to the top side of the drum body, the balancer housing defining a
balancer perforated hole that is in communication with the drum
entrance and configured to introduce the laundry therethrough to
the drum entrance, wherein the balancer housing further defines: a
circulation flow path that has a ring shape and is configured to
define a moving route of the liquid within the balancer housing,
and a recess that has a concave shape recessed from a top portion
of a side of the balancer housing toward the circulation flow path,
the side of the balancer housing being configured to face the
liquid based on rotation of the drum.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the balancer housing has: an
outer surface that is located at an outermost side of the balancer
housing and defines the recess; an inner surface that is located at
an innermost side of the balancer housing and surrounds the
balancer perforated hole; and a bottom surface that connects the
outer surface of the balancer housing to the inner surface of the
balancer housing, and wherein the outer surface, the inner surface,
and the bottom surface of the balancer housing are surfaces of an
integral part corresponding to the balancer housing.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the outer surface of the
balancer housing comprises: a drum connecting part that is
connected to the drum and extends in a height direction of the
drum; and a projected part that extends from the drum connecting
part in the height direction of the drum, the projected part
defining the outermost side of the balancer housing and being
connected to the recess, and wherein the recess, the projected
part, and the drum connecting part are parts of the integral
part.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the balancer further
comprises: a partition that is disposed between the outer surface
of the balancer housing and the inner surface of the balancer
housing, the partition dividing the circulation flow path into (i)
a first chamber located closer to the outer surface of the balancer
housing than to the inner surface of the balancer housing and (ii)
a second chamber located closer to the inner surface of the
balancer housing than to the outer surface of the balancer housing,
and wherein the recess is recessed into the first chamber.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the circulation flow path
comprises: a first circulation flow path that has a first ring
shape and is defined within the first chamber, the first
circulation flow path being configured to guide the liquid; and a
second circulation flow path that has a second ring shape and is
defined within the second chamber, the second circulation flow path
being configured to guide the liquid, and wherein the first
circulation flow path and the second circulation flow path are
configured to independently guide the liquid based on rotation of
the drum.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the recess comprises: a
first recess extension part that extends from the outer surface of
the balancer housing toward the inner surface of the balancer
housing; and a second recess extension part that extends from the
first recess extension part in a height direction of the drum.
15. An apparatus for treating laundry, comprising: a cabinet; a tub
disposed in the cabinet and configured to receive water; a drum
comprising a drum body that is rotatably disposed in the tub and
that is configured to accommodate the laundry, the drum defining a
drum entrance configured to receive the laundry therethrough; and a
balancer that is disposed at a top side of the drum body, that
accommodates liquid therein, and that is configured to reduce
vibration generated from rotation of the drum, the balancer
comprising: a balancer housing that is coupled to the top side of
the drum body, the balancer housing defining a balancer perforated
hole that is in communication with the drum entrance and configured
to introduce the laundry therethrough to the drum entrance, wherein
the balancer housing further defines: a circulation flow path that
has a ring shape and is configured to define a moving route of the
liquid within the balancer housing, and a recess that has a concave
shape recessed from a top portion of a side of the balancer housing
toward the circulation flow path, the side of the balancer housing
being configured to face the liquid based on rotation of the
drum.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the balancer housing has: an
outer surface that is located at an outermost side of the balancer
housing and defines the recess; an inner surface that is located at
an innermost side of the balancer housing and surrounds the
balancer perforated hole; and a bottom surface that connects the
outer surface of the balancer housing to the inner surface of the
balancer housing, and wherein the outer surface, the inner surface,
and the bottom surface of the balancer housing are surfaces of an
integral part corresponding to the balancer housing.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the outer surface of the
balancer housing comprises: a drum connecting part that is
connected to the drum and extends in a height direction of the
drum; and a projected part that extends from the drum connecting
part in the height direction of the drum, the projected part
defining the outermost side of the balancer housing and being
connected to the recess, and wherein the recess, the projected
part, and the drum connecting part are parts of the integral
part.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the balancer further
comprises: a partition that is disposed between the outer surface
of the balancer housing and the inner surface of the balancer
housing, the partition dividing the circulation flow path into (i)
a first chamber located closer to the outer surface of the balancer
housing than to the inner surface of the balancer housing and (ii)
a second chamber located closer to the inner surface of the
balancer housing than to the outer surface of the balancer housing,
and wherein the recess is recessed into the first chamber.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the circulation flow path
comprises: a first circulation flow path that has a first ring
shape and is defined within the first chamber, the first
circulation flow path being configured to guide the liquid; and a
second circulation flow path that has a second ring shape and is
defined within the second chamber, the second circulation flow path
being configured to guide the liquid, and wherein the first
circulation flow path and the second circulation flow path are
configured to independently guide the liquid based on rotation of
the drum.
20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the recess comprises: a
first recess extension part that extends from the outer surface of
the balancer housing toward the inner surface of the balancer
housing; and a second recess extension part that extends from the
first recess extension part in a height direction of the drum.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(a), this application claims
the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean
Application No. 10-2020-0133619, filed on Oct. 15, 2020, the
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in
their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a laundry treatment
apparatus, and more particularly, to a balancer and laundry
treatment apparatus including the same.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Generally, there are laundry treatment devices of various
types such as a washer for mainly washing laundry, a washer for
mainly drying laundry, a refresher for mainly refreshing laundry
and the like.
[0004] Regarding a laundry treatment device, washing refers to a
process of removing contaminants from clothes using mechanical
action by injecting water and detergent, and drying refers to a
process of removing moisture contained in wet laundry.
[0005] Washers mainly aimed at washing clothes may also be equipped
in various forms. For example, a small laundry treatment device is
provided to an original laundry treatment device as an integral
part to handle or treat a small amount of washing objects.
[0006] A drum may rotate without maintaining dynamic equilibrium
(or dynamic balance) depending on a location of the laundry stored
inside. Dynamic balance means `a centrifugal force generated from
rotation of a rotating body or a moment made by the centrifugal
force is zeroed all on the axis of rotation.` In case of a rigid
body, if the mass distribution is constant around the axis of
rotation, the dynamic balance may be regarded as maintained.
[0007] In a laundry treatment device, dynamic balance can be
understood as a case that the mass distribution of laundry is
within an allowable range centering around a rotation axis of a
drum (i.e., a case that the drum vibrates and rotates within the
allowable range) in case that the drum rotates while the laundry is
stored.
[0008] On the other hand, a dynamic balance broken state (i.e.,
unbalance) of a laundry treatment device is a state that mass
distribution is not even centering around a rotation axis of a drum
on rotation of the drum, which occurs when laundry fails to be
evenly distributed within the drum. A drum rotating in an
unbalanced state vibrates, and the vibration of the drum is
transferred to a tub or cabinet to cause a problem of inducing
noise.
[0009] A laundry treatment device may include a balancer to resolve
the unbalance between operations. Various types of balancers may be
configured.
[0010] Various types of balancers are disclosed in Korean
Publication of Unexamined Patent Applications, No. 10-2020-0036587
(Apr. 7, 2020) and Korean Publication of Unexamined Patent
Applications, No. 10-2015-0001636 (Jan. 6, 2015), which fail to
disclose the structure of reducing influence caused by a balancer
in an unbalanced state.
SUMMARY
[0011] Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are
directed to a balancer and laundry treatment apparatus including
the same that substantially obviate one or more problems due to
limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0012] One technical task of the present disclosure is to provide a
balancer and laundry treatment apparatus including the same, by
which the unbalance occurring in high-speed rotation of a drum can
be effectively attenuated.
[0013] Another technical task of the present disclosure is to
provide a balancer and laundry treatment apparatus including the
same, by which an extent of unbalance occurring due to a balancer
can be minimized as well as a laundry receiving space is secured to
the maximum.
[0014] Further technical task of the present disclosure is to
provide a balancer and laundry treatment apparatus including the
same, by which unbalance can be resolved precisely using a
plurality of circulation flow paths.
[0015] Technical tasks obtainable from the present disclosure are
non-limited by the above-mentioned technical tasks. And, other
unmentioned technical tasks can be clearly understood from the
following description by those having ordinary skill in the
technical field to which the present disclosure pertains.
[0016] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
disclosure will be set forth in the disclosure herein as well as
the accompanying drawings. Such aspects may also be appreciated by
those skilled in the art based on the disclosure herein.
[0017] As one example to resolve the aforementioned tasks, provided
is a laundry treatment apparatus including a balancer in a shape
recessed from a top side of a balancer housing toward an inside of
the balancer housing.
[0018] Particularly, provided is a laundry treatment apparatus
including a balancer configured to have a concave shape at a water
concentrated portion on high-speed rotation of a drum.
[0019] In addition, it is intended to provide a laundry treatment
apparatus including a balancer having a 1- or 2-ring structure in
some cases.
[0020] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the disclosure, as embodied and
broadly described herein, an apparatus for treating laundry
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a
drawer cabinet, a drawer body configured withdrawable forward from
the drawer cabinet, a tub configured in the drawer body to provide
a space for storing water, a drum having a drum body configured
rotatable in the tub to store the laundry and a drum entrance for
putting the laundry, and a balancer connected to a top side of the
drum to damp vibration generated from rotation of the drum, the
balancer including a balancer housing coupled to a top side of the
drum body and having a balancer perforated hole communicating with
the drum entrance to put the laundry therethrough and a circulation
flow path configured in a ring shape within the balancer housing to
provide a moving route of liquid, wherein the balancer housing may
include a recess part configured in a concave shape by being
recessed toward the circulation flow path from a top side of a side
having the liquid inclined thereto on rotation of the drum.
[0021] The balancer housing may include an outer surface located on
a most outer side of the balancer housing, an inner surface
provided to a most inner side of the balancer housing to from a
balancer perforated hole therein, and a bottom surface connecting
the outer surface and the inner surface together, wherein the outer
surface, the inner surface and the bottom surface may be formed as
an integral part and wherein the recess part may be provided to the
outer surface.
[0022] The outer surface may include a drum connecting part
connected to the drum body and extended in a height direction of
the drum and a projected part formed with the drum connecting part
as an integral part, extended in the height direction of the drum,
projected to a most outer side of the outer surface, and connected
to the recess part.
[0023] The recess part may be formed with the projected part and
the drum connecting part as the integral part.
[0024] A partition is provided between the outer surface and the
inner surface to divide an inner space of the circulation flow
path.
[0025] The apparatus may include a first chamber divided by the
partition and formed closer to the outer surface than the inner
surface and a second chamber divided by the partition and formed
closer to the inner surface than the outer surface, wherein the
recess part may be configured in the first chamber.
[0026] The circulation flow path may include a first circulation
flow path configured in a ring shape within the first chamber to
store the liquid and a second circulation flow path configured in a
ring shape within the second chamber to store the liquid, wherein
the first circulation flow path and the second circulation flow
path may be configured to enable the liquid stored in the first
circulation flow path and the liquid stored in the second
circulation flow path to flow independently from each other based
on rotation of the drum.
[0027] The recess part may include a first recess extension part
extended from the outer surface in a direction of the inner surface
and a second recess extension part extended from the first recess
extension part in a height direction of the drum body.
[0028] The drawer cabinet may be connected to a laundry treatment
unit performing at least one job selected from the group consisting
of washing, drying and refreshing of the laundry.
[0029] In another aspect of the present disclosure, as embodied and
broadly described herein, an apparatus for treating laundry
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a
cabinet, a tub received in the cabinet and providing a space for
storing water, a drum having a drum body configured rotatable in
the tub to store the laundry and a drum entrance for putting the
laundry, and a balancer located on a top side of the drum body to
damp vibration generated from rotation of the drum, the balancer
including a balancer housing coupled to a top side of the drum body
and having a balancer perforated hole communicating with the drum
entrance to put the laundry therethrough and a circulation flow
path configured in a ring shape within the balancer housing to
provide a moving route of liquid, wherein the balancer housing may
include a recess part configured in a concave shape by being
recessed toward the circulation flow path from a top side of a side
having the liquid inclined thereto on rotation of the drum.
[0030] The balancer housing may include an outer surface located on
a most outer side of the balancer housing, an inner surface
provided to a most inner side of the balancer housing to from a
balancer perforated hole therein, and a bottom surface connecting
the outer surface and the inner surface together, wherein the outer
surface, the inner surface and the bottom surface may be formed as
an integral part.
[0031] The outer surface may include a drum connecting part
connected to the drum body and extended in a height direction of
the drum and a projected part formed with the drum connecting part
as an integral part, extended in the height direction of the drum,
projected to a most outer side of the outer surface, and connected
to the recess part.
[0032] The recess part may be formed with the projected part as the
integral part.
[0033] A partition is provided between the outer surface and the
inner surface to divide an inner space of the circulation flow
path.
[0034] The apparatus may include a first chamber divided by the
partition and formed closer to the outer surface than the inner
surface and a second chamber divided by the partition and formed
closer to the inner surface than the outer surface, wherein the
recess part may be configured in the first chamber.
[0035] The circulation flow path may include a first circulation
flow path configured in a ring shape within the first chamber to
store the liquid and a second circulation flow path configured in a
ring shape within the second chamber to store the liquid, wherein
the first circulation flow path and the second circulation flow
path may be configured to enable the liquid stored in the first
circulation flow path and the liquid stored in the second
circulation flow path to flow independently from each other based
on rotation of the drum.
[0036] The recess part may include a first recess extension part
extended from the outer surface in a direction of the inner surface
and a second recess extension part extended from the first recess
extension part in a height direction of the drum body.
[0037] Accordingly, the present disclosure provides the following
effects and/or advantages.
[0038] First of all, a balancer and laundry treatment apparatus
including the same according to the present disclosure may
effectively attenuate unbalance occurring on high-speed rotation of
a drum.
[0039] A balancer and laundry treatment apparatus including the
same according to the present disclosure may minimize an extend of
unbalance occurring due to the balancer as well as secure a laundry
receiving space to the maximum.
[0040] A balancer and laundry treatment apparatus including the
same according to the present disclosure may resolve unbalance
precisely using a plurality of circulation flow paths.
[0041] A balancer and laundry treatment apparatus including the
same according to the present disclosure may enable liquid flowing
in a balancer housing to work stably by maintaining low center of
gravity on high-speed rotation of a drum.
[0042] A balancer and laundry treatment apparatus including the
same according to the present disclosure may improve efficiency by
securing a laundry receiving space.
[0043] Effects obtainable from the present disclosure may be
non-limited by the above-mentioned effects. And, other unmentioned
effects can be clearly understood from the following description by
those having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the
present disclosure pertains.
[0044] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
disclosure are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to
provide further explanation of the disclosure as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the disclosure. The above and other aspects,
features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more
apparent upon consideration of the following description of
preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawing figures.
[0046] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing a laundry treatment
apparatus according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0047] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram showing a laundry
treatment apparatus according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0048] FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram showing a laundry treatment
apparatus according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0049] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective diagram showing a laundry
treatment apparatus according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0050] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram showing a laundry
treatment apparatus according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0051] FIG. 6 is a perspective diagram showing a balancer according
to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0052] FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional diagrams showing an
inner structure of a balancer of the related art and an inner
structure of a balancer according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0053] FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams showing various
embodiments of a balancer according to the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0054] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. A detailed description
below is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the
methods, devices, and/or systems described in this specification.
However, this is just an example, by which the idea of the present
disclosure is non-limited.
[0055] In explaining embodiments of the present disclosure, if it
is deemed that a specific description of the prior art related to
the present disclosure may unnecessarily blur the gist of the
present disclosure, the detailed description shall be omitted.
Furthermore, the terms described below are those defined in
consideration of their functions in the present disclosure, which
may depend on the intentions or practices of the user, operator,
etc. The definition will therefore have to be based on the full
text of the present specification. The terms used in the detailed
description are simply to describe embodiments of the present
disclosure and should never be limited. Unless clearly used
differently, singular forms of expression contain multiple forms of
meaning. In this description, an expression such as "include" or
"provide" is intended to refer to some characteristics, numbers,
steps, operations, elements, or combinations thereof, and should
not be interpreted to exclude the existence or possibility of one
or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, operations,
elements, or combinations thereof.
[0056] As shown in the drawings, a laundry treatment apparatus 100
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a
cabinet 1, a tub 2 and a drum 3. The cabinet 1 may be configured in
any shapes capable of receiving the tub 2 therein, and FIG. 1 shows
one example of a case that the cabinet 1 forms an exterior of the
laundry treatment apparatus 100.
[0057] A cabinet entrance 12 for supplying laundry to the drum 3 or
withdrawing laundry stored in the drum 3 externally may be formed
in the cabinet 1. A cabinet body 11 providing a receiving space for
receiving the components described in the following therein and a
door 13 for opening/closing the cabinet entrance 12 may be provided
to the cabinet 1. A control panel 14 for a user to control the
laundry treatment apparatus 100 may be provided to an outside of
the cabinet 1.
[0058] According to one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the cabinet
entrance 12 is formed in a top side of the cabinet 1 and the door
13 is provided to the top side to open/close the cabinet entrance
12. Alternatively, the cabinet entrance 12 and the door 13 may be
provided to any places other than the top side of the cabinet
1.
[0059] The tub 2 is a means for storing water required for washing
of laundry. A tub entrance 22 communicating with the cabinet
entrance 12 may be provided to the tub 2. For example, as one side
of the tub 2 is open, the tub entrance 22 may be formed, and at
least one portion of the tub entrance 22 is located to confront the
cabinet entrance 12 so as to communicate with the cabinet entrance
12.
[0060] FIG. 1 shows a laundry treatment apparatus 100 of a
top-loading type according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0061] The tub 2 may include a tub body 21 forming an exterior of
the tub 2. As one side of the tub body 21 is open, the tub entrance
22 communicating with the cabinet entrance 12 may be provided. So
to speak, as a top side of the tub 2 is open, the tub entrance 22
is formed. The tub entrance 22 is located below the cabinet
entrance 12 to communicate with the cabinet entrance 12.
[0062] The tub 2 is fixed to an inside of the cabinet 1 via a tub
support part 23. The tub support part 23 may be configured with a
structure capable of damping the vibration generated from the tub
2. The tub 2 is supplied with water through a water supply part 5.
The water supply part 5 may include a water supply pipe 51
connecting a water supply source and the tub 2 together and a water
supply valve opening/closing the water supply pipe 51.
[0063] The laundry treatment apparatus 100 according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure may include a detergent supply
device configured to store a detergent and supply the detergent to
the tub 2. The water supply part 5 supplies water to the detergent
supply device, whereby the water via the detergent supply device
may be supplied to the tub 2 together with the detergent.
[0064] The water stored in the tub 2 is discharged from the cabinet
1 through a drain part 6. The drain part 6 may include a drain pipe
62 guiding the water in the tub 2 to an outside of the cabinet 1
and a drain pump 61 provided to the drain pipe 62.
[0065] The laundry treatment apparatus 100 according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure may include a water spray
device spraying water into the tub 2 through the tub entrance 22.
The water supply part 5 may be connected to the water spray device,
thereby supplying water into the tub directly via the water spray
device.
[0066] The drum 3 may be rotatably provided within the tub 2. To be
rotatable within the tub 2, the drum 3 may be configured to have a
circular cross-section. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the drum 3
may be configured in a cylindrical shape.
[0067] Particularly, the drum 3 may include a drum body 31
providing a space for storing laundry therein, an extension side 32
configured to connect the drum body 31 and support laundry by being
formed as an integral part with the drum body 31, and a drum
entrance 33 formed in one side of the drum body 31 to put
laundry.
[0068] The drum 3 may be provided with the drum entrance 33 located
below the tub entrance 22 to communicate with the entrance. As one
side of the drum 3 is open, as described below, an open side may be
formed. The open side may correspond to the drum entrance 33.
[0069] A multitude of communicating holes 310, through which an
inside and outside of the drum body 31, i.e., an inside of the drum
3 and an inside of the tub 2 partitioned by the drum 3 communicate
with each other, may formed in an outer circumference of the drum
body 31. Hence, the water supplied to the tub 2 may be supplied
into the drum 3, in which laundry is stored, through the
communicating holes 310 of the drum 3.
[0070] The drum 3 may be rotated by a drive part 4. The drive part
4 may include a stator 41 fixed to an outside of the tub 2 to form
a rotating magnetic field if supplied with current, a rotor 42
rotated by the rotating magnetic field, and a rotating shaft 43
configured to penetrate the tub 2 to connect the rotor 42 to the
drum 3 and the like.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 1, the rotating shaft 43 may be configured
vertical to a floor surface of the tub 2. In this case, the cabinet
entrance 12 may be provided to the top side of the cabinet 1, the
tub entrance 22 may be provided to the top side of the tub 2, and
the drum entrance 33 may be provided to the top side of the drum
3.
[0072] In some implementations, if the drum 3 rotates while laundry
is concentrated on a predetermined area in the drum 3, a dynamic
balance broken state (i.e., unbalance) occurs in the drum 3. If the
drum 3 in the unbalanced state rotates, the drum 3 rotates while
vibrating by the centrifugal force working on the laundry. Such
vibration of the drum 3 is transferred to the tub 2 or the cabinet
1 to cause a problem of inducing noise.
[0073] To prevent such a problem, the present disclosure may
further include a balancer 7 controlling the unbalance of the drum
3 by generating a force of cancelling or damping a centrifugal
force working on laundry.
[0074] In some implementations, referring to FIG. 1, the tub 2 may
include a space for storing water therein and the drum 3 may be
rotatably provided within the tub 2. The drum 3 may include an open
side (i.e., drum entrance) for putting or withdrawing laundry and
an extension side (i.e., floor surface) 32 located on the opposite
side of the open side.
[0075] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG.
2 shows that the top side of the drum 3 corresponds to the drum
entrance 33 and that the bottom side corresponds to the extension
side 33. As described above, the drum entrance 33 may correspond to
a side through which the laundry put through the cabinet entrance
12 of the cabinet 1 and the tub entrance 22 of the tub 2
passes.
[0076] Meanwhile, the water supply part 5 may be configured to
supply water into the tub 2 in a manner of being connected to such
a means as the detergent supply device, the water spray device and
the like. In some implementations, one embodiment of the present
disclosure may include a control unit (not shown) controlling a
water supply amount by controlling the water supply part 5 in a
washing course and the like.
[0077] The control unit may be configured to control a water supply
amount supplied to the tub 2 in a washing course, a rinsing course
and the like, the water supply amount may be controlled via a
manipulating part (i.e., control panel) 14 provided to the cabinet
1 so as to be manipulated by a user or determined via an amount of
laundry, a load of the drive part 4 and the like.
[0078] The control unit may be configured to control the water
supply part 5 depending on one of a plurality of preset water
supply amounts based on a command or the like selected by a user in
a washing course and the like.
[0079] FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram showing a laundry treatment
apparatus according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective diagram showing a
laundry treatment apparatus according to another embodiment of the
present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram showing a
laundry treatment apparatus according to another embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0080] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a laundry treatment
apparatus 100' may include a cabinet 1 having an entrance 12
provided to a front side and a drawer 10 provided to one side of
the cabinet 1.
[0081] In particular, the cabinet 1 is a part that provides a space
for treating laundry. In the drawing, a washer or dryer having a
cabinet entrance 12 provided to a front side is shown, by which the
present disclosure is non-limited.
[0082] Laundry treatments in the cabinet 1 are non-limited to
washing or drying and may be performed in various ways such as
refreshing of injecting stream while heating laundry and the like.
Namely, a laundry treatment unit (described later) coupled to the
laundry treatment apparatus 100' may include a laundry treatment
apparatus capable of performing at least one of washing, drying and
refreshing. For example, the laundry treatment unit may be
configured in various forms such as a washer, a dryer, a
washer/dryer, a laundry treatment device including an iron and a
laundry rack, etc.
[0083] In some implementations, the laundry treatment apparatus
100' according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be
configured in a manner that a drawer 10 is provided to the cabinet
1. The drawer 10 may be provided to any side of the cabinet 1. Yet,
it is preferable that the drawer 10 is provided to a top or bottom
side of the cabinet 1 for the efficiency of an installation space.
In the drawing, the drawer 10 is provided to the bottom side of the
cabinet 1 with reference to an installation plane, by which the
present disclosure is non-limited.
[0084] The drawer 10 may include a drawer body 20 and a drawer
cabinet 101 providing a space for receiving the drawer body 20
therein. The drawer cabinet 101 may be a part connected to the
aforementioned cabinet 1. The drawer cabinet 101 may be formed with
the cabinet 1 as an integral part and provided as a part
distinguished with a separate member such as a partition (not
shown). Alternatively, the cabinet 1 and the drawer cabinet 101 may
be manufactured separately and then provided as a coupled part.
[0085] The drawer 10 may be configured to include the drawer body
20 withdrawable from the drawer cabinet 101, a tub 3 provided
within the drawer body 20 to provide a space for storing water
therein, and a drum 4 rotatably provided within the tub 3.
[0086] The drawer 10 may be configured to include a drawer body 20,
a drawer cover 202 forming a top side of the drawer body 20, and a
drawer panel 201 fixed to the drawer body 20.
[0087] The drawer panel 20 may be provided to the front sides of
the drawer 10 and the cabinet 1. The drawer panel 201 may be
configured to be similar to the front side of the cabinet or
projected in a front direction by the same length. Yet, the shape
of the drawer panel 201 may be changed depending on the
manufacturing problems, functional additions and the like.
[0088] The drawer cover 202 may be provided to seal a space between
the tub 30 received in the drawer body 20 and the drawer body 20.
In some cases, the drawer cover 202 may include a first drawer
cover 2021 provided to a top side of a tub cover 302 and a second
drawer cover 2022 provided above the first drawer cover 201 to be
coupled to the first drawer cover 2021. A drawer entrance 203
providing a space for putting laundry may be formed in the drawer
cover 202.
[0089] In other words, the drawer body 20 may be configured in a
hexahedral shape having an open side provided to a top side, and
the drawer cover 202 may be configured to form a top side of the
drawer 10 by being fixed to a top end of the drawer body 20.
[0090] The drawer panel 201 may be configured as a means (e.g.,
handle) for facilitating the drawer body 20 to be withdrawn from or
inserted in the cabinet 1.
[0091] The drawer body 20 may be easily withdrawn or inserted via a
rail part 110 connected to the drawer cabinet 101 and the drawer
body 20.
[0092] A control panel controlling an operation of the laundry
treatment apparatus 100' may be provided to a top side of the
drawer panel 201. The control panel is a means for receiving, from
a user, control commands required for an operation of a means
(e.g., water supply valve, pump) for supplying water to the tub 30
or draining water, a means (e.g., drive part) for rotating the drum
40, etc. Namely, the control panel may include an input unit for a
user to input a control command to the laundry treatment apparatus
and a display unit for confirming the control command inputted via
the input unit or informing a user of an execution process of a
control command inputted by the user.
[0093] The drawer cover 202 may be provided with an entrance
configured to perforate the drawer cover 202 to communicate with an
inside of the drawer body 20 and a drawer entrance 203 configured
to perforate the drawer cover 202 so as to have a water supply pipe
602 (described later) inserted therein.
[0094] The drawer 10 may have a length of a width direction (i.e.,
Y-axis direction) greater than a length of a height direction
(i.e., Z-axis direction) (i.e., a width-directional length of the
drawer may be set greater than a height-directional length of the
drawer). This is to enable the laundry treatment apparatus 100' to
be located above or below another treatment device capable of
laundry washing or drying and to facilitate a user's access to the
control panel or the drawer entrance 203.
[0095] The tub 30 may include a tub body 301 located within the
drawer body 20 to provide a space for storing water therein and a
tub cover 302 coupled to the tub body 301 so as to form a top side
of the tub 30.
[0096] The tub body 301 may be configured in a cylindrical shape
having an open top side. If a width of the drawer body 20 is formed
greater than a height of the drawer body 20, a width of the tub
body 301 is preferably set greater than a height of the tub body
301.
[0097] The tub body 301 may be flexibly fixed to an inside of the
drawer 20 via a support part 303. The tub support part 303 may
include a first bracket projected from the drawer body 20 toward a
circumference of the tub body 301, a second bracket projected from
the circumference of the tub body 301 toward a lateral side of the
drawer body and located at a position lower than the first bracket,
and a support bar having one end (i.e., top end) connected to the
first bracket and the other end (i.e., bottom end) connected to the
second bracket. A plurality of the tub support parts 303 of the
above structure may be configured in a manner of being spaced apart
from each other at the same angle with reference to a vertical line
that passes a center of the tub body 301.
[0098] A tub entrance 304 enabling an inner space of the tub body
301 to communicate with an outside and a water supply outlet may be
provided to the tub cover 302. The tub entrance 304 may be located
below the drawer outlet 203 and configured to be open/closed by a
tub door 305 rotatably coupled to the tub cover 302. As the tub
door 305 is located below the drawer entrance 203, when the drawer
10 is withdrawn from the drawer cabinet 101, the tub door 305 may
be rotated in a direction of opening the tub entrance 304. One end
of a water supply pipe 602 is fixed to the water supply outlet.
[0099] The drum 40 may include a drum body 401 rotatably provided
within the tub 30 to provide a space for storing laundry therein
and an extension side 402 formed with the drum body 401 as an
integral part and configured to connect the drum body 401 to
support laundry. The drum body 401 may be configured in a
cylindrical shape having an open top side or a cylindrical shape
having a drum entrance 403 formed in a top side. A plurality of
communicating holes 401a may be formed in at least one of a
circumferential surface and a floor surface of the drum body 401 to
enable an inside of the drum body 401 to communicate with an inside
of the tub 30.
[0100] The drum body 401 is rotated by a drive part 50. The drive
part 50 may include a stator 501 fixed to a bottom side of the tub
body 301 and located outside the tub 30, a rotor 502 rotated by a
rotating magnetic field provided by the stator 501, and a rotating
shaft 503 penetrating the bottom side of the tub body 301 to
connect the drum body 401 and the rotor 502. As shown in the
drawing, the rotating shaft 503 may be configured to be vertical to
the tub entrance 304 (or the floor surface of the tub body).
[0101] A balancer 7 may be provided to a top end of the drum body
401. The balancer 7 is a means for damping vibration generated from
the drum body when the drum body 401 rotates. The balancer 7 may
include a balancer housing 71 fixed to the top end of the drum body
401, a circulation flow path 74 provided inside the balancer
housing 71 in a ring shape to correspond to the balancer housing
71, and a liquid movable along an inside of the circulation flow
path 74.
[0102] The above-configured laundry treatment apparatus 100' is
supplied with water through the water supply part 601. The water
supply part 601 may include a water supply pipe 602 connecting the
water supply outlet to a water supply source located outside the
drawer cabinet 101 and a water supply valve 603 controlling the
water supply pipe 602 to be open or closed in response to a control
signal of a control unit.
[0103] Meanwhile, the water stored in the tub 30 is discharged from
the drawer cabinet 101 through a drain part 604. The drain part 604
may include a first drain pipe 605 connecting the bottom side of
the tub body 301 to a drain pump 606 described later and a second
drain pipe 607 guiding the water discharged from the drain pump 606
to an outside of the drawer cabinet 101. A drain cabinet perforated
hole penetrated by the second drain pipe 607 may be provided to a
rear side of the drawer cabinet 101.
[0104] The drain pump 606 may be fixed to the drawer body 20 or the
drawer cabinet 101 to connect the first drain pipe 605 and the
second drain pipe 607 together. FIG. 5 shows one example of a case
that the drain pump 606 is fixed to the drawer body 20.
[0105] The drain pump 606 may include a housing fixed to an inside
of the drawer body 22, a motor rotating an impeller provided within
the housing, and a discharge pipe connected to the second drain
pipe 607 to discharge water in the housing to the second drain pipe
607.
[0106] FIG. 6 is a perspective diagram showing a balancer according
to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0107] In the following, a balancer applied to the laundry
treatment apparatuses shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 will be described in
detail. Namely, the balancer 7 described in the present disclosure
is applicable to the top-loading type laundry treatment apparatus
shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 or one of the two laundry treatment
apparatuses combined together shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. Yet, for the
clarity and convenience of the description, the following
description will be made with reference to the configuration shown
in FIGS. 3 to 5.
[0108] The balancer 7 may be provided to a top side of the drum,
and more particularly, to a top side of the drum body 401, i.e., a
portion in which the drum entrance 403 is formed. The balancer 7
may work to damp the vibration generated from rotation of the drum
40.
[0109] The balancer 7 may include a balancer housing 71 and a
balancer cover 72.
[0110] The balancer housing 71 may be configured to form the top
side of the drum body 401 by being fixed to the drum body 401. The
balancer housing 71 is configured in a ring shape to have a
balancer perforated hole 73 formed by perforating the balancer
housing 71.
[0111] In addition, the balancer 7 includes a circulation flow path
74 provided inside in a ring shape to provide a moving path of
liquid and the liquid stored in the circulation flow path 74.
[0112] In this case, types of the liquid are non-limited. It is
enough for the liquid to flow by being received in the balancer
housing to resolve the unbalance due to the rotation of the drum
40.
[0113] Since the balancer perforated hole 73 is located below the
tub entrance 304, laundry put through the tub entrance 304 moves
into the drum body 401 through the balancer perforated hole 73.
Thus, as the balancer perforated hole 73 communicates with the drum
entrance, the laundry having passed through the balancer perforated
hole 73 enters the drum body 401 through the drum entrance.
[0114] A top end of the balancer housing 71 and a bottom end of the
balancer cover 72 may be coupled together by thermal bonding.
Namely, the balancer housing 71 and the balancer cover 72 are
provided as an integral part via thermal bonding, whereby an
exterior of the balancer 7 may be determined. Although FIG. 6 sows
that the balancer housing 71 and the balancer cover 72 are
disassembled for the clarity of the present disclosure, the
balancer housing 71 and the balancer cover 72 are preferably formed
as an integral part.
[0115] A bottom end of the balancer housing 71 may be inserted into
the drum body 401, and a top side of the balancer housing 71 may be
exposed from the drum body 401.
[0116] In order to prevent liquid from moving along a circulation
flow path while the drum body 401 is rotating at high speed, a
multitude of slip prevention walls 75 may be provided to the
circulation flow path 74.
[0117] As shown in the drawing, the slip prevention wall 75 may be
provided to the balancer housing 71. One end may be fixed to an
outer surface 712 (i.e., a surface confronting a circumferential
surface of the tub body) of the circulation flow path 74, and a
free end may include a board projected toward an inner surface 713
(i.e., a surface facing a center of the drum body) of the
circulation flow path 74.
[0118] The free end of the slip prevention wall 75 should be
configured not to contact with an inner circumferential surface of
the circulation flow path 74. Namely, when the drum body 401
rotates at low speed or eccentrically, the liquid needs to move
along the circulation flow path.
[0119] Preferably, the slip prevention wall 75 includes a multitude
of boards spaced apart from each other at the same angle with
reference to the center of the balancer perforated hole 73.
[0120] In addition, if a width of the circulation flow path 74
(i.e., a length of the circulation flow path side by side with a
diameter direction of the drum body) is increased to raise a volume
of the circulation flow path 74, it causes a disadvantage that a
volume of the drum body decreases (i.e., a disadvantage that an
amount of laundry that can be treated by the drum body). Hence, the
width of the circulation flow path 74 is preferably set smaller
than a height of the circulation flow path (i.e., a length of the
circulation flow path side by side with a height direction of the
drum body).
[0121] FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional diagrams showing an
inner structure of a balancer of the related art and an inner
structure of a balancer according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure. Particularly, FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional diagram
showing a balancer of the related art, and FIG. 7B is a
cross-sectional diagram showing a balancer according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0122] Prior to the description of FIGS. 7A and 7B, the balancer 7
will be described schematically. By increasing heights of the
balancer housing 71 and the balancer cover 72 (i.e., the height of
the balancer) and the volume of the circulation flow path 74, the
unbalanced state of the laundry treatment apparatus 100' can be
resolved effectively. Yet, if a height of a gravity center G of the
balancer 7 is raised, it may cause a problem that vibration of the
top end of the drum body 401 and vibration of the top end of the
tub 30 increase.
[0123] In particular, if the height of the gravity center G of the
balancer 7 is raised, a distance between the bottom end of the tub
support part 303 and the gravity center G is increased (i.e., a
distance between a support point formed by the tub support part and
the gravity center of the whole drum is increased). This means that
a distance (i.e., a length of a moment arm) orthogonal to a force
(i.e., a force generated when liquid moves along the circulation
flow path) working on the gravity center G on a bottom end of the
tub support part 303 is increased and the length of the moment arm
means that the top end vibration of the tub 30 may increase.
[0124] Therefore, it is important to minimize the height of the
gravity of the balancer as well as to increase the volume of the
circulation flow path. In addition, if the height of the balancer 7
is long, it is advantageous in securing a laundry received space to
the maximum. Yet, the gravity center is raised, an extent of
unbalance may increase. Hence, it is important to minimize the
height of the gravity center as well as to secure the height of the
balancer 7.
[0125] In particular, if the weight unbalance generated from
rotation of the drum 40 exceeds a reference value, liquid received
in the balancer 7 flows along the circulation flow path 74. In
doing so, the liquid is inclined to a radial outside of the
balancer 7. The reason why the liquid is inclined to the radial
outside of the balancer 7 is that a centrifugal force works on the
liquid.
[0126] Each of FIGS. 7A and 7B shows a form that liquid is inclined
to a radial outside of the balancer housing 71, i.e., a state of a
water surface on high-speed rotation of the drum.
[0127] Referring to FIG. 7B, the balancer 7 according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure includes a recess part 711.
The recess part 711 may be configured in a concave shape recessed
toward the circulation flow path 74 from a top side of the liquid
inclined side on rotating the drum 40.
[0128] The recess part 711 is configured in a shape of being
recessed toward an inside of the circulation path 74 from a top
side of the balancer housing 71. Therefore, compared to the
balancer of the related art, the balancer 7 according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure has a decreased height (with
reference to a height direction of the balancer) of the liquid
inclined portion on rotation of the drum 40.
[0129] A center of gravity is an action point of a resultant force
of gravity working on each portion of an object. Hence, if the
height of the liquid inclined portion is decreased, as shown in
FIGS. 7A and 7B, the center of gravity is lowered overall.
[0130] In particular, compared to a gravity center G of the related
art balancer, a gravity center G' of the balancer 7 having the
recess part 711 may be lowered by a prescribed length d with
reference to a height direction of the balancer 7. Hence, an effect
caused to the unbalance occurrence by the balancer may be minimized
as well as a receiving space of the drum 40 is secured to the
maximum.
[0131] The balancer 7 is a part provided to reduce noise and
vibration when an unbalance extent is equal to or greater than a
reference value on rotation of the drum 40. Yet, it is not
preferable that the unbalance increases due to the balancer 7. If
the height of the balancer 7 is determined as excessively low, a
space for receiving laundry therein is reduced to bring the
degradation of laundry treatment performance of washing (or
drying).
[0132] The balancer 7 includes the recess part 711, thereby
minimizing the effect caused to the unbalance occurrence and
securing a space for receiving laundry therein to the maximum. The
recess part 711 will be described in the following again.
[0133] The balancer housing 71 includes an outer surface 712
provided to a most radial outside of the balancer housing 71, an
inner surface 713 provided to a most inner side of the balancer
housing 71 to form a balancer perforated hole 73 therein, and a
bottom surface 714 connecting the outer surface 712 and the inner
surface 713 to each other.
[0134] The outer surface 712, the inner surface 713 and the bottom
surface 714 are formed as an integral part. The bottom surface 714
may be inserted in an inside of the drum body 401 so as to be
connected to the drum 40 or connected to the drum body 401 on the
top side of the drum body 401.
[0135] The outer surface 712 may include a drum connecting part
712a connected to the drum body 401 and extended in a height
direction of the drum 40, a projected part 712b formed with the
drum connecting part 712a as an integral part, extended in the
height direction of the drum and projected toward a most outer side
of the outer surface 712, and a recess part 711 connected to the
projected part 712b. In this case, the drum connecting part 712a,
the projected part 712b and the recess part 711 may be formed as an
integral part. In addition, the drum connecting part 712a may
include a surface connected to the drum body 401. A length of the
drum connecting part 712a is non-limited.
[0136] The balancer 7 and the drum 40 may be connected via a
balancer coupling part 405 provided to the drum. As shown in FIG.
7A, the balancer coupling part 405 may be configured in a manner of
being fastened to the drum connecting part 712a and the bottom
surface 714, or the drum connecting part 712a may be fitted into
the drum 40. In this case, a bead part 404 may become the balancer
coupling part 405.
[0137] If the projected part 712b is further projected toward a
radial outside of the balancer housing 71, it becomes more
advantageous. Yet, if it becomes excessively larger than a space
formed by the drum body 401, space efficiency may be lowered.
Hence, it is preferable that the projected part 712b is projected
to have a length equal to or more or less than a length of the
space formed by the drum body 401.
[0138] In particular, the recess part 711 may include a first
recess extension part 711a extended from the outer surface 712 in a
direction of the inner surface 713 and a second recess extension
part 711b extended from the first recess extension part 711a in a
height direction of the balancer (or drum).
[0139] Liquid flowing in the circulation flow path 74 may be
inclined up to the extension length of the first recess extension
part 711a on high-speed rotation of the drum 40. Namely, with
reference to the height direction of the balancer housing 71 on the
high-speed rotation of the drum 40, the liquid may be located on an
outside of a virtual extension line of the second recess extension
part 711b.
[0140] The second recess extension part 711b may include a portion
thermally bonded to the balancer cover 72.
[0141] FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams showing various
embodiments of a balancer according to the present disclosure. FIG.
8A is a schematic diagram showing a balancer having two circulation
flow paths, and FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram showing a balancer
having a single circulation flow path.
[0142] Referring to FIG. 8A, a partition 76 may be provided within
the balancer housing 71. The partition 76 is located between the
outer surface 712 and the inner surface 713 of the balancer housing
71 and extended in the height direction of the balancer housing 71.
By the partition, the circulation flow path 74 may be divided into
the first circulation flow path 741 and the second circulation flow
path 742.
[0143] Particularly, the balancer housing 71 may include a first
chamber C1 comparted by the partition 76 and formed closer to the
outer surface 712 than the inner surface 713 and a second chamber
C2 comparted by the partition 76 and formed closer to the inner
surface 713 than the outer surface 712. In this case, the recess
part 711 may be provided to the first chamber C1. Liquid stored in
the first circulation flow path 741 and liquid received in the
second circulation path 742 may be rotated independently from each
other.
[0144] The case of having two circulation flow paths 741 and 742
may resolve the unbalance state more effectively than the case of
having the single circulation flow path 74. Yet, since a radial
length of the balancer 7 is determined depending on a radial length
of the drum body 401, it may result in decreasing a size of the
balancer perforated hole 73 through which laundry is put. On the
contrary, in case that the single circulation flow path 74 is
provided, the size of the balancer perforated hole 73 through which
the laundry is put can be increased sufficiently.
[0145] In addition, since the center of gravity may be lowered due
to the recess part 711, it may be able to provide a laundry
treatment apparatus with large laundry storage capacity despite
having the same gravity center of the related art in a manner of
decreasing a length of the bead part 404 (with reference to the
height direction of the balancer) by a length d of the lowered
gravity center G' and increasing a length of the balancer housing
71 by the reduced portion of the bead part 404.
[0146] 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 inventions. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *