U.S. patent number RE43,625 [Application Number 13/116,059] was granted by the patent office on 2012-09-04 for drum type washing machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Jae Won Chang, Jin Woong Kim, Na Eun Kim, Young Hwan Park.
United States Patent |
RE43,625 |
Kim , et al. |
September 4, 2012 |
Drum type washing machine
Abstract
A drum type washing machine is provided, in which vibration is
efficiently attenuated, by a maximum capacity within a size-fixed
cabinet is provided, and by which a user does not bend over or sit
down to load laundry into the washing machine. The drum type
washing machine includes a cabinet forming an exterior of the drum
type washing machine, a tub fixed within the cabinet, the tub
having a laundry loading entrance at an outer circumference of the
tub, a drum rotatably provided within the tub, the drum having an
opening on a lateral side of the drum to communicate with the
laundry loading entrance of the tub, a motor assembly provided next
to one side of the drum to rotate the drum, and a suspension
assembly provided to support a weight of the drum and attenuate
vibration of the drum.
Inventors: |
Kim; Na Eun (Seoul,
KR), Kim; Jin Woong (Seoul, KR), Park;
Young Hwan (Seoul, KR), Chang; Jae Won (Gunpo-si,
KR) |
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc. (Seoul,
KR)
|
Family
ID: |
38229860 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/116,059 |
Filed: |
May 26, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
11727836 |
Mar 28, 2007 |
7536882 |
May 26, 2009 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 29, 2006 [KR] |
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10-2006-0028358 |
Apr 12, 2006 [KR] |
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10-2006-0033255 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
68/24;
68/140 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F
37/22 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D06F
37/22 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;68/14,58,140,24 |
References Cited
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Primary Examiner: Stinson; Frankie L
Attorney, Agent or Firm: KED & Associates LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet forming an
exterior of the drum type washing machine; a tub fixed within the
cabinet, the tub defining a space where water for washing laundry
is held and having a laundry loading entrance at an outer
circumference of the tub; a drum rotatably provided within the
space of the tub, the drum having an opening on a lateral
circumferential side thereof to communicate with the laundry
loading entrance of the tub; a motor assembly provided next to one
side of the drum to rotate the drum the motor assembly including a
rotational shaft connected to the drum; a plate through which the
rotational shaft passes, the plate covering part of the space of
the tub; a gasket connected between the tub and the plate, the
gasket covering part of the space of the tub therebetween; and a
suspension assembly provided to support a weight of the drum and
attenuate vibration of the drum.
2. The drum type washing machine of claim 1, the motor assembly
comprising: a motor generating a rotational force; and a bearing
housing rotatably supporting the rotational shaft, and the
suspension assembly comprising: at least one damper bracket
extending from the bearing housing; and an attenuating part
provided between the at least one damper bracket and the cabinet to
support the drum via the at least one damper bracket.
3. The drum type washing machine of claim 2, the attenuating part
comprising a pair of main dampers provided to support the weight of
the drum and attenuate vertical vibration of the drum.
4. The drum type washing machine of claim 3, the attenuating part
further comprising a sub-damper provided to attenuate horizontal
vibration of the drum.
5. The drum type washing machine of claim 4, wherein the at least
one damper bracket is configured to be bent toward a front side of
the tub from a center of the bearing housing and wherein one end of
the sub-damper is joined to an end portion of the at least one
damper bracket.
6. The drum type washing machine of claim 4, wherein the sub-damper
is connected to both of the at least one damper bracket and the
cabinet.
7. The drum type washing machine of claim 3, the attenuating part
further comprising an elastic member connecting the bearing housing
on a topside of the cabinet.
8. The drum type washing machine of claim 3, the at least two main
dampers, each comprising: a cylinder; a piston provided to
reciprocate within the cylinder according to a motion of the drum
to attenuate the vibration of the drum; and a spring configured to
elastically support the piston.
9. The drum type washing machine of claim 8, wherein a frictional
member is provided to an outer circumference of the piston to
attenuate the vibration by making a frictional movement against an
inner circumference of the cylinder according to a motion of the
piston.
10. The drum type washing machine of claim 8, wherein each of the
at least two main dampers is connected to the corresponding damper
bracket.
11. The drum type washing machine of claim 2, the attenuating part
comprising at least three dampers provided to support the weight of
the drum and attenuate vertical vibration of the drum.
12. The drum type washing machine of claim 11, the attenuating part
comprising: at least two main dampers provided to support the
weight of the drum; and at least one rear damper provided to
prevent the drum from inclining to one side.
13. The drum type washing machine of claim 12, wherein the rear
damper is configured to prevent the drum from inclining to a front
or rear side of the drum.
14. The drum type washing machine of claim 12, the at least one
damper bracket comprising a rear damper bracket configured to
extend from the bearing housing to a center of a lower outer
circumference of the tub to be joined to the at least one rear
damper.
15. The drum type washing machine of claim 14, wherein each of the
at least two main dampers is connected to the corresponding main
damper bracket and wherein the rear damper is hinged to the rear
damper bracket.
16. The drum type washing machine of claim 12, the at least two
main dampers, each comprising: a cylinder; a piston provided to
reciprocate within the cylinder according to a motion of the drum
to attenuate the vibration of the drum; and a spring configured to
support the piston and have an elastic force when the piston enters
the cylinder.
17. The drum type washing machine of claim 12, the rear damper
comprising: a cylinder; a piston provided to reciprocate within the
cylinder according to a motion of the drum to attenuate the
vibration of the drum; and a spring configured to support the
piston and have an elastic force when the piston is pulled out of
the cylinder.
18. The drum type washing machine of claim 11, further comprising a
sub-damper provided to attenuate horizontal vibration of the
drum.
19. A drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet forming an
exterior of the drum type washing machine; a tub fixed within the
cabinet, the tub having a laundry loading entrance at an outer
circumference of the tub; a drum rotatably provided within the tub,
the drum having an opening on a lateral circumferential side of the
drum to communicate with the laundry loading entrance of the tub; a
motor assembly provided next to one side of the drum to rotate the
drum, the motor assembly including a rotational shaft connected to
the drum and a bearing housing to rotatably support the rotational
shaft; and a suspension assembly provided to support a weight of
the drum and attenuate vibration of the drum, wherein the
suspension assembly includes at least one damper bracket which is
configured to be bent toward a front side of the tub from the
bearing housing and a damper which is connected to the at least one
damper bracket.
20. A drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet forming an
exterior of the drum type washing machine; a tub fixed within the
cabinet, the tub having a laundry loading entrance at an outer
circumference of the tub; a drum rotatably provided within the tub,
the drum having an opening on a lateral circumferential side of the
drum to communicate with the laundry loading entrance of the tub; a
motor assembly provided next to one side of the drum to rotate the
drum, the motor assembly including a rotational shaft connected to
the drum and a bearing housing to rotatably support the rotational
shaft; and a suspension assembly provided to support a weight of
the drum and attenuate vibration of the drum, the suspension
assembly comprising at least two damper brackets and at least two
dampers, wherein each of the at least two damper brackets extends
from the bearing housing to an outside of each lower side of an
outer circumference of the tub, and is bent toward a front side of
the drum, and extends to a prescribed length, and the two dampers
are connected to the two damper brackets, respectively.
.Iadd.21. The drum type washing machine of claim 1, wherein the
suspension assembly comprises a first bracket, the first bracket
comprising a first bracket portion attached to the plate and
extending in a radial direction of the rotational shaft, and a
second bracket portion connected to the first bracket portion and
extending in a rotational axis direction of the drum..Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. The drum type washing machine of claim 21, wherein the
first bracket portion comprises an end bent in the rotational axis
direction and connected to the second bracket portion..Iaddend.
.Iadd.23. The drum type washing machine of claim 21, wherein the
suspension assembly comprises a main damper connected to an end of
the second bracket portion that supports the weight of the drum and
attenuate a vertical vibration of the drum..Iaddend.
.Iadd.24. The drum type washing machine of claim 23, wherein the
suspension assembly further comprises a sub-damper that attenuates
a horizontal vibration of the drum..Iaddend.
.Iadd.25. The drum type washing machine of claim 24, wherein the
sub-damper is connected to the second bracket portion..Iaddend.
.Iadd.26. The drum type washing machine of claim 24, wherein the
sub-damper is hinged at both ends thereof..Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. The drum type washing machine of claim 23, wherein the
suspension assembly further comprises an elastic member that
connects the bearing housing to a top side of the
cabinet..Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. The drum type washing machine of claim 23, wherein the
main damper comprises: a cylinder; a piston that reciprocates
within the cylinder according to a motion of the drum to attenuate
the vibration of the drum; and a spring configured to elastically
support the piston..Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. The drum type washing machine of claim 28, wherein a
frictional member is provided at an outer circumference of the
piston that attenuates the vibration by making a frictional contact
with an inner circumference of the cylinder according to a motion
of the piston..Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. The drum type washing machine of claim 21, further
comprising a second damper bracket, the second damper bracket
comprising a third bracket portion attached to the bearing housing
and extending in a radial direction of the shaft, and a forth
bracket portion connected to the third bracket portion and
extending in the rotational axis direction of the
drum..Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. The drum type washing machine of claim 21, wherein the
suspension assembly comprises at least three dampers that support
the weight of the drum and attenuate a vertical vibration of the
drum..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. The drum type washing machine of claim 31, wherein the at
least three dampers comprises: at least two main dampers that
support the weight of the drum; and at least one rear damper that
prevents the drum from inclining to one side..Iaddend.
.Iadd.33. The drum type washing machine of claim 32, wherein the
suspension assembly further comprises a rear damper bracket
configured to extend from the bearing housing to a center of a
lower outer circumference of the tub to be joined to the at least
one rear damper..Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. The drum type washing machine of claim 33, wherein each
of the at least two main dampers is connected to the corresponding
main damper bracket and wherein the rear damper is hinged to the
rear damper bracket..Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. The drum type washing machine of claim 32, wherein the at
least two main dampers each comprise: a cylinder; a piston that
reciprocates within the cylinder according to a motion of the drum
to attenuate the vibration of the drum; and a spring configured to
support the piston and have an elastic force when the piston enters
the cylinder..Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. The drum type washing machine of claim 32, wherein the
rear damper comprises: a cylinder; a piston that reciprocates
within the cylinder according to a motion of the drum to attenuate
the vibration of the drum; and a spring configured to support the
piston and have an elastic force when the piston is pulled out of
the cylinder..Iaddend.
.Iadd.37. The drum type washing machine of claim 31, wherein the
rear damper is configured to prevent the drum from inclining toward
a front side or a rear side thereof..Iaddend.
.Iadd.38. The drum type washing machine of claim 31, wherein the
suspension assembly further comprises a sub-damper that attenuates
a horizontal vibration of the drum..Iaddend.
.Iadd.39. The drum type washing machine of claim 1, wherein the
suspension assembly includes at least one bracket bent toward a
front side of the tub from the plate and at least one damper
connected to the at least one bracket, and wherein the at least one
bracket extends in a rotational axis direction of the
tub..Iaddend.
.Iadd.40. The drum type washing machine of claim 1, wherein the
suspension assembly comprises at least two brackets and at least
two dampers, wherein each of the at least two brackets extends form
the plate to an outside of each lower side of an outer
circumference of the tub, is bent toward a front side of the drum,
and extends a predetermined length, and wherein the two dampers are
connected to the two brackets, respectively..Iaddend.
Description
.Iadd.More than one reissue application has been filed for the
reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 7,536,882. The reissue applications are
application Ser. Nos. 13/116,059 (the present application),
13/116,077, 13/116,089, 13/116,096, 13/116,105, 13/116,114,
13/116,147, and 13/116,159, all of which are divisional reissues of
U.S. Pat. No. 7,536,882..Iaddend.
This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2006-0028358, filed on Mar. 29, 2006, and Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2006-0033255, filed on Apr. 12, 2006,
which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if
fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more
particularly, to a drum type washing machine. Although the present
invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is
particularly suitable for facilitating laundry to be loaded and
unloaded from the washing machine with a maximum capacity within a
predetermined volume.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, a drum type washing machine according to a related art
has the following configuration.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of a drum type washing machine
according to the related art, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional
diagram according to a cutting line II-II shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a drum type washing machine
according to the related art consists of a cabinet 1 having a base
1a and a door 1b, a tub 2 provided within the cabinet 1 to be fixed
thereto, a drum 3 rotatably provided within the tub 2 to rotate
laundry m and water by a lift 3a, a motor 4 rotating the drum 3,
and a spring 5, damper 6, and balancer 7 attenuating vibration
transferred to the tub 2.
The drum 3 is provided with a multitude of holes 3b to enable water
stored in the tub 2 to be introduced into the drum 3. The lift 3a
is provided on an inner surface of the drum 3. The lift 3a is
rotated together with the drum 3 to lift the laundry m loaded
within the drum 3 together with the water.
The tub 2 is provided to be spaced apart from inner lateral sides
of the cabinet 1. Both sides of an upper end of the tub 2 are hung
within the cabinet 1 via springs 5. The damper 6 is hinged between
the tub 2 and the base 1a to be supported over the base 1a. And,
the springs 5 and dampers 6 attenuate the vibration carried to the
cabinet 1 from the tub 2.
The door 1b of the cabinet 1 is rotatably provided to a front side
1d of the cabinet 1 to enable the laundry m to be loaded. Front
sides 2d and 3d of the tub 2 and the drum 3 are provided with
openings 2c and 3c to communicate with a hole (not shown in the
drawings) opened by the door 1b, respectively.
A gasket 8 is provided between the front side 1d of the cabinet 1
having the door 1b assembled thereto and the front side 2d of the
tub 2 to prevent leakage of the water. In particular, the gasket 8
seals the space between the inner lateral side of the cabinet 1 and
the front side 2d of the tub 2.
And, the motor 4 is provided to a backside of the tub 2 to rotate
the drum 3 provided within the tub 2.
However, the related art drum type washing machine has the
following problems or disadvantages.
First of all, if vibration is generated from an inside of the drum
3 of the related art drum type washing machine due to the imbalance
in washing or dewatering, both of the drum 3 and the tub 2 are
shaken as one body. And, the springs and dampers 5 and 6 are
configured to attenuate the vibration.
Since the tub 2 vibrates, the outer circumference of the tub 2 and
the cabinet 1 should be sufficiently spaced apart from each other
with a gap (`a` in FIG. 1 or `b` in FIG. 2) to prevent the cabinet
1 and the tub 2 from colliding with each other. This restricts the
capacity or volume of the tub 2 within the cabinet 1 having a fixed
size.
Secondly, since the door 1b for loading and unloading the laundry
and the openings 2c and 3c of the tub and drum are provided to face
the front side of the washing machine, a user has to bend or sit
down to load the laundry in the washing machine. This causes
inconvenience to the user in using the washing machine.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a drum type
washing machine that substantially obviates one or more of the
problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related
art.
An advantage of the present invention is to provide a drum type
washing machine, by which vibration may be efficiently attenuated
in a manner of providing a maximum capacity within a cabinet of
fixed size.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a drum
type washing machine, by which a user does not have to bend over or
sit down to load laundry in the washing machine.
Additional advantages features of the invention will be set forth
in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from
the description or may be learned from practice of the invention.
The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be
realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in
the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended
drawings.
To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance
with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly
described herein, a drum type washing machine according to the
present invention includes a cabinet forming an exterior of the
drum type washing machine, a tub fixed within the cabinet, the tub
having a laundry loading entrance at an outer circumference of the
tub, a drum rotatably provided within the tub, the drum having an
opening on a lateral side of the drum to communicate with the
laundry loading entrance of the tub, a motor assembly provided next
to one side of the drum to rotate the drum, and a suspension
assembly provided to support a weight of the drum and attenuate
vibration of the drum.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description
and the following detailed description are exemplary and
explanatory and should not be construed as limiting the scope of
the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention and 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. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of a drum type washing machine
according to a related art;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram according to a cutting line
II-II shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram of a drum type washing machine
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram of a drum type washing machine
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective diagram of a tub, a drum and a
suspension assembly of a drum type washing machine according to
another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram of a main damper shown in FIG.
5;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram of a sub-damper shown in FIG.
5;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram of a drum type washing machine
according to a further embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective diagram of a tub, a drum and a
suspension assembly of a drum type washing machine according to a
further embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional diagram of a rear damper shown in FIG.
9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to an embodiment of the
present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram of a drum type washing machine
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3, a drum type washing machine according to one
embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet 10 forming
an exterior of the washing machine, a tube 20 fixed within the
cabinet 10 to store water therein, a drum 30 rotatably provided
within the tub 20, a motor assembly 40 providing a rotational force
to the drum 30, and a suspension assembly 70 supporting a weight of
the drum 30 and attenuating vibration of the drum 30.
In particular, the cabinet 10 forms the exterior of the drum type
washing machine and includes a top cover 13 forming an upper side
and a base 16.
Unlike the related art tub, the tub 20 of the present embodiment is
fixed within the cabinet 10. That is, the tub 20 is directly
assembled to an inner front side of the cabinet 10 of the washing
machine, for example, via bolts. It should be appreciated, however,
that the tub 20 may be fixed within the cabinet 10 in various
ways.
A laundry loading entrance 21 is provided on an outer circumference
of the tub 20 instead of being provided on the front side of the
tub 20. Preferably, the laundry loading entrance 21 is provided to
a position facing an upper side from a lateral side of the outer
circumference to facilitate a user to load and unload the laundry.
Alternatively, the laundry loading entrance 21 may be provided at
another position of the outer circumference of the tub 20.
Optionally, a door 12 for loading the laundry may be provided to a
position of the cabinet 10 to oppose the laundry loading entrance
21 of the tub 20.
A door assembly 31 may be provided to the drum 30 to communicate
with the laundry loading entrance 21. Preferably, the laundry
loading entrance 21 and the door assembly 31 are configured to be
opened or closed if necessary.
Whenever the drum 30 of the drum type washing machine according to
the present embodiment invention stops, it may always stop at a
position where the door assembly 31 of the drum 30 and the laundry
loading entrance 21 of the tub 20 may communicate with each other.
Hence, a user is able to load the laundry in the drum 30 without
bending over uncomfortably. And, the user is also able to look down
on an inside of the drum 30, thereby enhancing the convenience in
using the drum type washing machine.
The drum 30 is rotatably provided within the tub 20. The drum 30 is
installed to be spaced apart from the tub 20 with a prescribed gap
in-between to prevent a collision with the tub 20 due to vibration.
And, at least one lift 32 may be provided to an inner circumference
of the drum 30 to lift up the laundry.
The motor assembly 40 is provided on one side of the drum 30 to
rotate the drum 30.
The motor assembly 40 includes a motor 41 generating a rotational
force, a rotational shaft 42 transferring the rotational force of
the motor 41 to the drum 30, and a bearing housing 28 rotatably
supporting the rotational shaft 42.
Preferably, the motor assembly 40 is provided on one side of the
drum 30 instead of being provided on both sides of the drum 30.
In particular, the rotational shaft 42 for rotating the drum 30 is
provided on one side of the drum 30 only to maximize a volume
within the drum 30.
The suspension assembly 70 is provided to support the weight of the
drum 30 and attenuate the vibration of the drum 30.
Preferably, the suspension assembly 70 is configured to support the
drum 30 by supporting the bearing housing 28.
As the drum 30 vibrates, so does the motor assembly 40. So, the
suspension assembly 70 supports the bearing housing 28, thereby
supporting the weight of the drum 30 and attenuating the
vibration.
The above-configured suspension assembly 70 may include a damper
bracket 72 extending from the bearing housing 28 and an attenuating
part provided between the damper bracket 72 and the cabinet 10 to
support the damper bracket 72 and attenuate the vibration
simultaneously.
In the present embodiment, the attenuating part may include a
damper 80 having one end connected to the damper bracket 72 and the
other end connected to the base 16.
The damper bracket 72 may be configured to extend to each lower
side of the outer circumference of the tub 20 from the bearing
housing 28.
FIG. 3 shows the cross-section of the drum type washing machine
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
And, the damper 80 of the drum type washing machine according to
one embodiment of the present invention is preferably provided at a
planar weight center between the entire elements (e.g., the drum
30, the motor assembly 40 for driving the drum 30, the damper
bracket 72 assembled to the motor assembly 40, etc.) supported by
the damper 80.
The above-configured damper 80 supports the weight of the drum 30,
the weight of the motor assembly 40 for the rotation of the drum
30, and the like and plays a role in attenuating the vibration in a
vertical direction. In the following description, the damper 80
attenuating the vertical vibration of the drum 30 is called a main
damper 80.
And, the damper bracket 72 assembled to the main damper 80 to be
supported by the main damper 80 shall be called a main damper
bracket 72 in the following description.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram of the main damper 80.
Referring to FIG. 6, the main damper 80 preferably includes a
cylinder 82, a piston 83 reciprocating within the cylinder 82
according to vibration and motion of the drum 30, and a spring 85
elastically supporting the piston 83.
In this case, since the main damper 80 is provided between the main
damper bracket 72 and the base 16 to support the weight of the drum
30 upwardly, a compressive weight is normally applied to the main
damper 80.
Therefore, it is preferable that the spring 85 is configured to
generate an elastic force when the piston 83 enters the cylinder
82.
A frictional member 84 is provided to the piston 82 to come into
contact with an inner circumference of the cylinder 82. When the
drum 30 vibrates, the frictional member 84 may be configured to
attenuate the vibration by making a motion of friction with the
inner circumference of the cylinder 82 according to a motion of the
piston 83.
In particular, the weight applied to the main damper 80 is
elastically supported by the spring 85 and the vibration
transferred from the main damper 80 is attenuated by the frictional
member 84.
Preferably, one end of the main damper 80 joined to the main damper
bracket 72 includes a hinge joint 87, while the other end of the
main damper 80 joined to the base 16 is configured to be fixed to
the base 16 by an elastic material based rubber bushing 86.
Since the main damper 80 is joined to the main damper bracket 72 by
the hinge joint 87, it may have a relative degree of freedom
against a motion of the drum 30. So, it is able to prevent the
vibration or motion of the drum 30 from being directly carried to
the cabinet 10.
Both of the weight of the drum 30 and the weight of the motor
assembly 40 for the rotation of the drum 30 are directly applied to
the base 16 to which the main damper 80 is joined. To reinforce the
base 16, a reinforcing part for rigidity reinforcement may be
provided to the portion of the base to which the main damper 80 is
joined.
The reinforcing part may be provided by the curved portion (`16a`
in FIG. 5) of the base 16 to which the main damper 80 is joined.
Alternatively, the reinforcing part may include a separate bracket
(`116` in FIG. 9).
Referring back to FIG. 3, to prevent the drum 30 from inclining to
one side, an elastic member 44 may be further provided to
elastically support the backside of the drum 30. One end of the
elastic member 44 is connected to an inner surface of the top cover
13 of the cabinet 10 and the other end of the elastic member 44 is
connected to an upper side of the motor assembly 40.
In particular, the elastic member 44 may include a spring. One end
of the elastic member 44 is hung on the inner surface of the top
cover 13 and the other end of the elastic member 44 is hooked on an
upper end of the bearing housing 28. Thus, the backside of the drum
30 is elastically hung on the top cover 13, whereby the drum 30 is
prevented from inclining to one side.
A user loads laundry into the drum 30 via the laundry loading
entrance 21, which is provided on the lateral side of the outer
circumference of the tub 20, and the door assembly 31, which is
provided on the lateral side of the outer circumference of the drum
30, and then executes the corresponding washing.
Vibration is generated from the drum 30 in the course of washing
and then attenuated by the main damper 80 through the main damper
bracket 72. Moreover, the front side of the tub 20 is directly
assembled to the front inside of the cabinet 10 to be fixed
thereto. So, if vibration or shock is delivered to the tub 20
assembled in one body to the cabinet 10, the weight of the cabinet
10 itself being added to raise the rigidity of the tub 20 rather
than the tub 20 itself is shaken by the vibration or shock. Hence,
it is able to enhance the overall vibration characteristics of the
drum type washing machine.
Another embodiment of the present invention is explained as
follows.
In the aforesaid embodiment of the present invention, the
suspension assembly 70 supporting the drum 30 includes a pair of
the main dampers 80. Yet, in the present embodiment, a suspension
assembly 70 may further include a sub-damper attenuating horizontal
vibration of a drum 30.
A drum type washing machine according to another embodiment of the
present invention is shown in FIGS. 4 to 7.
In describing a drum type washing machine according to another
embodiment of the present invention, the same names and reference
numbers shall be used for the same parts of the former
embodiment.
First of all, a drum type washing machine according to another
embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet 10 forming
an exterior of the drum type washing machine, a tub 20 provided
within the cabinet 10 to be directly assembled thereto, a drum 30
rotatably provided within the tub 20, a motor assembly 40 provided
in rear of the tub 20 to include a motor 41 rotating the drum 30, a
bearing housing 28 configuring a backside of the tub 20 to support
the rotating shaft 42 of the motor 41, a shock absorbing means 50
provided between the bearing housing 28 and the tub 20 for sealing
an internal space of the tub 20 and for absorbing vibration or
shock transferred to the tub 20 from the motor 40, and a suspension
assembly 60 supporting the drum to attenuate the vibration or shock
transferred to the bearing housing 28.
A door 12 is provided on a lateral outer circumference of the
cabinet 10 instead of being provided on a front side of the cabinet
10. And, a base 16 defines a bottom side of the cabinet 10.
The tub 20, as shown in FIG. 4, includes a tub body 22 directly
assembled to an inside of a front side 11 of the cabinet 10, the
tub body 22 having a laundry loading entrance 21 at a lateral outer
circumference to communicate with the door 12 of the cabinet 10, a
tub cover 24 assembled to a backside of the tub body 22 to enclose
the drum 30, the tub cover 24 having an opening 23 at its center, a
tub bracket 26 closing the opening 23 of the tub cover 24, and the
bearing housing 28 assembled to a backside of the tub bracket 26 to
configure the motor assembly rotating the drum, the bearing housing
28 configured to support the rotating shaft 42.
The tub body 22, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, is fixed to the
cabinet 10 by being locked to the inside of the front side of the
cabinet 10 by screws 25a. The tub cover 24 is assembled by
accommodating the drum 30 therein. In particular, the tub cover 24
is assembled by being locked to the locking holes 22a and 24a on
the outer circumferences of the tub body 22 and the tub cover 24 by
screws 25c. The opening 23 of the tub cover 24 is sealed by the tub
bracket 26 and the shock absorbing means 50. The bearing housing 28
is assembled to the backside of the tub bracket 26 by screws 25b.
In this case, the bearing housing 28 is provided with bearing (not
shown in the drawings) to enable the rotational shaft 42 to be
smoothly rotated and the rotational shaft 42 is supported by the
bearing.
The shock absorbing means 50 is provided to absorb vibration or
shock generated from the drum 30 and the motor 40 in performing
washing or dewatering. The shock absorbing means 50 is formed of an
elastic material that contracts or expands against the vibration or
shock. And, the shock absorbing means 50 may include a backside
gasket provided along an outer circumference of the tub bracket 26
to seal the opening 23. In the present embodiment, the shock
absorbing means 50 is implemented by the backside gasket that
simultaneously achieves both a sealing function and a shock
absorbing function between the tub cover 24 and the tub bracket
26.
Alternatively, the shock absorbing means 50 may be individually
configured according to each of the functions. In particular, a
sealing member (not shown in the drawings) having the sealing
function is inserted between the tub cover 24 and the tub bracket
26 and the shock absorbing means 50 is provided between the bearing
housing 28 and the tub bracket 26.
Hence, even if the vibration or shock is generated from the drum 30
or the motor assembly 40 joined to the drum 30, since the shock
absorbing means 50 is provided between the drum 30 and the tub 20,
the vibration or shock is delivered to the tub 20 after having been
buffered via the shock absorbing means instead of being directly
carried to the tub 20. The vibration or shock delivered to the tub
20 is then attenuated or reduced by each rigidity and weight of the
tub 20 and the cabinet 10.
The motor 40 is assembled to the backside of the bearing housing
28. The rotational shaft 42 of the motor 40 passes through both of
the bearing housing 28 and the tub bracket 26 to be fixed to the
backside of the drum 30.
The drum 30 is rotated by the rotating shaft 42 of the motor 40.
And, at least one lift 32 is provided to an inner surface of the
drum 30 to lift a laundry. And, a liquid balancer 34 is provided to
a front side of the drum 30. In this case, the liquid balancer 34
plays a role in balancing the drum 30 to suppress the vibration of
the drum 30.
The suspension assembly 60 is provided to support the weight of the
drum 30 and attenuate the vibration of the drum 30.
In the present embodiment, the suspension assembly 60 may include a
damper bracket 62 extending from the bearing housing 28 and an
attenuating part supporting the damper bracket 66 to support the
drum 30.
And, the attenuating part may include a pair of main dampers 80
supporting the weight of the drum 30 to attenuate the vertical
vibration of the drum 30 and a sub-damper 90 attenuating the
horizontal vibration of the drum 30.
Moreover, the damper bracket 62 may include a pair of main damper
brackets 64 joined to a pair of the main dampers 80, respectively
and a sub-damper bracket 66 joined to the sub-damper 90.
In particular, the main damper bracket 64 joined to the main damper
80 is configured to have one end to be fixed to one of both lower
corner of the bearing housing 28 and the other end bent toward a
front side of the tub 20. And, the main damper 80 is joined to the
corresponding portion bent toward the front side of the tub 20.
Preferably, the main damper 80 is installed vertical to the base
16. This is because the main damper 80 supports the vertical
weights of the drum 30, bearing housing 28, and motor 40 and also
plays a role in attenuating the vertical vibration.
In particular, a pair of the main damper brackets 64 are provided
to both of the lower corners of the bearing housing 28 toward the
front side of the tub 20 and a pair of the main dampers 80 are
joined to a pair of the main damper brackets 64, respectively.
One end of the sub-damper bracket 66 joined to the sub-damper 90 is
fixed to a center of a lower side of the bearing housing 28, while
the other end extends to a prescribed length toward the front side
of the tub 20. And, the sub-damper 90 is joined to the portion of
the sub-damper bracket 66 extending toward the front side of the
tub 20.
In this case, the sub-damper 90 is configured to attenuate the
horizontal vibration of the drum 30. In particular, the sub-damper
90 is preferably configured to incline a front to rear direction of
the drum 30 to attenuate the front to rear direction vibration
generated from over-vibration of the drum 30.
Alternatively, the sub-damper 90 may be provided in a right to left
direction to attenuate the right to left vibration.
Since the configuration of the main damper 80 is identical to that
of the aforesaid main damper 80 of the former embodiment of the
present invention, details of the main damper 80 are omitted in the
following description.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram of the sub-damper 90 according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 7, the sub-damper 90 includes a cylinder 92
having a hollow configuration, a piston 93 reciprocating within the
cylinder 92 according to a motion of the drum 30, and a frictional
member 94 provided to the piston 93 to attenuate vibration energy
by frictional movement against an inner surface of the cylinder
92.
Preferably, the sub-damper 90 is provided between the sub-damper
bracket 66 and the base 16 configuring the bottom side of the
cabinet 10. More preferably, both ends of the sub-damper 90 are
joined by hinges 97 thereto.
Therefore, if the drum 30 vibrates back and forth, the sub-damper
90 contracts and expands in a direction of the vibration of the
drum 30 to attenuate the corresponding vibration.
Similar to the former embodiment, the present embodiment may
further include a reinforcing part provided a portion for joining
the main damper 80 or the sub-damper 90 to the base 16 of the
cabinet 10 to reinforce rigidity.
In this case, the reinforcing part may include a curved part 16a
provided to the portion for joining the main damper 80 or the
sub-damper 90 to the cabinet 10 or a separate bracket (`116` in
FIG. 9).
Referring to FIG. 4, an elastic member 44, such as a coil spring, a
string made of rubber and the like, may be provided to an inner
surface of the top cover 13 forming a topside of the cabinet 10 to
elastically hang the bearing housing 28. In particular, the elastic
member 44 elastically supports a rear portion of the drum 30 to
prevent the drum 30 from inclining to one side.
Therefore, the vibration or shock generated from the drum 30 is
transferred to the rotational shaft 42 of the motor connected to
the drum 30 and the bearing housing 28 supporting the rotational
shaft 42. In this case, the transferred vibration or shock is
primarily absorbed by the contraction or expansion of the shock
absorbing means 50 and the rest of the vibration or shock is then
delivered to the main dampers 90 and the sub-damper via the main
damper brackets 64 and the sub-damper bracket 66, respectively. So,
the vibration or shock generated from the drum 30 may be reduced in
a manner that the main dampers 80 attenuate the vertical vibration
of the vibration delivered to the main dampers 80 and the
sub-damper 90 while the sub-damper 90 attenuates the horizontal
vibration of the vibration delivered to the main dampers 80 and the
sub-damper 90.
Hence, the horizontal vibration generated from the drum 30 is
attenuated as well as the vertical vibration, whereby the drum 30
may be supported more stably.
A drum type washing machine according to a further embodiment of
the present invention is explained as follows.
FIGS. 8 to 10 are diagram of a drum type washing machine according
to a further embodiment of the present invention.
In describing a drum type washing machine according to a further
embodiment of the present invention, the same names and reference
numbers shall be used for the same parts of the former
embodiment.
Referring to FIGS. 8 to 10, a drum type washing machine according
to a further embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet
10 defining an exterior of the drum type washing machine, a tub 20
fixed within the cabinet 10 to store water therein, a drum 30
rotatably provided within the tub 20, a motor assembly 140 provided
next to one side of the drum 30 to rotate the drum 30, and a
suspension assembly 160 provided to support a weight of the drum 30
and attenuate vibration of the drum 30.
A laundry loading entrance 21 is provided to an outer circumference
of the tub 20 to load and unload laundry. And, a door assembly 31
is provided to a specific portion of the drum 30 to communicate
with the laundry loading entrance 21.
Moreover, a door 12 may be provided to a specific portion of the
cabinet to communicate with the laundry loading entrance 21.
Since the cabinet 10, the tub 20, the drum 30 and the motor
assembly 140 of the drum type washing machine according to the
further embodiment of the present invention are identical to those
of the drum type washing machine according to the former embodiment
of the present invention, the corresponding descriptions are
referred to in the previous description for convenience of
explanation.
Meanwhile, the suspension assembly 160 of the drum type washing
machine according to the further embodiment of the present
invention includes a damper bracket joined to the bearing housing
128 and an attenuating part joined to the damper bracket to
attenuate vibration. In this case, the attenuating part supports a
weight of the drum 30 and a weight of the motor assembly 140
driving the drum 30.
The attenuating part may include a main damper 180 supporting the
weight of the drum 30 to attenuate vertical vibration and a rear
damper 182 attenuating the vertical vibration of the drum to
prevent the drum 30 from inclining to one side.
And, the damper bracket may include at least one main damper
bracket 164 joined to the main damper 180 and a rear damper bracket
168 joined to the rear damper 182.
Preferably, the at least one main damper bracket 164 joined to the
main damper 180 extends from the bearing housing 128 to an outside
of an outer circumference of the tub 20 toward each lower lateral
side of the tub 20 in a direction of a diameter of the tub 20 and
then extends toward a front side of the tub 20 to a prescribed
length. And, the main damper 180 is preferably joined to an end
portion of the extending portion of the main damper bracket
164.
Preferably, the main damper 180 is provided vertical to the base
16. This is because the main damper 180 plays a role in supporting
vertical weights of the drum 30, bearing housing 128 and motor
assembly 140 and attenuating the vertical vibration.
In particular, a pair of main damper brackets 164 are provided to
extend from both lateral sides of the bearing housing 128 toward
the front side of the tub 20, respectively. And, a pair of main
dampers 180 are provided to be joined to a pair of the main damper
brackets 164, respectively.
Since each of the above-configured main dampers 180 has the same
configuration of the aforesaid main damper 80 of the former
embodiment of the present invention, its details are omitted in the
following description.
Preferably, one end of the rear damper bracket 168 joined to the
rear damper 182 is fixed to a lower center of the bearing housing
128 and the other end is configured to extend to a prescribed
length toward the base 16. And, the rear damper 182 is vertically
joined to an end portion of the other end of the rear damper
bracket 168.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram of a drum type washing machine
according to a further embodiment of the present invention. For
convenience of explanation, the main damper bracket 164 is
represented as a perspective diagram instead of a cross-sectional
diagram.
The main damper 180, as shown in FIG. 9, is provided under each of
both of the lower sides of the drum 30 and the rear damper 182 is
provided under a rear side of the drum 30. In this case, since a
pair of the main dampers 180 are provided under both of the lower
sides of the drum 30, the pair of main dampers 180 and the rear
damper 182 are provided to configure a triangle.
Namely, three dampers are provided to attenuate the vertical
vibration of the drum 30.
The rear damper 182 is the element that prevents the drum 30 from
inclining to a front or rear side of the drum 30. Generally, the
drum 30 tends to incline to one side owing to a center of weight.
Since the heavy motor assembly 140 is normally provided next to the
backside of the drum 30, the center of weight of the drum 30 lies
in a rear part of the drum 30 rather than a central part of the
drum 30 when the drum 30 is empty.
Hence, a pair of the main dampers 180 and the rear damper 182
prevent the drum 30 from drooping while supporting the weight of
the drum 30.
In this case, the function and configuration of the rear damper 182
may vary according to an installed position of the corresponding
main damper 180.
In particular, if the main damper 180 is provided to a position
enabling the empty drum 30 to keep its balance, when laundry and
water are loaded in the drum 30, the drum 30 inclines forward while
a rear side of the drum 30 relatively rises upward.
In this case, the rear damper 182, as shown in FIG. 10, preferably
includes a cylinder 183, a piston 185 reciprocating within the
cylinder 183 to attenuate vibration, a frictional member 186
attached to the piston 185, and a spring 184 supporting the piston
185 to provide an elastic force when the piston 185 is pulled out,
thereby elastically pulling down the rear side of the drum 30 not
to rise. Alternatively, the rear damper 182 may be configured
identical to that shown in FIG. 6 to provide an elastic force when
the spring 85 is pulled.
If the rear side of the drum 30 is designed to fall when laundry
and water are loaded in the empty drum 30 tending to incline
backward, the rear damper 182, as shown in FIG. 6, preferably
includes the cylinder 82, the piston 83 reciprocating within the
cylinder 82 to attenuate vibration, and the spring 85 supporting
the piston 83 to activate an elastic force when the piston 83
enters the cylinder 82. In particular, the rear damper 182
elastically supports the rear side of the drum 30 to prevent the
rear side of the drum 30 from falling downward.
In this case, positions for installing the main dampers 180 and the
rear damper 182 are preferably decided to enable a center of weight
working by the drum 30, the motor assembly 140, and the like to
exist within the triangle configured by the main dampers 180 and
the rear damper 182.
Although the other end portions of the side for joining the main
damper brackets 164 of the main dampers 180 and the rear damper 182
and the sub-damper bracket 166 thereto may be directly joined to
the base 16, the forming parts (`16a` in FIG. 5) or the reinforcing
plates 116 of the former embodiments may be provided to prevent the
transformation of the base 16.
Meanwhile, the suspension assembly of the present embodiment may
further include sub-dampers 190a and 190b attenuating the
horizontal vibration of the drum 30 in addition to the main dampers
180 and the rear damper 182 that attenuate the vertical vibration
by supporting the weight of the drum 30.
The horizontal vibration of the drum 30 includes a front-to-rear
vibration of the drum 30 and a right-to-left vibration of the drum
30. And, the horizontal vibration tends to be generated in case
that the drum 30 is in an over-vibrating state.
To attenuate the horizontal vibration, the sub-dampers 190a and
190b may be provided to incline in a front-to-rear or right-to-left
direction.
In particular, if the sub-damper 190a is provided to incline in the
front-to-rear direction, the front-to-rear horizontal vibration of
the drum 30 will be attenuated. If the sub-damper 190b is provided
to incline in the right-to-left direction, the right-to-left
horizontal vibration of the drum 30 will be attenuated.
Of course, either the sub-damper 190a or the sub-damper 190b may be
selectively provided to incline in either the front-to-rear
direction or the right-to-left direction. Alternatively, both of
the sub-dampers 190a and 190b may be provided to incline in the
front-to-rear direction and the right-to-left direction,
respectively.
Preferably, one end of the sub-dampers 190a and 190b are hinged to
one side of the main damper bracket 164 and the other end of the
sub-dampers 190a and 190b are hinged to the base 16.
A sub-damper bracket 166 joined to the sub-dampers 190a and 190b
may be separately provided. The sub-damper bracket 166 may be
configured to be joined to the main damper bracket 164.
Alternatively, the sub-damper bracket (not shown in the drawing)
may be configured to be directly joined to the bearing housing
128.
The above-configured sub-dampers 190a and 190b may have the same
configurations of the aforesaid sub-dampers 190a and 190b of the
former embodiment of the present invention.
In the drum type washing machine according to the further
embodiment of the present invention, since the tub 20 is directly
fixed to the cabinet 10 so as not to fluctuate, the tub 20 may
avoid colliding with the cabinet 10. Hence, a diameter of the tub
20 may be increased to extend a capacity or volume of the drum
30.
Since one side of the rotating drum 30 is supported instead of both
sides of the rotating drum 30, an internal volume of the drum 30
may be further extended and the number of parts may be reduced.
Hence, productivity may be enhanced.
Since the drum 30 is supported by three points using the main
dampers 180 and the rear damper 182, the drum 30 may be prevented
from inclining to one side according to the variation of the center
of weight attributed to the loaded laundry and water.
Since the sub-dampers 190a and 190b are provided to attenuate the
front-to-rear and right-to-rear directional vibrations, it is able
to effectively suppress the horizontal vibration of the drum
30.
Accordingly, the embodiment of the present invention provides the
following effects or advantages.
First of all, since a tub is directly fixed to a cabinet so as not
to fluctuate, it is able to increase a diameter of the tub. Hence,
a volume or capacity of a drum may be considerably increased.
Secondly, since a laundry loading entrance and a door assembly are
provided on a lateral side of an outer circumference of a drum to
load and unload laundry in the drum instead of a front side of the
drum, a user does not bend over to load the laundry in the drum and
is able to conveniently look down on an inside of the drum. Hence,
the present invention enhances user's convenience.
Thirdly, a rotational shaft and a motor assembly to rotate a drum
are provided to one side of the drum only and one side of the drum
is supported only. So, it is unnecessary to support both ends of
the drum. Hence, a volume or capacity of the drum may be
increased.
Fourthly, a front side of a tub is directly joined and fixed to an
inner surface of a front side of a cabinet. In case that vibration
or shock is delivered to the tub assembled in one body of the
cabinet, a weight of the cabinet is added to increase rigidity of
the tub rather than the tub shaking because of the vibration or
shock. Hence, an overall vibration characteristic of a drum type
washing machine may be enhanced.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations may be made without departing from the
spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the
claims cover the modifications and variations of this invention
provided they come within the scope of the claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *