Patent Application
20120200210
Appliances such as clothes washers and driers, dish washers, etc., must be packaged before they leave a manufacturing facility in a manner that protects them from the hazards of transport until they reach their ultimate destination, which is typically a consumer's home. Along the way, an appliance may be loaded and unloaded from several locations and must be packaged for protection against inadvertent damage. Appliances such as vertical suspension clothes washers include an outer cabinet or housing containing a tub that is suspended in the cabinet and moved relative to the cabinet by a tub drive motor. Washers of this type are well known in the art and it is not unusual for such appliances to occasionally experience damage during shipping. It is also not unusual for such appliances to generate varying levels of sound or noise during operation in the consumer's home.
Apparatuses and methods relating to appliances are provided. In one embodiment, an appliance having a housing, a moveable tub member inside the housing, and a dampening portion is provided. The housing includes, for example, at least one side wall and the dampening portion disposed at least partially between the moveable tub member and the at least one side wall. The dampening portion includes, for example, a resilient material having at least one surface extending at least partially along the side wall or tub member.
The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain certain principles of the invention. In the drawings:
a-2c are front plan views of embodiments of a horizontal energy damping element that can be used for packaging (shipping), operation damping or both.
a is a view similar to
b is another cross sectional view illustrating the horizontal energy damping element positioned around the tub so as to be present in the space between the tub and the sidewalls of the cabinet;
a is a front elevational view of yet another alternative embodiment of the horizontal energy damping element in the form of a T-shaped pad;
b is a detailed partial sectional view illustrating how the T-shaped pad of
Prior to discussing the various embodiments, a review of the definitions of some exemplary terms used throughout the disclosure is appropriate. Both singular and plural forms of all terms fall within each meaning:
“Physical communication” as used herein, includes but is not limited to connecting, affixing, joining, attaching, fixing, fastening, placing in contact two or more components, elements, assemblies, portions or parts. Physical communication between two or more components, etc., can be direct or indirect such as through the use of one or more intermediary components and may be intermittent or continuous.
In accordance with one general embodiment, a combined shipping and operation damping system is provided for a washer including a tub suspended in a cabinet having a top wall, sidewalls, a tub access opening in the top wall and a lid covering that access opening. The system comprises a removable plug having a first portion contoured to fit snugly in the tub and a second portion contoured to fit snugly in the access opening in the cabinet. In addition the system includes a horizontal energy damping element positioned between the tub and the sidewalls of the cabinet. The removable plug and horizontal energy damping element function together to secure the tub in place in the cabinet during shipping. The removable plug is then removed following shipping and the horizontal energy damping element remains in place to provide vibration damping and acoustic insulation during washer operation.
In accordance with general embodiment, a method is provided for both shipping and operation damping of a washer including a tub suspended in a cabinet having a top wall, sidewalls, a tub access opening in the top wall and a lid covering the access opening. The method comprises the steps of (a) positioning a removable plug in the access opening in the tub, the plug being contoured to snugly engage the cabinet and the tub; and (b) positioning a horizontal energy damping element between the tub and the sidewall of the cabinet. The removable plug and horizontal energy damping element secure the tub in place in the cabinet during shipping. The removable plug is then removed following shipping and the horizontal energy damping element remains in place around the tub to provide vibration damping and acoustic insulation during washer operation.
In accordance with yet another general embodiment, a clothes washer comprises a cabinet including sidewalls, a top wall having an access opening and a lid covering that access opening. The clothes washer further includes a tub suspended in the cabinet as well as a pump and motor system contained in the cabinet. Further, the clothes washer includes a sleeve of resilient material secured around the tub that provides vibration damping and acoustic insulation.
In accordance with still another general embodiment, a clothes washer is provided comprising (a) a cabinet including sidewalls, a top wall having an access opening and a lid covering that access opening; (b) a tub suspended in the cabinet; and (c) a pump and motor system contained in the cabinet. The clothes washer further includes a block of resilient material secured to the cabinet. The block of resilient material includes a tub opening. The tub extends through that tub opening.
In accordance with yet another general embodiment, a clothes washer comprises (a) a cabinet including sidewalls, a top wall having an access opening and a lid covering that access opening; (b) a tub suspended in that cabinet; and (c) a pump and motor system contained in the cabinet. Further, the clothes washer includes a substantially T-shaped pad mounted to each sidewall that provides vibration dampening and acoustic insulation.
Reference is now made to
As best illustrated in
Since the plug 12 fits snugly in both the opening O of the cabinet C and the tub T of the washer W, it should be appreciated that the plug functions to substantially prevent horizontal movement of the tub T relative to the cabinet C during shipping of the washer.
The plug 12 may be made from substantially any appropriate material including but not limited to expanded polystyrene, molded plastic, cardboard, and mixtures thereof.
As best illustrated in
The horizontal energy damping element 14 or sleeve 22 may be made from substantially any appropriate material including, but not limited to material selected from a group consisting of a polyester, a polyester olefin blend, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, a polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene blend, a polybutylene terephthalate and polypropylene blend and combinations thereof. As an alternative, the horizontal energy damping element 14 or sleeve 22 may be made from a laminated material including a core layer of fiberglass reinforced polymer material sandwiched between two wear layers of polyester material.
Polyester materials are particularly useful as construction material for the sleeve 22 as they exhibit excellent resiliency and wear resistance to provide a long service life. At the same time, the acoustic properties of the material may be tuned to better control noise and vibration. This may be done by adjusting the density as well as the diameter and length of the fibers utilized in the material.
In addition, it should be appreciated that the horizontal energy damping element 14 or sleeve 22 may be further tuned to provide the desired spring rate for the most effective damping of horizontal energy or motion of the tub T within the cabinet C. Typically, the horizontal energy damping element 14/sleeve 22 provides a spring rate of between about 6.5 and about 102.0 pounds of force per 100 square inches of contact area. However, this is not critical as long as the sleeve provides the appropriate protections during shipping and/or operation. In this regard, a sleeve 22 made from the lattice sheet 26 provides the greatest versatility.
The spring rate range desired for optimum energy dampening is dependent upon the weight of the tub T, the cabinet-to-tub wall gap G (which may be an air gap) and the weight of wet clothes contained in the tub. A gap G is provided between the dampening element 14/sleeve 22 and the cabinet wall so as to not impair the torque movement of the tub T during start and stop movements. In other embodiments, gap G may extend partially or completely along tub T and may or may not be in contact with tub T or the cabinet side walls.
The loft of the material determines how soon the tub T starts meeting resistance to slow the horizontal energy or momentum of the tub as it moves toward contact with the sidewall S of the cabinet C. The more the material of the damping element 14/sleeve 22 is compressed between the tub T and sidewall S during horizontal movements, the higher the spring rate of the material and the stronger the damping of the horizontal energy. Thus, it should be appreciated that the damping element 14/sleeve 22 made from the lattice material 26 may be effectively “tuned” for a number of different applications. By increasing the amount of solid material in the lattice 26 the spring rate may be increased. Conversely, by reducing the amount of solid material in the lattice 26, the spring rate of the material may be reduced. Thus, by selecting a proper lattice and adjusting the loft or thickness of the lattice to between about 20.0 and about 50.0 mm it is possible to tune the spring rate to a desired level for the most efficient and effective damping of horizontal energy. Typically the lattice will include between about 10 and about 90 percent solid material and between about 90 and about 10 percent open space.
As illustrated in
As noted above, the plug 12 and damping element 14 are positioned during packaging as illustrated in
During operation, the damping element 14 reduces and controls horizontal motion of the tub T toward the sidewalls of the cabinet C. This reduces noise and vibration so as to provide smoother and more silent operation. The polyester material of the damping element 14 is very resilient and scuff resistant so as to provide a long service life without any significant degradation of desired damping properties. Other materials may be used which have similar properties.
An alternative embodiment of the means for dampening is a horizontal energy damping element 14 as illustrated in
It should be appreciated, however, as the tub T moves horizontally under load from, for example, uneven weight distribution of clothes in the tub T during a spin cycle, the tub T engages and compresses the horizontal energy damping block 40. The spring rate of the material then dampens that horizontal movement. As described earlier, the block 40 need not extend to the upper and bottom extremities of tub T, but may be positioned at portions in between. In one embodiment, block 40 is secured to the sidewalls S at the same approximate tub location as dampening element 14/sleeve 22 in
Still another alternative embodiment of the horizontal energy damping element 14 is illustrated in
The block 40 and T-shaped pads 50 of the two alternative embodiments are made from the same material of the sleeve 22. Thus, each embodiment of the damping element 14 provides the desired resiliency and spring rate for effective damping of horizontal energy and the necessary strength and abrasive resistance to function as desired for a long service life. In other embodiments, pad 50 can be made from different shapes such as, for example and I-shape, only an upper horizontal portion of a T-shape, etc.
In summary, numerous benefits result from employing the concepts of the present invention. The plug and horizontal vibration damping element function together to virtually eliminate horizontal movement of the tub T within the cabinet C of the washer W during shipping. Thus, potential damage to the tub T is prevented as it is transported from one location to another.
Following shipping, plug 12 is removed and the horizontal energy damping element can remain providing operation vibration damping. Significantly, by controlling and eliminating undesired horizontal movement of the tub T it is possible to provide a larger capacity tub T within a given size cabinet C. In addition, the material from which the horizontal energy damping element 14 is constructed provides acoustic benefits reducing noise during operation of the washer W.
Still further, the horizontal energy damping element 14 provides improved water management by catching and absorbing water that might be inadvertently spilled from the tub T during operation of the washer W and preventing that water from reaching the floor underneath the appliance. Further, it should be appreciated that the horizontal energy damping element 14 is typically made from a polyester material which is resistant to the growth of bacteria, mildew and mold. Further, the material is hydrophobic by nature and, therefore dries quickly. In addition, such polyester material provides excellent wear resistance and will provide a long service life.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise foim disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, each embodiment of the horizontal energy damping element 14 described above is made from a single layer of material.
The embodiments were chosen and described to illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical application. It is clear that modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims. The drawings and preferred embodiments do not and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims in their fair and broad interpretation in any way.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/292,280, filed Jan. 5, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US11/20124 | 1/4/2011 | WO | 00 | 4/2/2012 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61292280 | Jan 2010 | US |
