Patent Application
20190194854
The present disclosure is based upon and claims benefit to Chinese Patent Application No. 201611219465.1, filed on Dec. 26, 2016 and entitled “COUNTERWEIGHT OF WASHING MACHINE, WASHING MACHINE AND COUNTERWEIGHTING METHOD FOR WASHING MACHINE”, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of washing machines, and in particular to a counterweight of a washing machine, the washing machine and a counterweighting method for the washing machine.
A counterweight of a washing machine plays a vital role in vibration adjustment of a roller washing machine. On one hand, the counterweight of the washing machine is configured to adjust a mass center of the roller washing machine; and on the other hand, the counterweight of the washing machine inhibits the vibration of the roller washing machine by increasing the mass of roller components (a water containing drum and an inner drum) of the roller washing machine. It is known by an inventor that the counterweight of the washing machine is a counterweight block composed of a solid material such as a cement or a metal.
Along with the improvement of people's living quality, the requirement of a user on vibration and noise of the roller washing machine is increasingly higher. While a technology of the roller washing machine is developed, the vibration and the noise of the roller washing machine are smaller and smaller. However, the mass of the corresponding counterweight of the washing machine on the roller washing machine is increasingly larger, and the mass of a counterweight of some roller washing machine even occupies 60% of the whole roller washing machine.
It is recognized by the inventor that with the increase in the mass of a counterweight, the mass of a whole roller washing machine is increased directly and thus the roller washing machine is not transported and delivered conveniently. If the mass of the counterweight of the washing machine is directly reduced, not only is a weight reduction effect not obvious, but vibration and noise of the roller washing machine are also greatly improved and thus the user experience is directly affected.
In view of this, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a counterweight of a washing machine, the washing machine and a counterweighting method for the washing machine, and is mainly intended to provide a mass adjustable counterweight of the washing machine to reduce vibration and noise of the washing machine.
To this end, the present disclosure mainly provides the following technical solutions.
In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a counterweight of a washing machine, which is used on the washing machine and may include:
at least one counterweight cavity, wherein a water entering port for connecting a water entering pipeline and a water draining port for connecting a water draining pipeline are formed on a wall of each of the at least one counterweight cavity; and
at least one water pressurizing structure, disposed in each of the at least one counterweight cavity, and configured to enable water entering each of the at least one counterweight cavity to be in an air-free sealed cavity.
The following technical measures may further be adopted to further implement the objective of the present disclosure and solve the technical problems thereof.
In an exemplary embodiment, each of the at least one water pressurizing structure may include:
a water pressurizing plate, wherein the water pressurizing plate is capable of being moved in each of the at least one counterweight cavity, and separates a cavity of each of the at least one counterweight cavity into a first cavity and a second cavity each having a changeable volume; and the water entering port and the water draining port respectively communicate with the first cavity; and
a pressure assembly, configured to apply a pressure on the water pressurizing plate, so that the water pressurizing plate is moved toward a direction in which a volume of the first cavity is shrunk.
In an exemplary embodiment, the pressure assembly is disposed in the second cavity.
In an exemplary embodiment, when a pressure of the pressure assembly is zero, corresponding the counterweight cavity is in a water-free or a water-little state; when the counterweight cavity is in the water-free state, a volume of the first cavity is zero; and when the counterweight cavity is in a water entering state or a water storing state, the first cavity is a sealed cavity fully filled with the water.
In an exemplary embodiment, each of the pressure assembly includes a high pressure gas filled in the second cavity.
In an exemplary embodiment, each of the pressure assembly includes a spring.
In an exemplary embodiment, one end of the spring is connected with the water pressurizing plate, and the other end of the spring is connected with the wall of the counterweight cavity.
In an exemplary embodiment, the spring is a pressure spring or an arched plate spring.
In an exemplary embodiment, each of the at least one counterweight cavity is of an arc structure or an arch bridge shaped structure.
In an exemplary embodiment, an edge of the water pressurizing plate is in tight fit with the wall of the counterweight cavity.
In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one counterweight cavity includes a first counterweight cavity, a second counterweight cavity and a third counterweight cavity, wherein the first counterweight cavity is fixed on an upper end of a water containing drum of the washing machine; and the second counterweight cavity and the third counterweight cavity are fixed at two sides of the water containing drum of the washing machine.
In an exemplary embodiment, the water entering port of each of the at least one counterweight cavity is connected with the water entering pipeline, and the water draining port of each of the at least one counterweight cavity is connected with the water draining pipeline; a water entering valve is disposed on the water entering pipeline; and a water draining valve is disposed on the water draining pipeline.
In an exemplary embodiment, the counterweight of the washing machine may further include a water entering control device; and the water entering control device may include:
a water pressurizing plate displacement detector, configured to detect whether a water pressurizing plate in the counterweight cavity generates a displacement; and
a controller, respectively connected with the water pressurizing plate displacement detector and the water entering valve;
wherein after the water entering valve is turned on, if the water pressurizing plate displacement detector detects that a displacement of the water pressurizing plate in the counterweight cavity is zero within a first set time period, a water injection stop signal is sent to the controller; and the controller controls the water entering valve to turn off according to a received signal.
In an exemplary embodiment, the counterweight of the washing machine may further include a water entering control device; and the water entering control device may include:
a water entering duration detector, configured to detect a water entering duration in each of the at least one counterweight cavity; and
a controller, connected with the water entering duration detector and the water entering valve;
wherein when the water entering duration detector detects that the water entering duration of each of the at least one counterweight cavity is greater than a second set duration, a water injection stop signal is sent to the controller; and the controller controls the water entering valve to turn off according to a received signal; and
wherein the second set duration is greater than a duration that each of the at least one counterweight cavity is fully filled with the water from the water-free state.
In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a washing machine, which may include the counterweight of the washing machine in any item of the first aspect.
The following technical measures may further be adopted to further implement the objective of the present disclosure and solve the technical problems thereof.
In an exemplary embodiment, the washing machine may include a water containing drum; the counterweight of the washing machine and the water containing drum are fixed via a fastener; or the counterweight of the washing machine and the water containing drum are of an integral structure.
In an exemplary embodiment, the washing machine is a roller washing machine.
In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a counterweighting method for a washing machine, which may be achieved by using the counterweight of the washing machine in any item of the first aspect to perform mass adjustable counterweighting on the washing machine, wherein
when the washing machine works, water is injected to at least one counterweight cavity of the counterweight of the washing machine, so that the mass of the counterweight of the washing machine reaches its maximum; and
when the washing machine needs to be moved or transported, water draining treatment is performed on the counterweight of the washing machine, so that each of the counterweight cavities of the counterweight of the washing machine is in a water-free state or a water-little state.
In an exemplary embodiment, the counterweight of the washing machine may include a water entering control device; and the water entering control device may include a water pressurizing plate displacement detector and a controller, and when the washing machine works, a water entering valve for controlling water entering port of each of the at least one counterweight cavity is turned on, and the water is injected to the at least one counterweight cavity of the counterweight of the washing machine; and when the water pressurizing plate displacement detector detects that a displacement of a water pressurizing plate in each of the at least one counterweight cavity is zero within a first set time period, a water injection stop signal is sent to the controller; and the controller controls the water entering valve to turn off according to a received signal.
In an exemplary embodiment, the counterweight of the washing machine may include a water entering control device; and the water entering control device may include a water entering duration detector and a controller, and when the washing machine works, the water entering valve for controlling the water entering port of each of the at least one counterweight cavity is turned on, and the water is injected to corresponding the counterweight cavity of the counterweight of the washing machine; and when the water entering duration detector detects that the water entering duration from each of the at least one counterweight cavity is greater than a second set duration, a water injection stop signal is sent to the controller; and the controller controls the water entering valve to turn off according to a received signal, wherein the second set duration is greater than a duration that each of the at least one counterweight cavity is filled with the water from the water-free state.
Compared with the related art, the counterweight of the washing machine, the washing machine and the counterweighting method for the washing machine provided by the disclosure at least have the following beneficial effects.
According to the counterweight of the washing machine provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, with the adoption of the at least one counterweight cavity that takes the water as a counterweight medium and the water pressurizing structures disposed in the counterweight cavities, not only is the mass of the counterweight of the washing machine adjustable, but the cost of the counterweight of the washing machine is also reduced. When the washing machine works, the mass of the counterweight is large and the vibration inhibition effect is good. When the washing machine does not work, the mass of the counterweight may be reduced to transport and deliver conveniently. In addition, with the adoption of the water pressurizing structures provided by the counterweight of the washing machine in the embodiments of the present disclosure, water entering in the counterweight cavities always is in the air-free sealed cavity, so that the water is prevented from generating noise due to the existence of a large amount of water in the water storage counterweight cavities when the washing machine works, and the noise of the washing machine is further reduced.
Further, each of the at least one water pressurizing structure in the counterweight of the washing machine provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure includes the water pressurizing plate capable of being moved in each of the at least one counterweight cavity and the pressure assembly (such as the spring or the high pressure gas); each of the water pressurizing plates separates each of the counterweight cavities into the first cavity and the second cavity each having the changeable volume; and the pressure assemblies are disposed in the second cavities and apply a pressure for enabling the water pressurizing plates to move toward directions of the first cavities. With the above arrangement, the volume of each of the first cavities can be determined according to a water entering amount of each of the counterweight cavities, so that the entered water is fully filled in the first cavities all the time and the first cavities always are in the air-free state. When the counterweight of the washing machine works, the entered water in the counterweight of the washing machine can be prevented from generating the noise due to the existence of the large amount of air and at last the objective of reducing the noise of the washing machine is implemented.
Further, in the counterweight of the washing machine provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, the pressure assembly in each of the at least one water pressurizing structure is set as the spring or the high pressure gas, so not only is the structure simple, but the first cavity in each of the at least one counterweight cavity is also in an air-free environment all the time, and thus the noise of the washing machine is further reduced.
In another aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure further provide the washing machine. Since the washing machine includes the above-mentioned counterweight of the washing machine, the washing machine has the above beneficial effects, which will not be repeated one by one.
In a still another aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure further provide the counterweighting method for the washing machine; and the counterweighting method is achieved by using the above-mentioned counterweight of the washing machine to perform the mass adjustable counterweighting on the washing machine and thus has the above beneficial effects, which will not be repeated one by one.
The above statements are merely an overview for the technical solutions of the present disclosure. In order that the technical means of the present disclosure can be known more clearly, the above statements may be implemented according to contents in the specification. The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and detailed description of the accompanying drawings will be set forth hereinafter.
In order to further describe the technical means and effects adopted to achieve a predetermined intended objective of the present disclosure, the detailed implementation manners, structures, characteristics and effects of the present disclosure will be described below in detail in combination with accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. In the following description, a different “one embodiment” or “embodiments” unnecessarily refer to a same embodiment. In addition, specific characteristics, structures or features in one or more embodiments can be combined in any suitable form.
An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a counterweight of a washing machine, which is fixed on a water containing drum of the washing machine. With a roller washing machine as an example, the counterweight of the washing machine is mainly configured to adjust a mass center of a roller of the roller washing machine, and increase the mass of an outer drum (the water containing drum) and an inner drum of the roller washing machine, thereby inhibiting vibration of the roller washing machine. Specifically, as shown in
The counterweight of the washing machine adopts the water as a counterweight medium, so that not only is the mass of the counterweight of the washing machine adjustable, but the cost of the counterweight of the washing machine is also reduced. When the counterweight of the washing machine is used on the washing machine, and the washing machine does not work, the mass of the counterweight of the washing machine may be close to zero, and thus the mass of the overall washing machine is greatly reduced, and the transportation and delivery cost is reduced. Besides, when the washing machine works, the mass of the counterweight of the washing machine may be very large, so that the objectives of adjusting the mass center of the roller of the roller washing machine and inhibiting the vibration of the roller washing machine are achieved, and the vibration and noise of the washing machine are reduced. Furthermore, for the counterweight of the washing machine, by providing the water pressurizing structure in each of the counterweight cavities, the water in each of the counterweight cavities is in an air-free state all the time, so the water in each of the counterweight cavities is prevented from generating the noise due to the existence of the air in each of the counterweight cavities when the washing machine works, and the noise of the washing machine is further reduced.
Each of the counterweight cavities in the foregoing embodiments and following embodiments of the present disclosure may be made of all plastic materials or metal materials for implementing functions of each of the counterweight cavities, such as a PP-GF30, a PC or a stainless steel.
Preferably, as shown in
In addition, in the counterweight of the washing machine provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure, when each of the counterweight cavities is in the water-free state, the volume of each of the first cavities is zero. When the pressure of each of the pressure assemblies reaches its maximum, the water is stopped from being filled to each of the counterweight cavities. When each of the counterweight cavities is in a water entering state or water storing state, each of the first cavities is a sealed cavity fully filled with the water. When the pressure of each of the pressure assemblies is zero, each of the counterweight cavities is in the water-free or a water-little state; and such a condition is set specifically according to the structure of each of the counterweight cavities and the pressure plates (for more details, refer to the following related contents).
With the above arrangement, the counterweight of the washing machine can determine the volume of each of the first cavities according to a water entering amount of each of the counterweight cavities, so that the water is fully filled in each of the first cavities all the time and each of the first cavities is always in the air-free state. When the counterweight of the washing machine works, the entered water in each of the counterweight cavities of the washing machine is prevented from generating the noise due to the existence of the large amount of air and at last the objective of reducing the noise of the washing machine is implemented.
Preferably, an edge of each of the water pressurizing plates 501 is in tight fit with the wall of each of the counterweight cavities so as to guarantee the sealing property of each of the first cavities.
Preferably, each of the pressure assemblies of the counterweight of the washing machine provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure may be set into the following structures.
First, each of the pressure assemblies in some embodiments of the present disclosure may be a high pressure gas filled in each of the second cavities.
Specifically, when each of the counterweight cavities of the counterweight of the washing machine is in the water-free state, the volume of each of the first cavities is zero, and the high pressure gas is fully filled in each of the counterweight cavities. When the water is injected into each of the counterweight cavities, the water pressurizing plates are moved towards directions in which the second cavities are shrunk under the action of a water pressure and the high pressure gas is compressed. The volume of each of the first cavities is increased continuously. When the high pressure gas is compressed to a limit, the water is stopped from entering. In the above process, the water entering of each of the counterweight cavities is performed in the air-free state of each of the first cavities. Therefore, the entered water in each of the counterweight cavities can be prevented from generating noise due to the large amount of air when the washing machine works.
Second, as shown in
Specifically, when there is no water in each of the counterweight cavities of the counterweight of the washing machine, each spring 502 is in a free state or a compressed state. In a process when the water is continuously injected into each of the counterweight cavities, the water pressurizing plates are moved towards the directions in which the second cavities are shrunk under the action of the water pressure and the springs 502 are continuously compressed. When a compression amount of each of the springs 502 reaches its maximum, the water is stopped from entering. In the above process, the water entering of each of the counterweight cavities is performed in the air-free state of each of the first cavities. Therefore, the entered water in each of the counterweight cavities can be prevented from generating noise due to the large amount of air when the washing machine works.
Preferably, each of the counterweight cavities of the counterweight of the washing machine in some embodiments of the present disclosure is of an arc structure or an arch bridge shaped structure. Moreover, a place where each of the counterweight cavities is connected with the water containing drum of the washing machine is set into an arc surface or arched surface matched with the water containing drum of the washing machine.
As shown in
Preferably, the first counterweight cavity 51 is set into an arch bridge structure, and a place where the first counterweight cavity 51 is connected with the upper end of the water containing drum of the washing machine is set into an arched surface. Correspondingly, the pressure plate in the first counterweight cavity 51 is set into a flat-plate structure. In this way, when the spring 502 is restored to the free state, the volume of the first cavity is greater than zero. In order to prevent the air from entering the first cavity of the first counterweight cavity 51, the counterweight cavity is in the water-little state at this moment.
The second counterweight cavity 52 and the third counterweight cavity 53 are set into arc structures matched with the two sides of the water containing drum of the washing machine, and the places where the second counterweight cavity 52 and the third counterweight cavity 53 are connected with the water containing drum of the washing machine are set into arc surfaces. Correspondingly, the pressure plate in each of the second counterweight cavity 52 and the third counterweight cavity 53 may be set into the arc structure. When each of the springs 502 is restored to the free state, the volume of each of the first cavities is zero (i.e., each of the counterweight cavities is in the water-free state).
According to the counterweight of the washing machine provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure, through the above arrangement, not only is the space occupied by the counterweight of the washing machine in the washing machine reduced, but also the connection stability between the counterweight of the washing machine and the water containing drum is enhanced or the counterweight of the washing machine and the water containing drum are convenient to be molded together by injection.
Preferably, a water entering port of each of the counterweight cavities of the counterweight of the washing machine provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure is connected with a water entering pipeline, and a water draining port is connected with a water draining pipeline. A water entering valve is disposed on each of the water entering pipelines; and a water draining valve is disposed on each of the water draining pipelines.
Preferably, each of the water entering ports is provided with a water entering pipeline connector, and each of the water draining ports is provided with a water draining pipeline connector. The water entering pipelines and the water entering pipeline connectors are connected in clearance fit and are fixed via hoops; the water draining pipelines and the water draining pipeline connectors are connected in clearance fit and are fixed via hoops; the water entering pipelines and the water entering valve is connected in clearance fit and are fixed via hoops; and the water draining pipelines and the water draining valve is connected in clearance fit and are fixed via hoops.
For example, the counterweight cavities include three counterweight cavities. As shown in
Preferably, the water entering pipelines and the water draining pipelines of the counterweight cavities in some embodiments of the present disclosure are made of a rubber, a silica gel or a plastic material such as an EPDM, and a PE+EVAC.
Preferably, the counterweight of the washing machine in some embodiments of the present disclosure may further include a water entering control device, which is mainly configured to judge whether each of the counterweight cavities is fully filled with the water so as to control the water entering valve to turn on and off. The water entering control device in some embodiments of the present disclosure may be designed into the following two structures.
The first design concept is to detect a displacement of each of the water pressurizing plates; and when a water pressurizing plate does not generate the displacement within a small period of time, it is considered that the water pressurizing plate is no longer moved and a water entering valve can be turned off.
Specifically, the water entering control device may include a water pressurizing plate displacement detector and a controller. The water pressurizing plate displacement detector is configured to detect whether each of the water pressurizing plates generates a displacement; the controller is respectively connected with the water pressurizing plate displacement detector and the water entering valve; after the water entering valve is turned on, if the water pressurizing plate displacement detector detects that a displacement of each of the water pressurizing plates is zero within a first set time period, a water injection stop signal is sent to the controller; and the controller controls the water entering valve to turn off according to a received signal. Preferably, the first set time period is 5 s to 2 min.
Herein, when the counterweight of the washing machine is provided with multiple counterweight cavities, water entering pipelines of the multiple counterweight cavities share one water entering valve and the water pressurizing plate displacement detector detects that displacements of all water pressurizing plates within the first set time period are zero, a water injection stop signal is sent to the controller.
A second design concept is to determine, via an experiment, a longest duration required to fully fill all counterweight cavities, and set a water charging time via a program so that the water charging time is greater than the longest duration determined via the experiment.
Specifically, the water entering control device may include a water entering duration detector and a controller. The water entering duration detector is configured to detect a water entering duration from each of the counterweight cavities. The controller is connected with the water entering duration detector and the water entering valve. When the water entering duration detector detects that the water entering duration from each of the counterweight cavities is greater than a second set duration, a water injection stop signal is sent to the controller; and the controller controls the water entering valve to turn off according to a received signal. The second set duration is greater than a duration that all counterweight cavities are filled with the water from the water-free state.
In another aspect, a washing machine is provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. The washing machine may include the counterweight of the washing machine in the above any embodiment.
Preferably, the counterweight of the washing machine is an individual counterweight cavity, and is fixed with a water containing drum of the washing machine via a fastener (such as a buckle and a bolt). Or the counterweight cavity of the washing machine and an outer drum of the washing machine are moulded together by injection. An outer end surface of the counterweight of the washing machine is sealed by a cover plate and a rubber ring and is fastened by using a bolt, so as to prevent the counterweight of the washing machine from leaking water.
Preferably, as shown in
Preferably, as shown in
Besides, when the washing machine provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure works and is transported, for more details about mass adjustment of the counterweight of the washing machine, refer to a counterweighting method of the washing machine described below.
In a still another aspect, a counterweighting method of a washing machine is provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure, which is mainly achieved by using the counterweight of the washing machine in previous any embodiment to perform mass adjustable counterweighting. The counterweighting method may specifically include the following steps.
First, when the washing machine works, the water is injected to counterweight cavities of the counterweight of the washing machine, so that the mass of the counterweight of the washing machine reaches its maximum.
This step may be implemented via the foregoing water entering control device. As shown in
1) When the water entering control device includes a water pressurizing plate displacement detector: when the washing machine works, water entering valve 72 are turned on, and the water is injected to the counterweight cavities of the counterweight of the washing machine; and when the water pressurizing plate displacement detector detects that a displacement of a water pressurizing plate 501 in each of the at least one counterweight cavity is zero within a first set time period, a water injection stop signal is sent to the controller; and the controller controls the water entering valve 72 to turn off according to a received signal.
2) When the water entering control device includes a water entering duration detector: when the washing machine works, water entering valve 72 are turned on, and the water is injected to the counterweight cavities of the counterweight of the washing machine; and when the water entering duration detector detects that the water entering duration of each of the counterweight cavities is greater than a second set duration, a water injection stop signal is sent to the controller; and the controller controls the water entering valve 72 to turn off according to a received signal.
The step is detailed as follows: as shown in
Second, when the washing machine needs to be transported or delivered, water draining treatment is performed on the counterweight of the washing machine, so that the counterweight cavities of the counterweight of the washing machine are in the water-free state or a water-little state. Preferably, the step specifically is as follows.
1) The washing machine and the water entering pipelines of the washing machine are disconnected; and 2) the water entering valve on the water entering pipelines and the water draining valve on the water draining pipelines of the counterweight of the washing machine are turned on, so that the water in the counterweight cavities of the counterweight of the washing machine is drained along the water draining pipelines under the action of a gravity.
The step is detailed as follows: as shown in
In conclusion, according to the counterweight of the washing machine, the washing machine and the counterweighting method for the washing machine provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, the counterweight of the washing machine is provided with at least one counterweight cavity, and the water pressurizing structure is disposed in each of the at least one counterweight cavity, so that the water entering the counterweight cavities is in the air-free sealed cavity. Consequently, the counterweight of the washing machine and the mass of the washing machine are adjustable, the vibration and noise of the washing machine in work are reduced, and the production and transportation cost of the washing machine is reduced.
It is easily understood by a person skilled in the art that the above implementation manners may be freely combined and overlapped if there is no conflict.
The above are only preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to form a limit to the present disclosure in any form. Any simple alteration, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments according to a technical essence of the present disclosure still pertain to a scope of the technical solutions of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201611219465.1 | Dec 2016 | CN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2017/106680 | 10/18/2017 | WO | 00 |
