Patent Application
20060000244
This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No. 20074-39601, filed on Jun. 1, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drum washing machine, and more particularly, to a drum washing machine including a tub, and a drum rotatably mounted in the tub, wherein the mounting structure for balance weights mounted to a front wall of the tube for weight balance, taking into consideration the weight of a motor mounted to a rear wall of the tub, is improved.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, drum washing machines wash laundry, utilizing friction generated between the laundry and a drum, which is horizontally arranged, and is rotated by a drive force of a motor, under the condition in which detergent and washing water are placed into the drum, together with the laundry. Such a drum washing machine has a washing effect capable of washing laundry using beating and rubbing actions without causing damage and entanglement of the laundry.
The tub 3 includes a tub body 3b, and a tub cover 3a adapted to cover the front side of the tub body 3b, that is, to constitute a front wall of the tub body 3b. A motor 8 is rotatably mounted to a rear wall of the tub 3. The motor 8 includes a rotating shaft axially connected to the drum 4, so as to rotate the drum 4. Dampers 6 and springs 7 are mounted to the top and bottom sides of the tub 3, in order to damp vibrations generated during a spin drying cycle of the drum washing machine, respectively.
Since the motor 8, which has a substantial weight, is mounted to the rear wall of the tub 3, the weight of the tub 3 is rearwardly off balance. As a result, the drum 4 cannot be smoothly rotated during operation of the drum washing machine. In order to eliminate such a weight unbalance of the tub 3, balance weights 5, each of which has a predetermined weight, are mounted to the front wall of the tub 3, that is, the tub cover 3a, as shown in
Generally, the balance weights 5 may be formed by pouring a cement material into a mold or a cavity formed in a hollow plastic molded product, and curing the cement material. Alternatively, the balance weights 5 may be formed using a casting method. The balance weights 5 are mounted to the front wall of the tub 3 by means of a plurality of bolts 5a.
Conventionally, the balance weights 5 are laterally symmetrically arranged on a lower portion of the front wall of the tub 3. In this case, however, during operation of the drum washing machine, the tub 3 not only vibrates axially, but also vibrates vertically while swinging axially about an axially central portion of the tub 3 where the dampers 6 and springs 7 are mounted. In particular, the swing and vibration of the tub 3 increase as the operation of the drum washing machine is continued.
As a result, where the balance weights 5 are mounted to the tub 3 by means of the bolts 5a, as in the above-mentioned case, cracks may be generated at regions around bolt holes, through which the bolts 5a are fastened. Furthermore, when the axial swing and vertical vibration of the tub 3 increase, the front portion of the drum 4 may strike the front wall of the tub 3, that is, the tub cover 3a. In this case, the tub cover 3a may be damaged because the tub cover 3a is made of a plastic material.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a drum washing machine that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a drum washing machine which includes a balance weight mounting structure capable of reducing vibration generated at a tub of the drum washing machine, thereby being capable of preventing the tub from being damaged at regions where bolts are fastened, during operation of the drum washing machine, while preventing the front wall of the tub from being damaged due to contact between the tub and a drum arranged in the tub.
Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may 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 washing machine comprises: a cabinet which forms an outer appearance of the drum washing machine; a tub disposed in the cabinet, the tub being balanced in weight between positions opposing to each other on a front wall of the tub with respect to a center of the front wall of the tub; and a drum rotatably disposed in the tub, and adapted to perform a washing function in accordance with a rotation of a motor attached to a rear wall of the tub.
The drum washing machine may further comprise balance weights mounted to the front wall of the tub, and adapted to cause the tub to be balanced in weight between positions opposing to each other on the front wall of the tub with respect to the center of the front wall of the tub.
The balance weights may have a total weight equal to a weight of the motor mounted to the rear wall of the tub.
The balance weights may be symmetrically arranged with respect to a first central line extending vertically through the center of the front wall of the tub along the front wall of the tub.
The balance weights may be symmetrically arranged with respect to a second central line extending in perpendicular to the first central line through the center of the front wall of the tub along the front wall of the tub.
The balance weights may be symmetrically arranged with respect to a third central line extending diagonally through the center of the front wall of the tub along the front wall of the tub.
The balance weights may be symmetrically arranged with respect to a fourth central line extending in perpendicular to the third central line through the center of the front wall of the tub along the front wall of the tub.
In another aspect of the present invention, a drum washing machine comprises: a cabinet which forms an outer appearance of the drum washing machine; a tub disposed in the cabinet, the tub being balanced in weight between positions opposing to each other on the front wall of the tub with respect to a center of a front wall of the tub; a drum rotatably disposed in the tub, and adapted to perform a washing function in accordance with a rotation of a motor attached to a rear wall of the tub; and a suction duct and an exhaust duct respectively connected to the front and rear walls of the tub, the suction duct having a heater and a blowing fan.
The drum washing machine may further comprise balance weights mounted to the front wall of the tub, and adapted to cause the tub to be balanced in weight between positions opposing to each other on the front wall of the tub with respect to the center of the front wall of the tub.
The balance weights may have a total weight equal to a weight of the motor mounted to the rear wall of the tub.
The balance weights may be symmetrically arranged with respect to a first central line extending vertically through the center of the front wall of the tub along the front wall of the tub.
The balance weights may be symmetrically arranged with respect to a second central line extending in perpendicular to the first central line through the center of the front wall of the tub along the front wall of the tub.
The balance weights may be symmetrically arranged with respect to a third central line extending diagonally through the center of the front wall of the tub along the front wall of the tub.
The balance weights may be symmetrically arranged with respect to a fourth central line extending in perpendicular to the third central line through the center of the front wall of the tub along the front wall of the tub.
In another aspect of the present invention, a drum washing machine comprises: a cabinet which forms an outer appearance of the drum washing machine; a tub disposed in the cabinet to contain washing water; a drum rotatably disposed in the tub to perform a washing function in accordance with a rotation of a motor attached to a rear wall of the tub; and a pair of balance weights mounted to a front wall of the tub, and adapted to cause the tub to be balanced in weight between positions opposing to each other on the front wall of the tub with respect to the center of the front wall of the tub.
In another aspect of the present invention, a drum washing machine comprises: a cabinet which forms an outer appearance of the drum washing machine; a tub disposed in the cabinet to contain washing water; a drum rotatably disposed in the tub to perform a washing function in accordance with a rotation of a motor attached to a rear wall of the tub; a pair of balance weights mounted to a front wall of the tub, and adapted to cause the tub to be balanced in weight between positions opposing to each other on the front wall of the tub with respect to the center of the front wall of the tub; and a suction duct and an exhaust duct respectively connected to the front and rear walls of the tub, the suction duct having a heater and a blowing fan.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
Referring to
A door 90 is hingably mounted to an opened front wall of the cabinet 100 by means of a hinge assembly such that the door 90 is openable to allow laundry to be put into the interior of the drum washing machine through the front wall of the cabinet 100. The tub 30 includes a tub body 30b, and a tub cover 30a attached to the front side of the tub body 30b to constitute a front wall of the tub body 30b.
A motor 80 is rotatably mounted to a rear wall of the tub 30. The motor 80 is axially connected with the drum 40 to rotate the drum 40. Dampers 60 and springs 70 are mounted to the top and bottom sides of the tub 30, in order to damp vibrations generated during a spin drying cycle of the drum washing machine, respectively.
Since the motor 80, which has a substantial weight, is mounted to the rear wall of the tub 30, the weight of the tub 30 is rearwardly off balance. As a result, the drum 40 cannot be smoothly rotated during operation of the drum washing machine. In order to eliminate such a weight unbalance of the tub 30, balance weights 50, each of which has a predetermined weight, are mounted to the front wall of the tub 30, that is, the tub cover 30a.
Generally, the balance weights 50 may be formed by pouring a cement material into a mold or a cavity formed in a hollow plastic molded product, and curing the cement material. Alternatively, the balance weights 50 may be formed using a casting method. The balance weights 50 are mounted to the front wall of the tub 30 by means of a plurality of bolts 50a.
Balance weights 50 are mounted to a front wall of the tub 30 such that the balance weights 50 are symmetrical with respect to a first center line I-I extending vertically through the center c of the front wall of the tub 30 along the front wall of the tub 30. The balance weights 50 are also symmetrical with respect to a second center line II-II extending through the center c of the front wall of the tub 30 in perpendicular to the first center line I-I along the front wall of the tub 30. Accordingly, the front wall of the tub 30 mounted with the balance weights 50 is balanced in weight between positions opposing to each other with respect to the center c of the front wall of the tub 30. In this case, the balance weights 50 may be typically mounted to the tub cover 30a, which constitutes the front wall of the tub 30, as shown in
Although
Meanwhile,
In both the first and second embodiments illustrated in
Hereinafter, functions and effects according to the above-described first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described.
The balance weights 50 are mounted to the peripheral portion of the front wall of the tub 30 such that balance is maintained between positions opposing to each other with respect to the center c of the front wall of the tub 30, thereby causing the tub 30 to have the same weight distribution at portions of the tub 30 opposing to each other with respect to the center c of the front wall of the tub 30.
That is, in accordance with the present invention, the center of gravity of the front wall of the tub 30 is shifted toward the center c of the front wall of the tub 30 from a lower position where the center of gravity of the front tub wall is positioned in the conventional case illustrated in
Thus, it is possible to prevent cracks from being generated due to the vibration of the tub 30 during operation of the drum washing machine at regions where the bolts 50a are fastened. Also, it is possible to prevent the tub 30 from coming into contact with the drum 40, and thus, to enable the drum washing machine to operate more stably.
Meanwhile, although the first and second embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described in conjunction with a general drum washing machine, the balance weight mounting structure of the present invention is applicable to a drum washing machine with a drying function, demand for which has recently increased. Referring to
As shown in
A suction duct 10 adapted to suck air into the drum 40 and an exhaust duct 20 adapted to exhaust air from the drum 40 are mounted to the tub 30. An air inlet 31 is formed at the tub 30 in order to communicate the tub 30 with the suction duct 10. Balance weights 50 are mounted to a front wall of the tub 30 in such a manner that the front wall of the tub 30 is balanced in weight between positions opposing to each other with respect to the center of the front wall of the tub 30.
As described above, this drum washing includes the suction duct 10 and exhaust duct 20 for sucking and exhausting air into and from the drum 40, respectively, for the drying function. For this reason, the balance weights 50 are mounted to the front wall of the tub 30 at positions other than the position of the air inlet 31 formed at an upper portion of the front wall of the tub 30 to communicate the tub 30 with the suction duct 10.
Although not shown, the balance weights 50 are arranged at positions other than the position of the air inlet 31 such that the front wall of the tub 30 is balanced in weight between positions opposing to each other with respect to the center of the front wall of the tub 30, similarly to the first or second embodiment.
That is, similarly to the first embodiment, the balance weights 50 are arranged symmetrically with respect to a first center line extending vertically through the center of the front wall of the tub 30 along the front wall of the tub 30. The balance weights 50 are also symmetrical with respect to a second center line extending through the center of the front wall of the tub 30 in perpendicular to the first center line along the front wall of the tub 30.
Alternately, similarly to the second embodiment, the balance weights 50 may be arranged symmetrically with respect to a third center line extending diagonally through the center of the front wall of the tub 30 along the front wall of the tub 30. In this case, the balance weights 50 are also symmetrical with respect to a fourth center line extending through the center of the front wall of the tub 30 in perpendicular to the third center line along the front wall of the tub 30.
In the third embodiment, the weight of each balance weight 50 is determined, taking into consideration not only the weight of the motor, but also the weights of the suction duct 10 and exhaust duct 20. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the total weight of the balance weights 50 mounted to the front wall of the tub 30 be equal to the weight of the motor mounted to the rear wall of the tub 30.
Hereinafter, functions and effects according to the above-described third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Similarly to the first and second embodiments, the balance weights 50 are mounted to the peripheral portion of the front wall of the tub 30 such that the front wall of the tub 30 has a structure symmetrical with respect to the center of the front wall of the tub 30. Accordingly, balance is maintained between positions of the front wall of the tub 30 opposing to each other with respect to the center of the front wall of the tub 30.
That is, in accordance with the present invention, the center of gravity of the front wall of the tub 30 is shifted toward the center of the front wall of the tub 30 from a lower position where the center of gravity of the front tub wall is positioned in the conventional case. Accordingly, the vertical vibration of the tub 30 generated along with swing of the tub 30 about an approximately central portion of the tub 30 during operation of the drum washing machine is greatly reduced, as compared to the conventional case.
Thus, it is possible to prevent cracks from being generated at regions where the bolts are fastened. Also, it is possible to prevent the tub 30 from coming into contact with the drum 40, and thus, to enable the drum washing machine to operate more stably.
As apparent from the above description, in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to perform a washing operation through a more stable structure, as compared to the conventional case. That is, the drum washing machine, in which the balance weights according to one of the above-described embodiments of the present invention are installed, can greatly reduce vibration generated at the tub, thereby preventing cracks from being generated at regions where bolts for mounting the balance weights are fastened. In addition, it is possible to prevent contact between the tub and the drum, and thus, to prevent generation of noise caused by the contact between the tub and the drum.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and varitations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and varitations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| P2004-39601 | Jun 2004 | KR | national |
