Gear Reduction Mechanism, Washing Machine and Washing Method

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to the technical field of washing machines, and particularly to a gear reduction mechanism used for a washing machine, a washing machine with this kind of gear reduction mechanism and its washing method.

BACKGROUND

A washing machine is a machine that can wash clean the clothes by chemical decomposition and mechanical impact function. It mainly uses a driving device to make an impeller rotate, which drives to agitate water and clothes to rotate to achieve the function of washing clothes clean. The conventional driving device is a power source as a motor, the output shaft of motor transfers the torque from motor rotation to the reduction device, and then it connects the output shaft of reduction device to impeller, thereby causing the impeller to rotate.

As the speed of normal motor is quite high, in order to have suitable output speed, the speed of the motor needs to be slowed down in actual application. Now the normal method is to reduce the speed of motor by the level one pulley of the reducer. The reducer, can setup one level or more levels via a gear reduction mechanism to achieve the reduction in certain ratio. This structure is not only complicated, but also occupies a large space. To address the above technical issue, some current applied solution is to remove pulley and connect the motor and reducer directly, but due to that the motor itself and the reducer still in individual position, so they occupy separate mounting spaces. Therefore, the structure is not compact enough, and the volume is quite large.

To address the above technical issue, a external rotor motor assembly is provided according to the disclosure associated with Chinese Patent Publication No. CN102142734A China invention, which includes a motor body, a driving shaft, and a transmission device. The driving shaft is fixed on the transmission device and the motor itself directly drives the driving shaft. The motor body has an inner diameter space, and the transmission device is mounted within the inner diameter space. Although the structure has already reduced the occupied space to a certain extent, its principle is to use the inner circumference space of the stator of the outer rotor motor for mounting the transmission device to the inner diameter space of the stator by mounting parts such that such a configuration cannot be applied to an inner rotor motor without the inner space, so it has certain limitations. Meanwhile, its motor itself directly drives the driving shaft, and then reduces the speed of driving shaft by the transmission device mounted within the inner diameter space of motor such that such a configuration only reduces the occupied space in certain extent, but the structure is not compact enough. Further, when the transmission device needs to achieve higher gear ratio and needs to increase the volume, it certainly needs to make the inner diameter of the outer rotor motor to increase the volume to realize this application. Therefore, it obviously does not solve the real technical problem.

Therefore, a technical problem to be solved currently by those skilled in the art is to design a gear reduction mechanism which has compact structure and small occupied space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present application is to provide a gear reduction mechanism, wherein the speed reduction input parts and speed reduction output parts mount within a rotating body that provides rotational energy. So it compresses the volume of the whole gear reduction mechanism, and its structure is simple, compact, energy saving, low noise, and this application also provides a washing machine with the above gear reduction mechanism.

In order to achieve the above goal, the technical solution provided as follows:

A gear reduction mechanism, comprising:

a rotation body to provide rotation energy which isn't equipped with a rotation shaft;

a speed reduction input part being mounted inside of the rotation body which obtains the rotation energy and is driven to rotate relative to an axis of the rotation body by the obtained rotation energy;

a speed reduction output part connected to the speed reduction input part which outputs a driving force for its rotation speed being equal to or lower than the speed of the rotation body; and

a first execution part and a second execution part connected to the speed reduction output part which rotates under the action of the driving force of the speed reduction output part.

Preferably, the rotation body is a motor rotor or a pulley. Certainly, the above rotation body can be rotation parts that are connected by a transmission, such as a gear or sprocket, for example.

Preferably, the motor rotor or the pulley comprises a driving frame, and an empty cavity that is located inside of the driving frame.

Preferably, the speed reduction input part is mounted inside of the empty cavity of the speed reduction input part, and comprises an eccentric sleeve which connects to the driving frame and rotates around the axis of the driving frame. When the rotation body is defined as a motor rotor, the above driving frame is defined as a rotor frame and when the rotation body is defined as a pulley, the above driving frame is defined as a pulley bracket. Furthermore, the rotor frame and the pulley bracket can either be integrated or combined.

Preferably, the speed reduction output parts comprise a spur gear being set over on the external of the eccentric sleeve and rotationally connecting to it and the spur gear revolves around an axis of the driving frame together with rotation of the eccentric sleeve. A ring gear is connected to the second execution part or the first execution part and the spur gear is mounted inside of the ring gear so that the spur gear rotates around itself by its engagement with the internal teeth of the ring gear during the period of revolution. A connection device connects the spur gear to the first execution part or the second execution part.

Preferably, the connection device is a slipper structure and comprises a cross slipper which goes through the first execution part or the second execution part, and its lower end surface slidingly connects to the upper end surface of the spur gear. A positioning slipper connects slidingly to the upper end surface of the cross slipper and the center of the positioning slipper fixedly connects to one of the first execution part or the second execution part.

The cross slipper includes a disk body that passes through the center of the first execution part and the second execution part. A pair of tabs sets are respectively located at the upper end surface of disk body and radial relative to the body and a pair of tab sets are respectively located at the lower end surface of disk body and radial relative to the body such that its extension line and the extension line of a pair of lower tabs are respectively oriented in cross locations in space.

The positioning slipper includes a slipper body having a cylindrical shape, and its center is fixedly connected with the above first execution part or the second execution part. One pair of ear panels sets at both sides of the slider and along the radial opposite direction, in which respectively sets the grooves are positioned to match the respective pairs of tab.

The upper end surface of the above spur gear sets one pair of gear groove in a radial opposite direction and corresponds to the position of one pair of the lower tabs.

Preferably, the connection device comprises a body of a connection plate, and the body of the connection plate slidingly connects to the spur gear by the connection of an axle hole being inserted with a pin. Specifically, the shaft hole pin inserted connection is, the above shaft hole is located in the body of connecting plate, and the connection pin is located at the spur gear, and the shaft hole and connection shaft pin are insert connected by the way of a slide connection. It can also be the above shaft hole is located at the spur gear, and the connection shaft pin is located at the body of connecting plate, and the shaft hole and connection shaft pin are insert connected by the way of slide connection. It can also be that the above shaft hole is separately located at the body of connecting body and spur gear, and to slide connect the shaft hole by using connecting shaft pins individually. The quantity of the above shaft hole and connection pin associations can be several, specifically for example chosen between 4-12, and preferably between 6-8 pin and hole associations.

Preferably, the eccentric sleeve comprises a second tube which fixedly connects to the driving frame and rotates around the axis of the driving frame. A first tube fixedly connects to the upper end surface of the second tube and rotates around the axis of the driving frame eccentrically and wherein, the spur gear is rotationally mounted on an outside of the first tube.

Certainly, it is appreciated that the above connection device in the present application can utilize other connection parts or methodologies to realize with the present technology.

The present application also provides a washing machine, including any one of the gear reduction mechanisms mentioned above, wherein the first execution part is a wash shaft, and the second execution part is a spin tube. Certainly, when the present application is applied in other fields, the above first execution part and the second execution part will individually connect to the corresponding functional parts.

Further, the washing machine in the present application also comprises a clutch coil assembly within the housing assembly, and it is axial sliding sleeved cooperation on the external wall of the above ring gear, and it is tooth engaged with or disengaged with the teeth at one end of the above driving frame by sliding in an axial direction.

Preferably, the above clutch coil assembly includes an electromagnetic coil that is fixed within housing and the slider is within the inner wall of the above electromagnetic coil assembly. The slider and the above ring gear are slide connected, and the teeth groove setting is located at its bottom, which can teeth engage with the teeth at one side of the above driving frame.

The present application also provides a washing method, comprising the following steps in sequences:

fixedly connecting an input part of a speed reduction mechanism to a power part for providing rotation-driving power;

fixedly connecting a spinning output part of the peed reduction mechanism to spin tube of a washing machine;

connecting a washing output part of the speed reduction mechanism to a wash shaft of the washing machine;

connecting the washing output part to the input part, so that the washing output part revolves around the axis of the power part; and

the spinning output part meshing with the washing output part, so that the spinning output part and the washing output part interact with each other and rotate separately around their own axis, and as a result, drive the wash shaft and the spin tube to rotate individually and realize the function of washing clothes.

Preferably, the above washing method, further comprises the steps as follows:

during rotation of the wash shaft, the wash shaft transfers the reactive force that a washing load exerts on it to the washing output parts; and

the washing output shaft transfers the reactive force that the washing load exerts on to the spinning output part, then the interaction force between the washing output part and the spinning output part are changed to allow the self rotation speed of the washing output part and the spinning output part to vary with the washing load.

Compared with current technology, the washing machine and its gear reduction mechanism in this application has special advantages as follows:

1) The gear reduction mechanism in the present application sets the speed reduction input parts and speed reduction output parts inside the rotation body, so it can best utilize the internal space of rotation body, reduce the volume of gear reduction mechanism, so further beneficial for the miniaturization of the washing machine.

2) The spur gear in the gear reduction mechanism of the present application not only revolves around the eccentric sleeve, but also meshes with the ring gear and rotates around by itself. The wash shaft and spin tube can rotate in opposite directions at the same time, which can reduce the energy consumption of motor and also reduce the noise.

3) The present application is to use a connection device to connect the spur gear to the wash shaft or spin tube. The spur gear can obtain the eccentric torque deviated from the axis of rotating body by rotating with the eccentric sleeve. As using less transmission parts, the transmission efficiency is high, structure is compact, volume is small, and also easy to install and to use.

4) The present application is to consider the rotating body that provides power as one part of the gear decelerating device, and the rotation body can be either a motor rotor or a pulley. It not only makes the structure of gear reduction mechanism much more compact, and occupied space is smaller, but also reduces the consumption of connection parts in largo quantity, so it fluffier reduces the production cost of washing machine.

5) it can adjust the speed of wash shaft according to the washing load, thus it can reduce or avoid the damage to the washing clothes, and also can avoid the occurrence of motor and/or transmission burn out due to the overload of the washing machine.

The present invention is described in detail in conjunction with drawings and embodiments hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view showing the structure of a gear reduction mechanism according to a first embodiment of this application;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the gear reduction mechanism according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a positioning slipper according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cross slipper according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a spur gear according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an eccentric sleeve according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a gear reduction mechanism according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded plan view the gear reduction mechanism according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a connection plate according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a right side view of the connection plate as shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a spur gear according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a rotor insert according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an perspective exploded view of a gearbox assembly, spin tube, and ring gear according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the ring gear shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the ring gear shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the slider of the assembly shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a front plan view of a gear reduction mechanism according to the present invention; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic representation showing the rotation directions of the gear reduction mechanism and the parts of the wash shaft according to the present invention.

The explanation for marks or reference numbers shown in the attached drawings includes 1—Housing assembly; 2—Stator; 3—Inner Rotor; 4—Eccentric sleeve; 5—Wash shaft; 6—Spur gear; 7—Ring gear; 8—Connection device; 9—Clutch coil assembly; 11—Housing; 12—Motor end cover; 13—Motor bolts; 14—Mounting plate; 20—Spin tube; 31—Driving frame; 32—Internal cavity; 33—Engaged teeth; 34—Rotor; 35—Rotor insert; 351—Cylinder; 352—Base; 41—Eccentric tube body; 42—The first tube; 43—The second tube; 44—Hole; 411—Margins; 40—Axis of spur gear; 50—Axis of wash shaft; 60—External teeth; 62—Gear slot; 61—Connecting shaft hole; 63—Steel ring; 71—Upper connecting part; 72—Lower connecting part; 201—Tube groove; 711—External spline; 712—Tab groove; 721—Internal tooth; 722—Tab with hole; 723—Rib; 81—Connecting plate body; 82—Hole; 83—Connecting pin shaft; 84—Cylinder; 85—Cross slipper; 86—Positioning slipper; 851—Disk ontology; 852—Lower tab; 853—Upper tab; 861—Slipper body; 862—Ear plate, 863—Groove; 100—Bearing; 200—Spring; 91—Slider; 92—Electromagnetic coil; 93—Coil frame; 94—Coil retaining holder; 911—Internal spline; 912—Permeability hoop; and 913—Tooth groove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An object of the present application is to provide a gear reduction mechanism, washing machine with the gear reduction mechanism, and a washing method, which has small axial dimension, compact structure, and small occupied space.

It is to be noted that, locality terms, such as upper and lower, involved herein are defined by the positions of parts and the position relationship of the parts in FIGS. 1 to 18, and are only intended to clearly and conveniently describe the technical solutions. It should be appreciated that, the locality terms herein should not limit the scope of the present application as claimed.

It is to be noted that, the same function or similar structure above in the present application are using the same mark in the drawing.

FIG. 17 is a front view of the gear reduction mechanism of the present application, FIG. 1 and FIG. 7 are sectional views of the two gear reduction mechanism embodiments usable to form gear reduction mechanisms as shown in FIG. 17. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, the gear reduction mechanism of the present application comprise: a rotation body to provide rotation energy and which isn't equipped with a rotation shaft; a speed reduction input part being mounted inside of the rotation body which obtains the rotation energy and is driven or drove to rotate relative to an axis of the rotation body by the obtained rotation energy; a speed reduction output part connecting to the speed reduction input part which outputs a driving force for its rotation speed being equal to or lower than the speed of the rotation body; and a first execution part and a second execution part connecting to the speed reduction output part which rotates under the action of the driving force of the speed reduction output part. Wherein the first execution part is a wash shaft and the second execution part is a spin tube.

The rotation body in the present invention is defined as a rotation body in the form of a motor rotor or a pulley, and motor rotor can either be an internal rotor of motor or be the external rotor of motor. For easily understanding, the present application only states the internal rotor of motor condition. It shall be noted that, according to the technical solution described in the present application, the skilled person in the art can replace the internal rotor of motor with the external rotor of motor or pulley in either embodiment. Furthermore, when replacing with the corresponding rotor, such changes are encompassed by disclosure of the present application.

In the present application, the internal rotor of motor obtains rotation power by rotating around its own axis. Inside the internal rotor, the reduction input part and reduction output part can reduce the output speed of internal rotor. Due to that the reduction input part being connected with the internal rotor, the reduction input part obtains the rotation power during the internal rotor rotation around the axis, and also uses the obtained rotation power to rotate relative the rotating body. The reduction input part in the present application is connected with the internal rotor as an eccentric sleeve, so the eccentric sleeve rotates around the axis of internal rotor eccentrically, and the reduction output part connected with the above eccentric sleeve rotates around the axis of internal rotor and then it converts the power from eccentrically rotation to output power whose speed equal to or less than the speed of internal rotor. Now the reduction output part is connected with wash shaft and spin tube, and one end of wash shaft is connected with impeller (or blender, hereafter will use the same name and it is not shown in figure) of washing machine, Spin tube is connected with the internal basket of washing machine (it is not marked in figure). Spin tube 20 sets outside of wash shaft and also rotationally connects with it. Under the function of output power, wash shaft and spin tube distributes the power from the speed that equal to or less than the speed of internal rotor separately to impeller and basket, so the washing machine installed with the gear reduction mechanism in the present application can complete the function of washing clothes.

In the present application, as shown in FIGS. 17, 1 and 7, the stator 2 is disposed inside the housing assembly 1. Inside stator 2, there is the internal rotor 3 that provides rotation power. The internal rotor in the present application includes driving frame 31 and an empty cavity 32 inside the driving frame, so the speed of internal rotor is the speed of driving frame, and the rotation axis of driving frame is its axis of symmetry. The reduction input part and reduction output part are mounted inside the driving frame, and the speed reduction input parts including: eccentric sleeve 4 is connected with driving frame 31 and rotates around the axis of driving frame, and eccentric sleeve rotates with driving frame at the same speed; the speed reduction output parts including the spur gear 6 mounting outside the eccentric sleeve and can rotationally connect with it. It can rotate with eccentric sleeve and also revolve round the axis of driving frame; the ring gear 7 is connected with spin tube 20, and the spur gear is inside the ring gear, so the spur gear, during revolution, can also mesh engage with the teeth of ring gear to rotate around itself; the spur gear is connected with wash shaft 5 by the connection device. Thereby, it transfers the power from the rotation to wash shaft.

In addition, the washing machine in the present application also includes the clutch coil assembly that controls the output speed of reduction output part. It is set inside the housing, and sleeved on the outside wall of ring gear by sliding in an axial direction, and it is teeth engaged or disengaged with the teeth at one end of driving frame by axial sliding, and then the output speed of reduction output part can be equal to or less than the rotation speed of driving frame.

The present application is to connect the spur gear to the wash shaft by a connection device, and the connection device of the present application has different structures, now it is described in detail in conjunction with embodiments hereinafter.

The First Embodiment of the Present Invention

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views showing the structure of a slipper as the connection device of the gear reduction mechanism of the present application,

As shown in FIG. 1, the motor in this embodiment includes an internal rotor motor, the housing assembly includes a tube housing with opening holes at two ends 11, a motor cover connected with the bottom of housing 11, a mounting plate 14 at the top of housing and connected with bolts 13 of motor, and housing 11, motor cover 12 and mounting plate 14 composed as a internal space for locating stator 2 and internal rotor 3 and other parts.

The internal rotor of this embodiment includes a driving frame 31 and empty cavity 32 inside the driving frame, and the engaged teeth 33 at the top end of driving frame. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 12, the driving frame of this embodiment including the tube rotor 34 and the rotor insert 35 inside the rotor, the rotor insert including: a tube cylinder 351 with opening holes at two ends, the engaged teeth 33 at the top and extended to the top; the base plate 352 at the bottom of tube cylinder, and opening one hole for base plate at the center. The tube cylinder of rotor insert and the base plate composed as the empty cavity 32 for setting the reduction input part and reduction of output part, and the wash shaft goes through the center of the above hole of base plate, so when driving frame rotates, it has the same rotation shaft as the wash shaft, that is, the rotation axis of driving frame and wash shaft are coaxial.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the reduction input part, reduction output part and gearbox assembly set inside the empty cavity of internal rotor, and the speed reduction input parts include eccentric sleeve 4, the speed reduction output parts including spur gear 6, ring gear 7, and connection device 8.

Eccentric sleeve is fixedly connected with driving frame 31, and eccentric sleeve rotates around the axis of driving frame. As shown in FIG. 6, eccentric sleeve includes a second tube that rotates around the same axis of driving frame and the first tube that rotates around the eccentric axis of driving frame. The second tube and the first rube can either be fixedly connected as an individual part or be integrated fixedly connected in order to be convenient for processing or installation. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 2, the second tube is formed as the second tube, in which, eccentric connection part 41 has the extended edge relative to the outside of the first tube 42, and the eccentric sleeve hole goes through wash shaft inside the second tube 43, and this eccentric sleeve hole extends upward and goes through eccentric connection part and the first tube.

When machining eccentric sleeve, the first tube, eccentric connection part and the second tube can use the integrated method or welding them as integrated one part. During machining, the center line of the first tube and the center line of the second tube shall have a certain eccentric distance, which can be the value equal to the radius of spur gear minus the radius of ring gear.

In this embodiment, the fixed connection between eccentric sleeve 4 and driving frame 31 is the stiff connection for easily transferring the rotation torque. During machining, eccentric sleeve and driving frame can be formed as an integrated connection, and also can be a separable connection, i.e. connected by screw, welding and etc. Preferably the way specifically: the tube shape rotor 34 is metal material, eccentric sleeve 4 uses metal material, and into tube shape rotor 34, eccentric sleeve 4 into plastic injection tooling or casting tooling, and forming the rotor and eccentric sleeve mounting in rotor insert 35 by plastic injection or casting. More preferably, the outside extended edge of eccentric connection part of eccentric sleeve 4 can set several sunk part (four visible in FIG. 2) or tab, which can enhance the binding force for plastic injection or casting of eccentric sleeve 4 and driving frame 31. It can meet the requirement of the stiff fixedly connection of eccentric sleeve 4 and driving frame 31.

As shown in FIG. 5, the spur gear 6 in this embodiment includes a steel ring 63 and the external teeth 60 integrated plastic injection with the steel ring, and also the upper end surface of the spur gear setting one pair of radial relative gear groove 62. The steel ring and the first tube of eccentric sleeve are rotation connected, and specifically: the external wall of the first tube 42 and the internal ring of bushing 100 are connected as interference fit, and the upper end of the extended edge of the eccentric connection part and the lower end of the outside extended edge of bushing 100 are contact connected, the external ring of bushing 100 and the internal wall of spur gear are connected as clearance fit or it can use the external wall of the first tube 42 and the internal ring of bushing 100 as clearance connection, and the upper end of the external extended edge of eccentric connection part and the lower end of the external extended edge of bushing 100 are connected, and the external ring of bushing 100 and the internal wall of spur gear are connected as interference fit.

Certainly, in order to realize the relative rotation connection between eccentric sleeve 4 and the spur gear, and also can use the following way: to improve the structure of the eccentric sleeve 4, like using powder metallurgy material, making the eccentric sleeve 4 has the function of bushing 100 to avoid to use bushing 100 separately, so the steel ring and the eccentric sleeve that have bushing function are rotation connected.

Preferably, the reducing discharge chute can be set inside the first tube 42, which can reduce the manufacturing cost and also the suitable material that can lubricate in the reducing discharge chute can be added, like grease, oil cotton, which can increase the service life of eccentric sleeve.

During the rotation of eccentric sleeve, the spur gear that is rotationally connected with the first tube can revolve in its same rotation direction under the rotation of eccentric sleeve. Due to that there is a certain eccentric distance between the center line of the first tube and the center line of the second tube, the rotation axis of the first tube coincide with the rotation axis of the driving frame, so when the spur gear is under revolution, actually it is rotating around the axis of driving frame eccentrically.

During the revolution of spur gear, and its external teeth mesh with the ring gear, so it will transfer its rotation power to ring gear. The ring gear in this embodiment is metal or plastic connection part, and even more preferably, in order to save manufacturing cost, they can be integrated as plastic injection part. This metal or plastic connection part including the upper connection part 71 and lower connection part 72 at its lower section that is connected with it. As shown in FIG. 14, the upper connection part is housing, and external spline 711 setting at its external wall in axial direction, and several tab 712 setting at its internal wall in axial direction; and the lower connection part 72 is tube structure, and its top is fixedly connected with the upper connection part, and at the top and fixedly connected with the upper connection part, and internal teeth 721 inserted mounting at its internal wall, and several ribs 723 sets at the connection position of connected with the upper connection part, and several tab 722 with holes for placing spring 200 sets among the neighbored ribs 723.

As shown in FIG. 13, several tab in the upper connection part matches with the several tube grooves 201 setting in external wall of spin tube, which allows the ring gear to be fixedly connect with spin tube as an integrated part. Otherwise, it can use welding or other method to stiff connected the metal connection part and spin tube, in this embodiment, the internal teeth 721 setting inside the internal wall of the lower connection part 72 can either be plastic or metal material.

When the spur gear is revolving (that is to say eccentrically rotating around the axis of driving frame), its external teeth can mesh with the internal teeth of ring gear, and it is under the action force of the mesh teeth, the spur gear can rotate itself, and also now the rotation direction is opposite to its evolution direction. Also, its external teeth and the teeth of ring gear has the tooth difference relation, so it has speed differences between the revolution and self rotation of spur gear, that is, the speed of rotation around itself is lower than the speed of revolution, so the output speed is lower than the rotation speed of driving frame. Correspondingly, due to that the ring gear and spur gear has action force, it allows the ring gear to rotate together with the self rotation of spur gear, and because that the rotation direction of ring gear is opposite to the rotation direction of spur gear. That is, now the rotation direction of ring gear is the same as the rotation direction of driving frame, so the current rotation speed of ring gear is lower than the rotation speed of driving frame.

In conclusion, the spur gear under the function of the rotating eccentric sleeve and the ring gear that meshed with the tooth, can revolve and rotate around itself at the same time, and the rotation direction of revolution and rotation around itself is opposite, the speed of rotation around itself is lower than the rotation speed of driving frame; and ring gear under the action force, can rotate in the opposite direction of the rotation direction of spur gear and rotate also at a speed lower than the rotation speed of driving frame.

When the spur gear rotates around itself at low speed, it transfers the power to wash shaft by slipper structure. The slipper structure in this embodiment including: the cross slipper 85 that goes through wash shaft, and its lower end surface slide is connected with the upper end surface of spur gear; the positioning slipper 86 is slide connected with the upper end surface of cross slipper, and its center is fixedly connected with wash shaft. As shown in FIG. 4, cross slipper includes the disk body 851 that goes through wash shaft, a pair of lower tab sets 852 respectively at the lower end surface of disk body and radial relative to the body, a pair of upper tab sets 853 respectively at the upper end surface of disk body and radial relative to the body, and its extension line and the extension line of a pair of lower tab in spatial crossed distribution. As shown in FIG. 3, the positioning slipper includes the slipper body 861 in tube shape, and its center is fixedly connected with wash shaft, a pair of ear plate 862 sets at both sides of slipper body in radial opposite direction, and one pair of gear groove 863 setting in the ear plates separately matches with a pair of the upper tab. Preferably, one pair of gear groove sets at the upper end surface of spur gear in radial direction, which is corresponding to the position of one pair of the lower tab.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, one pair of gear grooves 62 at the upper end surface of spur gear individually setting one pair of the lower tab in the cross slipper 85, and one pair of the lower tab individually can slide within the groove of one pair of gear in corresponding position; one pair of the upper tab in cross slipper 85 individually setting in one pair of grooves 863 under the surface of positioning slipper, and one pair of the upper tab individually slide within one pair of grooves; the center of the slipper body of the positioning slipper is fixedly connected with wash shaft, and make the center line of positioning slipper coincide with the centerline of wash shaft.

When the spur gear rotates around itself at low speed, one pair of gear grooves 62 in spur gear will rotate at the same speed and in the same direction together with it. It allows one pair of the lower tab 852 inside one pair of gear groove to rotate with it, that is the cross slipper can rotate with the spur gear. Under the function of centrifugal force, one pair of the lower tab and one pair of the upper tab in cross slipper individually make radial sliding in one pair of gear groove and one pair of groove 863, and during sliding, it runs from the axis 40 of spur gear to the axis 50 of wash shaft. Due to that one pair of the upper tab in cross slipper sliding setting inside one pair of grooves 863 of positioning slipper, the upper tab drives the groove to rotate together, that is to drive the positioning slipper to rotate. Due to that the center of positioning slipper is fixedly connected with wash shaft, the positioning slipper can drive wash shaft to rotate in the same direction and at the same speed as spur gear.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 18, when the spur gear rotates eccentrically around the axis of wash shaft, through slipper structure, it can transfer the power caused by the spur gear rotating around axis 40 by itself to the power for wash shaft to rotate around its axis 50 (driving frame axis). That is, it can transfer the output from the spur gear rotates eccentrically around the axis of wash shaft to the same axis of wash shaft.

Due to that the washing machine has different kind of washing status during washing, it needs to adjust the output speed of the reduction output part according to different requirement of the washing status. In embodiment, during washing, it needs to reduce the output speed of the reduction output part to low speed, but during spinning, it needs to adjust the output speed of reduction output part as high speed. So in this embodiment, washing machine still includes a clutch coil assembly, this clutch coil assembly is setting inside the internal cavity of housing assembly, and axial sliding mounting in external wall of ring gear, and it engages or disengages to the teeth 33 at one end surface of driving frame, and further allows the speed reduction output part of gear reduction mechanism is locked or worked status, so it makes the speed reduction output part to realize low speed or high speed output.

Further, the clutch coil assembly in this embodiment is electromagnetic clutch coil device, including electromagnetic coil device and slider 91, and electromagnetic coil device placed outside the slider.

The electromagnetic coil device includes electromagnetic coil 92, coil frame 93 and coil holder 94, coil holder fixedly mounting in the mounting plate 14 of housing assembly, coil frame mounting in coil holder, and electromagnetic coil winding on the coil frame.

Slider 91 includes the upper connection part and the lower connection part, and its upper connection part and its lower connection part can be separately fixedly connected, or one integrated fixedly connected. In order to be convenient for processing or installation, preferably, as shown in FIG. 16, the upper connection part is tube structure, including the internal spline 911 setting inside and the magnetic iron ring 912 sleeved outside the upper connection part and integrated with it by plastic injection. The internal spline 911 and the external spline 711 setting at the external wall of ring gear are sliding mated, and the magnetic iron ring is mated with electromagnetic coil, it can be on or off with the electromagnetic coil under the magnetic force of electromagnetic coil; many tab teeth distributed in gap set at the bottom end of the lower connection part, and each neighbored tab teeth forms as teeth groove 913, and the teeth groove 913 matches with the engaged teeth 33 at one end surface of driving frame. Preferably, several material reducing chute sets around the lower connection part, which can reduce production cost.

When the electromagnetic coil is energized, under the action of repelling force of the electromagnetic coil, it allows magnetic iron ring to move downward to let it be away from the electromagnetic coil, and the magnetic iron ring is fixedly connected with the upper connection part of slider, and the magnetic iron ring drives the whole slider 91 to slide downward the external wall of ring gear, till the condition that the teeth groove of the lower connection part of slider and teeth of driving frame to be engaged connected, so the ring gear obtains the same rotation speed as the driving frame, it allows the speed reduction output part of the gear reduction mechanism to be locked status. In opposite, when the electromagnetic coil is de-energized, under the reaction force of spring mounting in ring gear, slider slides upward relative to the external wall of ring gear, allowing the teeth groove of the lower connection part to separate from the teeth groove of driving frame, so the speed reduction input part and the speed reduction output part of gear reduction mechanism enters working status.

Now the working process for the washing machine with the reduction device and the electromagnetic clutch device mentioned in the embodiments wider both spinning and washing conditions is described in details as follows.

During spinning process for washing clothes, the electromagnetic coil in the gearbox assembly is energized, the electromagnetic coil and the magnetic iron ring 912 setting outside the slider interacted with each other to form an enclosed magnetic circuit, so the magnetic iron ring under the spelling force of magnetic to drive slider to slide downward the external wall of ring gear (the direction as shown in FIG. 1), and during the sliding process, slider compresses the spring in ring gear. Several teeth groove setting at the lower connection part of slider is engaging connected with the teeth at one end of driving frame. It allows slider and driving frame integrated as one part. It allows spin tube and driving frame to be integrated as one part, and it allows spin tube to have the same rotation speed as driving frame. Due to that the rotational inertia of basket connected with spin tube is larger than the rotational inertia of the impeller connected with wash shaft, so the spur gear of the speed reduction output parts fixed connected by the wash shaft and ring gear are in locked status. Thereby, it allows the speed reduction output part to be locked status under the large rotational inertia basket. The whole speed reduction input parts and speed reduction output parts rotate at high speed together with driving frame, and further it drives the connected wash shaft to rotate at high speed with the driving frame. It allows the basket connected with spin tube to drive the impeller connected with wash shaft to rotate at high speed, thereby achieving the spinning function for washing clothes.

When washing the clothes, the electromagnetic coil is energized, and the magnetic circuit of electromagnetic coil and the magnetic iron ring disappears. The slider will not receive the function of magnetic force. Under the reaction force of spring, the slider moves upward the external wall of ring gear. It allows many teeth groove setting at the connection part at the lower part of slider to be off from the teeth of one side of driving frame. Thereby it allows the speed reduction input part and speed reduction output part to be in working status.

As shown in FIG. 18, when the driving frame rotates around the axis of driving frame in counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 18 at high speed (that is, the axis 50 of wash shaft as shown in FIG. 18, to be convenient for description, hereinafter will call this axis as axis of wash shaft), which drives the eccentric sleeve 4 fixedly connected to it to rotate around the axis of wash shaft in counterclockwise direction and at the same high speed, thus, the rotation at high speed of eccentric sleeve drives the spur gear to rotate around the axis of wash shaft eccentrically at high speed in revolution. During the revolution of the spur gear at high speed, its external teeth engaged with the internal teeth of ring gear and result in action force with each other, which allows spur gear to rotate around its own axis 40 by itself, and the rotation direction of spur gear is opposite to the rotation direction of eccentric sleeve, as shown in FIG. 18, the rotation direction of spur gear is clockwise direction, and its rotation speed is lower than the rotation speed of driving frame.

During the self rotation caused by the mesh between spur gear and ring gear, the ring gear rotates under its action. There are number of teeth differences between the internal teeth of ring gear and the external teeth of spur gear, so the ring gear rotates in the opposite rotation direction of spur gear at low speed, the counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 18. Accompanied with the self rotation of the spur gear, the slipper structure of the speed reduction output parts also rotate with it. When the spur gear rotates around the axis of the spur gear in clockwise direction at a speed that is lower than the rotation speed of driving frame, the spur gear transfers the action force through one pair of gear groove 62 to the pair of the lower tab slide installed in one pair of gear grooves. It allows the cross slipper to rotate with spur gear in clockwise direction. It drives the cross slipper composed by the sliding connection between one pair of groove 863 and one pair of the upper tab on cross slipper to rotate in clockwise direction due in part to the center of positioning slipper being fixedly connected with wash shaft. When the positioning slipper rotates in clockwise direction, it drives wash shaft to rotate in clockwise direction at the same as shown by the arrow at the internal side in FIG. 18.

As shown in FIG. 18, during the washing mode, when the driving frame rotates at high speed, by using the speed reduction input parts and speed reduction output parts in this embodiment, it can drive the spin tube connected with ring gear and the impeller connected with wash shaft to obtain the rotation speed that lower than the speed of driving frame in opposite direction. It solves the difficulty faced in current technology that lots of energy consumption for fixing the spin tube during washing.

This embodiment is provided to set the speed reduction input device, speed reduction output parts and clutch coil device inside the internal rotor, which effectively utilizes the internal space of internal rotor, reduces the volume of washing machine, and facilitates miniaturization of the production of washing machine. In this embodiment, it uses the sliding structure to connect the spur gear to wash shaft, so it transfers the eccentric output around the axis of wash shaft to the concentric output around the axis of wash shaft, which avoids the reduction device to cause unnecessary vibration during working process.

The Second Embodiment of the Present Invention

FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic views showing the structures of the gear reduction mechanism in connection plate structure according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, the motor in this embodiment can be an internal rotor motor. The internal rotor with empty cavity sets inside the housing assembly. The speed reduction input device, the speed reduction output part and clutch coil assembly are set inside the empty cavity of internal rotor. The speed reduction input parts includes an eccentric sleeve 4. The speed reduction output parts includes spur gear 6, ring gear 7 and connection device 8. In this embodiment, the connection device is a connection plate structure.

In this embodiment, the housing assembly, clutch coil assembly, the eccentric sleeve, ring gear in speed reduction input parts and speed reduction output parts are the same as in embodiment 1, and they will not be repeated hereinafter. The corresponding description regarding the structure of spur gear connected with the connection device and the connection device follows.

As shown in FIG. 11, the spur gear 6 in this embodiment includes steel ring 63 and the external gear 60 which is located outside the steel ring and also integrated with the steel ring by plastic injection. Many connection holes 61 are provided for placing connection pins and shafts located evenly around the steel ring. The steel ring is connected with the first tube of eccentric sleeve by rotation connected, and the detailed connection way is the same as the embodiment 1, so it will not be repeated here.

The structure of connection plate in this embodiment includes connection plate and many connection pins and shafts contacted with connection plate by sliding, it drives the connection plate to rotate through the fiction force. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the connection plate has the body 81 of connection plate in plate shape, and its center goes through the wash shaft and is fixedly connected with wash shaft. In order to enhance the connection with wash shaft, it can set one cylinder tube 84 at the middle of the upper end of the body of connection plate, and it fixedly connects with wash shaft by the teeth profile inside the internal wall of cylinder tube. During manufacturing, the body of connection plate and the cylinder tube forming in one part or by using welding to integrate them together. Many through holes 82 are located evenly around the body of connection plate, and many connection pins and shafts setting separately inside each through hole by sliding contact. Specifically, one end of each connection pin and shaft is fixedly installed inside one connection shaft of spur gear, another end of each connection pin and shaft is mounted inside one connection shaft of the body of connection plate, it is sliding along the inner wall of the through hole. In this embodiment, the number of through hole of the body of connection plate and the connection pins and shafts is provided as six such associations. The internal diameter of the through hole is larger than the outside diameter of connection pins and shafts. When installation, firstly putting one end of the six connection pins and shafts fixedly inside the six connection shaft holes of the spur gear, and then putting another end of the six connection pins and shafts separately mounting inside six through holes of the body of connection plate, it shall ensure that the external surface of the six connection pins and shafts to be tangent with the inner wall of the six through holes correspondingly.

In this embodiment, the speed reduction input parts and speed reduction output parts transfers the rotation force of internal rotor by the following action.

When the electromagnetic coil in clutch coil device is energized, washing machine enters spinning mode: now the electromagnetic coil works with the magnetic iron ring 912 at the outside of slider to form one enclosed magnetic route. Now the magnetic iron ring may slide downward (as show by the downward direction in FIG. 7) along the external wall of ring gear under the magnetic repelling force. During the sliding process, it compresses the spring setting in ring gear. It allows many teeth grooves at the lower connection part of slider to engage with the teeth at the end of driving frame. It drives the slider and driving frame to connect as one part. Further, it combines the spin tube with driving frame as one part, thereby spin tube has the same rotation speed as driving frame. Due to that the rotational inertia of basket connected with spin tube is larger than the rotational inertia of the impeller connected with wash shaft, so the spur gear of the speed reduction output parts fixed connected by the wash shaft and ring gear are in locked status. Thereby, it allows the reduction output part to be locked status under the large rotational inertia basket. The whole speed reduction input parts and speed reduction output parts rotate at high speed together with driving frame, and further it drives the connected wash shaft to rotate at high speed with the driving frame. It allows the basket connected with spin tube to drive the impeller connected with wash shaft to rotate at high speed, thereby achieving the spinning function for washing clothes.

When the electromagnetic coil in clutch coil device is de-energized, washing machine enters washing mode wherein the enclosed magnetic route formed by the electromagnetic coil and the magnetic iron ring disappears, and the slider is not affected by the function of the magnetic force, so under the spring restoring force, slider moves upwards along the external wall of ring gear, which disengages many teeth groove at the lower connection part of slider to the teeth at the end of driving frame, thereby allowing the speed reduction input part and speed reduction output part to enter the following working mode.

As shown in FIG. 18, when the driving frame rotates around the axis of driving frame in counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 18 at high speed (that is, the axis 50 of wash shaft as shown in FIG. 18, to be convenient for description, hereinafter will call this axis as axis of wash shaft), which drives the eccentric sleeve 4 fixedly connected to it to rotate around the axis of wash shaft in counterclockwise direction and at the same high speed, thus, the rotation at high speed of eccentric sleeve drives the spur gear to rotate around the axis of wash shaft eccentrically at high speed in revolution. During the revolution of the spur gear at high speed, its external teeth engage with the internal teeth of ring gear and result in action force with each other, which allows spur gear to rotate around its own axis 40 by itself, and the rotation direction of spur gear is opposite to the rotation direction of eccentric sleeve, as shown in FIG. 18, the rotation direction of spur gear is clockwise direction, and its rotation speed is lower than the rotation speed of driving frame.

When the spur gear rotates around itself by engaging with ring gear, the ring gear rotates under its action, there is a difference between the numbers of internal teeth of ring gear and the external teeth of spur gear, so the ring gear rotates in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of spur gear at low speed, the counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 18. Accompanied with the self rotation of spur gear, the connection plate of speed reduction output part rotates according to the self rotation of spur gear, and it drives wash shaft to rotate in the same direction and at the same speed as spur gear, further, it transfers the eccentric output caused by that spur gear rotates around the axis of wash shaft eccentrically to output caused by that spur gear rotates along the axis of wash shaft direction.

Specifically, during the eccentrically rotation of spur gear, the six connection pins and shafts fixedly mounting in the holes of the six connection shafts of spur gear synchronous rotates with it. As another end of the six connection pins and shafts holding against the internal wall of the six holes in the body of connection plate and also rotates in circular within the internal wall, the six connection pins and shafts drives the body of connection plate and also allows the body of connection plate to rotate synchronously together with the rotation of spur gear. But the round tube at the upper end surface of the body of connection plate is fixedly connected to wash shaft, when the body of connection plate rotates, it drives the wash shaft to do synchronous rotation. Thereby realizing to transfer the output caused by the spur gear eccentrically rotates deviated from the axis of wash shaft to the output in the same direction as axis of wash shalt

The principle of the structure of other parts of the several embodiments described above in structure are the same as that of the first embodiment, thus will not be described herein.

In addition to the above two embodiments, the gear reduction mechanism may have other embodiments. The present application also provides a washing machine, including any gear reduction mechanism in the first embodiment or the second embodiment of the present application, a washing machine that uses any one of the above gear reduction mechanisms has a compact structure, a small volume, and is convenient for product manufacturing in smaller size.

The present application also provides one washing method that includes the following procedures: fixedly connect the input part of a speed reduction mechanism to the power parts providing the rotation driving power; fixedly connect the spinning output part of speed reduction mechanism to the spin tube of washing machine; connect the washing output part of speed reduction mechanism to the wash shaft of washing machine; by connecting the above washing output parts to the above input part, the agitating output parts can revolve around the axis of the above power parts; and by mesh connection between the spinning output parts and agitating output parts, then the spinning output parts and the agitating output parts can interact and they can rotate around their own axis separately. So they can drive wash shaft and spin tube to rotate individually to achieve to wash clothes.

The above washing method, also including the following procedures: during the rotation of the above wash shaft, the above wash shaft transfers the reactive force from the washing load to the above washing output parts; and the above washing output shaft transfers the reactive force from the washing load to the above spinning output parts. Now by changing the interaction force between the above washing output parts and the above spinning output parts, so the individual rotation speed of above agitating output part and the above spinning output part will vary according to the washing load.

For the washing machine in the present application, in order to prevent the endplay or displacement of wash shaft in axial direction, several snag rings or others that have the same function as a snag ring shall be added in proper position of wash shaft or spin tube as above in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. In order to be convenient for installation and bearing the load, washer or others that have the same function as washer shall be added in suitable position of wash shaft. In order to achieve the normal transmission relationship and mounting of the present application, many bushings and many ball bearings shall be set in different sections, like setting many bushings between wash shaft and spin tube, and setting many ball bearings between ring gear and spin tube, mounting plate and spin tube, and end cover of motor and wash shaft. Further, the above ball bearings can be deeply grooved ball bearings. Preferably, the sleeve can be set between the ball bearing disposed between end cover of motor and wash shaft and wash shaft as the function of bushing. To prevent washing water from entering the interior of speed reduction input part, speed reduction output part and motor along wash shaft, spin tube and mounting plate, a small seal is set between wash shaft and spin tube, and a big seal is set between spin tube and mounting plate. Preferably, in order to realize vibration and noise reductions while running, a cushion pad made of plastic material or elastic material shall be added among assembly parts, and under the condition of achieving the mounting strength or the related functions, the housing assembly uses cast aluminum material, or the ring gear uses plastic material.

Due to that the above snag ring, washer, cushion, bushing, ball bearing, sleeve, big seal, small seal, and vibration and noise cushion all the parts are the normal parts used by the person skilled in the art, a few of modifications and improvements may be made for the structure of the above parts are disclosed by the present application.

A gear reduction mechanism, washing machine and washing method according to the present application is described specifically above. The principle and the embodiments of the present application are illustrated herein by specific examples. The above description of examples is only intended to help the understanding of the method and the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that, for the person skilled in the art, various modifications and improvements may be made to the present application without departing from the principle of the present application, and these modifications and improvements are also deemed to fall into the scope of the present application defined by the claims.

Number	Date	Country	Kind
201210164423.8	May 2012	CN	national
201220402111.1	Aug 2012	CN	national
201210335339.8	Sep 2012	CN	national

Gear Reduction Mechanism, Washing Machine and Washing Method

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