Patent Grant
10760195
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Applications No. 10-2016-0155231, filed on Nov. 21, 2016 and No. 10-2017-0047447, filed on Apr. 12, 2017 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a washing machine capable of limiting movements of a tub and preventing vibrations of the tub from being transferred to a cabinet.
In general, a washing machine includes a cabinet forming an outer appearance of the washing machine, a tub disposed in the inside of the cabinet and storing water, and a washing drum disposed in the inside of the tub and accommodating laundry to wash the laundry by a water current generated according to rotations of a pulsator installed on the bottom of the washing drum. The washing machine performs a washing course to separate dirt from laundry, a rinsing course to rinse washed laundry, and a dehydration course to dehydrate wet laundry.
Particularly, during the dehydration course, the washing drum rotates at high speed, and may perform precession according to a distribution of laundry contained in the washing drum. Since the precession of the washing drum causes vibrations of the tub, a suspension apparatus is generally installed between the tub and the cabinet in order to prevent vibrations of the tub from being transferred to the cabinet.
However, if laundry contained in the washing drum is abnormally distributed to one side to be excessively unsymmetrical, the precession of the washing drum deviates from a normal level to cause excessive vibrations of the tub. In this case, due to a great displacement of the tub, the tub may collide with the cabinet despite cushioning of the suspension apparatus. Accordingly, in order to prevent the tub from colliding with the cabinet due to vibrations, a method of disposing the tub with a sufficient distance from the cabinet, or a method of attaching a cushion member such as sponge and the like on the inner surface of the cabinet has been used.
However, the method of widening the distance between the tub and the cabinet increases the size of the washing machine, and the method of attaching the cushion member on the inner wall of the cabinet requires a separate work process and increases the cost of materials.
Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a washing machine having a structure capable of limiting a movement range of a tub according to vibrations, and preventing vibrations of the tub from being transferred to a cabinet.
Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.
In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes a cabinet; a tub disposed in the inside of the cabinet; at least one suspension apparatus configured to reduce vibrations of the tub, and to connect the tub to the cabinet such that the tub is supported on the cabinet; and a position guide apparatus having one end connected to the at least one suspension apparatus, and the other end connected to the tub, and configured to limit a movement range in horizontal direction of the tub.
The position guide apparatus may include a cylinder having an inside space; and a stopper having at least one portion located in the inside space of the cylinder, and the remaining portion located outside the cylinder.
A catching portion may be formed at an end of the at least one portion of the stopper located in the inside space of the cylinder, and a suspension bar coupling portion may be formed at one end of the remaining portion of the stopper located outside the cylinder, wherein the suspension bar coupling portion may be connected to a suspension bar included in the suspension apparatus.
One end of the cylinder may further include a stopper inserting hole along which a stopper moves, and the other end of the cylinder may further include a tub fixing hole, wherein a tub fixing portion may be inserted into the tub fixing hole such that both ends of the tub fixing portion may be rotatably coupled with a position guide apparatus coupling portion formed in the outer surface of the tub.
The tub fixing portion may be inserted into the cylinder such that the cylinder may be rotatable on the tub fixing portion as a rotation shaft.
The stopper may include a first absorption member disposed adjacent to the catching portion, and a second absorption member disposed adjacent to the suspension bar coupling portion.
The cylinder may be movable between a first position at which the cylinder contacts the first absorption member, and a second position at which the cylinder contacts the second absorption member.
The suspension bar coupling portion may include a first member having a first accommodating space into which the stopper may be inserted, and a second member having a second accommodating space into which the suspension bar may be inserted.
The second member may further include a protrusion, and the first member may further include a groove into which the protrusion of the second member may be inserted so that the second member may be coupled with the first member to be rotatable with respect to the first member using the protrusion as a rotation shaft.
The second accommodating space may be movable along the suspension bar.
The stopper may include a first absorption member disposed on one surface with respect to the catching portion, and a second absorption member disposed on the opposite surface with respect to the catching portion.
The position guide apparatus may limit a distance between the suspension apparatus and the tub to a predetermined distance.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes a cabinet; a tub disposed in the inside of the cabinet; a suspension bar configured to connect the tub to the cabinet such that the tub is supported on the cabinet; and a position guide apparatus including a transversely moving portion connected to the tub, a longitudinally moving portion connected to the suspension bar, and a friction member disposed in the inside of the longitudinally moving portion in such a way to surround the suspension bar, wherein the position guide apparatus is limited in moving by the friction member when the longitudinally moving portion moves along the suspension bar.
A pair of arms may be formed at one end of the transversely moving portion, a pair of protrusions may be formed on an outer surface of the longitudinally moving portion, and the pair of protrusions may be inserted into openings respectively formed in the pair of arms so that the transversely moving portion may be coupled with the longitudinally moving portion.
If the position guide apparatus may be coupled with the tub and the suspension bar, and the protrusions formed on the outer surface of the longitudinally moving portion may be inserted into and coupled with the openings formed in the arms of the transversely moving portion, the transversely moving portion may be coupled with the longitudinally moving portion such that the transversely moving portion and the longitudinally moving portion may form an obtuse angle.
The longitudinally moving portion may further include a friction member inserting space therein, and the friction member may be disposed in at least one area of the friction member inserting space.
The friction member may be movable in the friction member inserting space.
The openings formed in the arms of the transversely moving portion extend in a direction toward the pair of arms from a center of the transversely moving portion, and may include a first absorption member disposed in one ends of inner surfaces of the openings, and a second absorption member disposed in the other ends of the inner surfaces of the openings.
A catching groove included in a first member having a hole to pass the suspension bar through may be coupled with a protrusion included in a second member having a hole to pass the suspension bar through, thereby forming the longitudinally moving portion.
These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments and terms used in the embodiments are not for the purpose of limiting technology disclosed in the present disclosure to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes can be made on the embodiments. In regard of descriptions of the drawings, similar components will be referred to as similar reference numerals. Also, it is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present disclosure, the term ‘A or B’ or ‘at least one of A or/and B’ may cover all possible combinations of enumerated items. The expressions ‘first’ or ‘second’ may modify the names of various components irrespective of sequence and/or importance, not limiting the components. These expressions may be used to distinguish one component from another component. For example, when it is said that a component (e.g., a first component) is ‘operatively or communicatively coupled with/to’ or ‘connected to’ another component (e.g., a second component), it should be understood that the one component is connected to the other component directly or through any other component (e.g., a third component).
The term ‘configured to’ as used herein may be replaced with, for example, the term ‘suitable for’ ‘having the capacity to’, ‘designed to’, ‘adapted to’, ‘made to’, or ‘capable of’ under circumstances. The term ‘configured to’ may not necessarily mean ‘specifically designed to’ in hardware. Instead, the term ‘configured to’ may mean that a device may mean ‘capable of’ with another device or part. For example, ‘a processor configured to execute A, B, and C’ may mean a dedicated processor (e.g., an embedded processor) for performing the corresponding operations or a generic-purpose processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP)) for performing the corresponding operations.
Referring to
Referring to
In the upper portion of the cabinet 12, an opening 24 may be formed to enable a user to put laundry into the washing drum 22. The opening 24 may be opened or closed by the door 10 mounted on the upper portion of the cabinet 12. The tub 21 may be supported on the cabinet 12 by a suspension apparatus 50.
In the upper portion of the tub 21, a water-supply pipe 25 may be installed to supply washing water into the tub 21. One end of the water-supply pipe 25 may be connected to an external water-supply source, and the other end of the water-supply pipe 25 may be connected to a detergent supply apparatus 26. Water supplied through the water-supply pipe 25 may be supplied into the tub 21 together with a detergent via the detergent supply apparatus 26. The water-supply pipe 25 may include a water-supply valve 27 to control supply of water.
The washing drum 22 may be in the shape of a cylinder whose top portion opens, and a plurality of dehydrating holes may be formed in the side of the washing drum 22. On the top of the washing drum 22, a balancer 29 may be disposed so that the washing drum 22 can stably rotate upon high-speed rotation.
Below the tub 21, a motor 30 to generate a driving force for rotating the washing drum 22 and the pulsator 23, and a power transfer apparatus 31 to transfer the driving force generated by the motor 30 to both or one of the washing drum 22 and the pulsator 23 may be disposed.
The washing drum 22 may be connected to a hollow dehydrating shaft 32, and a washing shaft 33 installed in the cavity of the dehydrating shaft 32 may be connected to the pulsator 23 through a washing shaft connecting element (not shown). The motor 30 may transfer a driving force to all or one of the washing drum 22 and the pulsator 23 according to elevating operation of the power transfer apparatus 31.
The power transfer apparatus 31 may include an actuator 34 to generate a driving force for transferring power, a rod portion 35 to move linearly according to operation of the actuator 34, and a clutch portion 36 connected to the rod portion 35 to rotate according to operation of the rod portion 35.
In a bottom of the tub 21, a drain outlet 37 may be formed to discharge washing water stored in the tub 21, and the drain outlet 37 may be connected to a first drain pipe 38. In the first drain pipe 38, a drain valve 39 for controlling drainage may be installed. An outlet of the drain valve 39 may be connected to a second drain pipe 40 for discharging washing water to the outside.
Referring to
The suspension apparatus 50 may include a suspension cap 53, a suspension bar 54, and a spring 55, although not limited to these. The suspension apparatus 50 may add other components or omit some components in order to improve an effect of cushioning vibrations or impacts transferred from the tub 21.
The spring 55 may be disposed in a lower portion of the suspension bar 54, and contracted or relaxed by vibrations and impacts transferred from the tub 21, thereby cushioning and reducing the vibrations and impacts.
The suspension apparatus 50 may function to reduce all of vibrations generated in a vertical direction (Z-axis) and vibrations generated in a horizontal direction (XY plane) according to an installation angle. Since vector components in the vertical direction are generally greater than in the horizontal direction, the suspension apparatus 50 may have an effect of mainly reducing vibrations generated in the vertical direction.
One end of the position guide apparatus 100 may be installed on the tub 21, and the other end of the position guide apparatus 100 may be connected to an area of the suspension bar 54.
Since the position guide apparatus 100 limits movements in horizontal direction of the tub 21, the suspension apparatus 50 may be installed nearly vertically to increase the capacity of the tub 21 in the inside of the cabinet 12. Thereby, a range of movement on the XY plane can be reduced even when the tub 21 becomes close to the cabinet 12, so that the position guide apparatus 100 can prevent the tub 21 from contacting the cabinet 12 or prevent the generation of noise.
Referring to
The tub fixing portion 110 may connect the cylinder 120 of the position guide apparatus 100 to the tub 21. In the state in which one end of the tub fixing portion 110 is coupled with a position guide apparatus coupling portion (not shown) formed in the outer surface of the tub 21, the tub fixing portion 110 may be inserted in a tub fixing portion inserting hole 121 formed in one end of the cylinder 120. If the tub fixing portion 110 is inserted in the cylinder 120, the cylinder 120 can rotate on the tub fixing portion 110 as a rotation shaft.
In one end of the cylinder 120, the tub fixing portion inserting hole 121 into which the tub fixing portion 110 can be inserted may be formed, and in the other end of the cylinder 120, a stopper inserting hole 122 into which a stopper 130 can be inserted may be formed. The tub fixing portion inserting hole 121 may be formed along the Z axis, and the stopper inserting hole 122 may be formed on the XY plane that is vertical to the Z axis. However, the positions of the tub fixing portion inserting hole 121 and the stopper inserting hole 122 are not limited to these, and the tub fixing portion inserting hole 121 and the stopper inserting hole 122 may be formed at any other positions. The cylinder 120 may have a space 123 in which at least one portion of the stopper 130 can be located. The space 123 in which at least one portion of the stopper 130 can be located may extend along an X-axis.
At least one portion of the stopper 130 may be located in the inside of the cylinder 120, and the remaining portion of the stopper 130 may be located outside the cylinder 120. The stopper 130 may move linearly along the inside space 123 of the cylinder 120.
In an end of the portion of the stopper 120 located in the inside of the cylinder 120, a catching portion 131 may be formed. The catching portion 131 may prevent the stopper 120 from getting out of the cylinder 120, when the stopper 130 moves back and forth in the inside space 120 of the cylinder 120.
An end of the remaining portion of the stopper 120 located outside the cylinder 120 may be connected to the suspension bar coupling portion 150. The suspension bar coupling portion 150 may include a first member 151 having a first accommodating space 152 into which the stopper 130 can be inserted, and a second member 155 having a second accommodating space 156 into which the suspension bar 54 can be inserted.
The end of the stopper 130 located outside the cylinder 120 may be inserted in the first accommodating space 152 of the first member 151 of the suspension bar coupling portion 150. The first member 151 may include a hole 153 into which the second member 155 can be inserted. A protrusion 157 of the second member 155 may be coupled with the hole 153 of the first member 151. In this case, the second member 155 may rotate on the protrusion 157. The second member 155 may form the second accommodating space 156. The suspension bar 54 may be inserted into the second accommodating space 156. In the state in which the suspension bar 54 is inserted in the second accommodating space 156, the suspension bar 54 may move along the Z-axis direction.
The stopper 130 may include a first absorption member 140a and a second absorption member 140b. The first absorption member 140a may be disposed adjacent to the catching portion 131, and the second absorption member 140b may be disposed adjacent to the suspension bar coupling portion 150. The absorption member 140 may be made of, for example, rubber or silicon. The absorption member 140 may reduce noise that is generated when the cylinder 120 moves linearly to contact the catching portion 131 located at one end of the stopper 130 or the suspension bar coupling portion 150 located at the other end of the stopper 130.
A situation in which the first absorption member 140a contacts the inner wall of the cylinder 120 may be a case in which the portion of the stopper 130 located inside the cylinder 120 is drawn outside the cylinder 120 so that the position guide apparatus control apparatus 100 lengthens. A situation in which the second absorption member 140b contacts the outer wall of the cylinder 120 may be a case in which the other portion of the stopper 130 located outside the cylinder 120 is pushed into the inside of the cylinder 120 so that the position guide apparatus 100 shortens. The cylinder 120 may move between a first position at which the position guide apparatus 100 lengthens and a second position at which the position guide apparatus 100 shortens.
According to an embodiment, a length to which the cylinder 120 can move according to a movement of the tub 21 may be decided according to the inside space 123 of the cylinder 120 and a distance between the absorption members 140a and 140b disposed at both ends of the stopper 130.
According to an embodiment, the tub 21 may include at least one position guide apparatus 100 on the outer surface.
Referring to
According to an embodiment, in order to efficiently correct a position, the position guide apparatus 100 may be positioned in a direction that is similar to a tangential direction on the outer side surface of the tub 21.
In this state, if the washing drum (for example, the washing drum 22 of
More specifically, if the washing machine 1 starts a dehydration course, the washing machine 1 may rotate the washing drum 22. The washing machine 1 may increase revolution per minute (RPM) of the washing drum 22 gradually. For example, the washing machine 1 may increase the RPM of the washing drum 22 from 0 rpm to 800 rpm. However, the RPM of the washing drum 22 is not limited to these, and the RPM of the washing drum 22 may be greater or smaller than 800 rpm according to the type of the washing machine 1. A section for which the washing machine 1 gradually increases the RPM of the washing drum 22 may be defined as a transient section.
According to an embodiment, if the washing drum 22 rotates, the tub 21 may perform six motions. The six motions may include motions in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions and rotational motions on the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis.
If the RPM of the washing drum 22 reaches about 100 rpm, the tub 21 may perform left-right motions moving in the left and right directions on the XY plane. Also, if the RPM of the washing drum 22 reaches about 250 rpm, the tub 21 may perform rolling on the Z-axis. However, the motions of the tub 21 generated according to the rotation of the washing drum 22 are not limited to these, and the tub 21 may perform various motions during the transient section.
Referring to
For example, if the tub 21 moves in the positive (+) X-axis direction, the first position guide apparatus 100a may lengthen, and the third position guide apparatus 100c may shorten. Also, the second position guide apparatus 100b and the fourth position guide apparatus 100d may be maintained at their positions similarly to the state shown in
Referring to
Referring to
If the first absorption member 140a contacts the inner side surface of the cylinder 120, the tub 21 cannot move in the positive (+) X-axis direction any longer. As such, the movement of the tub 21 on the XY plane may be limited by the position guide apparatus 100.
Referring to
In this state, if the washing drum (for example, the washing drum 22 of
More specifically, if the washing machine (for example, the washing machine 1 of
If the RPM of the washing drum 22 reaches about 100 rpm, the tub 21 may perform left-right motions moving in the left and right directions on the XY plane. Also, if the RPM of the washing drum 22 reaches about 250 rpm, the tub 21 may roll on the Z-axis.
Referring to
For example, if the tub 21 moves in the negative (−) X-axis direction, the first position guide apparatus 100a may shorten, and the third position guide apparatus 100c may lengthen. Also, the second position guide apparatus 100b and the fourth position guide apparatus 100d may be maintained at their positions similarly to the state shown in
Referring to
Referring to
If the second absorption member 140b contacts the outer side surface of the cylinder 120, the tub 21 cannot move in the negative (−) X-axis direction any longer. In this way, the movement of the tub 21 on the XY plane may be limited by the position guide apparatus 100.
So far, movements in X-axis direction of the tub 21 have been described. Also, movements in Y-axis direction of the tub 21 may be limited by the position guide apparatus 100 to be reduced.
Referring to
According to an embodiment, in the case 1120 in which no position guide apparatus is installed, the tub 21 may move to a distance of 31.80 mm in the left and right directions. In the case 1110 in which the position guide apparatus is installed, the tub 21 may move to a distance of 24.06 mm in the left and right directions. Compared to the case 1120 in which no position guide apparatus is installed, the movement distance of the tub 21 may be shortened by 7.74 mm in the left and right directions, resulting in a reduction rate of movement of 24.3%.
As such, the movement of the tub 21 according to the rotation of the washing machine 22 can be reduced by the position guide apparatus 100 described above.
Referring to
As described above with reference to
Also, according to an embodiment, if the RPM of the washing drum 22 is maintained at 800 rpm, the movement of the tub 21 may be reduced. A section for which the washing drum 22 is maintained at constant RPM after a transient section elapses may be defined as, for example, a steady section. During the steady section, a phenomenon in which the tub 21 moves in the left and right directions may be reduced, however, vibrations generated from the tub 21 may be transferred to the cabinet (for example, the cabinet 12 of
The position guide apparatus 100 may move the stopper 130 located in the inside of the cylinder 120 to prevent vibrations generated from the tub 21 from being transferred to the cabinet 12.
Referring to
Referring to
According to an embodiment, with respect to an upper center portion of the cabinet 22, in the case 1330 in which no position guide apparatus is installed, the cabinet 12 may vibrate to 0.46 mm in the left and right directions. In the case 1320 in which the position guide apparatus is installed, the cabinet 12 may vibrate to 0.37 mm in the left and right directions. Compared to the case 1330 in which no position guide apparatus is installed, the vibrations of the cabinet 12 may be reduced by 19%.
With respect to a left center portion of the cabinet 12, in the case 1350 in which no position guide apparatus is installed, the cabinet 12 may vibrate to 0.25 mm in the left and right directions. In the case 1340 in which the position guide apparatus is installed, the cabinet 12 may vibrate to 0.28 mm in the left and right directions. Compared to the case 1350 in which no position guide apparatus is installed, the vibrations of the cabinet 12 may increase by 12%.
With respect to a left upper portion of the cabinet 12, in the case 1370 in which no position guide apparatus is installed, the cabinet 12 may vibrate to 0.19 mm in the left and right directions. In the case 1360 in which the position guide apparatus is installed, the cabinet 12 may vibrate to 0.17 mm in the left and right directions. Compared to the case 1370 in which no position guide apparatus is installed, the vibrations of the cabinet 12 may be reduced by 10%.
Comparing the cases 1320, 1340, and 1360 in which the position guide apparatus is installed at various locations of the cabinet 12 to the cases 1330, 1350, and 1370 in which no position guide apparatus is installed, it can be seen that the vibration of the cabinet 12 increases or decreases after the position guide apparatus 100 is installed. However, the vibration of the cabinet 12 may have no great difference from a typical level of vibration. That is, installing the position guide apparatus 100 may have no great influence on the vibration of the cabinet 12.
As such, during the steady section, the position guide apparatus 100 may not transfer vibrations generated from the tub 21 to the suspension bar 54, and accordingly, the position guide apparatus 100 may not transfer vibrations generated from the tub 21 to the cabinet 12 connected to the suspension bar 54.
The basic configuration of the position guide apparatus has been described above with reference to
According to an embodiment, the stopper 130 may include a first absorption member 1410 and a second absorption member 1420. Both the first absorption member 1410 and the second absorption member 1420 may be located in the inside of the cylinder 120. The first absorption member 1410 and the second absorption member 1420 may be respectively located before and behind the catching portion 131.
According to an embodiment, since both the absorption members 1410 and 1420 are located in the inside of the cylinder 120, it is possible to prevent cases in which the performance of the absorption members 1410 and 1420 deteriorates or the absorption members 1410 and 1420 are damaged due to outside moisture, etc. The absorption members 1410 and 1420 may be made of, for example, rubber or silicon. The absorption members 1410 and 1420 may reduce impact noise generated when the stopper 130 moves linearly along the stopper inserting hole 122 to contact the cylinder 120
A situation in which the first absorption member 140 approaches close to a first inner wall 1430 of the cylinder 120 may be a case in which the position guide apparatus 100 lengthens, and a situation in which the second absorption member 1420 approaches close to a second inner wall 1440 of the cylinder 120 may be a case in which the position guide apparatus 100 shortens.
The tub and the suspension apparatus shown in
Referring to
One end of the position guide apparatus 1500 may be installed on the tub 21, and the other end of the position guide apparatus 1500 may be connected to an area of the suspension bar 54 included in the suspension apparatus 50.
Referring to
More specifically, the position guide apparatus coupling portion 1590 may include a first member 1591 and a second member 1592 respectively having holes into which the tub coupling rod 1540 can be inserted. The tub coupling rod inserting hole 1520 of the position guide apparatus 1500 may be located between the first member 1591 and the second member 1592 of the position guide apparatus coupling portion 1590, and the tub coupling rod 1540 may be inserted into the first member 1591, the tub coupling rod inserting hole 1520, and the second member 1592 so that the position guide apparatus 1500 can be coupled with the tub 21.
The first member 1591 and the second member 1592 may be coupled with the outer surface of the tub 21 at an angle of 20 degrees to 40 degrees on the XY plane. Accordingly, the position guide apparatus 1500 inserted between the first member 1591 and the second member 1592 and coupled with the position guide apparatus coupling apparatus 1590 may also be coupled with the tub 21 at the angle of 20 degrees to 40 degrees on the XY plane.
Referring to
According to an embodiment, one end of the transversely moving portion 1510 may include a pair of arms 1512. The pair of arms 1512 may include openings 1514, respectively. The openings 1514 may extend in a direction toward the arms 1512 from a center of the transversely moving portion 1510.
The longitudinally moving portion 1530 may be coupled with the transversely moving portion 1510 through the openings 1514 formed in the arms 1512. For example, by inserting a pair of protrusions 1533 formed on the outer surface of the longitudinally moving portion 1530 into the openings 1514 of the transversely moving portion 1510, the longitudinally moving portion 1510 can be coupled with the transversely moving portion 1510.
The other end of the transversely moving portion 1510 may include a tub coupling rod inserting hole 1520 for coupling with the tub 21. According to an embodiment, the transversely moving portion 1510 may have a thinner thickness or a narrower width at an area in which the tub coupling rod inserting hole 1520 of the transversely moving portion 1510 is formed, than the other area.
The transversely moving portion 1510 may be coupled with the tub 21 using the tub coupling rod 1540. For example, referring to
According to an embodiment, a rubber bearing 1522 may be disposed between the tub coupling rob 1540 and the tub coupling rob inserting hole 1520. The rubber bearing 1522 may reduce a friction force that is generated when the transversely moving portion 1510 rotates on the tub coupling rod 1540.
Referring to
According to an embodiment, the transversely moving portion 1530 may provide a friction member inserting space 1536 surrounding an area of the suspension bar inserting passage 1535. For example, the friction member inserting space 1536 may be formed in the inside of the transversely moving portion 1530 such that the diameter of the friction member inserting space 1536 is greater than that of the suspension bar inserting passage 1535 having a circular cross section.
The friction member 1534 may be filled in at least one area of the friction member inserting space 1536. The friction member 1534 may be disposed in the friction member inserting space 1536 in such a way to surround a part of the suspension bar 54. If the suspension bar 54 is inserted into the longitudinally moving portion 1530, the friction member 1534 may contact the suspension bar 54. Thereby, when the longitudinally moving portion 1530 moves along the suspension bar 54, kinetic energy of the longitudinally moving portion 1530 can be reduced by a friction force that is generated between the friction member 1534 and the suspension bar 54. That is, a movement distance of the longitudinally moving portion 1530 can be reduced compared to when no friction member 1534 exists.
According to an embodiment, the friction member 1534 may be filled in the friction member insertion space 1536 without being fixed. Also, the friction member 1534 may be filled in an area of the friction member inserting portion 1536.
In this case, for example, when the longitudinally moving portion 1530 moves downward along the suspension bar 54, the friction member 1534 may contact the suspension bar 54 so as not to move in the friction member inserting space 1536. In this case, the longitudinally moving portion 1530 can move without any limitation due to a friction force of the friction member 1534.
If the longitudinally moving portion 1530 continues to move downward along the suspension bar 54 until the friction member 1534 contacts an inner end of the friction member inserting space 1536, the friction member 1534 may move together with the longitudinally moving portion 1530. In this case, the longitudinally moving portion 1530 may be limited in moving due to a friction force generated between the friction member 1534 and the suspension bar 54. As a result, a movement distance of the longitudinally moving portion 1530 may be reduced compared to when no friction member 1534 exists. A distance to which the longitudinally moving portion 1530 can move without any limitation due to a friction force between the friction member 1534 and the suspension bar 54 may depend on a length of an area in which the friction member 1534 is not filled in the friction member inserting space 1536.
If a washing course starts, the tub 21 may move in the left and right directions (in X- and Y-axis directions).
More specifically, if the washing machine (for example, the washing machine 1 of
If the RPM of the washing drum 22 reaches about 100 rpm, the tub 21 may move in the left and right directions on the XY plane.
Referring to
Also, a transversely moving portion 1510b included in the second position guide apparatus 1500b may move in the positive (+) X-axis direction, and a longitudinally moving portion 1530b included in the second position guide apparatus 1500b may move upward (a positive (+) Z-axis direction) along the suspension bar 54.
During a washing course, the tub 21 may move up and down so that a rolling phenomenon in which the tub 21 rotates on the Z-axis can occur.
If the washing drum 22 starts rotating, the tub 21 may roll. For example, if the RPM of the washing drum 22 reaches about 250 rpm, the tub 21 may move up and down so that the tub 21 rotates on the Z-axis, and accordingly, a rolling phenomenon in which the upper portion of the tub 21 is tilted may occur. As a result, the tub 21 may move in the left and right directions (XY plane) and in the up and down directions (Z-axis).
Referring to
Also, the transversely moving portion 1510b included in the second position guide apparatus 1500b may move in the negative (−) X-axis direction, and the longitudinally moving portion 1530b may move downward (negative (−) Z-axis direction) along the suspension bar 54.
As described above with reference to
Hereinafter, details about movements of the position guide apparatus 1500 for reducing movements of the tub 21 will be described.
Referring to
If the transversely moving portion 1510 moves (for example, in the left and right directions), the longitudinally moving portion 1530 can easily move toward the upper or lower portion of the suspension bar 54 along the suspension bar 54 since the transversely moving portion 1510 and the longitudinally moving portion 1530 form an obtuse angle. That is, since the transversely moving portion 1510 and the longitudinally moving portion 1530 form an obtuse angle, it is possible to reduce a probability that the suspension bar 54 gets bent by the longitudinally moving portion 1530 when the transversely moving portion 1510 moves so that the longitudinally moving portion 1530 becomes immovable.
In order to cause the transversely moving portion 1510 and the longitudinally moving portion 1530 to form an obtuse angle, as described above with reference to
According to an embodiment, if the tub 21 moves in the positive (+) X-axis direction, the position guide apparatus 1500 may also move in the positive (+) X-axis direction.
Referring to
Referring to
In this case, as described above with reference to
According to another embodiment, if the tub 21 moves in the negative (−) X-axis direction, the position guide apparatus 1500 may also move in the negative (−) X-axis direction.
Referring to
Referring to
In this case, as described above, the friction member 1534 may function to reduce the kinetic energy generated by the tub 21 and transferred to the longitudinally moving portion 1530. Accordingly, a movement distance of the tub 21 can be reduced compared to when no friction member 1534 exists, and the tub 21 can be prevented from colliding with the cabinet 12 outside the tub 21.
In the graph of
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
During a washing course, if the washing drum (for example, the washing machine 22 of
During the steady section, a phenomenon in which the tub 21 moves in the left and right directions may be reduced, however, vibrations generated from the tub 21 may be transferred to the cabinet (for example, the cabinet 12 of
At this time, the position guide apparatus 1500 may prevent vibrations of the tub 21 from being transferred to the cabinet 12.
Referring to
Referring to
According to an embodiment, in a case 2110 in which no position guide apparatus is installed, the cabinet 12 may vibrate to a distance of 0.84 mm in the left and right directions, with respect to a right center portion of the cabinet 12. In a case 2120 in which the position guide apparatus is installed, the cabinet 12 may vibrate to a distance to 0.73 mm in the left and right directions. Compared to the case 2110 in which no position guide apparatus is installed, vibrations of the cabinet 12 may be reduced by 13%.
In a case 2150 in which no position guide apparatus is installed, the cabinet 12 may vibrate to a distance of 0.16 mm in the left and right directions, with respect to a left upper corner of the cabinet 12. In a case 2160 in which the position guide apparatus is installed, the cabinet 12 may vibrate to a distance of 0.15 mm in the left and right directions. Compared to the case 2170 in which no position guide apparatus is installed, vibrations of the cabinet 12 may be reduced by 6%.
With respect to a left center portion of the cabinet 12, the same level of vibrations may be generated in both a case 2130 in which no position guide apparatus is installed and a case 2140 in which the position guide apparatus is installed.
As such, during the steady section, the position guide apparatus 1500 may not transfer vibrations generated from the tub 21 to the suspension bar 54, and accordingly, the position guide apparatus 1500 may also not transfer the vibrations generated from the tub 21 to the cabinet 12 connected to the suspension bar 54.
The basic configuration of a position guide apparatus 1501 according to another embodiment is the same as that of the position guide apparatus 1500 of
According to an embodiment, a first absorption member 2221 and a second absorption member 2222 may be disposed in one ends and the other ends of openings 2220 formed in a transversely moving portion 2210. The first absorption member 2221 and the second absorption member 2222 may be formed of, for example, rubber or silicon. The first absorption member 2221 and the second absorption member 2222 may cushion an impact that is generated when protrusions 2230 move along the openings 2220 to contact one ends and the other ends of the openings 2220.
Referring to
According to another embodiment, the first member 2331 may include a pair of arms 2334, and in the pair of arms 2334, a pair of catching grooves 2332 may be formed to be coupled with a pair of protrusions 2336 formed in the second member 2335.
The second member 2335 may be inserted between the pair of arms 2334 included in the first member 2331 so that the protrusions 2336 of the second member 2335 are coupled with the catching grooves 2332 of the first member 2331, and the first member 2331 is coupled with the second member 2335 to function as the longitudinally moving portion 2330.
A pair of protrusions 2333 may be formed on the outer surface of the second member 2335. The protrusions 2333 may be inserted into openings 2314 formed in a transversely moving portion 2310 to couple the longitudinally moving portion 2330 with the transversely moving portion 2310.
The longitudinally moving portion 2330 may include a friction member inserting space 2340 surrounding an area of a suspension bar inserting passage 2339 formed therein. That is, the friction member inserting space 2340 may be formed in the inside of the longitudinally moving portion 2330 such that the friction member inserting space 2340 has a diameter that is greater than that of the suspension bar inserting passage 2339 having a circular cross-section.
In at least one area of the friction member inserting space 2340, a friction member 2341 may be filled. The friction member 2341 may be disposed in the friction member inserting space 2340 to surround a part of the suspension bar 54. If the suspension bar 54 is inserted into the longitudinally moving portion 2330, the friction member 2341 may contact the suspension bar 54. Accordingly, when the longitudinally moving portion 2330 moves along the suspension bar 54, kinetic energy of the longitudinally moving portion 2330 can be reduced by a friction force of the friction member 2341. That is, a movement distance of the longitudinally moving portion 1530 can be reduced compared to when no friction member 2341 exists.
According to an embodiment, the friction member 2341 may be filled in the friction member inserting space 2340 without being fixed. Also, the friction member 2341 may be filled in an area of the friction member inserting space 2340.
In this case, for example, when the longitudinally moving portion 2330 moves downward along the suspension bar 54, the friction member 2341 may contact the suspension bar 54 so as not to move in the friction member inserting space 2340. In this case, the longitudinally moving portion 2330 can move without any limitation due to a friction force of the friction member 2341.
If the longitudinally moving portion 2330 continues to move downward along the suspension bar 54 until the friction member 2341 contacts an inner end of the friction member inserting space 2340, the friction member 2341 may move together with the longitudinally moving portion 2330. In this case, the longitudinally moving portion 2330 may be limited in moving due to a friction force generated between the friction member 2341 and the suspension bar 54. As a result, a movement distance of the longitudinally moving portion 2330 may be reduced compared to when no friction member 2341 exists.
The washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which includes the cabinet, the tub disposed in the inside of the cabinet, the at least one suspension apparatus configured to reduce vibrations of the tub and connecting the tub to the cabinet such that the tub is supported on the cabinet, and the position guide apparatus whose one end is connected to the at least one suspension apparatus and whose other end is connected to the tub to limit a movement range of the tub, can limit movements of the tub, and prevent vibrations generated from the tub from being transferred to the cabinet.
Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
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