AU2004100803B9 - A method of automatically balancing a top loading washing machine - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT A METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY BALANCING A TOP LOADING WASHING MACHINE The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: IP Australia 0 APR 2005 A METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY BALANCING A TOP LOADING WASHING MACHINE FIELD OF INVENTION

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The invention relates to a balancing method for a top loading washing machine and more MO particularly the invention relates to a fluid based system to prevent vibration of a rotating 0and or washing cylinder or drum in a washing machine.

00 OBACKGROUND ART Top loading washing machines often go out of balance due to an uneven distribution of c, the load in the washing machine drum. This may cause damage to the washing machine and inconvenience for the operator. It would be desirable to provide a fluid based balancing device. This invention relates to a method of countering the widely recognized undesirable out of balance effect in a typical household washing machine. The most common problem encountered by the operator is an imbalance which occurs during the washing rinsing and or spin-drying cycles caused by the clothing or other matter in the washing cylinder drum having moved or been placed in the machine in a manner causing irregular weight distribution. This usually results in the operator having to stop the machine and rearrange the load in an effort to even up the balance of the washing machine. Known balancers for balancing a rotary body include one or more annular grooves or races and a plurality of balls or rollers which move along the races to counteract the imbalance forces. The races may contain a fluid for damping the motion of the balls. By introducing an additive of white oil and or other lower density fluid s and glycerine and or other higher density fluid s into the sealed circular hollow section at the top of the rotating and or oscillating washing drum of a top loading washing machine the section is totally or partially filled and resealed providing automatic balancing and successfully addressing the problem.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A washing machine with a balancing device incorporating the filling or partial filling of the top round hollow cylinder of the perforated rotating and or oscillating inner washing drum with an additive of any higher density fluid s mixed with any lower density fluids s which distribute themselves to address the problems of the machine's imbalance. The only suitable constituents of the additive are ones that do not mix to form an emulsion or any other type of interaction which causes the additives to integrate. A top loading washing machine will wash rinse and spin dry in a uniform motion with any amount of water therein because of the uniform action created by centrifugal force acting on the basic components of the machine. When a foreign body, usually clothing is introduced randomly it can cause the machine to operate in an irregular washing rinsing and or spin drying manner which causes a weight imbalance.

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By completely or partially filling the top hollow section with an additive as indicated in the preferred example the problems of the machine's imbalance vibration and noise are largely eliminated.

The lower density fluid s and the higher density fluids are of a physical composition which will prevent any type of contamination of the washing load or machine during the washing machine's operating life. The lower density fluid s position itself themselves above the load imbalance while the higher density fluid s position itself themselves opposite within the circular hollow rim to automatically counter the imbalance.

00 This method dictates that the different densities of the additives will create an automatic Obalancing effect assisted by a centrifugal force. This works to achieve equilibrium around the central axis of the machine's spline. The perforated rotatable washing drum is housed awithin the outer bowl which is suspended by resilient mountings and from which the Swater is housed pumped from and added to during the various cycles.

N A purpose of the existing sealed hollow section at the base of the rotating and or oscillating washing drum is that it's being submerged in the outer bowl water works to create an upward and centrifugal force on the drum. The perforated washing drum is fixed around the axis of the spline within the outer bowl. The outer bowl is suspended by resilient mountings within the outermost walls of the machine. One of the primary functions of the invention is to counter a wide range of imbalance situations.

The densities of the elements in the preferred example vary from 0.880 Kg litre for the white oil to 1.262 Kg litre for the glycerine. The white oil is added with the glycerine in the top hollow section. The insertion hole is sealed with a generic grommet. The additive as described would ideally be added as part of the manufacturing process in a quantity best suited to each design or the additive as described may be added to an existing type of washing machine new or secondhand while the circular hollow section at the top of the drum might be provided for in existing or future designs specifically constructed to facilitate these modifications.

The examples described herein are for the purpose of illustration only so it will be understood that any such modifications as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are encompassed within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as described in the following claims: Editorial Note The description does not include page 3, the next page is page 4.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein: Page 1 2 figure 1 shows a cross-section of a typical top loading washing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Page 1 2 figure 1 shows a cross-section of a typical top loading washing machine.

The internal perforated washing drum with the agitator inside houses the washing load and has the circular hollow section at the top in which the fluid additives are housed. This mechanism rotates around the central spline which is attached to the power motor which in turn provides the force to turn or agitate the mechanism. During the washing or rinsing cycles the mechanism is submerged to varying degrees in the washing water housed in the outer drum which in turn is suspended by resilient mountings to the outer body of the washing machine. The washing water enters the washing drum through the perforations in the drum.

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Claims (4)

1. A washing machine with a balancing means requiring the filling or partial filling of the top round hollow cylinder of the perforated rotating and or oscillating inner washing drum with an additive of any higher density fluid s mixed with any lower density fluids s which distribute themselves to address the problems Cc of the machine's imbalance and the only suitable constituents of the additive are ones that do not mix to form an emulsion or any other type of interaction which causes the additives to integrate.

S2. The washing machine of claim 1 where the lower density fluid s and the higher density fluids are of a physical composition which will prevent any type of contamination of the washing load or washing machine during the washing machine's operating life.

3. The washing machine of claims 1 and 2 where the lower density fluid s position itself themselves above the load imbalance while the higher density fluid s position itself themselves opposite within the circular hollow rim to automatically counter the imbalance.

4. The washing machine of claims 1, 2 and 3 where the additive as described would ideally be added as part of the manufacturing process in a quantity best suited to each design or the additive as described may be added to an existing type of washing machine new or secondhand while the circular hollow section at the top of the drum might be provided for in existing or future designs specifically constructed to facilitate these modifications. A washing machine substantially as herein before described with reference to figure 1 on page 1 2 of the accompanying drawing. DATED THIS l DAYOF 2t 2005 BY PETER GAVIN BUTCHER