AU706671B2

AU706671B2 - Device for supporting shaft in full automatic washing machine

Info

Publication number: AU706671B2
Application number: AU46858/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Byeong-Jin Jeon
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 1996-12-03
Filing date: 1997-12-03
Publication date: 1999-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2017-12-03
Also published as: KR19980043343A; KR100214260B1; AU4685897A; JP2977516B2; JPH10165690A

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a full automatic washing machine, and more particularly, to a device for supporting a shaft in a full automatic washing machine which has an inner tub and a motor connected directly by a shaft for regular/reverse rotation of the inner tub by a torque from a motor, for preventing vibration and noise from the shaft in transmission of the torque from the motor.

10 Discussion of the Related Art In general, a conventional washing machine has directly connected the inner tub and a "motor for regular/reverse rotation of the inner tub in washing and drying. Shaft supporting means in the conventional washing machine is in general provided with a cylindrical housing fixed at a 0 0 Scenter of an outer tub, and a bearing inserted in the cylindrical housing, in which the shaft is fitted.

15 In the aforementioned conventional washing machine, the torque from the motor is transmitted to the inner tub through the shaft when much vibration and noise is produced, that causes not only a drop of rotational efficiency of the motor but also significant drop of a washing efficiency.

P:\OPER\KAT\46S58-97.104 -14/4/99 -2- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a device for supporting a shaft in a full automatic washing machine, comprising a housing fixed to a bottom surface of an outer tub of the washing machine and coupled such that the housing can reduce vibration and noise caused as a motor is driven and support a shaft connected to an inner tub of the washing machine, the housing including: a base plate of a radial form adapted to be fixed to a bottom surface of the outer tub by a plurality of bolts to make a contact with a wide area of the bottom surface; a cylindrical rib formed at an inner portion of the base plate for preventing infiltration of water; a plurality of reinforcing radial ribs on the cylindrical rib and the base plate for reinforcement of the base plate; a supporting portion at an inner portion of the cylindrical rib which is connected to the reinforcing ribs for rotatably supporting the shaft by means of bearings; fastening holes at an under side of the supporting portion for fixing a retainer of the motor with bolts; sealing means fitted at an upper portion of the supporting portion for preventing infiltration of water through a gap between the supporting portion and the shaft; ~a sealing maintaining means fitted between a supporting step on the supporting portion 20 and a supporting projection on the outer tub for maintaining sealing between the supporting portion and the outer tub.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ~The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention: In the drawing: Fig. 1 illustrates a system of a washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 illustrates an enlarged view of a principal part of the washing machine of the present invention; Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a housing in accordance with the present invention; and, Fig. 4 illustrates a bottom view of the housing in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The system and o**operation of the device for supporting a shaft in a full automatic washing machine will be explained with reference to Figs. 1 4.

*There is a housing 101 attached to a bottom surface of an outer tub 131 in a preferred •embodiment of the present invention, for reducing vibration and noise coming from driving of a motor 110 and being coupled to support a shaft 132 connected to an inner tub 138. The housing 101 is provided with a base plate 102 of a radial form adapted to be fixed to a bottom surface of 15 the outer tub 131 by a plurality of bolts 136 making contact with a wide area of the bottom surface, a cylindrical rib 103 formed at an inner portion of the base plate 102 for preventing infiltration of water, a plurality of reinforcing radial ribs 104 on the cylindrical rib 103 and the base plate 102, a supporting portion 105 at an inner portion of the cylindrical rib 103 which is connected to the reinforcing ribs 104 for rotatably supporting the shaft by means of bearings 142, fastening holes 106 at an under side of the supporting portion 105 for fixing a retainer 111 of the motor 110 with bolts 136, sealing means fitted at an upper portion of the supporting portion 105 for preventing infiltration of water through a gap between the supporting portion 105 and the shaft 132, a sealing maintaining means fitted between a supporting step 107 on the supporting portion 105 and a supporting projection 143 on the outer tub 131 for maintaining sealing between the supporting portion 105 and the outer tub 131. The sealing means is provided with a seal 134 forming air gap 135 for maintaining air sealing. The sealing maintaining means is provided with an O-ring 133. Fixing means for fixing the retainer is provided with coupling holes 114 in a central plate 113 of the retainer 111 for coupling the retainer 111 to the supporting portion 105 with the bolts 136 threaded therethrough, and inserting slots 115 in the reinforcing ribs 104 on the housing 101 adapted to insert a cylindrical rib 116 projected from an upper circumferential portion of the central plate 113 having the coupling holes 114 for preventing skidding of the motor 110 caused by an reaction of a stator 112 fitted to the retainer 111. Of the unexplained 10 reference numbers in the drawings, 139 is a pulsator for washing, 140 is the washing machine, and 141 is a bracket for supporting both the outer tub and the housing and using during transportation.

"-°The action of the aforementioned device of the present invention will be explained.

Upon pressing a start button after introducing laundry into the inner tub 138 in the 15 washing machine 140, a magnetic field is formed from the stator 112 coupled to the retainer 111 in the motor 110 to rotate the rotating core 122, to rotate a rotator 121 in regular/reverse direction. The rotation of the rotator 121 causes the shaft 132 to which a connecting tube 123 on the rotator 121 is fixed by a nut 137 to rotate. The rotation of the shaft 132 causes the inner tub 138 and the pulsator 139 both in the outer tub 131 and fitted to upper portions of the shaft 132 to rotate, to wash the laundry, automatically.

In this instance, because of the sealing maintained by the O-ring 133 between the supporting step 107 on the upper outer circumference of the supporting portion 105 in the housing 101 and the projection 143 on the outer tub 131, leakage of water from the outer tub 131 can be prevented. And, the seal 134 between the supporting portion 105 and the shaft 132 also prevents infiltration of water into inside of the supporting portion 105, particularly, the air gap 135 by the seal 134 assures the sealing. And, the wide area of contact of the base plate 102 to the bottom of outer tub 131 coupled to the supporting portion 105 by the bolts 136 allows a stable fixation of the housing 101, that in turn allows reduction of vibration and noise by a dispersion effect. And, because the reinforcing ribs 104 on the supporting portion 105 reinforces a strength of the supporting portion 105 itself, and on the same time, has the inserting slots 115 inserted of the cylindrical rib 116 on the central plate 113 in the retainer 111, the skidding or vibration which may occur from a strong reaction of the stator 112 in the retainer 111 can be :10 suppressed. And, since the cylindrical rib 103 between the supporting portion 105 and the base plate 102 can block possible external infiltration of water, safety from electrical accident can be assured even if there is a breakage of insulation in a charging part of the stator 112.

As has been explained, the device of the present invention can improve a rotational efficiency because the positive supporting by the housing allows smooth rotation of the retainer Si 15 and the rotor of the motor. The substantial suppression of the vibration and noise coming from the shaft in rotation of the blade and inner tub can improve the washing efficiency. Especially, the Svibration and noise absorbing structure and the sealing structure provided in different parts of the housing allows to obtain an improved washing machine.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the device for supporting a shaft in a full automatic washing machine of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

P:AOPER\KAT\46858-9714 14/4199 -6- Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

T*

9o° o° **o •*o p *o~e -g P \OPER\KAT\46858-97.104- 14/4/99 -7- THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:- 1. A device for supporting a shaft in a full automatic washing machine, comprising a housing fixed to a bottom surface of an outer tub of the washing machine and coupled such that the housing can reduce vibration and noise caused as a motor is driven and support a shaft connected to an inner tub of the washing machine, the housing including: a base plate of a radial form adapted to be fixed to a bottom surface of the outer tub by a plurality of bolts to make a contact with a wide area of the bottom surface; a cylindrical rib formed at an inner portion of the base plate for preventing infiltration of water; a plurality of reinforcing radial ribs on the cylindrical rib and the base plate for reinforcement of the base plate; a supporting portion at an inner portion of the cylindrical rib which is connected to the reinforcing ribs for rotatably supporting the shaft by means of bearings; fastening holes at an under side of the supporting portion for fixing a retainer of the motor with bolts; 4* sealing means fitted at an upper portion of the supporting portion for preventing **infiltration of water through a gap between the supporting portion and the shaft; 20a sealing maintaining means fitted between a supporting step on the supporting portion and a supporting projection on the outer tub for maintaining sealing between the supporting portion and the outer tub.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing means includes a seal adapted to form an air gap for maintaining an air sealing.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing maintaining means includes an Oring.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein fixing means for fixing the retainer includes: 30 coupling holes in a central plate of the retainer having a stator fitted thereto for

Claims

6. A washing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 14th day of April, 1999 LG ELECTRONICS, INC. By its Patent Attorneys Davies Collison Cave *too a a *K ABSTRACT Device for supporting a shaft in a full automatic washing machine, is disclosed, which washing machine has an inner tub and a motor connected directly by a shaft for regular/reverse rotation of the inner tub by a torque from a motor, in which device a housing coupled to form a stable structure absorbs vibration and noise generated when the shaft is rotated by a driven motor for improving a rotation efficiency of the motor and a washing efficiency, the device including a housing fixed to a bottom surface of an outer tub of the washing machine and coupled such that the housing can reduce vibration and noise caused as a motor is driven and support a shaft connected to an inner tub of the washing machine. 0*: ,I C CC