CN110656468A - Washing machine with unbalance compensation ring - Google Patents
Washing machine with unbalance compensation ring Download PDFInfo
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- CN110656468A CN110656468A CN201910553084.4A CN201910553084A CN110656468A CN 110656468 A CN110656468 A CN 110656468A CN 201910553084 A CN201910553084 A CN 201910553084A CN 110656468 A CN110656468 A CN 110656468A
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- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 169
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- 238000010412 laundry washing Methods 0.000 claims 3
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
- D06F37/20—Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations
- D06F37/22—Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations in machines with a receptacle rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis
- D06F37/225—Damping vibrations by displacing, supplying or ejecting a material, e.g. liquid, into or from counterbalancing pockets
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers
- D06F33/30—Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control
- D06F33/48—Preventing or reducing imbalance or noise
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F2103/26—Imbalance; Noise level
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F34/14—Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
- D06F34/16—Imbalance
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)
- Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to a washing machine having a rotatable washing drum and an imbalance compensation ring arranged concentrically to the washing drum and rotatable together with the washing drum, wherein an annular cavity of the imbalance compensation ring is at least partially filled with a magnetorheological fluid, the cavity being wound by at least one balancing coil for generating a magnetic field in the cavity, and the washing machine has a stationary magnetic field generating device which is provided and arranged for inducing a coil current in the balancing coil. A method for operating a washing machine, wherein the size of an imbalance of a washing drum is monitored during the accelerated rotation of the washing drum in a subcritical rotational speed range during a spin-drying operation by means of an imbalance detection device, and a magnetorheological fluid is solidified by activating a magnetic field generating device when the size of the imbalance reaches or falls below a predetermined threshold value. The present invention can be applied to, for example, a household washing machine.
Description
Technical Field
The invention relates to a washing machine having a rotatable washing drum and an imbalance compensation ring which is arranged concentrically to the washing drum and can rotate with the washing drum, wherein the annular cavity of the imbalance compensation ring is at least partially filled with a magnetorheological liquid. The invention also relates to a method for operating a washing machine. The invention can be advantageously applied in particular in domestic washing machines, in particular in stand-alone washing machines or washing and drying machines.
Background
EP 1154064 a2 discloses a device for limiting the unbalance of a washing unit of a washing machine, which has a washing drum rotatably mounted in a lye container and is suspended in a machine housing in order to be vibrated by means of springs, inertia, vibration dampers and a drive motor, wherein a plurality of sensors distributed over the periphery of the lye container detect the bending caused by the unbalance during a spin cycle and take corresponding countermeasures for limiting the occurring paths and forces. The washing unit is protected against overload independently of the load in the washing drum due to unbalance in the spin cycle as follows: the sensor is perpendicular and/or parallel to the axis of rotation of the washing drum and detects not only the displacements but also the phase shifts between said displacements. Control and/or regulation parameters are fed to the spin cycle depending on the determined displacement and phase shift and the speed of the washing drum and the drive motor.
EP 1167609 a1 discloses a washing machine having acceleration measuring devices or optical devices oriented in directions that are sensitive to the action of loads that are not dynamically compensated. The direction is preferably a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum. Different methods of identifying laundry imbalance are also disclosed.
DE 102016220112 a1 discloses a household appliance for caring for laundry, having a washing drum for receiving the laundry and having at least one imbalance compensation device, which has a housing, in which a plurality of compensation elements are movably contained, wherein the imbalance compensation device has a magnetic field generating device, by means of which a magnetic field acting on the compensation elements can be dynamically generated variably at a specific azimuthal location, as seen in the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation of the washing drum, wherein the magnetic field acting on the compensation elements is generated by the magnetic field generating device in the region of the azimuthal location about the axis of rotation in the case of a rotational speed of the washing drum which is less than or equal to a reference rotational speed of the washing drum, wherein the change in the azimuthal location of the region is coupled to the rotational speed of the washing drum.
DE 102014108856B 3 discloses a washing machine having a lye container for receiving washing liquid, a drum rotatably mounted in the lye container for receiving laundry and a compensating device, the compensating device has a plurality of spherical weight bodies which are arranged in a conduit mounted concentrically with the drum, in which conduit the liquid is present, wherein the spherical weight body is movable relative to a balanced position during rotation of the drum as a reaction to unbalance of the drum, the washing machine has means for applying an electric and/or magnetic field to the liquid in the passage, wherein the liquid is an electrorheological and/or magnetorheological liquid, which increases its viscosity when an electric and/or magnetic field is applied in order to position at least a partial amount of the weight body in a positionally fixed manner.
Disclosure of Invention
The object of the present invention is to overcome at least partially the disadvantages of the prior art and in particular to provide a particularly simple and cost-effective design of the possibility of compensating for an imbalance of the laundry during rotation of the washing drum of a washing machine.
This object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description and the figures.
This object is achieved by a washing machine having a rotatable washing drum and a ring (hereinafter referred to without restricting the generality as "unbalance compensation ring" or "balancing ring") arranged concentrically with the washing drum and rotatable together with the washing drum, wherein an annular cavity of the compensation ring is at least partially filled with a magnetorheological liquid, the cavity being wound by at least one coil (hereinafter referred to without restricting the generality as "balancing coil") for generating a magnetic field in the cavity, and the washing machine having stationary magnetic field generating means which are provided and arranged for generating an induced current ("coil current") by means of induction in the balancing coil.
The washing machine has the advantage that the cavity is wound by the at least one balancing coil, providing a particularly simple and robust and thus durable possibility of compensating for imbalances caused by the laundry in the rotating drum. Furthermore, the advantage is achieved that, due to the winding of the imbalance compensation ring, a highly uniform magnetic field can be generated for changing the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid in the cavity, specifically in particular over the circumference of the imbalance compensation ring or over the entire length of the cavity.
Further advantages include a reduction in the spin-drying start time up to the nominal rotational speed, a reduction in the noise during spin-drying, a reduction in the mechanical load of the vibration system supporting the washing drum, a reduction in the required vibration amplitude and a subsequent increase in the drum volume of the washing drum. A further advantage is achieved in relation to the imbalance compensation ring filled with water, since the density of the magnetorheological fluid is at most four times greater than the density of water, so that a significantly higher imbalance compensation capacity can be achieved in the same installation space.
The washing machine may be a stand-alone washing machine or a washer-dryer. Washing machines are in particular domestic washing machines. The washing machine is in particular provided for carrying out at least one spin-drying process. In a further development, the washing drum is rotatably mounted in the lye container.
The unbalance compensation ring is arranged concentrically with the washing drum, in particular comprising an unbalance compensation ring having a rotational axis corresponding to the rotational axis of the washing drum. The unbalance compensation ring can be fixed on the washing drum or can be fixed on a shaft driving the washing drum. The unbalance compensation ring can rotate together with the washing drum, in particular including the unbalance compensation ring being rotatable at the same rotational speed as the washing drum.
The rotatable washing drum is used for receiving the laundry to be washed. The washing drum has in particular a horizontal or at least approximately horizontal axis of rotation, and the washing machine with the washing drum can be designed as a front-end loader.
The annular cavity is in particular a closed, through-going cavity. The cavity may have the same shape and/or cross-sectional size over its entire circumference. The cavity has a cross-sectional shape, in particular circular or rectangular. Ribs, vanes, etc. are disposed in the cavity to effect entrainment of the magnetorheological fluid as the imbalance compensation ring rotates.
The at least partially filling the cavity with the magnetorheological fluid includes the cavity being completely filled with the magnetorheological fluid or only partially filled with the magnetorheological fluid. When partially filled, the remaining volume of the cavity can be present as a gas volume and/or filled by weight, as is also configured in more detail further below.
The coil current can be induced in the balancing coil, for example, by generating a static magnetic field, in particular spatially inhomogeneous, in the section of the balancing coil by means of a magnetic field generating device. When the balance coil rotates, then the balance coil rotation also rotates in the magnetic field, thereby generating a coil current. Alternatively or additionally, the magnetic field generated by means of the magnetic field generating device is a magnetic alternating field.
The magnetic field in the cavity is generated by at least one balancing coil by inducing a coil current in the balancing coil, which causes a change in the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid. The viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid increases in particular with increasing strength of the magnetic field. The viscosity may be increased so much that the magnetorheological fluid becomes solid for practical purposes of the present invention. For generating the coil current, the magnetic field generating device is provided for generating an excitation magnetic field which induces a coil current in the balancing coil. The magnetic field generating device can be automatically activated by the washing machine. In general, the magnetic field generating device can be operated in such a way that the viscosity can be adjusted or varied. The imbalance compensation ring is made of a material that is permeable to magnetic fields, for example plastic.
In one embodiment, at least one solid body ("weight body") that can move in the cavity, in particular a plurality of at least one solid body, is additionally arranged in the cavity. The at least one weight, which typically has a specific weight greater than the magnetorheological fluid, is advantageously used to compensate the laundry imbalance or unbalanced washing drum more efficiently than in the case of a mere filling of the imbalance compensation ring with the magnetorheological fluid. Furthermore, the costs are significantly lower than in the case of merely filling the imbalance compensation ring with magnetorheological fluid, since the amount of relatively expensive magnetorheological fluid can be significantly reduced. The viscosity range of the magnetorheological fluid can also be selected significantly variably, since the magnetorheological fluid does not need to be oriented in a defined position. The viscosity is thus selected to be very high, since the magnetorheological fluid can be used merely as a lubricant without energizing the coil. At least one weight can be present in the form of a ball or a roller. The at least one weight can be moved in the cavity, in particular including that the at least one weight can be moved along the cavity. In other words, the cavity serves as a guide for the at least one weight body.
In a further development, the cavity is filled exclusively with magnetorheological fluid, i.e. no additional moving weight is arranged in the cavity. This has the advantage that the operation of the washing machine can be made quieter, since no weight bodies generate noise emissions, for example as a result of ball impacts.
In one embodiment, the balancing coil is a short-circuit coil. This achieves in a particularly simple manner in terms of construction that the cavity passes uniformly through the magnetic field generated by the balancing coil. The short-circuit coil can be designed or function in particular like a short-circuit rotor of an induction motor or an asynchronous motor.
The stationary arrangement of the magnetic field generating device comprises that the magnetic field generating device does not rotate with the washing drum. The magnetic field generating device can be arranged, for example, on the lye container.
In one embodiment, the magnetic field generating device has at least one electrically excited coil. The advantage achieved thereby is that particularly strong, if necessary also variable, induced currents are induced in the balancing coil. The magnetic field generating device may have at least one power supply for energizing the electrical exciter coil. The power supply may be arranged to generate a direct current and/or an alternating current through the field coil.
In one embodiment, the magnetic field generating device additionally has at least one permanent magnet, and the at least one electrical excitation coil can be energized in order to be able to compensate for the magnetic field generated by the at least one permanent magnet at the balancing coil. This achieves the advantage that, also in the event of a failure of the electrical excitation coil, a current is induced as a result of the imbalance compensation ring rotating in the constant magnetic field of the permanent magnet, which current increases the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid. This in turn makes it possible to keep the magnetorheological fluid solidified, for example, during a braking process of the washing drum, which in turn makes it possible, for example, for the imbalance compensation ring to be reliably braked in all relevant rotational speed ranges. This is achieved by the fact that the magnetic field generated in the cavity by the at least one permanent magnet can be compensated, and that no magnetic field is generated by the magnetic field generating device at the location of the balancing coil and the magnetorheological fluid can thus optionally also be kept in a liquid state. In other words, the magnetic field of the permanent magnet is compensated by the magnetic field generated by the electrical excitation coil, in particular including the two magnetic fields, which act in a mutually counteracting manner at least at the location of the imbalance compensation ring or the balancing coil. The "deactivated" magnetic field generating device in the case of a magnetorheological fluid can then correspond to a state of the magnetic field generating device in which the magnetic field of the permanent magnet is compensated by a magnetic field generated by means of the electrical excitation coil.
A further solution which is advantageous for an efficient compensation of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and the exciter coil is that the exciter coil surrounds the permanent magnet.
In one embodiment, the balancing coil is arranged outside the imbalance compensation ring or is embedded in the imbalance compensation ring. The balancing coil or its conductor tracks are present as wires or as foil strips.
One embodiment provides that the cavity has a free gas volume, i.e. is not completely filled. The advantage thereby achieved is that the magnetorheological fluid can be used particularly efficiently to compensate for imbalances. Furthermore, relatively expensive magnetorheological fluids can be saved thereby. The free gas volume may be air or a shielding gas.
In one embodiment, the cavity has a free gas volume when additionally at least one weight is arranged movably in the cavity. This results in a particularly inexpensive and inexpensive construction. At the same time, the volume of the magnetorheological fluid is selected such that the magnetorheological fluid can reliably fix the weight body at least in the subcritical rotational speed range, in the resonance rotational speed range and, if necessary, in the supercritical rotational speed range.
In one embodiment, the cavity is completely filled if additionally at least one weight is movably arranged in the cavity. The unbalance compensation effect is achieved primarily by the uneven position of the at least one weight body in the cavity. The advantage achieved by completely filling the cavity is that the at least one weight body is held securely and positionally particularly precisely in the magnetorheological fluid at any time during the solidification of the magnetorheological fluid.
In one embodiment, the washing machine has an imbalance detection device. This achieves the advantage that it can be precisely determined when the magnetorheological fluid is particularly effective for compensating for a laundry imbalance and then can be solidified and thus can be fixed in the cavity. The imbalance detection device can in particular determine the amplitude of the offset of the washing drum, i.e. its excitation and/or phase with respect to the rotational frequency of the washing drum. Unbalance detection devices for washing drums are known in principle and are described, for example, in EP 1154064 a2 and EP 1167609 a 1.
The object is also achieved by a method for operating a washing machine as described above. The method may be designed similarly to a washing machine and vice versa, with the same advantages.
One design scheme is as follows:
the washing machine has an unbalance recognition device,
monitoring the magnitude of an imbalance of the washing drum by means of an imbalance detection device during an acceleration of the washing drum in the subcritical rotational speed range during the spin-drying process, and
-then solidifying the magnetorheological fluid by activating the magnetic field generating means when the magnitude of the imbalance reaches or falls below a predetermined threshold.
This embodiment has the advantage that the magnetorheological fluid can be fixed in a position which is advantageous for reducing the imbalance of the laundry, independently of the rotational speed, so that a low imbalance of the washing drum can also be maintained in the following resonant rotational speed range. The magnitude of the unbalance of the washing drum is understood to be the position of the unbalance relative to a reference point of the washing drum in addition to the amplitude of the signal proportional to the unbalance.
The accelerated rotation of the washing drum increases during the spin-drying process, in particular in accordance with the rotational speed of the washing drum increasing from standstill until the nominal rotational speed is reached.
In a further development, the threshold value can be a fixedly predefined threshold value.
In a further development, the threshold value may be a threshold value derived from monitoring the magnitude of the imbalance. This achieves the advantage that the threshold value can be adapted to the laundry load and the laundry imbalance currently present in the washing drum. If it is determined, for example when the magnitude of the imbalance is detected, that the imbalance fluctuates for a certain rotational position of the washing drum over a plurality of rotational revolutions, the threshold value can be set at the minimum value measured so far for this rotational position or at a value range which comprises a predefined value of the local minimum value for this rotational position. That is, the threshold may also be determined dynamically. In order to dynamically determine the threshold value, in particular a monitoring time window can be provided, within which the imbalance is analyzed and from which the threshold value is determined. The rotational speed can be kept constant in particular within the monitoring time window. The monitoring time window may cover a predefined value of the revolution of the washing drum.
When the imbalance reaches or falls below a predetermined threshold value, which is dependent on the rotational position, the magnetorheological fluid is solidified by activating the magnetic field generating device, which may include activating the magnetic field generating device in a time-shifted manner or at a "correction angle" or the like, for example, in order to take into account delay effects, such as an evaluation duration, a duration for the magnetic field formed at the balancing coil, a duration for the magnetorheological fluid to solidify, or the like.
When the magnetic field generating device has an excitation coil, then "activating" the magnetic field generating device corresponds to energizing or switching on the excitation coil by means of a suitable excitation current. The "deactivation" may approximately comprise the switching off of the at least one magnet coil. If the magnetic field generating device additionally has at least one permanent magnet, then "activating" the magnetic field generating device is understood to mean energizing at least one excitation coil by means of an excitation current in such a way that the magnetic field generated by the at least one permanent magnet and by the at least one excitation coil at the location of the balancing coil is sufficient for increasing the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid, in particular for solidifying the magnetorheological fluid, by means of induction of the coil current. "deactivating" the magnetic field generating device can be understood approximately as energizing the at least one excitation coil with an excitation current in such a way that the magnetic field of the at least one permanent magnet generated by the at least one permanent magnet at the location of the balancing coil is virtually cancelled out.
In this embodiment, it is used to advantage that the spin-drying process can be divided theoretically into four speed ranges. This is explained in detail below in terms of accelerated rotation of the washing drum from rest. However, the invention can also be used independently of the following description.
In a first "low speed range" of the spin-drying process, the washing drum is operated at an increased speed from rest. In this case, the rotational speed is also so low that the laundry located in the washing drum falls back down from a defined height in the washing drum. The liquid present in the unbalance compensation ring remains at least adjacent to the unbalance compensation ring or the corresponding lower region of the cavity due to the effect of gravity.
With increasing washing drum rotational speed, the "subcritical rotational speed range" is engaged in the low rotational speed range, in which the rotational speed is so high that the centrifugal force acting on the laundry presses it onto the washing drum and is held there in a fixed position. The rotational speed or rotational frequency at which the laundry at least largely rests on the washing drum can also be referred to as the "set rotational speed". The set rotational speed is dependent, for example, on the diameter or radius of the washing drum, the type of laundry and/or the filling quantity of the washing drum.
The laundry which is usually placed against the washing drum is not distributed uniformly about its weight on the circumference of the washing drum, but rather forms a center of gravity offset from the axis of rotation by the laundry concentration, which leads to an imbalance of the washing drum (laundry imbalance). The unbalance of the laundry in turn causes a corresponding deflection or a corresponding deflection of the resiliently mounted washing drum at the respective excitation frequency. The mechanical support of the washing drum is usually designed as a spring/damper system. The washing drum can, for example, be mounted directly or indirectly on a damper and be connected to a spring upward against the force of gravity.
In the subcritical rotational speed range, the excitation frequency corresponds at least approximately to the rotational frequency, for which, however, the phase difference is a relatively small phase angle (for example in the range of 30 °).
In the subcritical rotational speed range, the liquid, depending on the viscosity, likewise remains at least initially in the lower region of the compensating ring or can already rotate together in the unbalance compensating ring, but usually does not rotate together with the rotational speed of the drum. That is to say the relative angular position of the center of gravity of the fluid with respect to the center of gravity of the laundry about the axis of rotation changes constantly in both cases. The liquid thus more or less effectively compensates and even intensifies the laundry imbalance according to the current relative angular position with respect to the center of gravity of the laundry. The magnitude of the maximum unbalance of the washing drum (which represents the superposition of the laundry unbalance and the unbalance caused by the liquid) can be varied by a plurality of revolutions.
If the rotational speed of the washing drum is still increasing, the subcritical rotational speed range is transferred into a "critical rotational speed range" or a "resonant rotational speed range", in which the excitation frequency of the washing drum is brought into a resonant range, which is determined by the mechanical bearing of the washing drum. In this phase, the rotation frequency is about 90 ° out of phase with the excitation frequency. If the liquid in the compensation ring continues to be liquid in the third phase, said liquid can also intensify the deflection of the washing drum or the unbalance of the washing drum, at least for certain angular positions. In the resonant rotational speed range, the reinforcement of the deflection is particularly disadvantageous, since the suspension load of the washing drum is particularly high due to the imbalance.
If the rotational speed is still increasing, the resonant rotational speed range transitions into a "supercritical rotational speed range", in which the washing drum is out of its resonant range. In the supercritical rotational speed range, the rotational frequency is about 180 ° out of phase with the excitation frequency. The magnetorheological fluid is located in the region of the compensation ring, on which the angle of the center of gravity of the compensation ring about the axis of rotation differs by 180 ° from the angle of the center of gravity of the laundry about the axis of rotation. In the supercritical rotational speed range, the liquid thus compensates in a particularly effective manner for the imbalance of the laundry caused by the laundry concentration.
When the washing drum is braked or decelerated, the preceding phases are carried out again in the reverse order.
The above description can be applied in a sense to an arrangement in which additionally at least one movable weight body is arranged in the cavity, to be precise not only when the cavity has a free air volume but also when the cavity is completely filled, in which additionally at least one movable weight body is arranged in the cavity.
By using a magnetorheological fluid and at least one balancing coil, the magnetorheological fluid can be solidified in a targeted manner during the passage through the subcritical rotational speed range, in order to reduce the reinforcement of the imbalance by the fluid position independently of the rotational speed or in order to compensate the laundry imbalance particularly effectively, in particular also in the subsequent resonant rotational speed range.
When the magnetorheological fluid and/or the at least one weight body do not rotate together with the imbalance compensation ring but remain at least approximately in the lower region of the imbalance compensation ring, it is particularly easy to determine the point in time when the magnetic field generating device is activated. When the center of gravity of the laundry lies at the upper apex of the washing drum, then the laundry imbalance can be compensated particularly efficiently in this case. This can be determined particularly easily. This occurs in particular when shifting from the low rotational speed range into the subcritical rotational speed range or into the lower part of the subcritical rotational speed range.
In one embodiment, the magnetic field generating device is deactivated when the supercritical rotational speed range is reached. The knowledge is based on the fact that the magnetorheological fluid and/or the at least one weight body are automatically moved in the supercritical rotational speed range into a position in which the magnetorheological fluid or the at least one weight body lies opposite the center of gravity of the laundry with respect to the axis of rotation and thereby a particularly efficient compensation of the laundry imbalance is achieved. In one variant, the magnetic field generating device can be kept activated for a predetermined period of time when the supercritical rotational speed range is reached and/or until a predetermined rotational speed, for example a nominal rotational speed, is reached.
In one embodiment, the magnetic field generating device is activated in the supercritical rotational speed range and remains activated at least in the resonant rotational speed range when the washing drum is rotating at a reduced speed from its supercritical rotational speed range (i.e. when the rotational speed of the washing drum is reduced, also referred to as deceleration or braking). The advantage is achieved in that the magnetorheological fluid is fixed in the supercritical speed range in a position in which it compensates the laundry imbalance particularly efficiently. The magnetorheological fluid is also held fixed in the same position in the cavity when passing through the resonance speed range, so that the imbalance of the laundry is compensated particularly efficiently by the magnetorheological fluid also in the resonance speed range.
In a further development, the magnetic field generating device is deactivated when the rotational speed of the washing drum is in the subcritical rotational speed range or in the low rotational speed range. This achieves the advantage that electrical energy is saved for operating the magnetic field generating device for relatively low rotational speeds at which the imbalance is intensified only slightly by the magnetorheological fluid.
Drawings
The foregoing features, characteristics and advantages of the present invention, as well as the manner and method of attaining them, will become more apparent and be better understood by reference to the following illustrative description of embodiments, which is described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 shows, in a front view, as a cross-section, a diagram of a laundry machine according to a first embodiment in rest;
fig. 2 shows a diagram of a washing machine according to a first embodiment in a supercritical rotational speed range in a front view as a cross-sectional view;
fig. 3 shows a diagram of a washing machine according to a second embodiment in a supercritical rotational speed range in a front view as a cross-sectional view;
FIG. 4 shows, in a front view, as a cross-section, a diagram of a laundry machine according to a third embodiment in rest;
fig. 5 shows a diagram of a washing machine according to a third embodiment in a supercritical rotational speed range in a front view as a cross-sectional view.
Detailed Description
Fig. 1 shows a washing machine 1 having a rotatable washing drum 2 and an unbalance compensation ring 3 arranged concentrically with the washing drum 2 and rotatable together with the washing drum 2. The annular cavity 4 of the imbalance compensation ring 3 is partially filled with a magnetorheological fluid 5, i.e., also has a free (e.g., air-filled) gas volume 10. The cavity 4 is wound by at least one balancing coil 6 for generating a magnetic field in the cavity 4.
The washing machine 1 also has a magnetic field generating device 7 which is provided and arranged for inducing a coil current in the balancing coil 6. The magnetic field generating device 7 has an excitation coil 8 and a power supply 9 connected to the excitation coil. The power supply 9 in particular generates a current I which excites the exciter coil 8 to generate a magnetic field. The magnetic field induces an induced current in the balancing coil 6, which in turn generates a magnetic field through the cavity 4. Since the balancing coil 6 is wound around the entire circumference of the imbalance compensation ring 3 and is designed as a short-circuit coil, the magnetic field passes through the balancing coil virtually uniformly over the entire circumference. The balancing coil 6 may be arranged outside the unbalance compensation ring 3 or embedded in the unbalance compensation ring 3.
The magnetic field generating device 7 is arranged stationary relative to the lye container 11 in which the washing drum 2 is rotatably received.
In this figure, the washing drum 2 is not rotated, i.e. is at rest. The magnetic field generating means 7 are not activated and thus no magnetic field is generated in the cavity 4, which magnetic field causes the magnetorheological fluid 5 to solidify. The magnetorheological fluid 5 is thus in its liquid state and is held in the lower section of the imbalance compensation ring 3 by its weight. In rest, the laundry W located in the washing drum 2 is also at the bottom of the washing drum 2.
If the washing drum 2 starts to rotate about its axis of rotation D at the beginning of the spin-drying process, the laundry W, although being carried along by the washing drum 2, falls from the upper region of the washing drum 2 back to the bottom of said washing drum. The magnetorheological fluid 5 is also retained in the lower section of the imbalance compensation ring 3 with sufficient flowability. The state may also be referred to as a "low rotation speed range".
As the rotational speed continues to increase, a set rotational speed is reached at which the laundry W is held on the inside of the washing drum 2 by centrifugal force. As a result, a laundry imbalance is generally produced, which leads to an offset of the washing drum 2. In this "subcritical rotational speed range", depending on the viscosity, the magnetorheological fluid can likewise be at least substantially retained in the lower section of the imbalance compensation ring 3 or already be carried along by the rotation of the washing drum 2, but not necessarily at the same rotational speed as the washing drum 2. In both cases, the relative angular position of the laundry W with respect to the magnetorheological liquid 5 can be continuously changed.
In a further development of the washing machine 1, the washing machine is equipped with an imbalance detection device 12, which is arranged, for example, in the lye container 11. The imbalance detection device 12 is connected to a control device 13, which controls the power supply 9.
During the accelerated rotation of the washing drum 2 in the subcritical rotational speed range during the spin-drying process, the magnitude of the imbalance of the washing drum 2 is monitored by means of the imbalance detection device 12. When the magnitude of the imbalance reaches or falls below a predetermined threshold value, the control device 13 can be activated in order to solidify the magnetorheological fluid 5 by activating the magnetic field generating device 7. By solidifying the magnetorheological fluid 5, the magnetorheological fluid is fixed in the cavity 4, so that it remains in this position, which is advantageous for reducing the imbalance, also in the following resonance speed range.
The magnetic field generating device 7 is deactivated when the supercritical rotational speed range is reached, since in the supercritical rotational speed range the liquid is automatically arranged in the cavity 4 in such a way that an imbalance of the washing drum 2 is practically maximally compensated, as is shown in fig. 2.
When the washing drum 2 is decelerated or braked from its supercritical speed range, the magnetic field generating device 7 is activated in the supercritical speed range, in order to keep the magnetorheological fluid 5 in its position which compensates the imbalance of the laundry particularly efficiently, even when the supercritical speed range is left. The magnetic field generating means 7 are kept activated at least in the resonance rotational speed range.
Fig. 3 shows a diagram of a washing machine 21 according to a second embodiment in a supercritical rotational speed range in a front view as a cross-sectional view. The washing machine 21 is constructed similarly to the washing machine 1, however the magnetic field generating device 22 additionally has at least one permanent magnet 23. Furthermore, the electrical excitation coil 8 can be energized by means of the control device 13, so that the magnetic field generated by the at least one permanent magnet 23 at the balancing coil 6 can be compensated.
This achieves a "precalibration" of the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid 5. That is, if a fault situation occurs in which the excitation coil 8 cannot be energized any more, a magnetic field is induced in the balancing coil 6 by the permanent magnets 23, thereby increasing the viscosity of the magnetorheological liquid 5 and fixedly holding the magnetorheological liquid 5 also in the fault situation. In a further development, the exciter coil 8 is wound directly around the permanent magnet 23. The magnetic field generated can thereby be completely eliminated.
Fig. 4 shows, in a front view, a diagram of a washing machine 31 according to a third embodiment in rest, as a cross-sectional view. The washing machine 31 is constructed similarly to the washing machine 1, however here with a plurality of weight bodies in the form of balls 32 in the cavity 4. The ball 32 is able to move in the cavity 4, so that the cavity 4 acts as a guide for the ball 32. The cavity 4 also has a large free gas volume 10.
Fig. 5 shows a diagram of a washing machine 31 according to a third embodiment in a supercritical rotational speed range in a front view as a cross-sectional view. In the supercritical rotational speed range, the magnetorheological fluid 5 can be distributed, for example, in a ring-shaped manner over the entire cavity 4, while the balls 32 remain in the solidified state in a position opposite the laundry W, where the balls 32 compensate for the greatest imbalance of the laundry. That is, the weight required for compensating the unbalance of the laundry is mainly provided by the balls 32.
The invention is of course not limited to the embodiments shown.
"a" or "an" is generally to be understood as meaning the singular or the plural, especially the meaning of "at least one" or "one or more" or the like, as long as this is not specifically excluded, for example by the expression "exactly one" or the like. For example, a washing machine having an imbalance compensation ring 3 arranged concentrically with the washing drum 2 and rotatable together with the washing drum 2 can also be constructed with two imbalance compensation rings 3 arranged concentrically with the washing drum 2 and rotatable together with the washing drum 2.
List of reference numerals
1 washing machine
2 washing drum
3 unbalance compensation ring
4 cavity
5 magnetorheological fluids
6 balance coil
7 magnetic field generating device
8 excitation coil
9 power supply
Gas volume of 10 degrees of freedom
11 lye container
12 unbalance recognition device
13 control device
21 washing machine
22 magnetic field generating device
23 permanent magnet
31 washing machine
32 ball
D axis of rotation
I current
W washing.
Claims (12)
1. A washing machine (1; 21; 31) having a rotatable washing drum (2) and an unbalance compensation ring (3) arranged concentrically to the washing drum (2) and rotatable together with the washing drum (2), wherein,
-the annular cavity (4) of the unbalance compensation ring (3) is at least partially filled with a magnetorheological fluid (5),
-the cavity (4) is wound by at least one balancing coil (6) for generating a magnetic field in the cavity (4), and
the washing machine (1; 21; 31) has a stationary magnetic field generating device (7; 22) which is provided and arranged for inducing a coil current in the balancing coil (6).
2. Laundry washing machine (31) according to claim 1, wherein at least one weight movable in said cavity is additionally arranged in said cavity (4).
3. Laundry washing machine (1; 21; 31) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said balancing coil (6) is a short-circuit coil.
4. Washing machine (1; 21; 31) according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic field generating device (7; 22) has at least one electrically exciting coil (8).
5. Laundry washing machine (21) according to claim 4, wherein the magnetic field generating device (22) additionally has at least one permanent magnet (23) and the at least one electrically exciting coil (8) can be energized so that the magnetic field generated by the at least one permanent magnet (23) at the balancing coil (6) can be compensated.
6. Washing machine (1; 21; 31) according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the balancing coil (6) is arranged outside the unbalance compensation ring (3) or embedded in the unbalance compensation ring (3).
7. Washing machine (1; 21; 31) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cavity (4) has a free gas volume.
8. The washing machine (1; 21; 31) according to claim 2 in combination with any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the cavity (4) is completely filled with the magnetorheological liquid (5).
9. Washing machine (1; 21; 31) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the washing machine (1; 21; 31) has an unbalance recognition device (12).
10. Method for operating a washing machine (1; 21; 31) according to claim 9, wherein,
-monitoring the magnitude of the unbalance of the washing drum (2) by means of the unbalance detection device (12) during the accelerated rotation of the washing drum (2) in the subcritical rotational speed range during the spin-drying process, and
-then solidifying the magnetorheological liquid (5) by activating the magnetic field generating means (7; 22) when the magnitude of the unbalance reaches or falls below a predetermined threshold value.
11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the magnetic field generating means (7; 22) are deactivated when a supercritical rotational speed range is reached.
12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the magnetic field generating means (7; 22) are activated in the supercritical rotational speed range and remain activated at least in the resonant rotational speed range when the washing drum (2) is spinning decelerated from its supercritical rotational speed range.
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| DE102018210562.6 | 2018-06-28 | ||
| DE102018210562.6A DE102018210562A1 (en) | 2018-06-28 | 2018-06-28 | Washing machine with balance ring |
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| CN110656468A true CN110656468A (en) | 2020-01-07 |
| CN110656468B CN110656468B (en) | 2023-08-22 |
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| CN201910553084.4A Active CN110656468B (en) | 2018-06-28 | 2019-06-25 | Washing machine with unbalance compensation ring |
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| DE10022609C2 (en) | 2000-05-09 | 2003-11-13 | Whirlpool Co | Method for limiting the unbalance effect of a washing unit in a washing machine and device for carrying out the method |
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| DE102016220112A1 (en) | 2015-11-12 | 2017-05-18 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Household appliance for the care of laundry items with an azimuthally variable magnetic field imbalance compensation device and method for operating such a domestic appliance |
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| CN101713134A (en) * | 2009-01-23 | 2010-05-26 | 南京乐金熊猫电器有限公司 | A washing machine provided with an eccentric minimized device |
| CN101962901A (en) * | 2009-07-22 | 2011-02-02 | 海尔集团公司 | Gimbal device of rolling drum-type washing machine |
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| DE102018210562A1 (en) | 2020-01-02 |
| CN110656468B (en) | 2023-08-22 |
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