EP1655404B1 - Washing machine comprising a balancing device - Google Patents

Washing machine comprising a balancing device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1655404B1
EP1655404B1 EP05380220A EP05380220A EP1655404B1 EP 1655404 B1 EP1655404 B1 EP 1655404B1 EP 05380220 A EP05380220 A EP 05380220A EP 05380220 A EP05380220 A EP 05380220A EP 1655404 B1 EP1655404 B1 EP 1655404B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
drum
chambers
ring
water
additional
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP05380220A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1655404A1 (en
Inventor
Kepa Ezkurra Galdos
Mikel Campos Isunza
Agustin Ugarte Basurto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fagor Electrodomesticos SCL
Original Assignee
Fagor Electrodomesticos SCL
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fagor Electrodomesticos SCL filed Critical Fagor Electrodomesticos SCL
Priority to PL05380220T priority Critical patent/PL1655404T3/pl
Publication of EP1655404A1 publication Critical patent/EP1655404A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1655404B1 publication Critical patent/EP1655404B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to washing machines of the type that have a floating unit that comprises a balancing device, a rotating drum and a tub.
  • a floating unit that comprises a balancing device, a rotating drum and a tub.
  • Devices and methods for the balancing of washing machines with a rotating drum are known. More specifically, devices in which said means comprise a number of chambers disposed in the interior of the drum, with water being distributed inside said chambers to compensate for the imbalance are known.
  • ES2151332A1 discloses a device for the balancing of a washing machine that comprises a number of chambers, with each chamber comprising a solenoid valve from which water is supplied to it to compensate for the imbalance. Said supply is selective, with water being supplied to one or another chamber by its corresponding solenoid valve according to the angular position of the laundry load in the interior of the drum, a position determined by a position sensor.
  • US 6510715 B1 discloses a balancing device with a ring and chambers for compensating for an imbalance.
  • US 6477867 B1 discloses a balancing system for a laundry appliance, including force and acceleration transducers to detect the imbalance. If an imbalance is detected, the correction of said imbalance is implemented using a set of balancing chambers.
  • EP 1391549 A1 discloses a washing machine comprising a balancing device, a floating unit that comprises a drum which rotates in relation to an axis, the device comprising a number of hollow chambers distributed equidistantly in an inner periphery of said drum. Said chambers extend along at least part of the axial length of said drum and an imbalance generated by a laundry load situated in the interior of said drum is able to be compensated for by distributing water in the interior of said chambers while the drum is rotating. Said device also comprises a hollow ring, concentric to the axis of the drum and connected to one end of said drum, an intake duct to pour water into said ring, and a mouth for each chamber disposed on a lateral wall of the ring.
  • Said mouths are connected to their corresponding chambers by a through duct, so that when water is poured into the ring, said water is distributed in the interior of said ring, the water being able to move to at least one chamber through its corresponding mouth and through duct.
  • the device of the invention it is not necessary to use a sensor to determine the angular position of the laundry load, nor is it necessary to use a solenoid valve for each chamber, as it is the distribution of the water in the ring that causes the chambers that have to compensate for the imbalance.
  • the device and method of the invention are applied in washing machines that comprise, as shown in Figure 1 , a floating unit 1 formed by a tub 4 and a drum 2 that rotates in relation to an axis 21.
  • Said axis 21 can be horizontal, as in Figure 1 , or inclined.
  • the floating unit 1 is connected by suspension means 10 to the structure of the washing machine. If the laundry load 9 to be washed forms an imbalanced mass in the interior of the drum 2, an imbalance is caused, as a result of which the floating unit 1 starts to rotate with an eccentricity E generating vibrations.
  • the device of the invention comprises hollow chambers 3 distributed equidistantly in an inner periphery 20 of said drum 2, said chambers 3 extending along at least part of the axial length of said drum 2. As shown in figure 1 , in this case said device comprises three chambers with a separation between them of 120°.
  • Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the invention in which a longitudinal section has been formed along the sectional line A-A in Figure 1 .
  • the device of the invention comprises an open hollow ring 5 concentric to the axis 21 of the drum 2 and connected to an end 22 of said drum 2, and an intake duct 6 fixed to the tub 4 in order to pour water into said ring 5.
  • the chambers 3 extend along the entire axial length of the drum 2.
  • the device of the invention also comprises for each chamber 3 a mouth 8 disposed on a lateral wall 50 of the ring 5 at a certain radial distance H from the outer perimeter 51 of said ring 5, with said mouths 8 connected to their corresponding chambers 3 by a through duct 7, so that when water is poured into the ring 5, said water is distributed in the interior of said ring 5, with the water moving to at least one chamber 3 through its corresponding mouth 8 and through duct 7.
  • the through ducts 7 are situated on the end closest to the axis 21 of a lateral surface 30 of said chambers 3, as shown in Figure 2 .
  • radial distance H is critical in the device of the invention, as it is said radial distance H wich determines from which moment each chamber 3 begins to fill up. To determine said radial distance H, first of all the maximum imbalance that said device can compensate for is established, and a radial distance H is selected that is slightly greater than double the eccentricity E corresponding to said maximum compensatable imbalance.
  • Centrifuging is conducted with the drum 2 rotating at a centrifuging speed which can, for example, be 2,000 rpm. Before the drum 2 rotates at said centrifuging speed, the stages shown in the flow diagram of figure 7 are followed in order to check if there is an imbalance or not, and to compensate for said imbalance if there is one. The different stages of the method for balancing according to the first embodiment of the invention are described below.
  • the aim is to determine whether the laundry load 9 of the interior of the drum 2 causes an imbalance or not, and for that purpose, with said drum 2 rotating at the checking speed Vc, which, for example, can be 90 rpm, a vibration sensor (not shown in the figures) measures the vibration M of the floating unit 1. If the measured vibration M exceeds a threshold value Uc predetermined for the checking speed Vc, the speed of rotation of the drum 2 is increased to a balancing speed Ve and a balancing process Pe begins. If not, the speed of rotation of the drum 2 is increased to a supervision speed Vs and a supervision process Ps begins.
  • balancing process Pe water is poured into the ring 5 through the intake duct 6, with said water originating from a main water intake or from waste water from a previous washing thanks to a water pump not shown in the figures.
  • Said balancing process Pe is conducted with the drum 2 rotating at the balancing speed Ve, which can be, for example, 300 rpm.
  • Ve the balancing speed
  • the maximum value of the vibration M of the floating unit 1 and, therefore, the greater eccentricity E is produced with the drum 2 rotating at a higher speed but close to the critical speed corresponding to resonance frequency of the floating unit 1
  • the balancing speed Ve is higher than said critical speed, but close to it.
  • the balancing speed Ve is higher than the critical speed, the water in the interior of the ring 5 tends to concentrate itself in opposition to the laundry load 9 that causes said imbalance, forming a water crown or circle of axis 11 in the interior of said ring 5, eccentric to the ring 5 itself.
  • the value of the eccentricity E is half the peak-to-peak amplitude of the vibration M resulting from the imbalance.
  • the ring 5 comprises a plurality of obstacles 52 in its interior.
  • Said obstacles 52 shown in figure 3 , are flat walls that are fixed alternately to the lateral wall 50 of the ring 5 and the lateral wall 53 facing said wall 50, encompass the entire width of the lateral walls 50 and 53 and extend perpendicularly from said lateral walls 50 and 53.
  • Said obstacles have an approximate height of 75% of the separation between the lateral walls 50 and 53.
  • the vibration sensor continues measuring the vibration M of the floating unit 1 while water continues to be poured into the ring 5.
  • a threshold value Ue predetermined for the balancing speed Ve said balancing process Pe is understood to have been completed, water is no longer poured into the ring 5 and the speed of rotation of the drum 2 is increased to a supervision speed Vs, and the supervision process Ps begins.
  • the drum 2 rotates at the supervision speed Vs, which can, for example, be 800 rpm.
  • the vibration sensor measures the vibration M of the floating unit 1 and said measured vibration M is compared with a threshold value Us predetermined for said supervision speed Vs. If it is detected that the vibration M is greater than said threshold value Us, the speed of rotation of the drum 2 is reduced to the balancing speed Ve and a new balancing process Pe begins. If not, said speed of rotation of the drum 2 is increased to a centrifuging speed that, for example, can be 2,000 rpm, in order to conduct the centrifuging. This increase in speed can be direct or gradual, and the supervision process Ps can be repeated at each gradual increase of the speed of rotation of the drum 2.
  • the process to evacuate the water begins.
  • the speed of rotation of the drum 2 is reduced to an evacuation speed, which, for example, can be 45 rpm.
  • Said evacuation speed is selected so that the force of gravity is smaller than the centrifugal force and the water in the interior of the chambers 3 falls into the tub 4. Due to the fact that the diameter of the through ducts 7 is greater than that of the corresponding mouths 8, most of the water in the interior of the chambers 3 falls into the tub 4, while a small residual part falls into the ring 5.
  • the device comprises, in addition to the three chambers 3 described in the first embodiment, three additional chambers 3' situated at 120° to each other in an inner periphery 20 of said drum 2. Said additional chambers 3' face the three chambers 3.
  • the additional chambers 3' extend along a first half of the axial length of the drum 2, while the chambers 3 extend along a second half of the axial length of said drum 2.
  • the device of this embodiment comprises, in addition to the ring 5 of the first embodiment, an additional hollow ring 5' concentric to the axis 21, situated at the end of the drum 2 and fixed to a second end 23 of said drum 2, similar to the ring 5 shown in figure 3 .
  • water can be poured into said additional ring 5'.
  • the additional ring 5' has a number of obstacles 52' in its interior, similar to those of the ring 5.
  • a mouth 8' On a lateral wall 50' of the additional ring 5' and at a radial distance H' taking as a reference the outer perimeter 51' of said additional ring 5', are disposed some mouths 8'.
  • the balancing method for the second embodiment of the invention comprises the same stages as the method of the first embodiment.
  • a vibration sensor not shown in the figures measures the vibration Ma' of a first half of the floating unit 1 adjacent to the additional chambers 3'.
  • a second vibration sensor not shown in the figures measures the vibration Ma of a second half of the floating unit 1 adjacent to the chambers 3. If the vibrations Ma, Ma' or one of said measured vibrations Ma, Ma' are greater than the threshold value Uc determined for the checking speed Vc, the speed of rotation of the drum 2 is increased to the balancing speed Ve of the first embodiment and a balancing process Pe' begins. If not, the speed of rotation of the drum 2 is raised to the supervision speed Vs of the first embodiment and a supervision process Ps begins.
  • the rest of the balancing process Pe' is similar to the balancing process Pe of the first embodiment.
  • the vibrations Ma, Ma' of the floating unit 1 are measured. Said vibrations Ma, Ma' are compared with the threshold value Us, and if it is detected that at least one of the vibrations Ma, Ma' is greater than the threshold Us predetermined for said supervision speed Vs, the speed of rotation of the drum 2 is reduced to the balancing speed Ve and the balancing process Pe' begins. If not, said speed of rotation of the drum 2 is increased to a centrifuging speed that, for example, can be 2,000 rpm, in order to conduct the centrifuging. This increase in speed can be direct or gradual, and the supervision process Ps' can be repeated at each gradual increase of the speed of rotation of the drum 2.
  • the process to evacuate the water from the chambers 3, 3' is carried out, which is similar to the process of evacuating the water from the chambers 3 of the first embodiment.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
  • Centrifugal Separators (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
EP05380220A 2004-11-08 2005-10-11 Washing machine comprising a balancing device Expired - Lifetime EP1655404B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PL05380220T PL1655404T3 (pl) 2004-11-08 2005-10-11 Pralka zawierająca urządzenie wyważające

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES200402680A ES2277487B1 (es) 2004-11-08 2004-11-08 Dispositivo y metodo para el equilibrado de una lavadora.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1655404A1 EP1655404A1 (en) 2006-05-10
EP1655404B1 true EP1655404B1 (en) 2010-12-22

Family

ID=35501057

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05380220A Expired - Lifetime EP1655404B1 (en) 2004-11-08 2005-10-11 Washing machine comprising a balancing device

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1655404B1 (pl)
AT (1) ATE492674T1 (pl)
DE (1) DE602005025445D1 (pl)
ES (2) ES2277487B1 (pl)
PL (1) PL1655404T3 (pl)

Families Citing this family (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8991223B2 (en) 2010-12-08 2015-03-31 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with balancing system
US8701451B2 (en) 2010-12-08 2014-04-22 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with balancing system
US8713977B2 (en) 2010-12-08 2014-05-06 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with balancing system
US9003838B2 (en) 2010-12-08 2015-04-14 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with balancing system
US8695383B2 (en) 2010-12-08 2014-04-15 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with balancing system
KR102032845B1 (ko) 2013-02-13 2019-10-16 엘지전자 주식회사 의류처리장치
KR102204614B1 (ko) * 2014-02-20 2021-01-19 엘지전자 주식회사 의류처리장치
KR102201739B1 (ko) * 2014-02-20 2021-01-12 엘지전자 주식회사 의류처리장치
KR102330525B1 (ko) * 2015-04-01 2021-11-24 엘지전자 주식회사 의류처리장치
KR102329421B1 (ko) * 2015-04-01 2021-11-22 엘지전자 주식회사 의류처리장치
CN107829260B (zh) * 2017-10-30 2023-09-15 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 滚筒式洗衣机的动平衡装置、滚筒式洗衣机的内筒组件及滚筒式洗衣机
JP7093069B2 (ja) * 2017-12-20 2022-06-29 青島海爾洗衣机有限公司 洗濯機
WO2019232978A1 (zh) * 2018-06-08 2019-12-12 无锡小天鹅电器有限公司 衣物处理设备、用于衣物处理设备的平衡环
CN111206386B (zh) * 2018-11-22 2022-05-27 无锡小天鹅电器有限公司 衣物处理设备和用于衣物处理设备的平衡环
CN111286925B (zh) * 2018-12-10 2022-05-31 无锡小天鹅电器有限公司 衣物处理设备、用于衣物处理设备的平衡环
CN114086363B (zh) * 2021-12-13 2023-10-27 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 一种洗衣机及控制方法
CN114941229A (zh) * 2022-06-30 2022-08-26 海信冰箱有限公司 一种洗衣机
CN116926886B (zh) * 2023-08-30 2025-11-11 江南大学 一种滚筒洗衣机减振结构

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5893280A (en) * 1996-12-18 1999-04-13 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Spin extractor
ES2151332B1 (es) * 1997-01-31 2001-06-16 Fagor S Coop Metodo de equilibrado de una lavadora de ropa.
DE69921818T2 (de) * 1998-04-14 2005-12-08 Tulga Simsek Eine Maschine und ein Verfahren zum Auswuchten einer solchen Maschine
US6477867B1 (en) * 1998-12-23 2002-11-12 Fisher & Paykel Limited Laundry appliance
EP1391549A1 (en) * 2001-03-28 2004-02-25 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Washing machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1655404A1 (en) 2006-05-10
ES2277487A1 (es) 2007-07-01
PL1655404T3 (pl) 2011-05-31
ES2277487B1 (es) 2008-06-16
ES2357636T3 (es) 2011-04-28
ATE492674T1 (de) 2011-01-15
DE602005025445D1 (de) 2011-02-03

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