EP1722025A1 - Washing machine - Google Patents
Washing machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1722025A1 EP1722025A1 EP06009651A EP06009651A EP1722025A1 EP 1722025 A1 EP1722025 A1 EP 1722025A1 EP 06009651 A EP06009651 A EP 06009651A EP 06009651 A EP06009651 A EP 06009651A EP 1722025 A1 EP1722025 A1 EP 1722025A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- drum
- balance weight
- liquid balance
- spider
- washing machine
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 48
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 136
- 241000239290 Araneae Species 0.000 claims abstract description 59
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 21
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 21
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000013016 damping Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 11
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 4
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000013013 elastic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010412 laundry washing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- 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
-
- 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
Abstract
Description
- This application claims the benefit of the
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0039356, filed on May 11, 2005 - The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine in which a liquid balance weight is mounted at a surface portion of a drum where a spider is also mounted.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a conventional washing machine.
- As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional washing machine comprises a cabinet 1 forming an outer appearance of the washing machine, a
tub 2 mounted in the cabinet 1 and adapted to receive wash water therein, adrum 3 rotatably disposed in thetub 2 and adapted to agitate laundry (m) and wash water filled therein by use oflifters 3a, and a motor 4 mounted to a rear surface portion of thetub 2 and adapted to rotate thedrum 3. - The cabinet 1 is formed at a front surface portion thereof with a laundry entrance/
exit opening 1a. A door 1b is provided to open and close the laundry entrance/exit opening 1a. - The
tub 2 is formed at a front surface portion thereof with an opening 2a such that the opening 2a is located behind the laundry entrance/exit opening 1a. Thetub 2 is connected to the ceiling of the cabinet 1 by means ofsprings 2b such that thetub 2 is hung in the cabinet 1. Thetub 2 is also connected to the bottom of the cabinet 1 by means of dampers 2c such that thetub 2 is supported in the cabinet 1 in a shock absorbing manner. - The
tub 2 has agasket 2d interposed between the opening 2a and the laundry entrance/exit opening 1a of the cabinet 1. - The
drum 3 has a plurality oflifters 3a uniformly protruding inward from an inner peripheral surface thereof. - The
drum 3 also has a plurality of through-holes 3b perforated therethrough, to allow the wash water received in thetub 2 to be introduced into thedrum 3. - The
drum 3 is formed at a front surface portion thereof with an opening 3c such that the opening 3c is located behind the laundry entrance/exit opening 1a. - A
spider 3d is mounted at a rear surface portion of thedrum 3. - The
spider 3d includes a shaft mount for the mounting of adrive shaft 4a that will be explained hereinafter, and a plurality of legs protruding from the shaft mount to be coupled to thedrum 3. - The
drive shaft 4a, which is one constituent element of the motor 4, is configured to penetrate through a rear surface portion of thetub 2 to thereby be mounted to thespider 3d. - In addition to the above described configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, a
liquid balance weight 7 is mounted at the front surface portion of thedrum 3. Theliquid balance weight 7 serves to compensate for the imbalance of thedrum 3. - The
liquid balance weight 7 is internally formed with a plurality of baffles. If the interior of thedrum 3 is unbalanced, contents, for example, salt water, filled in theliquid balance weight 7 is inclined in one direction opposite to the imbalance direction of thedrum 3, so as to compensate for the imbalance of thedrum 3. - With the use of the
liquid balance weight 7, when laundry (m) received in thedrum 3 is eccentrically clustered toward a front side of thedrum 3 and thus, thedrum 3 is unbalanced forward, the conventional washing machine has a sufficient balancing function because theliquid balance weight 7 is aligned on approximately the same axis as the laundry causing the imbalance of thedrum 3. However, when laundry (m) received in thedrum 3 is eccentrically clustered toward a rear side of thedrum 3 and thus, thedrum 3 is unbalanced rearward, the direction of a centrifugal force f2 generated by theliquid balance weight 7 is diagonally opposite to the direction of an imbalance force fl. This makes impossible theliquid balance weight 7 to achieve a desired balancing function, and may result in an increase in vibration of thedrum 3. - To solve the above described problem, it has been considered that additional liquid balance weight (not shown) is provided at the rear surface portion of the
drum 3. However, the additional balance weight has a risk of collision with thetub 2. If a longitudinal length of thedrum 3 is reduced to prevent the collision, it results in a reduction in the capacity of the washing machine. Conversely, if the lengths of thetub 2 and cabinet 1 are increased, it requires an increased size of the washing machine. - Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a washing machine that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
This object is attained with the subject-matter of the claims. - An advantage of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which is capable of minimizing generation of vibration due to imbalance, without reducing a wash capacity or increasing the size of the washing machine.
- Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which is capable of compensating for the imbalance of a drum regardless of the position of a subject causing the imbalance.
- Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which is capable of maximizing the volume of a liquid balance weight.
- Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
- To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a washing machine comprises: a drum for receiving laundry; a spider mounted at a surface portion of the drum and having a plurality of legs; a drive shaft mounted to the spider; and a liquid balance weight mounted at the surface portion of the drum where the spider is also mounted, and the liquid balance weight may have a plurality of seating recesses for receiving the plurality of legs of the spider, respectively.
- The drum may be formed with a plurality of fastening holes, and the liquid balance weight may be formed with a plurality of fastening bosses corresponding to the fastening holes of the drum. Accordingly, the drum and liquid balance weight may be fixed to each other as fastening members are inserted through the fastening holes and fastening bosses.
- The liquid balance weight may be formed with a plurality of fastening holes, and the spider may be formed with a plurality of fastening bosses corresponding to the fastening holes of the liquid balance weight. Accordingly, the liquid balance weight and spider may be fixed to each other as fastening members are inserted through the fastening holes and fastening bosses.
- The liquid balance weight may have a liquid passage extending through portions of the liquid balance weight where the seating recesses are formed.
- The washing machine may further comprise a second liquid balance weight mounted at a surface portion of the drum opposite to the liquid balance weight.
- The drum may be formed with a plurality of fastening holes, and the second liquid balance weight may be formed with a plurality of fastening bosses corresponding to the fastening holes of the drum. Accordingly, the drum and second liquid balance weight may be fixed to each other as fastening members are inserted through the fastening holes and fastening bosses.
- The drum may include: a drum body having curled front and rear ends; a drum front cover configured to be coupled to the curled front end of the drum body, the drum front cover having a laundry entrance/exit opening; and a drum rear cover configured to be coupled to the curled rear end of the drum body.
- The drum rear cover may have a spider insertion portion for allowing the spider to be inserted therein, and a balance weight insertion portion for allowing the liquid balance weight to be inserted therein.
- The drum front cover may have a balance weight insertion portion for allowing the second liquid balance weight to be inserted therein.
- The washing machine having the above described configuration has the following several advantages.
- Firstly, a liquid balance weight is mounted at a surface portion of a drum where a spider is also mounted, and the liquid balance weight has seating recesses for receiving legs of the spider. With this configuration, since the liquid balance weight is able to access the drum to the maximum extent, there is an advantage in that the generation of vibration due to the imbalance of the drum can be minimized without reducing wash capacity and increasing the size of the washing machine.
- Secondly, in the washing machine of the present invention, the liquid balance weight has a liquid passage, which is continuously extended through the interior of portions of the liquid balance weight where the seating recesses are formed. This has an advantage in that liquid can efficiently flow throughout the interior of the liquid balance weight.
- Thirdly, the washing machine of the present invention has a second liquid balance weight mounted at a surface portion of the drum opposite to the liquid balance weight. As a result, the washing machine can compensate for the imbalance of the drum regardless of the position of a subject causing the imbalance.
- Fourthly, in the washing machine of the present invention, a drum rear cover is formed with a spider insertion portion for allowing the spider to be inserted therein and a balance weight insertion portion for allowing the liquid balance weight to be inserted therein, whereas a drum front cover is formed with a balance weight insertion portion for allowing the second liquid balance weight to be inserted therein. This configuration has an advantage in that the volumes of the liquid balance weight and second liquid balance weight can be increased to the maximum extent.
- It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
- The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
- FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional washing machine;
- FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away sectional view of a washing machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating important parts of the washing machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of important parts of the washing machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the coupling structure of a spider and liquid balance weight shown in FIGs. 3 and 4; and
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the coupling structure of a second liquid balance weight shown in FIGs. 3 and 4.
- Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
- FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away sectional view of a washing machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- As shown in FIG. 2, the washing machine according to the present embodiment comprises a
cabinet 10 forming an outer appearance of the washing machine. Thecabinet 10 is formed at a front surface portion thereof with a laundry entrance/exit opening 11. Adoor 12 is pivotally connected by use of a hinge to open and close the laundry entrance/exit opening 11. - Specifically, the
cabinet 10 includes abase 13, acabinet body 14 disposed on thebase 13 for forming opposite lateral surface portions and rear surface portion of the washing machine, acabinet cover 15 disposed in front of thecabinet body 14 for forming the front surface portion of the washing machine, thecabinet cover 15 being provided with the laundry entrance/exit opening 11 anddoor 12, and atop cover 16 disposed at a top of thecabinet body 14. - A
tub 20 is fixedly mounted in thecabinet 10. Thetub 20 is configured to receive wash water therein during a washing or rinsing process. - FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating important parts of the washing machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
- As shown in FIGs. 2 and 3, the
tub 20 includes atub body 22 directly coupled to thecabinet cover 15 by use of fastening members such as screws, and a tub cover 24 coupled to a rear end of thetub body 22 by use of fastening members such as screws. - The
tub body 22 is formed at a front surface portion thereof with anopening 23 such that theopening 23 is located behind the laundry entrance/exit opening 11. - The tub cover 24 is centrally formed with an
opening 25. - As shown in FIGs. 2 and 3, the
tub 20 further includes atub bracket 26 andgasket 28 forming a rear surface portion of thetub 20. Thetub bracket 26 andgasket 38 are configured to close theopening 25 of the tub cover 24. - The
gasket 28 serves to prevent wash water from leaking out of thetub 20 and to absorb vibration or impact being transmitted from thetub bracket 26 to the tub cover 24. For this, thegasket 28 is made of a contractible or expandable elastic material. - The
gasket 28 is formed along the overall outer periphery of thetub bracket 26 and adapted to seal theopening 25 of the tub cover 24. - As shown in FIGs. 2 and 3, a bearing
housing 36 is mounted at the rear surface portion of thetub 20 such that it is coupled to thetub bracket 26 by use of fastening members such as screws. The bearinghousing 36 includes abearing 32 for supporting adrive shaft 46 of amotor 40 that will be explained hereinafter. - The bearing
housing 36 is connected to thecabinet 10 by use ofdampers 50. Also, the bearinghousing 36 is provided withfirst damper brackets 51, whereas thebase 13 of thecabinet 10 is provided withsecond damper brackets 52. Eachdamper 50 is located between the associated first andsecond damper brackets - Here, some of the
dampers 50 are oriented vertically to alleviate vertical vibration or impact, and the other damper(s) 50 are oriented obliquely to alleviate horizontal force or vibration or impact being applied in an oblique direction. - The
motor 40 is mounted to the bearinghousing 36. Themotor 40 is adapted to rotate adrum 60 that will be explained hereinafter. - As shown in FIG. 2, the
motor 40 includes astator 42 coupled to a rear surface of the bearinghousing 36 by use of fastening members such as screws, arotor 44 adapted to be rotated in cooperation with thestator 42, and thedrive shaft 46 mounted to therotor 44. - The
drive shaft 46 penetrates through the bearinghousing 36 to be supported by the bearing 32 while being mounted at a rear end thereof to therotor 44. Also, thedrive shaft 46 penetrates through thetub bracket 26 to be connected to a rear surface portion of thedrum 60. - The
drum 60 serves to receive laundry therein to perform laundry washing, rinsing, dehydrating, and drying processes. Thedrum 60 is rotatably disposed in thetub 20 such that it is supported and rotated by thedrive shaft 46. - The
drum 60 takes the form of a lying cylinder, and has anopening 61 formed at a front surface portion thereof behind the laundry entrance/exit opening 11. Thedrum 60 also has a plurality of through-holes tub 20. A plurality oflifters 64 uniformly protrude inward from an inner peripheral surface of thedrum 60 and are adapted to induce the flow of laundry and wash water. - In the present invention, as shown in FIGs. 2 and 3, a
spider 80 is mounted at the rear surface portion of thedrum 60 such that thedrive shaft 46 is fitted into thespider 80. Also, aliquid balance weight 90 is mounted at the rear surface portion of thedrum 60 where thespider 80 is also mounted, and a secondliquid balance weight 100 is mounted at the front surface portion of thedrum 60 opposite to theliquid balance weight 90. - As shown in FIG. 2, the
spider 80 includes ashaft mount 81 for the mounting of thedrive shaft 46, and a plurality oflegs 82 protruding from theshaft mount 81 to be coupled to thedrum 60 by use of fastening members such as screws. - FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating important parts of the washing machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
- As shown in FIG. 4, the
drum 60 includes adrum body 66 forming a peripheral portion of thedrum 60, adrum front cover 70 coupled to a front end of thedrum body 66 in a curling coupling manner, thefront cover 70 forming a front surface portion of thedrum 60, and a drumrear cover 74 coupled to a rear end of thedrum body 66 in a curling coupling manner, therear cover 74 forming a rear surface portion of thedrum 60. - The
drum body 66 takes the form of a lying hollow cylinder having open front and rear ends. Thedrum body 66 has a curledfront end 67 for the curling coupling of thedrum front cover 70 and a curledrear end 68 for the curling coupling of the drumrear cover 74. - The
drum front cover 70 is centrally formed with theopening 61 such that theopening 61 is protruded forward with respect to thedrum front cover 70. - The
drum front cover 70 is partially inserted into thedrum body 66, and has a forwardlybent rim portion 71. - A distal end of the
rim portion 71 is curled outwardly. With this configuration, thedrum front cover 70 is coupled to thedrum body 66 such that the distal end of therim portion 71 surrounds the curledfront end 67 of thedrum body 66. - The
drum front cover 70 also has a balanceweight insertion portion 72. The balanceweight insertion portion 72 has the same shape as the secondliquid balance weight 100, but is slightly larger than the secondliquid balance weight 100. Accordingly, the secondliquid balance weight 100 is able to be wholly or partially inserted and mounted between theopening 61 and therim portion 71 of thedrum front cover 70. - The drum
rear cover 74 is partially inserted into thedrum body 66, and has a rearwardlybent rim portion 75. - A distal end of the
rim portion 75 is curled outwardly. With this configuration, the drumrear cover 74 is coupled to thedrum body 66 such that the distal end of therim portion 75 surrounds the curledrear end 68 of thedrum body 66. - The drum
rear cover 74 has a rearwardly protrudingportion 76. The rearwardly protrudingportion 76 is configured to define aspider insertion portion 77 and balanceweight insertion portion 78 in the remaining region of the drumrear cover 74. Thespider insertion portion 77 has the same shape as thespider 80, but is slightly larger than thespider 80. Also, the balanceweight insertion portion 78 has the same shape as theliquid balance weight 90, but is slightly larger than theliquid balance weight 90. Accordingly, thespider 80 andliquid balance weight 90 are able to be wholly or partially inserted into thespider insertion portion 77 and liquid balanceweight insertion portion 78 of the drumrear cover 74, respectively. - The
liquid balance weight 90 has a plurality of seating recesses 91 for receiving thelegs 82 of thespider 80, respectively. Forming the seating recesses 91 allows theliquid balance weight 90 to be deeply inserted into the balanceweight insertion portion 78 to the maximum extent. - The number of the seating recesses 91 is equal to that of the
legs 82 of thespider 80, and eachseating recess 91 is slightly larger than eachleg 82 of thespider 80. - FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the coupling structure of the spider and liquid balance weight shown in FIGs. 3 and 4.
- As shown in FIGs. 4 and 5, the
spider 80 is wholly inserted into thespider insertion portion 77 of the drumrear cover 74 from the rear side of the drumrear cover 74. After being inserted, thelegs 82 of thespider 80 are coupled to both the drumrear cover 74 and drumbody 66 by use of a plurality offastening members 83. - Specifically, the
drum body 66 and drumrear cover 74 are perforated withfastening holes fastening holes rear cover 74 is inserted into thedrum body 66. Eachleg 82 of thespider 80 has afastening hole 82A formed at an outer end position thereof such that thefastening hole 82A is aligned with the associatedfastening holes spider 80 is inserted into the drumrear cover 74. With this configuration, thespider 80 is able to be assembled to thedrum 60 asfastening members 83 are inwardly inserted and fastened into the fastening holes 66A, 74A, and 82A in this sequence from the outer side of the periphery of thedrum 60. - As shown in FIG. 5, the
liquid balance weight 90 has a plurality ofbaffles 90A uniformly formed therein and apassage 90B for allowing a liquid S such as salt water filled in theliquid balance weight 90 to flow in a circumferential direction of theliquid balance weight 90. - The
passage 90B of theliquid balance weight 90 is continuously extended through portions of theliquid balance weight 90 where the respective seating recesses 91 are formed. Accordingly, the liquid S such as salt water is able to flow through the interior of the portions of theliquid balance weight 90 where the seating recesses 91 are formed. - As shown in FIGs. 4 and 5, the
liquid balance weight 90 is wholly or partially inserted into the balanceweight insertion portion 78 of the drumrear cover 74 from the rear side of the drumrear cover 74. After being inserted, theliquid balance weight 90 is coupled to thespider 80 by use offastening members 92. - Specifically, the
spider 80 is formed with a plurality of fastening bosses 82B at therespective legs 82. Also, theliquid balance weight 90 is provided with a plurality offastening pieces 94 each having afastening hole 93 such that thefastening pieces 94 protrude inward from an inner periphery of theliquid balance weight 90. With this configuration, theliquid balance weight 90 is able to be assembled to thespider 80 as thefastening members 92 are fastened through the fastening holes 93 of thefastening pieces 94 and the fastening bosses 82B in this sequence from the rear side of theliquid balance weight 90. - In addition to being assembled to the
spider 80, theliquid balance weight 90 is coupled to thedrum 60 by use offastening members 95. - Specifically, the
drum body 66 and drumrear cover 74 are perforated withfastening holes rear cover 74 is inserted into thedrum body 66. Theliquid balance weight 90 is formed withfastening bosses 96 such that thefastening bosses 96 are aligned with the fastening holes 66B and 74B when theliquid balance weight 90 is inserted into the drumrear cover 74. With this configuration, theliquid balance weight 90 is able to be assembled to thedrum 60 as thefastening members 95 are inwardly inserted and fastened into the fastening holes 66B, 74B, andfastening bosses 96 in this sequence from the outer side of the periphery of thedrum 60. - FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the coupling structure of the second liquid balance weight shown in FIGs. 3 and 4.
- As shown in FIG. 6, the second
liquid balance weight 100 has a plurality ofbaffles 100A uniformly formed therein and apassage 100B for allowing a liquid S' such as salt water filled in the secondliquid balance weight 100 to flow in a circumferential direction of the secondliquid balance weight 100. - As shown in FIGs. 4 and 6, the second
liquid balance weight 100 is wholly or partially inserted into the balanceweight insertion portion 72 of thedrum front cover 70 from the front side of thedrum front cover 70. After being inserted, the secondliquid balance weight 100 is coupled to thedrum 60 by use offastening members 101. - Specifically, the
drum body 66 and drumfront cover 70 are perforated withfastening holes fastening holes drum front cover 70 is inserted into thedrum body 66. Also, the secondliquid balance weight 100 has a plurality offastening bosses 102 uniformly arranged along an outer periphery thereof. With this configuration, the secondliquid balance weight 100 is able to be assembled to thedrum 60 as thefastening members 101 are inwardly inserted and fastened through the fastening holes 66C, 70A, andfastening bosses 102 in this sequence from the outer side of the periphery of thedrum 60,. - Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention having the above described configuration will be explained.
- First, if the
motor 40 is driven, thedrive shaft 46 is rotated, and simultaneously, thespider 80 anddrum 60 are rotated. - In accordance with the rotation of the
drum 60, laundry received in thedrum 60 is subjected to washing, rinsing, dehydrating, and drying processes, and theliquid balance weight 90 and secondliquid balance weight 100 operate to compensate for the imbalance of thedrum 60. - Now, a procedure for compensating for the imbalance of the
drum 60 using theliquid balance weight 90 and secondliquid balance weight 100 will be explained in more detail. - First, if laundry in the
drum 60 is eccentrically clustered in a front region of thedrum 60, an eccentric force caused by the laundry can be mostly compensated by the secondliquid balance weight 100. In this case, theliquid balance weight 90 has a lesser effect on the compensation of the eccentric force as compared to the secondliquid balance weight 100. - Specifically, the liquid S' filled in the second
liquid balance weight 100 is moved in a direction opposite to the laundry in order to compensate for the eccentric force caused by the laundry. Thereby, the liquid S' is placed on approximately the same axis as the laundry, thereby acting to compensate for the eccentric force caused by the laundry. - Meanwhile, the liquid S filled in the
liquid balance weight 90 is moved in a direction opposite to the laundry, namely, in a direction diagonally opposite to the laundry, in order to compensate for the eccentric force caused by the laundry. A force generated by the liquid S, which is moved in a diagonally opposite direction with respect to the laundry, has a difference direction from that of the eccentric force caused by the laundry. Therefore, the liquid S filled in theliquid balance weight 90 has a lesser ability to compensate for the eccentric force as compared to the liquid S' filled in the secondliquid balance weight 100. - On the other hand, if laundry in the
drum 60 is eccentrically clustered in a rear region of thedrum 60, an eccentric force caused by the laundry can be mostly compensated by theliquid balance weight 90. In this case, the secondliquid balance weight 100 has a lesser effect on the compensation of the eccentric force as compared to theliquid balance weight 90. - Specifically, the liquid S filled in the
liquid balance weight 90 is moved in a direction opposite to the laundry in order to compensate for the eccentric force caused by the laundry. Thereby, the liquid S is placed on approximately the same axis as the laundry, thereby acting to compensate for the eccentric force caused by the laundry. - Meanwhile, the liquid S' filled in the second
liquid balance weight 100 is moved in a direction opposite to the laundry, namely, in a direction diagonally opposite to the laundry, in order to compensate for the eccentric force caused by the laundry. A force generated by the liquid S', which is moved in a diagonally opposite direction with respect to the laundry, has a difference direction from that of the eccentric force caused by the laundry. Therefore, the liquid S' filled in the secondliquid balance weight 100 has a lesser ability to compensate for the eccentric force as compared to the liquid S filled in theliquid balance weight 90. - That is, the
liquid balance weight 90 and secondliquid balance weight 100 are complementary to each other. - Meanwhile, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above described embodiment, and a variety of modifications thereof can be provided. For example, the
drum 60 may be disposed in a transversal direction other than a longitudinal direction, or may be disposed vertically or obliquely. Also, thetub 20 may be supported in thecabinet 10 by use of springs or dampers in a conventional shock absorbing manner, rather than being directly fixed to thecabinet 10. - It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims (11)
- A washing machine comprising:a drum for receiving laundry;a spider mounted at a surface portion of the drum and having a plurality of legs;a drive shaft mounted to the spider; anda liquid balance weight mounted at the surface portion of the drum where the spider is also mounted,wherein the liquid balance weight has a plurality of seating recesses for receiving the plurality of legs of the spider, respectively.
- The washing machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein:the drum is formed with a plurality of fastening holes;the liquid balance weight is formed with a plurality of fastening bosses corresponding to the fastening holes of the drum; andthe drum and liquid balance weight are fixed to each other as fastening members are inserted through the fastening holes and fastening bosses.
- The washing machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein:the liquid balance weight is formed with a plurality of fastening holes;the spider is formed with a plurality of fastening bosses corresponding to the fastening holes of the liquid balance weight; andthe liquid balance weight and spider are fixed to each other as fastening members are inserted through the fastening holes and fastening bosses.
- The washing machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liquid balance weight has a liquid passage extending through portions of the liquid balance weight where the seating recesses are formed.
- The washing machine as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:a second liquid balance weight mounted at a surface portion of the drum opposite to the liquid balance weight.
- The washing machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein:the drum is formed with a plurality of fastening holes;the second liquid balance weight is formed with a plurality of fastening bosses corresponding to the fastening holes of the drum; andthe drum and second liquid balance weight are fixed to each other as fastening members are inserted through the fastening holes and fastening bosses.
- The washing machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein the drum comprises:a drum body having curled front and rear ends;a drum front cover configured to be coupled to the curled front end of the drum body, the drum front cover having a laundry entrance/exit opening; anda drum rear cover configured to be coupled to the curled rear end of the drum body.
- The washing machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein the drum rear cover has a spider insertion portion for allowing the spider to be inserted therein, and a balance weight insertion portion for allowing the liquid balance weight to be inserted therein.
- The washing machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein the drum front cover has a balance weight insertion portion for allowing the second liquid balance weight to be inserted therein.
- A washing machine comprising:a tub for receiving wash water therein;a drum rotatably disposed in the tub;a spider mounted at a surface portion of the drum and having a plurality of legs;a drive shaft mounted to the spider;a liquid balance weight mounted at the surface portion of the drum where the spider is also mounted, the liquid balance weight having a plurality of seating recesses for receiving the plurality of legs of the spider, respectively;a bearing housing for supporting the drive shaft; anda damping device connected to the bearing housing.
- The washing machine as set forth in claim 10, wherein the tub has a tub body fixedly mounted to a cabinet.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR1020050039356A KR100686017B1 (en) | 2005-05-11 | 2005-05-11 | Washing machine |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1722025A1 true EP1722025A1 (en) | 2006-11-15 |
EP1722025B1 EP1722025B1 (en) | 2011-12-21 |
Family
ID=36748582
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP06009651A Active EP1722025B1 (en) | 2005-05-11 | 2006-05-10 | Washing machine |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20060254321A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1722025B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4824466B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR100686017B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1861892B (en) |
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2006
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- 2006-05-10 US US11/430,995 patent/US20060254321A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2006-05-11 JP JP2006132732A patent/JP4824466B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2006-05-11 CN CN2006100817889A patent/CN1861892B/en active Active
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US5280660A (en) * | 1992-10-05 | 1994-01-25 | Pellerin Milnor Corporation | Centrifugal extracting machine having balancing system |
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Cited By (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1882771A1 (en) | 2006-07-25 | 2008-01-30 | Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. | Laundry machine with a fluid balance ring |
WO2008012076A1 (en) * | 2006-07-25 | 2008-01-31 | Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. | Laundry machine with a fluid balance ring |
US9447534B2 (en) | 2008-12-30 | 2016-09-20 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry machine |
CN102439213B (en) * | 2008-12-31 | 2014-10-01 | Lg电子株式会社 | Laundry machine |
CN102439213A (en) * | 2008-12-31 | 2012-05-02 | Lg电子株式会社 | Laundry machine |
AU2009334060B2 (en) * | 2008-12-31 | 2013-08-29 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry machine |
EP2387636A4 (en) * | 2008-12-31 | 2014-04-09 | Lg Electronics Inc | Laundry machine |
WO2010077090A3 (en) * | 2008-12-31 | 2011-11-17 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry machine |
EP2387636A2 (en) * | 2008-12-31 | 2011-11-23 | LG Electronics Inc. | Laundry machine |
US9103063B2 (en) | 2009-05-28 | 2015-08-11 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry machine with suspension assembly |
US9051679B2 (en) | 2009-05-28 | 2015-06-09 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry machine |
US9194073B2 (en) | 2009-05-28 | 2015-11-24 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry machine having a drying function |
US9200837B2 (en) | 2009-05-28 | 2015-12-01 | Lg Electronics, Inc. | Laundry machine having a drying function |
US9200838B2 (en) | 2009-05-28 | 2015-12-01 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry machine having a drying function |
US9255353B2 (en) | 2009-05-28 | 2016-02-09 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry machine having a drying function |
US9284677B2 (en) | 2009-05-28 | 2016-03-15 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry machine |
US9422657B2 (en) | 2009-05-28 | 2016-08-23 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Washing machine |
US8800165B2 (en) | 2009-05-28 | 2014-08-12 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry machine having a drying function |
US9828715B2 (en) | 2009-05-28 | 2017-11-28 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry maching having a drying function |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
KR20060117528A (en) | 2006-11-17 |
CN1861892B (en) | 2013-06-19 |
JP4824466B2 (en) | 2011-11-30 |
EP1722025B1 (en) | 2011-12-21 |
CN1861892A (en) | 2006-11-15 |
JP2006314797A (en) | 2006-11-24 |
KR100686017B1 (en) | 2007-02-26 |
US20060254321A1 (en) | 2006-11-16 |
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