EP4048833A1 - Washing machine and a piston damper therefore - Google Patents
Washing machine and a piston damper thereforeInfo
- Publication number
- EP4048833A1 EP4048833A1 EP19794546.2A EP19794546A EP4048833A1 EP 4048833 A1 EP4048833 A1 EP 4048833A1 EP 19794546 A EP19794546 A EP 19794546A EP 4048833 A1 EP4048833 A1 EP 4048833A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- washing machine
- piston
- drum
- rod
- cylinder
- 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.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 26
- 238000010412 laundry washing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 238000013016 damping Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 11
- 230000010355 oscillation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
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
- D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F2103/44—Current or voltage
- D06F2103/46—Current or voltage of the motor driving the drum
-
- 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
- D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
-
- 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
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to a laundry washing machine comprising a rotatable drum, and a suspension arrangement devised to carry the drum in relation to a base structure, located under the washing machine and on which the washing machine rests, wherein the suspension arrangement comprises at least one piston damper.
- washing machines are widely used, for instance as washing machines suitable for professional use.
- One problem with such machines is how to reduce vibrations and transmission of force to the floor or the like on which the machine rests.
- One object of the present disclosure is therefore to provide a washing machine with reduced vibrations and transmission of force to the floor caused by movements of the drum inside the machine.
- This object is achieved by means of a machine as defined in claim 1. More specifically, in a machine of the initially mentioned kind there is provided a speed sensing arrangement, determining the rotating speed of the drum, and the piston damper comprises a clamp arrangement. Thanks to the clamp arrangement, the piston damper is switchable between a high-friction and a low- friction state, based on the determined rotating speed, when the rotating speed increases, reaching a threshold value.
- the dynamic properties of the suspension arrangement can be adapted such that an increased friction is used at low rotation speeds, such as during washing and rinsing, while a lower friction is used at high speeds, typically during extraction of water, thereby providing decreased vibrations and transmission of forces.
- the piston damper may comprise a cylinder, a piston, moveable in the cylinder, and a rod, attached to the piston and extending out of the cylinder, and the clamp arrangement may be devised to selectively clasp or release the rod to increase or decrease, respectively, the friction of the piston damper.
- the clamp arrangement may comprise a first portion attached to the cylinder and a second portion connected, at a proximal end, to the first portion by means of a hinge and may be pivotable in relation to the first part to selectively clasp or release the rod.
- a distal end of the second portion may be moved by means of an actuator to selectively clasp or release the rod, and typically the actuator may a solenoid.
- the determining of the rotating speed of the drum may be based on a washing schedule or may be based on one or more accelerometers located on the drum, or on currents driving a motor of the drum.
- the present disclosure also considers a piston damper for a laundry washing machine comprising a cylinder, a piston, moveable in the cylinder, and a rod, attached to the piston and extending out of the cylinder, where a clamp arrangement is devised to selectively clasp or release the rod to increase or decrease, respectively, the friction of the piston damper.
- the clamp arrangement may comprise a first portion, attached to the cylinder and a second portion connected, at a proximal end, to the first portion by means of a hinge and being pivotable in relation to the first part to selectively clasp or release the rod.
- a distal end of the second portion may be moved by means of an actuator to selectively clasp or release the rod.
- the actuator may be a solenoid.
- a setting screw is provided that determine a maximum friction of the piston.
- FIG 1 shows a perspective view of a washing machine.
- Fig 2 shows a perspective view of suspension arrangement carrying a drum.
- Fig 3 illustrates schematically a suspension arrangement and enlarged a conventional damper thereof.
- Fig 4 shows a perspective view of semi-active damper according to the present disclosure.
- Fig 5A and 5B show the clamp parts for the damper of fig 4.
- Figs 6 and 7 show the semi-active damper in its two states.
- Fig 8 illustrates transmission of forces to ground for different scenarios. Detailed description
- the present disclosure relates generally to a washing machine 1 , an example of which is shown in fig 1.
- the washing machine comprises an outer housing 3 and rests on a base structure 5, which is typically a floor, but in principle could be a rack or another machine, for instance.
- a door 9 At a front side 7 of the washing machine, there is located a door 9 through which the interior of a drum is accessible.
- a washing machine There also exist machines where laundry is inserted from the top of the machine, and the present disclosure is equally relevant to such machines.
- Fig 2 shows a suspension arrangement carrying a rotatable drum 11 inside the housing 3 of fig 1.
- the rotatable drum 11 is located inside a typically cylindrical drum housing 13, which is carried by a drum frame 15, which in turn is carried by a suspension arrangement 17, 19, comprising dampers 17 and springs 19 connecting the drum frame 15 to a bottom part 21 of the machine that rests on the base structure/floor 5.
- a suspension arrangement 17, 19, comprising dampers 17 and springs 19 connecting the drum frame 15 to a bottom part 21 of the machine that rests on the base structure/floor 5.
- damper/spring 17/19 combination is used in each corner, the machine having a rectangular floor layout.
- Illustrated in fig 2 is a transport lock plate 23 that rigidly connects the drum frame 15 to the bottom part 21 until the machine 1 is installed in a location where the machine is to be used. Then, the transport lock plate 23 is removed such that the drum 11 and the drum frame 15 are carried by the dampers 17 and springs 19, generally forming a parallel spring-damper mass system as is schematically illustrated in fig 3. This is done to minimize ground force transmission from the drum rotating with laundry therein, in order to avoid e.g. the machine 1 moving on the floor and making exces sive noise.
- the illustrated enlarged portion of fig 3 shows the damper 17, which very schematically has first and second anchor holes 27, one at the end of a cylinder 29 and one at the end of a rod 31 , extending out of the cylinder 29.
- the rod 31 is connected to a piston 20 located inside the cylinder and being provided with orifices.
- the rod 31 is capable of moving the piston inside the cylinder 29 thereby displacing a fluid inside the cylinder through the orifices of the piston as is well known per se. Other ways of producing such friction in a damper exist.
- the present disclosure is related to an arrangement for reducing washing machine drum oscillations.
- a washing machine 1 of the above described kind non-uniform mass distribution of laundry inside the rotating drum generates a centrifugal force acting on the system, which produces drum oscillations and transmission of dynamic forces to the base structure on which the machine rests.
- a semi-active damper is here meant a damper capable of being switched between two values of damping in contrast to the passive damper schematically illustrated in fig 3.
- the semi-active damper 33 comprises first and second anchor holes 27, a cylinder 29 and o a rod 31 , extending out of the cylinder 29, as in a passive damper.
- the semi-active damper comprises a clamp arrangement 35, 37, which is devised to selectively increase or decrease the damper’s friction.
- the clamp arrangement illustrated in fig 4 comprises a first, fixed portion 35, which is attached to the cylinder 29 of the damper, typically integrally formed therewith as shown in fig 5A.
- the clamp arrangement further comprises a second portion 37, also shown in fig 5B.
- the first and second clamp portion 35, 37 comprise hinge features 41 that together with a protruding pin shown in fig 4 form a hinge 39.
- a fixed, L-shaped bracket 43 is attached to the first clamp portion 35, screw holes 45 may be provided in the clamp portion 35 to facilitate this, as shown in fig 5A.
- screw holes may be provided also in the second clamp portion 37, and as shown in fig 4 a bracket 47 may be attached thereto, which is movable in relation to the fixed bracket 43, thanks to the second clamp portion 37, which is pivotably connected, at a proximal end, to the first portion 35 by means of a hinge 39.
- first and second clamp portions 35, 37 may be made in plastic or cast metal, while the brackets 43, 47 may be made of sheet metal.
- the first and second clamp portions 35, 37 are thus moveable in relation to each other by moving the moveable bracket 47 in relation to the fixed bracket 43, and are capable of clasping the rod 31 , thereby significantly increasing the friction caused when moving the rod 31 linearly in relation to the cylinder 29.
- inserts 49 may be provided at the interior sides of the clamp portions 35, 37 to provide surfaces with properties suitable for increasing the friction against the damper cylinder rod 31.
- the distal end of the second clamp portion 37 may be moved by means of an actuator 51 to selectively clasp or release the rod 31.
- the actuator 51 may be attached to the fixed, L-shaped bracket 43, and a piston (53, of. figs 6-7) of the actuator may be connected to the moveable bracket 47 close to the end most distant from the hinge 39.
- the actuator may be a solenoid, although other linear actuators are conceivable.
- Figs 6 and 7 illustrate schematically the operation of the semi-active damper in its two states.
- the damper is in its closed position with the clamp portions 35, 37 clasping the damper rod 31.
- the tightness of the clasping may be determined by means of a screw 55, which sets a minimum distance in between the brackets 43,
- the solenoid 51 pulls the solenoid piston 53 to its most retracted position, thereby achieving the clasping of the rod 31.
- the solenoid 51 (or other actuator) is controlled by a control unit 57, which is connected to a speed sensing arrangement 59.
- the speed sensing arrangement 59 determines the rotating speed of the washing machine drum. When the rotating speed increases, reaching a threshold value, the control unit activates the solenoid 51 to force the solenoid piston 53 into an extended position, as shown in fig 7, thereby releasing the clasping of the rod 31.
- the speed sensing arrangement 59 may comprise an rpm meter connected to the drum or accelerometers on the drum. As a further alternative, the speed may be determined simply by determining which phase of the washing cycle presently is processed, e.g. rinsing or extracting, which implies different drum speeds.
- the mechanism of the semi-active dampers is used to optimize the behavior of the washing machine over a broad range of drum rotation speeds. At speeds close to the drum’s resonance speed, high friction is preferable, as this dissipates a lot of the vibration energy.
- the drum’s resonance speed depends on the weight and the distribution of the laundry in the drum and is therefore not predetermined, but usually is close to the few tens of revolutions per minute that are used during the washing and rinsing phases. However, during the extraction phase, where the drum speed is much higher, lower friction is preferred as this prevents transmission of forces to the ground at higher vibration frequencies.
- Fig 8 illustrates transmission of forces to ground for different scenarios.
- Plot 61 shows the result where no friction at all is applied e.g. where the damper is removed.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)
- Accessory Of Washing/Drying Machine, Commercial Washing/Drying Machine, Other Washing/Drying Machine (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2019/079221 WO2021078394A1 (en) | 2019-10-25 | 2019-10-25 | Washing machine and a piston damper therefore |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP4048833A1 true EP4048833A1 (en) | 2022-08-31 |
Family
ID=68344879
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19794546.2A Pending EP4048833A1 (en) | 2019-10-25 | 2019-10-25 | Washing machine and a piston damper therefore |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP4048833A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2021078394A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102004047999A1 (en) * | 2004-10-01 | 2006-04-06 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | Friction damper device for a washing machine |
ITMI20080237A1 (en) * | 2008-02-15 | 2009-08-16 | Cima Compagnia Italiana Molle A Acciaio Spa | CLUTCH SHOCK ABSORBER FOR WASHING MACHINES |
US10011936B2 (en) * | 2012-07-30 | 2018-07-03 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry processing machine |
EP2757282B1 (en) * | 2013-01-21 | 2018-03-14 | Aksistem Elektromekanik Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti. | Electromechanical shock absorber for washing machines |
-
2019
- 2019-10-25 WO PCT/EP2019/079221 patent/WO2021078394A1/en unknown
- 2019-10-25 EP EP19794546.2A patent/EP4048833A1/en active Pending
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2021078394A1 (en) | 2021-04-29 |
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Legal Events
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