GB2092260A

GB2092260A - Shock Absorber with an Internal Guide, Particularly for Washing Machines

Info

Publication number: GB2092260A
Application number: GB8138732A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: San Giorgio Elettrodomestici SpA
Current assignee: San Giorgio Elettrodomestici SpA
Priority date: 1980-12-30
Filing date: 1981-12-23
Publication date: 1982-08-11
Also published as: IT8023781V0; FR2497312A3; GB2092260B; FR2497312B3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine shock absorber 10 which comprises a guide 11 slidable on a longitudinal rod 12, housed in a longitudinal member 14, having in an intermediate position an abutment flange 15 for a spring 25 acting against the base of a sleeve 14 which is coaxially rigid with the rod and slidable on the tubular member; in the sleeve there are provided annular apertures 16, in each of which there is housed a friction pad 17 pressed against the tubular member by a resilient element 18 fixed to the sleeve. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Shock Absorber with an Internal Guide Particularly for Washing Machine This invention relates to an advantageous shock absorber for washing machines. In particular it relates to that type of shock absorber composed of a resilient member constituted by a spring, and a dissipator member constituted by friction pads.

The importance of these shock absorbers is well known in damping the oscillations of the sealed cylindrical tub of the washing machine, this tub being mounted on them. For this reason, the attention of designers in this branch is often concentrated on such shock absorbers, in seeking increasingly improved-models.

The object of the present invention is to propose a washing machine shock absorber which effectively serves its purpose while at the same time being of small dimensions so that it can be easily housed in the narrow inner spaces of a washing machine.

This object is attained by a washing machine shock absorber, characterised by comprising a guide slidable on a longitudinal rod and housed in a tubular member, said guide comprising in an intermediate position an abutment flange for a spring acting against the base of a sleeve which is coaxially rigid with the rod and slidable on the tubular member, in said sleeve there being provided annular apertures, in each of which there is housed a friction pad pressed against the tubular member by a resilient element fixed to the sleeve.

The characteristics of the present invention will be more apparent-from the description of one embodiment given hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which~ Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a shock absorber according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged section through the shock absorber on the line Il-li of Figure 1: Figure 3 is an enlarged partial view of the shock absorber in the direction of thearrow F of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view of the detail of Figure 3 in the direction of the arrow G.

By way of non-limiting example, a washing machine shock absorber according to the invention, indicated overall by 10, comprises a guide 11 slidable on a longitudinal rod 12 and contained in a tubular member 13 on which a rigid sleeve 14-rigidly connected to the rod 12 slides.

The guide 11, rod 12, member 13 and sleeve 14 are coaxial.

in an intermediate position, the guide 11 comprises an abutment flange 1 5 for a spring 25 which reacts against the base of the sleeve 14 and winds about the rod 12 and guide 1 1.

Two annular opposing apertures 16 are provided in the walls of the sleeve 14 is proximity to its mouth. Each aperture 16 houses a friction pad 17, which is kept pressed against the walls of the tubular member 13 by a resilient element 18.

The resilient element 18 is constituted by an arcuate strip which comprises two slots 19 at its ends and cut in its central portion substantially as an H-shaped pattern so as to form two opposing fins 20, as clearly shown in Figure 3. The strip is fixed to the sleeve 14 by hooking its ends to two projections 21 on the sleeve, each of which becomes inserted into one of the two slots 19. The two fins exert a pressure on a raised portion 22 of the pad 17, which consequently brakes the path of travel of the tubular member 13 in the sleeve 14.

At its ends, the shock absorber 10 comprises two pairs of discs 23. The discs 23 of one pair are arranged to grip a lug disposed between them and rigid with a washing machine frame, while the discs 23 of the other pair are arranged to grip a lug rigid with the washing machine tub. Two bolts 24, one for each pair, tighten the discs 23 against each other. The said lugs and washing machine are not shown.

On the base of the guide 11 there is a rubber limiting buffer 30, which provides elasticity for the shock absorber when the washing machine tub is full of water and the shock absorber is in its end-of-stroke position.

A shock absorber of this construction effe#ctively satisfies its purpose while at the same time is of small longitudinal dimensions because of the fact that the spring 25 is partly contained in the tubular member 13.

The guide 11 keeps the spring 25 in position against the effect of any original deviation or deviation derived from compression.

It is apparent that modifications and additions can be made to the present embodiment described by way of non-limiting example. In particular, the shape of the individual component parts of the shock absorber 10 can be suitably modified according to the various requirements.

Moreover, resilient elements equivalent to the arcuate strips can be provided, for example C springs, elastic toroidal-rings or the like. Finally, more than two apertures 16 of smaller dimensions than those illustrated can be provided in the sleeve 14, with corresponding friction pads and resilient pressing elements.

Claims

1. A washing machine shock absorber, characterised by comprising a guide slidable on a longitudinal rod and housed in a longitudinal member, said guide comprising in an intermediate position an abutment flange for a spring acting against the base of a sleeve which is coaxialiy rigid with the rod and slidable on the tubular member, in said sleeve there being provided annular apertures, in each of which there is housed a friction pad pressed against the tubular member by a resilient element fixed to the sleeve.

2. A shock absorber as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said resilient element is essentially constituted by an arcuate strip comprising slots at its ends for hooking the strip

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Shock Absorber with an Internal Guide Particularly for Washing Machine This invention relates to an advantageous shock absorber for washing machines. In particular it relates to that type of shock absorber composed of a resilient member constituted by a spring, and a dissipator member constituted by friction pads. The importance of these shock absorbers is well known in damping the oscillations of the sealed cylindrical tub of the washing machine, this tub being mounted on them. For this reason, the attention of designers in this branch is often concentrated on such shock absorbers, in seeking increasingly improved-models. The object of the present invention is to propose a washing machine shock absorber which effectively serves its purpose while at the same time being of small dimensions so that it can be easily housed in the narrow inner spaces of a washing machine. This object is attained by a washing machine shock absorber, characterised by comprising a guide slidable on a longitudinal rod and housed in a tubular member, said guide comprising in an intermediate position an abutment flange for a spring acting against the base of a sleeve which is coaxially rigid with the rod and slidable on the tubular member, in said sleeve there being provided annular apertures, in each of which there is housed a friction pad pressed against the tubular member by a resilient element fixed to the sleeve. The characteristics of the present invention will be more apparent-from the description of one embodiment given hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which~ Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a shock absorber according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged section through the shock absorber on the line Il-li of Figure 1: Figure 3 is an enlarged partial view of the shock absorber in the direction of thearrow F of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view of the detail of Figure 3 in the direction of the arrow G. By way of non-limiting example, a washing machine shock absorber according to the invention, indicated overall by 10, comprises a guide 11 slidable on a longitudinal rod 12 and contained in a tubular member 13 on which a rigid sleeve 14-rigidly connected to the rod 12 slides. The guide 11, rod 12, member 13 and sleeve 14 are coaxial. in an intermediate position, the guide 11 comprises an abutment flange 1 5 for a spring 25 which reacts against the base of the sleeve 14 and winds about the rod 12 and guide 1 1. Two annular opposing apertures 16 are provided in the walls of the sleeve 14 is proximity to its mouth. Each aperture 16 houses a friction pad 17, which is kept pressed against the walls of the tubular member 13 by a resilient element 18. The resilient element 18 is constituted by an arcuate strip which comprises two slots 19 at its ends and cut in its central portion substantially as an H-shaped pattern so as to form two opposing fins 20, as clearly shown in Figure 3. The strip is fixed to the sleeve 14 by hooking its ends to two projections 21 on the sleeve, each of which becomes inserted into one of the two slots 19. The two fins exert a pressure on a raised portion 22 of the pad 17, which consequently brakes the path of travel of the tubular member 13 in the sleeve 14. At its ends, the shock absorber 10 comprises two pairs of discs 23. The discs 23 of one pair are arranged to grip a lug disposed between them and rigid with a washing machine frame, while the discs 23 of the other pair are arranged to grip a lug rigid with the washing machine tub. Two bolts 24, one for each pair, tighten the discs 23 against each other. The said lugs and washing machine are not shown. On the base of the guide 11 there is a rubber limiting buffer 30, which provides elasticity for the shock absorber when the washing machine tub is full of water and the shock absorber is in its end-of-stroke position. A shock absorber of this construction effe#ctively satisfies its purpose while at the same time is of small longitudinal dimensions because of the fact that the spring 25 is partly contained in the tubular member 13. The guide 11 keeps the spring 25 in position against the effect of any original deviation or deviation derived from compression. It is apparent that modifications and additions can be made to the present embodiment described by way of non-limiting example. In particular, the shape of the individual component parts of the shock absorber 10 can be suitably modified according to the various requirements. Moreover, resilient elements equivalent to the arcuate strips can be provided, for example C springs, elastic toroidal-rings or the like. Finally, more than two apertures 16 of smaller dimensions than those illustrated can be provided in the sleeve 14, with corresponding friction pads and resilient pressing elements. Claims

2. A shock absorber as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said resilient element is essentially constituted by an arcuate strip comprising slots at its ends for hooking the strip to corresponding projections on the sleeve, and cut in its central portion in accordance with a substantially H-shaped pattern to form two fins which press against the friction pad.

3. A shock absorber as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that two annular apertures are provided in said sleeve in proximity to its mouth and in opposing positions.