JP2011024847A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably reduce vibration from the start of dehydration to stationary high speed rotation. <P>SOLUTION: A fluid balancer 41 provided in a washing and spinning tub 34 includes: a working fluid 44; a plurality of liquid storage chamber 42 for storing the working fluid 44; and a communication path 45 which is formed on the inner periphery side of the fluid balancer 41 to allow the working fluid in the liquid storage chamber 42 to move therein. The working fluid 44 is composed of a first fluid 44a and a second fluid 44b. The specific gravity of the first fluid 44a is set to be larger than the specific gravity of the second fluid 44b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine that performs washing, rinsing, and dewatering of clothes by rotation of a drum.

  Conventionally, this type of washing machine is provided with a fluid balancer for correcting an eccentric load caused by clothes on a drum (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 8 shows a conventional washing machine described in Patent Document 1. In FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the washing machine body 1, the water tank 4 supported by the suspension 2 and the damper 3 in the washing machine body 1 and provided with bearings on the bottom surface, and the rotating shaft on the bottom surface, the rotating shaft , A pulley attached to the rotating shaft and disposed outside the water tank 4, and a motor 7 that drives the drum 5 via the pulley and the belt 6. A plurality of radially separated fluid balancers 8 and 9 are provided on the peripheral edge of the end of the drum 5 in the central axis direction. Inside the fluid balancers 8 and 9, communication holes 10 having different areas are formed on the outer peripheral side. Thus, the partition plate 11 is provided so that the flow resistance of the internal fluid is different.

JP-A-4-240488

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, when washing and rinsing are performed and dehydration is performed, the fluid of the fluid balancer is distributed on the side of the eccentric load of the garment until resonance and the eccentric load is increased, resulting in a large dehydration vibration. Was. In addition, even if the fluid balancer fluid is distributed on the opposite side of the eccentric load of the garment and the eccentric load is corrected by passing through the resonance, there is a communication hole on the outer peripheral side of the fluid balancer. The problem is that the fluid moves and the vibration state becomes unstable. Further, in order to improve the dewatering performance, if the dewatering rotation speed is further increased, the next resonance is approached, the fluid moves again to the eccentric load side, the eccentric load increases, and the vibration of the water tank 4 increases. .

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of reducing vibration from a low-speed rotation at the start of dehydration to a steady high-speed rotation.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the washing machine of the present invention includes a fluid balancer provided in a washing and dewatering tub, a working fluid, a plurality of storage chambers for storing the working fluid, and the fluid balancer. A communication passage formed on the inner peripheral side through which the working fluid in the liquid storage chamber moves; the working fluid is composed of a first fluid and a second fluid; and the specific gravity of the first fluid is It is heavier than the specific gravity of fluid No. 2.

As a result, the working fluid of the fluid balancer tries to move to the eccentric load side of the garment until the resonance of the start of dehydration, but the working fluid moves due to the resistance generated when passing through the communication path formed on the inner peripheral side of the fluid balancer. The resonance can pass before moving to the eccentric load side. At steady high speed, the working fluid of the fluid balancer tries to move again toward the eccentric load side of the garment as it approaches the next resonance, but the first fluid with a high specific gravity is pressed against the outer wall of the fluid balancer by centrifugal force. Only the second fluid having a low specific gravity moves through the communication path, and the increase in the eccentric load can be reduced, so that the deterioration of the vibration of the outer tub can be minimized. Therefore, it is possible to stably reduce the vibration from the low speed at the start of dehydration to the steady high speed.

  The washing machine of the present invention can fix most of the mass of the working fluid on the opposite side of the eccentric load of the garment from the low speed at the start of dehydration to the steady high speed, and ensures dehydration vibration from the start of dehydration to the steady rotation. Can be reduced.

Sectional drawing of the washing machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention Cross section of the fluid balancer of the washing machine Sectional drawing of the fluid balancer of the washing machine in Embodiment 2 of this invention Sectional drawing of the fluid balancer of the washing machine in Embodiment 3 of this invention Sectional drawing of the fluid balancer of the washing machine in Embodiment 4 of this invention Sectional drawing of the fluid balancer of the washing machine in Embodiment 5 of this invention Sectional drawing of the fluid balancer of the washing machine in Embodiment 7 of this invention Cross section of a conventional washing machine

  The first invention includes an outer tub, a washing and dewatering tub that is rotatably disposed in the outer tub in a state where a rotation shaft is horizontal or inclined, and a fluid balancer provided in the washing and dehydrating tub. Driving means for rotating the washing and dewatering tub, and the fluid balancer is formed on the inner peripheral side of the fluid balancer, a plurality of fluid storage chambers that store the working fluid, and the fluid balancer. The working fluid is composed of a first fluid and a second fluid, and the specific gravity of the first fluid is heavier than the specific gravity of the second fluid. The mass of the working fluid can be fixed on the opposite side of the eccentric load of the garment from the low speed at the start of dehydration to the steady high speed, and the dehydration vibration can be reduced from the start of dehydration to the steady rotation.

  In the second invention, in particular, the working fluid of the first invention has substantially the same amount of the first fluid and the second fluid, thereby increasing the specific gravity of the working fluid and increasing the correction force of the fluid balancer. It is possible to correct most of the eccentric load of the garment and further reduce the dehydration vibration from the start of dehydration to the steady rotation.

  In the third aspect of the invention, in particular, the working fluid of the first aspect of the invention has substantially the same amount of the first fluid and the second fluid, encloses about one half of the volume of the fluid balancer, and has a communication passage. The specific gravity of the working fluid can be increased by setting the fluid balancer to approximately one half of the sectional area of the fluid balancer. In addition, since the thickness of the first fluid layer distributed on the opposite side of the eccentric load does not overlap the communication path, only the second fluid having a low specific gravity moves to the eccentric load side at high speed. Since an increase in eccentric load can also be suppressed, dehydration vibration can be reduced from the start of dehydration to high speed.

  In the fourth invention, in particular, the working fluid of the first invention has a larger amount of the second fluid than the first fluid, and the communication passage is formed to be larger than one half of the cross-sectional area of the fluid balancer. The response of the fluid balancer can be accelerated to reduce the second resonance vibration generated at the start of dehydration. Also, at high speed, the amount of the first fluid is made smaller than the amount of the second fluid so that the first fluid layer does not overlap the communication path, so that an increase in the eccentric load is suppressed and dehydration is started. The dehydration vibration can be reduced stably from high to high speed.

In the fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, the working fluid of the first aspect of the invention has less second fluid than the first fluid, and the communication path is formed to be smaller than one half of the cross-sectional area of the fluid balancer. Since the specific gravity of the working fluid is further increased and the correction force of the fluid balancer is increased, the vibration of the outer tub during steady operation can be significantly reduced. In addition, at high speed, the communication path is formed to be smaller than one half of the cross-sectional area of the fluid balancer so that the first fluid layer does not overlap the communication path, so there is no movement of the first fluid. An increase in eccentric load is also suppressed, and dehydration vibration can be reduced stably from steady to high speed dehydration.

  In the sixth invention, in particular, in the working fluid of the first invention, the specific gravity of the first fluid is 1.5 times or more the specific gravity of the second fluid. Therefore, the fluid passing through the communication path can be limited to the second fluid, and an increase in the eccentric load can be minimized.

  In the seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, the working fluid of the sixth aspect of the invention has a mixing ratio of 2 with respect to the first fluid 1, so that the specific gravity of the working fluid is not extremely reduced. Since the communication path can be formed large, both the response of the fluid balancer and the magnitude of the correction force can be achieved, and the vibration of the outer tub can be reduced widely from the start of dehydration to the steady state and further to high speed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a fluid balancer of the washing machine.

  1 and 2, the washing machine outer frame 30 elastically supports an outer tub 33 with four tension springs 31 and two elastic bodies 32. The washing / dehydrating tub 34 is rotatably disposed in the outer tub 33. The motor (driving means) 35 is composed of a brushless DC motor, and is controlled by an inverter so that the rotational speed can be freely changed, and directly drives the washing and dewatering tub 34.

  The water supply means 36 supplies water into the washing / dehydrating tub 34. The water level detection means 37 detects the washing water level in the outer basket 33. The drainage means 38 drains the washing water in the outer tub 33. The control device 39 is provided at the lower front portion of the washing machine outer frame 30. The control device 39 sequentially controls each step of washing, rinsing, and dehydrating based on the setting contents input by the operation display means 40 provided on the upper front surface of the washing machine outer frame 30. The power switching means ( The motor 35, the water supply means 36, the drainage means 38, etc. are sequentially controlled via a not shown).

  The fluid balancer 41 is attached to the front surface of the washing and dewatering tub 34. The fluid balancer 41 is composed of a donut-shaped sealed container 43 having a plurality of liquid storage chambers 42 and a working fluid 44 injected into the interior of 30 to 70% of the volume. As the working fluid 44, a fluorine-based liquid that is highly safe and does not attack the constituent materials such as plastic and rubber is used as the first fluid 44a, and antifreezing and a correction effect are taken into consideration as the second fluid 44b. An aqueous solution of sodium chloride or calcium chloride is used. The specific gravity of the first liquid 44a is 1.9, and the specific gravity of the second liquid 44b is 1.3.

  The first fluid 44a and the second fluid 44b are mixed when agitated and separated due to the difference in specific gravity when stationary. A communication passage 45 for moving the working fluid 44 between the liquid storage chambers 42 is provided on the inner peripheral side of the sealed container 43 at the boundary between the liquid storage chambers 42.

About the washing machine comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. First, after putting clothes and detergent into the washing and dewatering tub 34, the operation display means 40 is operated to start operation. As a result, the water supply means 36 operates, the washing water is supplied into the washing / dehydrating tub 34, and the washing / dehydrating tub 34 also starts rotating. When the specified amount of washing water is supplied, the water supply means 36 stops water supply.

  By the rotation of the washing and dewatering tub 34, the detergent is dissolved in the washing water and becomes a washing liquid and penetrates into the clothes. The washing / dehydrating tub 34 rotates at a low speed of about 30 r / min, and performs washing for a specified time of lifting and dropping clothes. After the washing is finished, the drainage means 38 is operated, and the washing water in which the dirt is dissolved is drained out of the outer tub 33.

  After the drainage is completed, the rotation of the washing and dewatering tub 34 is gradually accelerated and the dehydration process is started. When dehydration is started, the working fluid 44 in the fluid balancer 41 is in contact with the first fluid 44a and the first fluid 44a until the rotational speed of the washing / dehydrating tank 34 reaches 120 r / min, which is the first resonant rotational speed of the outer tub 33. The second fluid 44b moves between the liquid storage chambers 42 through the communication passage 45 while being mixed.

  When operating for a specified time at 50 r / min where the working fluid 44 is not stuck to the outer wall of the liquid storage chamber 42 due to centrifugal force, the first fluid 44 a and the second fluid 44 b of the working fluid 44 are completely mixed. Thereafter, when the rotation of the dehydrating and washing tub 34 exceeds 120 r / min, the working fluid 44 passes through the communication passage 45 and moves between the liquid storage chambers 42 so that the working fluid 44 is distributed on the opposite side of the eccentric load. The eccentric load is gradually corrected.

  The movement of the working fluid 44 is completed by the time when the second resonance rotational speed reaches 250 r / min, and when passing through the second resonance rotational speed, the eccentric load is corrected, so the outer tub 33 vibrates greatly. There is nothing. Since the eccentric load is corrected until the dehydration further proceeds and the rotation of the dewatering / washing tub 34 increases to 900 r / min, the vibration of the outer tub 33 is kept small.

  If it passes 900 r / min, it will approach the 3rd resonance rotational speed, Therefore The working fluid 44 tends to move to the eccentric load side. Since the specific gravity of the first fluid 44a is 1.9 and the specific gravity of the second fluid 44b is 1.3, the first fluid 44a is distributed on the outer peripheral side of the liquid storage chamber 42 by centrifugal force, and the second fluid 44b. Are distributed on the inner peripheral side, and only the second fluid 44b having a low specific gravity moves between the liquid storage chambers 42 through the communication passage 45 provided on the inner peripheral side of the liquid storage chamber 42. . Therefore, the increase in the eccentric load is small, and the deterioration of the vibration of the outer tub 33 can be minimized even when the dehydration rotation speed reaches the steady rotation speed of 1600 r / min.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the working fluid 44 of the fluid balancer 41 is constituted by the first fluid 44a and the second fluid 44b having different specific gravities, and the communication passage 45 is formed on the inner peripheral side of the liquid storage chamber 42. It is provided.

  Thereby, the correction of the eccentric load can be ensured up to the second resonance rotational speed (250 r / min). In addition, in steady rotation (1600 r / min), only the second fluid 44b having a low specific gravity is moved, so that an increase in vibration of the outer tub 33 is minimized, and the clothing is moved from a low speed at the start of dehydration to a steady high speed. Most of the mass of the working fluid can be fixed on the opposite side of the eccentric load, and dehydration vibration can be reduced from the start of dehydration to steady rotation.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid balancer of a washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The feature of the present embodiment is that the first fluid 44a and the second fluid 44b of the working fluid 44 are substantially the same amount. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and those in the first embodiment are used for the detailed description.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to increase the correction force of the fluid balancer 41 by increasing the specific gravity of the working fluid 44, correct most of the eccentric load of the garment, and perform the dehydration vibration from the start of dehydration to the steady rotation. Can be further reduced.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid balancer of a washing machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The feature of the present embodiment is that the first fluid 44a and the second fluid 44b of the working fluid 44 are substantially the same amount, and approximately one half of the volume of the fluid balancer 41 is enclosed, and the communication passage 45 is defined. This is approximately half the cross-sectional area of the fluid balancer 41. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and those in the first embodiment are used for the detailed description.

  According to the above configuration, the specific gravity of the working fluid 44 can be increased. Further, since the thickness of the first fluid 44a of the working fluid 44 distributed on the opposite side of the eccentric load does not overlap with the communication path 45, the second fluid having a low specific gravity moves to the eccentric load side at a high speed. Since only the fluid 44b is used and an increase in the eccentric load can be suppressed, dehydration vibration can be reduced from the start of dehydration to high speed.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a fluid balancer of a washing machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The feature of this embodiment is that the working fluid 44 has more of the second fluid 44b than the first fluid 44a, and the communication passage 45 is formed to be larger than one half of the cross-sectional area of the fluid balancer 41. Is. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and those in the first embodiment are used for the detailed description.

  According to the above configuration, the working fluid 44 can easily pass through the communication passage 45, and the response of the fluid balancer 41 is accelerated. Therefore, the vibration of the outer tub 33 at the second resonance rotational speed can be reduced. Further, at the time of high speed rotation, the amount of the first fluid 44a is made smaller than the amount of the second fluid 44b so that the layer of the first fluid 44a does not overlap the communication passage 45, so that the eccentric load also increases. The dehydration vibration can be reduced stably from the start of dehydration to high speed.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a fluid balancer of a washing machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The feature of the present embodiment is that the working fluid 44 has a smaller amount of the second fluid 44b than the first fluid 44a, and the communication passage 45 is formed to be smaller than a half of the cross-sectional area of the fluid balancer 41. Is. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and those in the first embodiment are used for the detailed description.

  According to the above configuration, since the amount of the first fluid 44a having a high specific gravity is increased, the specific gravity of the working fluid 44 is further increased and the correction force of the fluid balancer 41 can be increased. Therefore, the vibration of the outer tub 33 at the steady state can be greatly reduced. Further, since the communication path 45 is formed to be smaller than one half of the cross-sectional area of the fluid balancer 41 so that the layer of the first fluid 44a does not overlap the communication path 45 during high speed rotation, Since there is no movement of the fluid 44a, an increase in the eccentric load during high-speed rotation can be suppressed, and dehydration vibration can be stably reduced from steady dehydration to high speed.

(Embodiment 6)
The feature of the present embodiment is that the working fluid 44 has a specific gravity of the first fluid 44a of 1.5 times or more that of the second fluid 44b. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and those in the first embodiment are used for the detailed description.

  According to the above configuration, the layer of the first fluid 44a and the layer of the second fluid 44b during high-speed rotation are surely separated, so that the fluid passing through the communication path 45 is limited to the second fluid 44b. And an increase in the eccentric load can be minimized.

(Embodiment 7)
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a fluid balancer of a washing machine according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. The feature of this embodiment is that the working fluid 44 has a mixing ratio of 1 of the first fluid 44a and 2 of the second fluid 44b. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and those in the first embodiment are used for the detailed description.

  According to the above configuration, the communication passage 45 can be formed large without extremely reducing the specific gravity of the working fluid 44, so that both the response of the fluid balancer 41 and the magnitude of the correction force can be achieved. The vibration of the outer tub 33 can be reduced to a wide range up to a steady state and further to a high speed.

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention can fix a large part of the mass of the working fluid on the opposite side of the eccentric load of the garment from the low speed at the start of dehydration to the steady high speed, and the steady rotation from the start of dehydration. Since the dehydration vibration can be surely reduced, it is useful as a drum type washing machine.

33 Outer tub 34 Washing and dewatering tub 35 Motor (drive means)
41 fluid balancer 42 liquid storage chamber 44 working fluid 44a first fluid 44b second fluid 45 communication path

Claims (7)

An outer tub, a washing and dewatering tub disposed rotatably in the outer tub in a state where a rotation axis is horizontal or inclined, a fluid balancer provided in the washing and dewatering tub, and the washing and dehydrating tub The fluid balancer is formed on the inner peripheral side of the fluid balancer, and the working fluid in the fluid storage chamber moves. A washing machine having a communication path, wherein the working fluid is composed of a first fluid and a second fluid, and the specific gravity of the first fluid is heavier than the specific gravity of the second fluid. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the working fluid has substantially the same amount of the first fluid and the second fluid. The working fluid has substantially the same amount of the first fluid and the second fluid, encloses approximately one half of the volume of the fluid balancer, and makes the communication path approximately one half of the cross-sectional area of the fluid balancer. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine is set. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the working fluid has a larger amount of the second fluid than the first fluid, and the communication path is formed to be larger than one half of a cross-sectional area of the fluid balancer. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the working fluid has less second fluid than the first fluid, and the communication path is formed to be smaller than one half of the cross-sectional area of the fluid balancer. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the working fluid has a specific gravity of the first fluid 1.5 times or more that of the second fluid. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the working fluid has a second mixing ratio of 2 with respect to the first fluid 1.

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