JP2011030953A - Liquid balancer and washing machine with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid balancer for preventing sloshing with a simple configuration, and also to provide a washing machine. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid balancer 30 to be mounted on the washing machine 1 includes a ring shape container 31 and a buffer member 32. The ring shape container 31 includes inner wall surfaces formed around a rotary axis R including the inner wall surface 311a of an outer wall portion 311, and the inner wall surface 312a of an inner wall portion 312. The ring shape container 31 stores a liquid and is arranged to be rotated with the rotary axis R as a center. The buffer member 32 is fixed onto the inner wall surface 311a of the outer side wall portion 311 in the container 31, and includes: a storage member 321 formed with an elastic body; and a fluid stored in the storage member 321. The buffer member 32 is configured to be deformed by the liquid in the container 31, which is centrifugalized when the container 31 is rotated with the rotary axis R as a center. The specific gravity of the fluid to be stored in the storage member 321 is smaller than that of the liquid to be stored in the container 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid balancer and a washing machine including the same.

  Conventionally, in a washing machine, a rotating tub such as a washing and dewatering tub is rotated at a high speed to dehydrate laundry such as clothes accommodated in the rotating tub. Laundry is often distributed eccentrically inside the rotating tub. When the laundry accommodated in the rotating tub has an eccentric load, the amplitude of vibration of the rotating tub increases when the rotating tub is rotated as compared to the case where there is no eccentric load. In particular, when the rotating tank is rotated at the primary resonance frequency of the system that combines the rotating tank and the driving unit of the rotating tank, the amplitude of the vibration of the rotating tank becomes extremely large and noise is generated. Also, when rotating at a secondary resonance frequency that is higher than the primary resonance frequency, the amplitude of vibration is larger and the noise is larger than when the rotating tank is rotated at the primary resonance frequency. .

  In order to reduce such noise generated during dehydration, it is conceivable to eliminate the eccentricity of the entire rotating tub in which the laundry is stored, which is caused by the eccentricity of the laundry. The state of eccentricity of the laundry differs depending on the state of the laundry at the start of dehydration, that is, at the end of washing. Therefore, a liquid balancer has been conventionally attached to the upper part of the rotating tub in order to eliminate the eccentricity of the whole rotating according to the state of eccentricity of the laundry at the start of dehydration.

  The liquid balancer is configured by, for example, an annular tube, and an aqueous solution such as water or salt water having an amount about half the volume of the tube is accommodated in the tube. When the liquid balancer configured as described above is attached to a container having an eccentric load and rotated at a high speed together with the container and the number of rotations is gradually increased, the liquid inside the tube exhibits the following behavior. That is, when the rotation frequency approaches the primary resonance frequency and is rotated at a frequency slightly higher than the primary resonance frequency, the liquid inside the tube moves to the opposite side of the eccentric load across the rotation center. The average position of the container eccentric load and the liquid inside the tube are farthest away. In this way, when the rotation speed approaches the primary resonance frequency and is rotated at a frequency slightly higher than the primary resonance frequency, the liquid inside the tube moves in a direction to eliminate the eccentric load. When the frequency reaches the primary resonance frequency, the amplitude of vibration becomes smaller than that in the case where the liquid balancer is not provided.

  In such a liquid balancer, when the rotational frequency exceeds the primary resonance frequency, the liquid inside the tube does not move so much from the position where the eccentric load is eliminated until it approaches the secondary resonance frequency. However, when the rotational speed is further increased to approach the secondary resonance frequency, the liquid inside the tube moves again, i.e., the liquid inside the tube at the position where the eccentric load is eliminated becomes the eccentric load of the container. Approaching and will increase the eccentricity. When the liquid inside the tube approaches the position of the eccentric load of the container, the entire system including the container and the liquid balancer increases the eccentric load as compared with the case where the liquid balancer is not provided. As the eccentric load increases, the amplitude of vibration of the entire rotating system increases and the noise also increases.

  Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-325811 (Patent Document 1) discloses a washing machine in which an opening / closing means is provided in a communication path through which liquid in a liquid storage chamber of a fluid balancer provided in a washing and dewatering tub moves. Are listed. When the rotational speed of the washing / dehydrating tub is greater than a predetermined rotational speed, the communication passage opening / closing means closes the communication path by centrifugal force, and when the rotational speed of the washing / dehydrating tub is smaller than the predetermined rotational speed, Open the passage.

  The washing and dewatering tub of this washing machine is rotatably disposed in the outer tub with the rotating shaft horizontal or inclined. The washing and dewatering tub is rotated with the rotating shaft being horizontal or inclined. When there is an eccentric load on the garment housed in the washing / dehydrating tub, a relatively large force is required to lift the eccentric load from the bottom to the top than when the eccentric load is moved from the top to the bottom. is necessary. Therefore, when the torque of the driving means for rotating the washing / dehydrating tub is controlled to be constant, the rotation of the washing / dehydrating tub becomes faster or slower. That is, the rotation of the washing and dewatering tub is slow when the eccentric load is moved from the bottom to the top, and the rotation of the washing and dewatering tub is fast when the eccentric load is moved from the top to the bottom. Therefore, when the eccentric load moves upward from below, the rotation of the washing and dewatering tub is slowed, the communication path is opened by the opening / closing means, and the fluid moves downward by its own weight. The clothes are stuck to the washing and dewatering tank, and the dropping action is delayed due to the resistance of the clothes, so that the eccentric load does not move. On the other hand, when the eccentric load moves from top to bottom, the rotation of the washing and dewatering tank becomes faster, so that the communication path is closed by the opening / closing means to which centrifugal force is applied, and the fluid does not move. By doing so, the liquid is distributed on the opposite side of the eccentric load, the eccentric load is gradually corrected, and the rotation of the washing and dewatering tub is stabilized. Thereafter, the rotational speed is increased and centrifugal dehydration is performed. In the steady rotation of the rotation frequency between the primary resonance frequency and the secondary resonance frequency, by closing the opening / closing means, the fluid does not move and stable dehydration vibration can be obtained.

JP 2007-325811 A

  However, in the washing machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-325811 (Patent Document 1), since the movement of the fluid in the fluid balancer is not assumed to depend on the sloshing phenomenon, the communication path is caused by centrifugal force. However, it is technically difficult to control the movement of the fluid in the fluid balancer by this method. For example, in order to completely close the opening and closing means when the liquid in the communication path is not moved when the washing and dewatering tub is rotating at a rotation speed between the primary resonance frequency and the secondary resonance frequency. It is difficult to apply the necessary centrifugal force. Further, in a state where the opening / closing means is not completely closed, the movement of the liquid in the communication path can be limited to some extent, but sloshing cannot be prevented.

  The liquid in the liquid balancer moves when the rotation speed of the washing / dehydrating tub approaches the primary resonance frequency or the secondary resonance frequency. This is due to the sloshing phenomenon that moves while being pressed against the surface.

  Therefore, if sloshing cannot be prevented, even if the rotation speed of the container having an eccentric load approaches the primary resonance frequency, the liquid inside the liquid balancer may move to a position where the eccentricity is passively eliminated. When the rotational speed of the container having an eccentric load is further increased to approach the secondary resonance frequency, the liquid inside the liquid balancer cannot be prevented from moving to a position where the eccentricity is increased.

  When such a liquid balancer is provided in a washing machine, when the rotation speed of the container approaches the secondary resonance frequency, the vibration amplitude of the container becomes extremely large, and the safety device of the washing machine works to keep the container rotating. You may not be able to.

  Further, in the washing machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-325811 (Patent Document 1), in order to control the opening / closing means of the communication path by a method other than opening / closing according to the centrifugal force, the configuration of the entire washing machine is complicated. become.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid balancer capable of preventing liquid sloshing with a simple configuration, and a washing machine including the same.

  The liquid balancer according to the present invention includes an annular container and a buffer member. The annular container has an inner wall surface formed around the rotation axis, and the inner wall surface includes an outer peripheral side inner wall surface and an inner peripheral side inner wall surface facing the outer peripheral side inner wall surface. The annular container is disposed so as to accommodate the liquid and rotate around the rotation axis. The buffer member is fixed on the inner peripheral wall surface of the container.

  The buffer member includes a storage member formed of an elastic body and a fluid stored in the storage member. The buffer member is configured to be deformed by the liquid in the container to which centrifugal force is applied when the container is rotated about the rotation axis. The specific gravity of the fluid stored in the storage member is smaller than the specific gravity of the liquid stored in the container.

  When the annular container containing the liquid rotates around the rotation axis, centrifugal force is applied to the liquid in the container. The liquid to which the centrifugal force is applied tends to move while being pressed against the inner wall surface on the outer peripheral side of the rotating container. At this time, the liquid to which the centrifugal force is applied applies a force to the buffer member fixed on the inner peripheral wall surface of the container. The buffer member is configured by a storage member formed of an elastic body and a fluid stored in the storage member, and is deformed by applying force to the liquid to which centrifugal force is applied.

  When the buffer member fixed on the outer peripheral side inner wall surface of the container is deformed, the liquid in the container rotates as compared with the case where the buffer member is not fixed on the outer peripheral side inner wall surface of the container. The outer peripheral side inner wall surface of the container is not sufficiently pressed by the centrifugal force. The liquid that is not sufficiently pressed against the inner peripheral wall surface of the rotating container by centrifugal force cannot cause sloshing that moves while being pressed against the outer peripheral wall surface of the rotating container.

  By doing so, it is possible to provide a liquid balancer capable of preventing liquid sloshing with a simple configuration.

  By preventing sloshing, for example, it is possible to make it difficult for a liquid that is at a position farthest from the eccentric load and that eliminates the eccentric load to move when the liquid balancer is rotated. If it is in a position to eliminate the eccentric load before the rotational speed of the container approaches the secondary resonance frequency of the rotating system, the eccentric load will not increase even if the rotational speed of the container approaches the secondary resonant frequency. Can be. By preventing the eccentric load of the rotated system from increasing, it is possible to suppress an increase in vibration amplitude when the rotational speed of the system reaches the secondary resonance frequency, and to reduce noise.

  The liquid balancer according to the present invention preferably includes a plurality of buffer members. The plurality of buffer members are preferably arranged at intervals from each other along the circumferential direction of the container.

  Sloshing can be effectively prevented by arranging a plurality of buffer members at intervals along the circumferential direction of the container.

  In the liquid balancer according to the present invention, it is preferable that the liquid is water, the fluid is air, and the elastic body is a polyethylene film.

  Air is housed in a housing member formed of a polyethylene film to form a buffer member. Air has a lower specific gravity than water. Further, the polyethylene film is easily deformed. Therefore, this buffer member is easily deformed by water to which centrifugal force is applied. In this way, by fixing the buffer member that is easily deformed by the water to which the centrifugal force is applied on the inner peripheral wall surface of the container, the liquid in the container is subjected to the centrifugal force on the outer peripheral wall surface of the rotating container. It will not be fully pressed by. By doing in this way, sloshing can be prevented effectively.

  A washing machine according to the present invention includes a washing tub, a drive unit, and any one of the liquid balancers described above. The washing tub is arranged so as to accommodate the laundry and rotate around the rotation axis. The drive unit is for rotating the washing tub around the rotation axis. The liquid balancer is configured to be able to rotate with the washing tub around the rotation axis.

  By doing in this way, providing the washing machine which can prevent the sloshing of the liquid in a liquid balancer, and can reduce the noise when the rotation speed of a washing tub approaches the secondary resonance frequency at the time of dehydration Can do.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid balancer capable of preventing liquid sloshing with a simple configuration and a washing machine including the same.

It is a longitudinal section showing the whole washing machine composition concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the liquid balancer with which the washing machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention is provided. It is sectional drawing when the liquid balancer with which the washing machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention is provided is seen from the direction of the III-III line shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing when the liquid balancer with which the washing machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention is provided is seen from the direction of the IV-IV line | wire shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the buffer member of the liquid balancer with which the washing machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention is provided. It is sectional drawing similar to FIG. 4 which shows the inside of a liquid balancer when the washing tub of the washing machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention is rotated. It is a figure which shows the whole apparatus for confirming the effect of the sloshing prevention by the liquid balancer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the control relevant structure of the apparatus for confirming the effect of the sloshing prevention by the liquid balancer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the rotation speed and the magnitude | size of a vibration in the liquid balancer which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the liquid balancer of a comparative example. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the rotation speed and the phase of a liquid in the liquid balancer which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the liquid balancer of a comparative example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 1, the left side is the front of the washing machine 1, and the right side is the back of the washing machine 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine 1 is a fully automatic vertical washing machine, and mainly includes an outer box 10, a washing tub 20 accommodated in the outer box 10, a liquid balancer 30, and a water tub. 40, a drive unit 50, a water supply unit 60, a drainage unit 70, and a control unit 80.

  On the upper surface plate 11 of the outer box 10, a laundry input port 12 for inputting laundry into the washing tub 20 is formed. The laundry input port 12 is covered from above by the lid 13 while washing is being performed.

  The washing tub 20 and the water tub 40 have the shape of a cylindrical cup, and the upper surface is opened. The washing tub 20 and the water tub 40 are arranged concentrically so that the water tub 40 covers the outer peripheral surface of the washing tub 20 and the axis extends substantially in the vertical direction. The water tank 40 is suspended in the outer box 10 by the suspension member 14. The suspension member 14 is arranged at four locations so as to connect each of the four corner portions of the inner surface of the outer box 10 to the lower portion of the outer peripheral surface of the water tank 40. The water tank 40 suspended by the suspension member 14 is supported in the outer box 10 so as to be able to swing in a horizontal plane.

  The washing tub 20 is formed so that the diameter of the inner wall surface increases from the lower part toward the upper opening. In other words, the washing tub 20 has an inclined inner peripheral wall surface having a tapered shape that gradually spreads upward. A plurality of dewatering holes 21 are formed at the top of the peripheral wall of the washing tub 20. The plurality of dewatering holes 21 are formed in a ring shape. On the peripheral wall of the washing tub 20, except for the dewatering hole 21, no opening for allowing liquid to pass is formed. That is, the washing tub 20 is a so-called “no hole” type.

  A water supply unit 60 is disposed above the opening formed in the upper part of the washing tub 20. The water supply unit 60 includes a connection pipe 61 that supplies tap water such as tap water from the outside of the washing machine 1, a water supply valve 62 that opens and closes electromagnetically, and a water supply port 63. The water supply port 63 is disposed so as to face the opening of the washing tub 20.

  An annular liquid balancer 30 is attached to the edge of the opening formed in the upper part of the washing tub 20. Details of the liquid balancer 30 will be described later.

  A pulsator 22 for causing a flow of washing water or rinsing water in the washing tub 20 is disposed on the bottom surface inside the washing tub 20.

  A drive unit 50 is mounted on the outer peripheral lower surface of the water tank 40. The drive unit 50 includes a motor 51, a clutch mechanism 52, and a brake mechanism 53 as drive units. A dewatering shaft 54 and a pulsator shaft 55 protrude upward in a substantially vertical direction from the center of the clutch mechanism 52 and the brake mechanism 53. The dewatering shaft 54 and the pulsator shaft 55 have a double shaft structure in which the dewatering shaft 54 is on the outside and the pulsator shaft 55 is on the inside. The dewatering shaft 54 enters the water tank 40 from the lower surface of the water tank 40 and is connected to the washing tank 20 to support the washing tank 20. The dehydrating shaft 54 is a rotating shaft of the washing tub 20, and the rotating axis R of the washing tub 20 extends along the dehydrating shaft 54. The pulsator shaft 55 further enters the inside of the washing tub 20 and is connected to the pulsator 22 to support the pulsator 22. Seal members for preventing water leakage are disposed between the dewatering shaft 54 and the water tank 40 and between the dewatering shaft 54 and the pulsator shaft 55, respectively.

  A drain hose 71 for discharging water inside the water tub 40 and the washing tub 20 to the outside of the outer box 10 is attached to the bottom of the water tub 40. The drain hose 71 includes a central drain pipe 72 connected to the water tank 40 relatively on the central side of the water tank 40, and an outer drain pipe 74 connected to the water tank 40 relatively on the peripheral wall surface side of the water tank 40. Is connected. A drain valve 73 is attached to the center side drain pipe 72.

  On the front side of the washing machine 1 on the upper surface of the outer box 10, an operation / display unit 15 is arranged. A control unit 80 is disposed on the front side of the washing machine 1 in the upper part of the outer box 10. When the user operates the operation / display unit 15, an operation command is transmitted to the control unit 80. The control unit 80 transmits a control signal to the drive unit 50, the water supply valve 62, and the drain valve 73 based on the operation command received from the operation / display unit 15. Further, the control unit 80 transmits a display command to the operation / display unit 15.

  Next, the liquid balancer 30 attached to the edge of the opening of the washing tub 20 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the liquid balancer 30 includes an annular container 31. The outer diameter D of the container 31 is the same size as the inner diameter of the uppermost part of the washing tub 20 (FIG. 1). The liquid balancer 30 is arranged in the washing machine 1 (FIG. 1) so that the rotation axis R of the washing tub 20 passes through the center C of the container 31.

  The container 31 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin. The container 31 has an outer wall portion 311 and an inner wall portion 312. A space is formed between the outer wall portion 311 and the inner wall portion 312.

  Four buffer members 32 having a width W3 are fixed along the circumferential direction of the container 31 on the inner wall surface 311a of the outer wall portion 311 between the outer wall portion 311 and the inner wall portion 312. The four buffer members 32 are arranged so that the distance from one adjacent buffer member 32 is 60 ° around the center C of the container 31 along the inner wall surface 311a of the outer wall portion 311. It arrange | positions at intervals so that the space | interval with the other buffer member 32 which fits may be 120 degrees centering | focusing on the center C of the container 31 along the inner wall face 311a of the outer side wall part 311. FIG.

  Further, the four buffer members 32 may be arranged 90 ° apart from each other about the center C of the container 31 along the inner wall surface 311a of the outer wall portion 311.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the space inside the container 31 is sealed by an outer wall portion 311, an inner wall portion 312, a bottom portion 313, and a lid portion 314. The outer wall 311, the inner wall 312, the bottom 313, and the lid 314 of the container 31 are formed of the same synthetic resin, for example. The outer wall portion 311 and the inner wall portion 312 are formed to have substantially the same thickness W1. A space having a width W2 is formed between the outer wall portion 311 and the inner wall portion 312. The inner wall surface 311a of the outer wall portion 311 is an example of an outer peripheral side inner wall surface, and the inner wall surface 312a of the inner wall portion 312 is an example of an inner peripheral side inner wall surface.

  Water 33 is accommodated as a liquid in the space between the outer wall portion 311 and the inner wall portion 312. For example, the water 33 is accommodated in an amount of about one-third to half of the volume of the container 31. The height H of the buffer member 32 fixed on the inner wall surface 311 a of the outer wall portion 311 is substantially the same as the height of the space inside the container 31.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the entire buffer member 32 having a width W3 and a height H is formed of a polyethylene film as an elastic body, and a cylindrical bag-shaped accommodation member 321 is formed on the entire surface of the buffer member 32. ing. The housing member 321 contains air as a fluid and is sealed. The housing member 321 protrudes from the surface of the buffer member 32. The housing member 321 is formed in a thin cylindrical shape with a small thickness protruding from the surface as compared with the diameter E. As shown in FIG. 4, when the buffer member 32 is fixed onto the inner wall surface 311 a of the outer wall portion 311 of the container 31, the accommodating member 321 is placed in the space between the outer wall portion 311 and the inner wall portion 312. It protrudes from the inner wall surface 311a of the part 311.

  The operation of the washing machine 1 (FIG. 1) configured as described above will be described.

  The user opens the lid 13 of the washing machine 1 and puts the laundry into the washing tub 20 from the laundry inlet 12. The user puts the detergent into the detergent chamber (not shown) of the water supply unit 60. Further, if necessary, a finishing agent is put into a finishing agent chamber (not shown) of the water supply unit 60. The finish may be added during the washing process.

  Next, the user closes the lid 13, operates the operation button group of the operation / display unit 15 to select the washing condition, and presses the start button. When the start button is pressed, the washing process is performed under the washing conditions selected by the user. The washing process includes, for example, a washing process, a rinsing process, and a dehydrating process.

  In the washing process, first, the drain valve 73 of the central drain pipe 72 extending from the lower part of the water tank 40 is closed. Next, the water supply valve 62 of the water supply unit 60 is opened, and a predetermined amount of water is supplied into the washing tub 20 from above. When a predetermined amount of water is supplied, the water supply valve 62 is closed, and the pulsator 22 is rotated in the opposite direction to the forward direction to agitate the laundry and the water so that the laundry becomes familiar with the water. By performing such a habituation operation, water is sufficiently absorbed by the laundry. In addition, the air trapped in the laundry is released. If the water level in the washing tub 20 drops when the acclimation operation is performed, the water supply valve 62 is opened and water is supplied into the washing tub 20.

  In the washing process, the motor 51 rotates the pulsator 22 in a predetermined pattern according to the setting of the user. In this way, a main water flow for washing is formed in the washing tub 20. Laundry of laundry is performed by this main water flow. Since the dehydrating shaft 54 is braked by the brake mechanism 53, the washing tub 20 does not rotate even if the washing water and the laundry move.

  After the laundry is washed by the main water flow for a predetermined period, the pulsator 22 reverses in small increments to loosen the laundry so that the laundry is distributed in the washing tub 20 in a balanced manner. This is to prepare for the spin-drying of the washing tub 20. Even when the laundry is loosened in this way, the laundry in the laundry tub 20 remains unbalanced, and the system is constituted by the laundry tub 20 that houses the laundry, the water tub 40, the motor 51, and the liquid balancer 30. May have an eccentric load.

  When the washing process is completed, a dehydration process is performed. The dehydration process will be described later. After the dehydration process, a rinsing process is performed.

  Explain the rinsing process. In the rinsing process, the water supply valve 62 is opened, and a specified amount of water is supplied into the washing tub 20. Next, the running-in operation is performed as in the washing process. In the running-in operation of the rinsing process, the laundry attached to the washing tub 20 is peeled off from the inner peripheral wall surface of the washing tub 20 and is conditioned with water, so that the laundry can sufficiently absorb water. If the water level in the washing tub 20 drops when the acclimation operation is performed, the water supply valve 62 is opened and water is supplied into the washing tub 20.

  In the rinsing process, the motor 51 rotates the pulsator 22 in a predetermined pattern according to the setting of the user. In this way, a main water flow for rinsing is formed in the washing tub 20. This main stream causes the laundry to be rinsed. Since the dehydrating shaft 54 is braked by the brake mechanism 53, the washing tub 20 does not rotate even if the rinse water and the laundry move.

  After the laundry is rinsed by the main water flow for a predetermined period, the pulsator 22 reverses in small increments to loosen the laundry so that the laundry is distributed in a balanced manner in the washing tub 20. This is to prepare for the spin-drying of the washing tub 20. Even when the laundry is loosened in this way, the laundry in the laundry tub 20 remains unbalanced, and the system is constituted by the laundry tub 20 that houses the laundry, the water tub 40, the motor 51, and the liquid balancer 30. May have an eccentric load.

  In the above description, it is assumed that “rinse rinsing” is performed in which the rinse water is stored in the washing tub 20, but “water rinsing” in which new water is constantly supplied or the washing tub 20 is slowed down. You may perform "shower rinse" which pours water into the laundry from the water supply port 63, rotating.

  Next, the dehydration process will be described. The dewatering process is performed, for example, between the washing process and the rinsing process and after the rinsing process.

  In the dehydration process, first, the drain valve 73 is opened. Washing water or rinsing water in the washing tub 20 is discharged from the drainage hose 71 to the outside of the washing machine 1 through the central drain pipe 72. The drain valve 73 remains open during the dehydration process.

  When most of the washing water or rinsing water is removed from the laundry, the clutch mechanism 52 and the brake mechanism 53 are switched. The timing of switching between the clutch mechanism 52 and the brake mechanism 53 may be after most of the water has been removed from the laundry, before the start of drainage, or at the same time as drainage.

  Next, slow dehydration is performed. The low speed dewatering is performed by the motor 51 rotating the dewatering shaft 54. When the motor 51 rotates the dewatering shaft 54, the washing tub 20 is dewatered. Along with the washing tub 20, the pulsator 22 is also rotated.

  Subsequently, high speed dewatering is performed. High speed dewatering is performed by increasing the rotation speed of the dewatering shaft 54 by the motor 51. When the washing tub 20 is rotated at a high speed, the laundry is pressed against the inner peripheral wall of the washing tub 20 by centrifugal force. The washing water contained in the laundry is also collected on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the washing tub 20 by centrifugal force. Since the washing tub 20 spreads upward in a tapered shape, the washing water that receives the centrifugal force rises along the inner peripheral wall surface of the washing tub 20. The washing water is discharged from the dewatering hole 21 when it reaches the upper end of the washing tub 20. The washing water leaving the dewatering hole 21 is struck on the inner surface of the water tank 40 and flows down to the bottom of the water tank 40 along the inner surface of the water tank 40. Then, the water is discharged out of the outer box 10 through the outer drain pipe 74 and the drain hose 71 subsequent thereto.

  When the high-speed dewatering is performed, the liquid balancer 30 attached to the edge of the opening of the washing tub 20 is also rotated around the rotation axis R together with the washing tub 20 at a high speed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the liquid balancer 30 is rotated at a high speed around the center C (FIG. 3), the liquid balancer 30 in the space between the outer wall 311 and the inner wall 312 of the container 31 of the container 31. Centrifugal force is applied to the water 33 in the direction indicated by the arrow F in FIG. The water 33 to which the centrifugal force is applied is pressed onto the inner wall surface 311 a of the outer wall portion 311. When a sufficiently large centrifugal force is applied to the water 33, the water surface of the water 33 is substantially parallel to the inner wall surface 311 a of the outer wall portion 311 and the inner wall surface 312 a of the inner wall portion 312 in the space in the liquid balancer 30. become. Most of the surface of the buffer member 32 or the entire surface contacts the water 33.

  When high-speed dehydration is performed and the rotation speed is increased in the washing tub 20, the rotation speed of the washing tub 20 is increased by the secondary resonance vibration of the system including the washing tub 20, the water tub 40, the drive unit 50, and the liquid balancer 30. Approach the number. When the rotation speed of the washing tub 20 approaches the secondary resonance frequency, the water 33 is absorbed in the outer wall 311 by centrifugal force at a position where the buffer member 32 is not disposed on the inner wall 311a of the outer wall 311. It can move while being strongly pressed against the wall surface 311a.

  On the other hand, at the position where the buffer member 32 is disposed on the inner wall surface 311 a of the outer wall portion 311, the water 33 to which centrifugal force is applied is pressed against the buffer member 32. However, a large number of accommodating members 321 are formed on the surface of the buffer member 32, and each accommodating member 321 is constituted by a bag formed of a polyethylene film in which air having a specific gravity smaller than that of the water 33 is accommodated. Yes. Therefore, when the water 33 to which the centrifugal force is applied is pressed against the buffer member 32, the buffer member 32 is easily deformed by the water 33.

  Thus, at the position where the buffer member 32 is disposed, the water 33 cannot be pressed sufficiently strongly against the inner wall surface 311 a of the outer wall portion 311. If the water 33 is not pressed sufficiently strongly against the inner wall surface 311a of the outer wall 311, the water 33 cannot sloshing inside the container 31 and the water 33 does not move. Thus, a plurality of buffer members 32 are arranged along the inner wall surface 311a of the outer wall portion 311 of the container 31 at intervals on the inner wall surface 311a of the outer wall portion 311. Sloshing can be prevented at position 32. By doing in this way, sloshing can be prevented effectively in the whole container 31, and the movement of the water 33 can be suppressed.

  As described above, at the end of the washing process or at the end of the rinsing process, the pulsator 22 is inverted in small increments to loosen the laundry, but the laundry in the washing tub 20 remains biased, and at the start of the dehydration process, A system constituted by the washing tub 20 for storing the laundry, the water tub 40, the motor 51, and the liquid balancer 30 may have an eccentric load.

  In a washing machine equipped with a conventional liquid balancer, when this system has an eccentric load, before the rotational speed of the washing tub approaches the secondary resonance frequency of this system when high-speed dewatering is performed, Even if the water is in a position to eliminate the eccentric load of the laundry in the washing tub, when the rotation speed of the washing tub approaches the secondary resonance frequency of this system, sloshing occurs in which the water in the liquid balancer moves. . If the water in the liquid balancer moves from a position that eliminates the eccentric load of the laundry in the washing tub to another position, the eccentric load is not canceled by the water in the liquid balancer, which increases the eccentricity of the system. End up. Therefore, in a washing machine equipped with a conventional liquid balancer, when the washing tub is rotated at a rotation speed near the secondary resonance frequency, the vibration of the washing tub near the secondary resonance frequency is suppressed by providing the liquid balancer. I can't.

  On the other hand, in the liquid balancer 30 provided in the washing machine 1, sloshing of the water 33 in the container 31 can be prevented as described above. Even if the water 33 in the container 31 is dehydrated at high speed and the rotational speed of the washing tub 20 approaches the secondary resonance frequency, the water 33 hardly moves. Therefore, if the water 33 in the liquid balancer 30 is in a position to eliminate the eccentric load of the laundry in the washing tub 20 before the rotation speed of the washing tub 20 approaches the secondary resonance frequency of this system, the water 33 is It remains in the position to eliminate the eccentric load. In this way, even when the washing tub 20 is rotated at a rotation speed near the secondary resonance frequency of the above system, the liquid balancer 30 can be prevented from increasing the vibration of this system.

  When a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the dehydration process, the control unit 80 cuts off the power to the motor 51 and performs a stop process.

  As described above, the liquid balancer 30 attached to the washing machine 1 includes the annular container 31 and the buffer member 32. The annular container 31 has an inner wall surface formed around the rotation axis R. The inner wall surface is an inner wall surface 311a of the outer wall portion 311 and an inner wall portion 312 facing the inner wall surface 311a of the outer wall portion 311. Inner wall surface 312a. The annular container 31 is arranged so as to accommodate the liquid and rotate around the rotation axis R. The buffer member 32 is fixed on the inner wall surface 311 a of the outer wall 311 of the container 31.

  The buffer member 32 includes a storage member 321 formed of an elastic body and a fluid stored in the storage member 321. The buffer member 32 is configured to be deformed by the liquid in the container 31 to which centrifugal force is applied when the container 31 is rotated about the rotation axis R. The specific gravity of the fluid stored in the storage member 321 is smaller than the specific gravity of the liquid stored in the container 31.

  When the annular container 31 containing the liquid rotates about the rotation axis R, centrifugal force is applied to the liquid in the container 31. The liquid to which the centrifugal force is applied tends to move while being pressed against the inner wall surface 311a of the outer wall 311 of the rotating container 31. At this time, the liquid to which the centrifugal force is applied applies a force to the buffer member 32 fixed on the inner wall surface 311 a of the outer wall portion 311 of the container 31. The buffer member 32 is configured by a storage member 321 formed of an elastic body and a fluid stored in the storage member 321, and is deformed by applying a force to a liquid to which a centrifugal force is applied.

  The buffer member 32 fixed on the inner wall surface 311 a of the outer wall 311 of the container 31 is deformed, so that the liquid in the container 31 is buffered on the inner wall 311 a of the outer wall 311 of the container 31. Compared with the case where is not fixed, the inner wall surface 311a of the outer wall portion 311 of the rotating container 31 is not sufficiently pressed by the centrifugal force. The sloshing that moves while being pressed against the inner wall surface 311a of the outer wall 311 of the rotating container 31 is not sufficiently pressed against the inner wall surface 311a of the outer wall 311 of the rotating container 31 by the centrifugal force. Can no longer cause.

  By doing in this way, the liquid balancer 30 which can prevent the sloshing of a liquid with a simple structure can be provided.

  By preventing sloshing, it is possible to make it difficult to move the water 33 that is located farthest from the eccentric load and that eliminates the eccentric load when the liquid balancer 30 is rotated. If the rotational speed of the container 31 is close to the secondary resonance frequency of the system to be rotated and is in a position to eliminate the eccentric load, even if the rotational speed of the container 31 approaches the secondary resonant frequency, the eccentric load is It can be prevented from increasing. By preventing the eccentric load of the rotated system from increasing, it is possible to suppress an increase in vibration amplitude when the rotational speed of the system reaches the secondary resonance frequency, and to reduce noise.

  In addition, the liquid balancer 30 includes a plurality of buffer members 32. The plurality of buffer members 32 are arranged at intervals from each other along the circumferential direction of the container 31.

  Sloshing can be effectively prevented by arranging the plurality of buffer members 32 at intervals along the circumferential direction of the container 31.

  In the liquid balancer 30, the liquid is water, the fluid is air, and the elastic body is a polyethylene film.

  Air is accommodated in the accommodating member 321 formed of a polyethylene film, and the buffer member 32 is configured. Air has a lower specific gravity than water. Further, the polyethylene film is easily deformed. Therefore, the buffer member 32 is easily deformed by water to which centrifugal force is applied. As described above, the buffer member 32 that is easily deformed by the water to which the centrifugal force is applied is fixed on the inner wall surface 311a of the outer wall portion 311 of the container 31, whereby the liquid in the container 31 is rotated. The outer wall 311 is not sufficiently pressed against the inner wall 311a by centrifugal force. By doing in this way, sloshing can be prevented effectively.

  The washing machine 1 includes a washing tub 20, a motor 51, and a liquid balancer 30. The washing tub 20 is arranged so as to accommodate the laundry and rotate around the rotation axis R. The motor 51 is for rotating the washing tub 20 around the rotation axis R. The liquid balancer 30 is configured to be able to rotate with the washing tub 20 about the rotation axis R.

  By doing in this way, the washing machine 1 which can prevent the sloshing of the liquid in the liquid balancer 30 and can reduce the noise when the rotation speed of the washing tub 20 approaches the secondary resonance frequency during dehydration. Can be provided.

  In this embodiment, the washing machine 1 has been described using a so-called vertical washing machine having a “no hole” tub. However, the washing machine 1 may be other washing machines such as a horizontal washing machine or an oblique washing machine. It may be a machine. Further, the liquid in the liquid balancer 30 may be salt water or other liquids in addition to the water 33, and the fluid in the accommodating member 321 of the buffer member 32 may be helium or other gas besides air. Good.

  As one of the effects of the liquid balancer according to the present invention, there is an effect of preventing the sloshing of the liquid stored in the annular container constituting the liquid balancer. This effect was confirmed as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the apparatus 2 for confirming the effect of preventing sloshing by the liquid balancer of the present invention includes a liquid balancer 300, a disk 210 that supports the liquid balancer 300 from below, and the center of the disk 210. A rotating shaft 220 for supporting the disc 210 in C, a motor 230 for rotating the liquid balancer 300 and the disc 210 around the rotating shaft 220, a motor support base 240, a load measuring device 250, a pedestal 260, And a spring 270. The liquid balancer 300 was fixed on the disc 210. The disc 210 was provided with an eccentric load 280 by attaching a set of bolts and nuts at a position away from the center C. The total amount of bolts and nuts was 140.9 g.

  As the liquid balancer 300 of the apparatus 2, the magnitude of vibration amplitude when the liquid balancer 300 is rotated and the liquid balancer when the liquid balancer according to the present invention is used and when the liquid balancer of the comparative example is used. The phase difference between the water inside the 300 containers and the eccentric load was measured. The phase difference between water and the eccentric load is expressed as an angle θ between the eccentric load and the average position P of the water in the container, with the position of the eccentric load being 0 ° and the center C of the liquid balancer 300 as the center. did.

  The liquid balancer 30 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 was used as the liquid balancer of the present invention. The diameter D of the liquid balancer 30 was 500 mm, the thickness W1 of the outer wall portion 311 and the inner wall portion 312 was 20 mm, and the width W2 of the space between the outer wall portion 311 and the inner wall portion 312 was 20 mm. The buffer member 32 shown in FIG. 5 was used as the buffer member. The height H of the buffer member 32 was 20 mm, and the width W3 of the buffer member 32 was 60 mm. The buffer member 32 was disposed as shown in FIG. In a space between the outer wall portion 311 and the inner wall portion 312, 150 mL of water was accommodated.

  As a difference from the liquid balancer 30 of the present invention, the buffer member 32 is not provided in the liquid balancer of the comparative example. The other points of the liquid balancer of the comparative example were the same as the liquid balancer 30 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 8, as a control-related configuration, the device 2 includes a pulse measurement device 291, an AD converter 292, a load measurement device 250, a processing unit 290, and a motor 230 as a control-related configuration. It was configured to provide. The processing unit 290 transmits a control signal to the motor 230 to rotate the disk 210 and the liquid balancer 300 fixed on the disk 210.

  The load measuring device 250 includes a reaction force meter 251 that measures a reaction force of the motor support base 240, a dynamic strain meter 252, and an AD converter 253. Information on the pulse measured by the pulse measuring device 291 was transmitted to the processing unit 290 through the AD converter 292. The reaction force of the motor support 240 measured by the reaction force meter 251 was transmitted to the processing unit 290 through the dynamic strain meter 252 and the AD converter 253. Based on the information transmitted from the pulse measuring device 291 and the load measuring device 250, the processing unit 290 obtained the magnitude of the load at each rotational speed.

  The liquid balancer 300 was rotated by the apparatus 2 configured as described above. The rotation speed of the liquid balancer 300 was increased from 150 rpm to about 500 rpm every 10 rpm. The rotational speed of the liquid balancer 300 was controlled so as not to exceed 500 rpm for safety.

  As shown in FIG. 9, both when the liquid balancer 30 of the present invention is used and when the liquid balancer of the comparative example is used, when the liquid balancer 300 is rotated at a rotational speed of around 220 rpm, and more than around 480 rpm. When the liquid balancer 300 was rotated at a high rotational speed, the load measured by the load measuring device 250 became large. At this time, it was also confirmed by visual observation that the amplitude of vibration of the liquid balancer 300 was increased. From this result, it was found that the primary resonance frequency is around 220 rpm and that the secondary resonance region is entered from around 480 rpm.

  The load measured by the load measuring device 250, that is, the magnitude of the vibration amplitude of the liquid balancer 300, is the liquid balancer 30 according to the comparative example of the liquid balancer 30 of the present invention in the entire range of the rotational speed from 150 rpm to 500 rpm. Was smaller than. In particular, at a rotational speed near 220 rpm, which is the primary resonant frequency, and at a rotational speed higher than about 480 rpm, which is in the range of the secondary resonant frequency, the load due to the rotation of the liquid balancer 30 of the present invention and the liquid balancer of the comparative example A large difference appeared between the load due to rotation.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the liquid balancer of the comparative example that does not include the buffer member 32, the position of the water moves relatively larger than the liquid balancer 30 of the present invention in the entire rotation speed range from 150 rpm to 500 rpm. I understood it.

  In the liquid balancer of the comparative example, the phase difference once became around 0 rpm just before the liquid balancer rotation speed reached 220 rpm, which is the primary resonance frequency, and the water became closest to the eccentric load, increasing the eccentricity. I found out. On the other hand, when the primary resonance frequency was passed, it was found that the phase difference was 180 ° immediately before the secondary resonance frequency, and water was farthest from the eccentric load, eliminating the eccentricity. Furthermore, in the range of 400 rpm to 450 rpm just before the liquid balancer reaches the secondary resonance frequency range of 480 rpm, the phase difference becomes 0 ° again, so that water approaches the eccentric load and is instead eccentric. Was found to increase.

  On the other hand, in the liquid balancer 30 of the present invention, the phase difference is in the range of 180 ° to 240 ° over the entire rotation speed range from 150 rpm to 500 rpm, and the movement of water was relatively small.

  Thus, it has been found that the liquid balancer 30 of the present invention including the buffer member 32 can prevent the sloshing of the liquid in the liquid balancer 30. By preventing sloshing, for example, when the liquid balancer 30 is rotated, the phase difference from the eccentric load is 180 °, that is, the water that is farthest from the eccentric load and has eliminated the eccentric load is moved. It can be made difficult.

  In this way, when the water in the liquid balancer 30 is in a position where the eccentric load is eliminated before the rotation speed of the liquid balancer 30 approaches the secondary resonance frequency, the rotation speed of the liquid balancer 30 becomes the secondary resonance frequency. It is possible to prevent the water in the liquid balancer 30 from moving when the frequency approaches, and to prevent the eccentric load from increasing.

  It should be considered that the embodiments and examples disclosed above are illustrative and non-restrictive in every respect. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above-described embodiments and examples but by the scope of claims, and includes all modifications and variations within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

  1: Washing machine, 20: Washing tank, 30: Liquid balancer, 31: Container, 32: Buffer member, 33: Water, 40: Water tank, 51: Motor, 311: Outer wall part, 311a: Inner wall surface, 312: Inside Wall part, 312a: inner wall surface, 321: housing member.

Claims (4)

An inner wall surface formed around the rotation axis, the inner wall surface including an outer peripheral side inner wall surface and an inner peripheral side inner wall surface facing the outer peripheral side inner wall surface, and containing the liquid, the rotation axis line An annular container arranged to be able to rotate about
A buffer member fixed on the inner peripheral wall surface of the container;
The buffer member includes a storage member formed of an elastic body and a fluid stored in the storage member, and the container is provided with a centrifugal force when the container is rotated about the rotation axis. Configured to be deformed by the liquid of
A liquid balancer in which the specific gravity of the fluid stored in the storage member is smaller than the specific gravity of the liquid stored in the container. A plurality of buffer members;
2. The liquid balancer according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of buffer members are spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction of the container. The liquid is water;
The fluid is air;
The liquid balancer according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is a polyethylene film. A laundry tub arranged to accommodate the laundry and rotate around the axis of rotation;
A drive unit for rotating the washing tub around a rotation axis;
A liquid balancer according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The said liquid balancer is a washing machine comprised so that it can rotate with the said washing tub centering | focusing on the said rotating shaft line.

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