KR102339978B1 - Device for treating laundry - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus, and more particularly, to a washing machine/dryer/dehydrator equipped with a device for alleviating vibration of an outer tub and reducing noise during operation
Laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, a casing; an outer tank disposed in the casing and storing wash water; an inner tank rotatably provided in the outer tank; and a wire wound along the circumferential direction of the outer surface of the outer shell while maintaining a predetermined tension.

Description

Laundry processing device {Device for treating laundry}

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus, and more particularly, to a washing machine/dryer/dehydrator and the like provided with a device for alleviating vibration of an outer tub and reducing noise during operation.

In general, a laundry treatment apparatus includes a casing on the outside, a cylindrical outer tub disposed in the casing and storing wash water, and a cylindrical inner tub rotatably provided in the outer tub. In addition, the laundry treatment apparatus may include a pulsator, and includes a driving unit for rotating the inner tub or the pulsator.

In the process in which electric power is converted into rotational kinetic energy in the driving unit and the rotational kinetic energy is transmitted to the inner tank or the pulsator, vibration is generated. In addition, vibration is generated in the process of colliding with each other or colliding with the inner tub and the outer tub with laundry contained in the inner tub and the wash water. In addition, vibration is generated in nearby components even by a pressure difference due to the oil flow of wash water formed by the inner tank or the pulsator.

As described above, the vibrations that can occur in various ways have different frequencies depending on the material, shape of each component, the location and nature of the joint, and the direction of vibration. These vibrations with different frequencies generate corresponding noises with different frequencies.

In particular, in the laundry treatment apparatus provided with both the inner tub and the pulsator, when both the inner tub and the pulsator rotate at high speed, the washing water inside flows toward the inner surface of the outer tub by centrifugal force, After flowing along the inner surface of the outer tub in the direction of the laundry inlet, it is poured back into the inner tub. Due to such a rapid flow of the washing water, a negative pressure is generated in the space between the outer tub and the inner tub. In particular, the negative pressure increases near the inlet of the outer tank. A force is applied to the outer shell in an inward direction by a pressure difference due to the negative pressure.

There is a problem in that the inner surface of the outer tub and the outer surface of the inner tub may come into contact with each other due to the vibration of the outer tub generated according to the cause. In addition, there is a problem in that a portion where the outer tub and the casing are joined to each other is widened, and washing water leaks therebetween, and noise is generated due to vibration, which hinders the user's comfortable use of the laundry treatment device.

Accordingly, the shape of the outer shell including ribs protruding from the outer surface of the outer shell and formed along the horizontal and vertical directions was devised. The outer shell is an injection-molded product using a synthetic resin material, and the ribs have a structure integrally formed with the outer shell when the outer shell is injected. The rib structure has an effect of increasing the cross-sectional secondary moment on the cross-section of the outer shell, and thus reducing vibration.

However, in the design, the protrusion height of the rib structure must be increased in order to increase the cross-sectional second moment, and the increased height of the rib may collide with the inner surface of the casing when the outer shell vibrates. In addition, the amount of the injection material increases as the volume of the increased rib increases, thereby increasing the cost. Accordingly, there is a problem in that the protrusion height of the rib is limited.

In addition, since the outer shell and the rib are made of synthetic resin, their modulus of elasticity is not high, so the effect of reducing vibration is not great. In particular, when hot water is used, the rigidity of the rib and the outer shell, which are synthetic resin materials, is further lowered due to the high temperature, so there is a problem in that vibration and noise may be further increased.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to alleviate vibration and reduce noise during operation of a laundry treatment apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent a collision between the outer surface of the outer tub and the inner surface of the casing of the laundry treatment apparatus, and prevent the joint between the components from being widened to prevent water leakage.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of material at the time of outer shell injection of the laundry treatment apparatus.

Objects of the present invention are not limited to the objects mentioned above, and other objects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention includes a casing, an outer tub disposed in the casing and storing wash water, an inner tub rotatably provided in the outer tub, and a state in which a predetermined tension is maintained. and a wire wound along the circumferential direction of the outer surface of the outer shell.

The wire may be in close contact with the outer surface of the outer tub, and a plurality of wires may be wound to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of the rotation axis of the inner tub.

The outer tub may include a reinforcing rib that protrudes from an outer surface of the outer tub and extends along a rotational axis of the inner tub, and an insertion portion through which the wire passes may be formed in the reinforcing rib.

The reinforcing rib may be formed in a portion in which a distance between the outer surface of the outer shell and the inner surface of the casing is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance.

The insertion portion of the reinforcing rib may be formed such that an outer surface of the outer shell is exposed to the insertion portion, and may have a hole shape.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further include a connection member for connecting both ends of the wire.

A hook member may be installed at one end of the wire, and both ends of the wire may be connected by folding the other end of the wire by being caught by the hook member. The laundry treatment apparatus may further include a binding member for binding the front and rear ends formed in front and back of the folded portion caught by the hanging member to each other.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further include a display unit for confirming that the wire is elongated by a predetermined length within the elastic limit.

In the case where the hanging member is installed,

The laundry treatment apparatus may further include a display unit for guiding a predetermined position on the wire to be caught by the hanging member and folded,

The display unit may be provided at the predetermined position on the wire.

The details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

According to the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention, there are one or more of the following effects.

It is effective in preventing product failure by mitigating vibrations during operation of the laundry treatment device.

It has the effect of improving convenience and comfort by reducing noise during operation of the laundry treatment device.

When washing in hot water, it compensates for the rigidity of the outer tub, which is weak against heat, and has the effect of maintaining vibration mitigation and noise reduction functions.

The outer surface of the outer tub of the laundry treatment device and the inner surface of the casing reduce the possibility of collision, thereby preventing unexpected vibration/noise and malfunction.

It has the effect of preventing water leakage by preventing the joints between components from opening up.

It has the effect of increasing the economic feasibility of manufacturing the laundry treatment device by reducing the amount of material during external injection molding.

Effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment according to the present invention;
2 is an enlarged view showing Embodiment 1 of part A shown in FIG. 1;
3 is an enlarged view showing the second embodiment of part A shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing Embodiment 1 of part B shown in FIG. 1;
5 is an enlarged view showing Embodiment 2 of part B shown in FIG. 1;
6 is an enlarged view showing the third embodiment of part B shown in FIG. 1;
7 is a noise experiment frequency analysis graph comparing the noise level of a washing machine in which a wire is not installed and a washing machine according to the present invention;
8 is a view showing a longitudinal (rotational axis direction of the inner tub) vibration mode generated in the outer tub of the washing machine in which the wire is not installed.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms, and only these embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and common knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains It is provided to fully inform those who have the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

The laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention may be a washing machine, a dryer, a dehydrator, and the like. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 1, the description will be limited to a washing machine as an embodiment as follows.

The washing machine includes a casing (not shown), a cylindrical outer tub 1 disposed in the casing and storing wash water, a cylindrical inner tub rotatably provided in the outer tub 1 (not shown), and a predetermined A wire 3 wound along the circumferential direction of the outer surface of the outer tub 1 is included while maintaining the tension.

Even when the outer tub 1 is not cylindrical, the wire 3 may be wound along the circumferential direction of the outer surface of the outer tub 1 .

In one embodiment, the wire 3 is wound around the outer tub 1 of the top-loading type washing machine, but as another embodiment, the wire 3 may also be wound around the outer tub of the front-loading type washing machine.

When the wire 3 is stretched within the elastic limit, tension, which is an elastic force, acts in proportion to the increased length. When the wire 3 is wound along the circumferential direction of the outer surface of the outer tub 1 while maintaining the tension, the wire 3 applies a force to the outer tub 1 in the inward direction.

The wire 3 may be disposed on the inner surface or inside the cross-section of the outer shell 1 , but is disposed on the outer surface of the outer shell 1 in the embodiment. The wire 3 may be in close contact with the outer surface of the outer tub 1 . Through the close contact, the force applied by the wire 3 to the outer surface of the outer shell 1 can be evenly distributed.

In one embodiment, one wire 3 may be wound in the center of the outer tub 1 .

In another embodiment, a plurality of wires 3 may be wound to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of the rotation axis of the inner tub. That is, each wire 3 may be wound around the outer tub 1 , respectively. Through this, the portion that applies the force in the inward direction to the outer surface of the outer tank 1 may be a plurality of portions, and the magnitude of the force applied according to the corresponding portion may be different.

The material of the wire 3 may have a greater elastic modulus than the material of the outer tub 1 . In this case, the restoring force generated from the wire 3 may be greater than the restoring force generated from the outer tub 1 . In the embodiment, the material of the outer tub 1 is a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene, and the material of the wire 3 is metal such as iron.

The outer tub 1 may include a reinforcing rib 30 protruding from the outer surface of the outer tub 1 and extending along a rotational axis direction (hereinafter, 'longitudinal direction') of the inner tub. The reinforcing ribs 30 may be formed not only in the longitudinal direction but also in the circumferential direction (hereinafter, 'transverse direction') of the outer tub 1, and the reinforcing ribs 30 in the longitudinal and transverse directions may meet while being perpendicular to each other. A cross-sectional secondary moment on a cross section crossing the reinforcing rib 30 is greater than that in the absence of the reinforcing rib 30 . Therefore, when the reinforcing ribs 30 are formed in several directions, the cross-sectional secondary moment is increased on the cross-sections in various directions.

The reinforcing rib 30 may be provided with an insertion part 31 through which the wire 3 passes. When the wire 3 is wound in the transverse direction from the outer surface of the outer tub 1, it comes into contact with the reinforcing rib 30 formed in the longitudinal direction. The insertion part 31 is formed at the point where the outer tub 1 and the reinforcing rib 30 meet, so that the outer tub 1 can be wound while the wire 3 passes through the reinforcing rib 30 . In addition, the insertion portion 31 serves to guide the arrangement of the wire (3).

The reinforcing rib 30 may be formed in a portion where a distance between the outer surface (hereinafter, 'first surface') of the outer shell 1 and the inner surface (hereinafter, 'second surface') of the casing is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance. When the outer tub 1 and/or the casing vibrate, the first surface and the second surface may come closer. In this case, the collision probability between the first surface and the second surface increases as the distance between the portion protruding from the first surface to face the second surface and the second surface is closer, based on the absence of vibration. gets bigger Therefore, it is preferable that the reinforcing rib 30 is formed at a position where the distance between the first surface and the second surface is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance, so that the collision probability with the second surface is sufficiently small.

In the embodiment, the transverse cross-sectional shape of the casing is a quadrangle, and the portion on the first surface furthest from the second surface is a square-shaped corner portion of the casing, so the reinforcing ribs 30 to face the corner portion ) may be formed to protrude. Two longitudinal reinforcing ribs 30 may be formed to protrude opposite to one of the corner portions.

In the embodiment, the reinforcing rib 30 protrudes from the first surface and extends along the longitudinal or transverse direction, and the protruding surface of the reinforcing rib 30 is gradually reduced at the end of the extension. It can be a way to coincide with the two sides. The reinforcing ribs in the transverse direction may support the reinforcing ribs 30 in the longitudinal direction in the transverse direction.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the configuration and operation of the insertion part 31 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail as follows.

In an embodiment, the insertion part 31 may be formed in the reinforcing rib 30 to be spaced apart from the outer surface of the outer shell 1 . In this case, the force generated by the wire 3 may be intensively applied to the side surface of the insertion part 31 .

In another embodiment, the outer surface of the outer shell 1 may be formed to be exposed to the insertion portion (31). That is, the insertion part 31 may be formed by being attached to the outer surface of the outer shell 1 . In this case, the wire 3 passing through the insertion part 31 can be in close contact with the outer surface of the outer tub 1, so that the force generated by the wire 3 is evenly distributed on the outer surface of the outer tub 1. can

In Example 1 of FIG. 2 , the insertion part 131 may have a groove shape.

In Embodiment 2 of FIG. 3 , the insertion part 231 may be in the form of a hole. In the case of the hole-shaped insertion part 231 , since the continuity of the reinforcing rib 30 is increased, it is helpful in maintaining the rigidity of the outer shell 1 .

The washing machine may further include a connection member 10 for connecting both ends of the wire 3 . After the wire 3 is stretched within the elastic limit, it should be wound around the outer tub 1 while maintaining it. In order to maintain the above state, both ends of the wire 3 or either one may be directly fixed to the outer tub 1. However, in the embodiment, both ends are connected to each other to maintain the above state. The connection member 10 may be a turnbuckle type, or a method combining the hook members 111 and 211 and the binding member 12 .

4 and 5, the configuration and operation of the hanging members 111 and 211 and the binding member 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail as follows.

Hanging members 111 and 211 may be installed at one end of the wire 3 , and the other end of the wire 3 may be folded by being caught by the hooking members 111 and 211 . Through this, both ends of the wire are connected.

Based on the folded portion (hereinafter 'folding point') of the wire 3 caught by the hanging members 111 and 211, the portion of the wire 3 from the folding point to the other end is called the front end, and from the folding point to the one end Define the wire (3) portion of the rear end. The washing machine may further include a binding member 12 for binding the front end and the rear end formed in front and behind the folding point to each other. The binding member 12 binds the front end and the rear end so that the wire 3 maintains elastic deformation.

In an embodiment, the binding member 12 binds the front end and the rear end together by compressing the front end and the rear end in a method of tightening them together.

4, the hook member 111 may be in the form of a hook.

In the second embodiment of Figure 5, the hanging member 211 may be in the form of a ring (ring).

The washing machine may further include display units 220 and 320 for confirming that the wire 3 is elongated by a predetermined length within the elastic limit.

The configuration and operation of the display units 220 and 320 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 .

In the embodiment in which the hanging members 111 and 211 are included, the display units 220 and 320 may guide a predetermined position on the wire 3 to be caught by the hanging members 111 and 211 and folded. Even if the wire 3 is wound around the outer shell 1 before the wire 3 is stretched and elastically deformed, the predetermined position does not come into contact with the hook members 111 and 211 . The wire 3 may be stretched and elastically deformed so that the predetermined position becomes the folding point, and the display units 220 and 320 serve to guide the confirmation of whether the predetermined position becomes the folding point.

The magnitude of the tension generated in the wire 3 within the elastic limit is proportional to the elongation length of the wire 3 . When the wire 3 is stretched within the elastic limit by the predetermined length, a predetermined magnitude of tension is generated in the wire 3 . If the desired magnitude value of the tension is determined, the predetermined position may be determined in advance for this purpose. For example, the predetermined position may be preset so that the tension is 20 kgf.

In the second embodiment of FIG. 5 , the display unit 220 may be provided at the predetermined position on the wire. The scale is displayed as the display unit 220 at the predetermined position, and the wire 3 is elastically stretched so that the position with the scale is the folding point.

In the third embodiment of FIG. 6 , the display unit 320 may include a scale on the front end (hereinafter, 'scale 1') and a scale on the rear end (hereinafter, 'scale 2'). When the front end and the rear end are bound by the binding member 12, the wire 3 is elastically stretched so that the scale 1 and the scale 2 coincide. When the wire 3 is elastically stretched until the predetermined position becomes the folding point, the scale 1 and the scale 2 are preset to match.

The operating principle and effect of the washing machine according to the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 .

A noise test example in which the result of FIG. 7 is obtained will be described.

In the process of washing machine operation, a broadband noise with various frequencies is generated. In this experiment, the noise frequency is divided into an Octave 1/3 band (hereinafter referred to as the 'experiment band') to determine the noise level for each band in dB. It is measured in units. Frequency analysis was performed in this experiment from the experimental band including the 22Hz frequency, which is the region of interest, to the experimental band including the 1122Hz frequency.

The bar graph distinguishes between a washing machine having no wire installed (hereinafter referred to as a 'conventional product') and a measured noise level value of the washing machine according to the experimental example of the present invention according to the hatched hatch shape. In the above experimental example, in the outer tank of the washing machine in which the wire is not installed, in addition to the reinforcing rib 30 of FIG. 1 , a low-height rib is additionally configured on the outer surface of the outer tank. Conditions other than the conventional product and the washing machine according to the experimental example of the present invention are all the same.

The bar graph values above the 'A' and 'L' marks displayed on the far right indicate the noise level when the noise levels of the respective experimental bands are combined. That is, it represents the noise level in the entire frequency range of the noise generated during the operation of the washing machine. The bar graph value above the 'L' mark indicates the noise level without any correction, and the bar graph value above the 'A' mark is the A correction that lowers the low-frequency noise level. A correction is similar to what the human ear perceives.

A person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can fully understand through previously published documents, so a detailed description of a method for setting an octave 1/3 band and A correction will be omitted.

In this experimental example, the noise of the conventional product was measured to be 85.04 dB in overall size, and was measured to be 67.65 dB when A was corrected. Through frequency analysis, it can be seen that the frequency region that has the greatest influence on the overall noise level is the experimental band including 125Hz (hereinafter referred to as the 'corresponding experimental band'). Because it is louder than the noise level. As a result of tracing the noise source having the frequency of the test band, it was confirmed that the noise source was in a mode of longitudinal vibration in the outer shell of the conventional product.

FIG. 8 is a diagram representing one vibration mode among a plurality of similar longitudinal vibration modes occurring in the outer shell of the conventional product. The portion 40 where the maximum amplitude occurs in the longitudinal vibration mode is the most protruding portion.

If the amplitude of the external control longitudinal vibration mode of the conventional product is reduced, the noise level in the test band can be lowered, and as a result, the overall noise level of the washing machine operation process can be lowered.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the wire 3 is wound along the circumferential direction of the outer surface of the outer tub 1 while maintaining a predetermined tension in the wire 3 , the wire 3 is attached to the outer surface of the outer tub 1 . A force is applied in the direction of suppressing the longitudinal vibration mode. That is, when the outer tub 1 vibrates in the longitudinal vibration mode, a larger elastic elastic deformation occurs in the wire 3, and accordingly, the amplitude of the longitudinal vibration mode of the outer tub 1 is generated by the restoring force of the wire 3 becomes smaller

The noise of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention was measured to be 83.10 dB, and was measured to be 64.99 dB when A was corrected. It can be seen that the overall noise level is reduced by 1.94 dB and 2.66 dB, respectively, compared to the noise level of the conventional product. It can be seen that this is because the noise level in the test band is significantly reduced compared to the noise level of the conventional product.

As such, the effect of the present invention is confirmed through the above experimental examples.

In the above, the embodiments and experimental examples of the present invention have been illustrated and described, but the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and experimental examples described above, and the present invention is not departed from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to which these belong, of course, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or prospect of the present invention.

1: exorcism
2: rib
3: wire
10: connecting member
111: Example 1 Hanging member 211: Example 2 Hanging member
12: binding member
220: Embodiment 2 display unit 320: Embodiment 3 display unit
30: reinforcement rib
31: insertion part of the reinforcing rib
131: Insertion part of Example 1 reinforcing rib
231: Insertion part of the reinforcing rib of Example 2
40: maximum amplitude part

Claims (13)

casing;
an outer tank disposed in the casing and storing wash water;
an inner tank rotatably provided in the outer tank; and
A wire surrounding the outer circumferential surface of the outer shell,
The wire is:
a first part in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the outer shell;
a hanging member provided at one end of the first part;
a second part connected to the other end of the first part and caught by the hanging member; and
and a third part extending from the second part and coupled to the first part. delete The method of claim 1, wherein the wire is
A laundry treatment device in which a plurality are wound to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of the rotation axis of the inner tub. According to claim 1, wherein the outer joule,
and a reinforcing rib extending along the outer circumferential surface of the outer tub and supporting the outer circumferential surface of the outer tub;
The reinforcing rib has a hole through which the wire passes. delete 5. The method of claim 4,
An outer surface of the outer tub forms a part of the hole. delete delete delete The method of claim 1,
The laundry treatment apparatus further comprising a binding member for binding the first part and the third part of the wire by pressing each other. The method of claim 1,
Laundry treatment apparatus further comprising a display for confirming that the wire is elongated by a predetermined length within the elastic limit. The method of claim 1,
Laundry treatment apparatus further comprising a display unit for guiding a predetermined position on the wire to be caught by the hanging member to be folded.
delete

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