KR20110015777A - Damper for washing machine and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A damper of a washing machine and a method for controlling the same are provided to keep optimal damping performance according to a tub and a vibration degree, thereby selectively coping with vibration generated during a dewatering step, an excessive vibration state, and a normal vibration state. CONSTITUTION: A damper(300) of a washing machine comprises a cylinder(310), a piston(320), a friction member(325), and a damping power controlling unit(340). The piston is inserted into the cylinder. The friction member is located on the outer circumference of an installation space(323) of the piston. The friction member contacts the inside of the cylinder. The damping power controlling unit is installed in the installation space. The damping power controlling unit pressurizes the inner circumference of the piston to control pressure applied to the inner wall of the cylinder by the friction member.

Description

Damper for washing machine and control method thereof {damper for washing machine and method for controlling the same}

The present invention relates to a laundry machine, and more particularly, to a damper and a method of controlling the laundry machine to improve the damper structure of the laundry machine to effectively reduce the vibration generated during the operation of the laundry machine.

In general, the washing machine is a product that removes various contaminants attached to clothes and bedding by using the emulsification of the detergent and friction action of the water flow due to the rotation of the pulsator or drum and impact on the laundry. Recently appeared automatic washing machine automatically proceeds a series of steps leading to a washing course, rinsing course, dehydration course, etc. without the user's operation in the middle.

Recently, the demand for a drum-type washing machine, which can reduce the overall height as compared to the pulsator washing machine that rotates with the washing tank standing, and hardly causes the laundry to be twisted and wrinkles on the laundry, is increasing. Is in.

Briefly describing the structure of the drum-type laundry machine as described above, the main body cabinet to form the outer shape, the tub is located inside the main cabinet and the wash water is stored, and the cylindrical shape is located inside the tub to put the laundry The drum is largely divided, and the drum receives a driving force by a driving unit for washing laundry put into the drum.

The drum type laundry machine having the structure described above inevitably causes vibration due to the rotational force of the drum and the eccentricity of the laundry when the drum is rotated to wash and dehydrate the laundry put into the drum. The vibration generated is transmitted to the outside through the tub and the cabinet.

In order to prevent the vibration generated in the tub is transmitted to the cabinet is provided with a damping device for buffering and mitigating the vibration of the tub between the tub and the cabinet. Typically, the damping device includes a suspension spring located at the top of the tub and a damper supporting the bottom of the tub.

Meanwhile, the laundry apparatus as described above washes laundry while sequentially performing washing, rinsing, and dehydration strokes sequentially or selectively. Here, when the dehydration stroke of the washing apparatus starts, as the driving unit rotates at high speed, the drum is rotated at high speed to dehydrate the laundry.

Here, in the initial stage of the dehydration stroke, excessive vibration is transmitted to the tub by the initial driving of the drum by the driving unit (hereinafter referred to as "over-vibration state"). And as the rotational speed of the drum is gradually increased, the vibration transmitted to the tub is gradually reduced. When this drum reaches the normal rotational speed, the vibration transmitted to the tub is greatly reduced compared to the initial stage of the dehydration stroke (hereinafter referred to as "normal vibration state"). In transient and steady vibrations, the vibration transmitted to the tub is absorbed by the damper.

On the other hand, in the case of a damper with a small damping force when the rotation speed of the drum increases due to the dehydration process to reach a normal vibration state, which is an area over a certain rotation speed, the transmission force of the vibration transmitted to the washing machine body structure beyond the excessive vibration state. On the contrary, the damper has a large damping force, but the transmission force increases over time, and thus vibration and noise continue to increase.

Therefore, in the transient vibration state of the tub, which is the initial dehydration stage, it is advantageous to use a damper with a large damping force, and it is advantageous to absorb vibration, and a damper with a small damping force is advantageous after the tub reaches a normal vibration state after a certain time. Able to know.

However, in the case of the conventional damper, since both the transient vibration and the normal vibration state apply the same damping force, the normal vibration is not reversed when the vibration is not enough to satisfy the vibration in the transient vibration state or the vibration is reduced in the transient vibration state. In the state, rather than amplifying the transmission force of the vibration transmitted to the washing machine structure, the problem that the noise increases during the dehydration stroke of the washing machine.

The present invention is to solve the problems as described above, the damping force of the damper is variable in accordance with the amount of vibration generated in the tub of the washing machine washing to reduce the vibration and noise of the washing machine during washing and dehydration operation It is an object of the present invention to provide a damper of the apparatus and a control method thereof.

Damper of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is located on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder, the piston is inserted into the cylinder, the installation space is formed, the installation space, the inner surface of the cylinder It is preferable to include a friction member in contact with the damping force control unit which is installed in the installation space and pressurizes the inner peripheral surface of the piston to adjust the pressure applied to the inner wall of the cylinder by the friction member.

The damping force control unit and the actuator for generating an operating force for adjusting the damping force,

It is preferably provided with a cone slider which is lifted by the actuator, the installation space is extended to the cylinder side by the movement of the cone slider.

Preferably, the damping force adjusting unit further includes a slide piston for transmitting the operating force of the actuator to the cone slider.

Preferably, the damping force control unit further includes an expansion cover covering the installation space, and an elastic body provided between the expansion cover and the cone slider to press the cone slider toward the actuator.

The expansion cover is formed on the outer circumferential surface to contact the inner circumferential surface of the installation space, the inner circumferential surface is preferably formed to contact the outer circumferential surface of the cone slider.

A locking groove is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the installation space, and a locking protrusion is mounted on the locking groove on the outer circumferential surface of the expansion cover.

Preferably, the expansion cover and the installation space are formed with cutouts in the longitudinal direction, respectively.

The outer peripheral surface of the installation space is preferably further provided with a friction member in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder.

A control method of a damper of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is the first to adjust the damping force of the damper before entering the transient vibration section as the tub of the washing machine enters the transient vibration section. It is preferable to include a damping force adjustment step, and the two damping force control system to adjust the damping force of the damper before entering the normal vibration section as the tub passes through the transient vibration section and enters the normal vibration section.

The first damping force adjusting step may increase the damping force of the damper, and the second damping force adjusting step may reduce the damping force of the damper.

According to the damper of the washing machine according to the present invention and a control method thereof, the damping performance is optimized according to the amount of vibration generated in the tub, and the vibration generated in the transient vibration state in the initial stage of dehydration and in the normal vibration state thereafter. There is an effect that can be selectively responded.

In addition, according to the damper of the laundry machine and the control method thereof according to the present invention by having the optimum damping performance according to the amount of vibration generated in the tub, there is an effect that can reduce the noise caused by the vibration generated in the tub.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a damper and a method of controlling the washing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In describing the present invention, the names of the elements defined are defined in consideration of functions in the present invention. Therefore, it should not be understood as a meaning limiting the technical components of the present invention. In addition, each name defined in each component may be referred to as other names in the art.

First, a washing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a simplified view showing a washing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a washing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 2, the washing apparatus 100 according to the present invention includes a cabinet 110 having an external appearance as shown, a tub 120 installed inside the cabinet 110, and a tub 120. The drum 130, which is located inside and rotatably installed, the rotary shaft 131 penetrating the rear of the tub 120 and connected to the drum 130, and provided at the rear of the tub 120 to the rotary shaft 131 A driving unit 140 for transmitting the rotational force, a damping device 200 provided between the tub 120 and the cabinet 110 to change the damping force according to the vibration amount of the tub 120 to buffer and absorb the vibration, and each It is provided with a control unit 150 in conjunction with the component to control the operation of the washing apparatus 100, and performs the set washing administration.

Cabinet 110 forms the appearance of the washing apparatus. A door 112 for opening and closing the inlet 122 of the tub 120 is rotatably provided at the front side of the cabinet 110. The control panel 114 for operating the washing apparatus 100 is provided on the front upper side of the cabinet 110.

The tub 120 is supported by the damping device 200 inside the cabinet 110. In the front of the tub is formed an opening inlet 122 so that laundry can be introduced. The door 112 for opening and closing the inlet 122 of the tub 120 is rotatably provided at the front side of the cabinet 110. The upper side of the tub 120 is provided with a water supply unit 124 for supplying the washing water to the inside of the tub 120, the lower side of the tub 120 to drain the washing water supplied to the tub 120 126 is provided.

The drum 130 is rotatably provided inside the tub 120, and a rear shaft of the drum 130 is provided with a rotating shaft penetrating the tub 120 and coupled to the driving unit 140. The inner circumferential surface of the drum 130 is provided with a lift 132 for moving the laundry. The circumferential surface of the drum 130 is formed with a through hole 134 for draining the wash water inside the drum 130.

The driving unit 140 is coupled to the rear of the tub 120 to rotate the drum 130 inside the tub 120. The rotational force of the driving unit 140 is transmitted to the drum 130 by the rotating shaft 131. The speed of the driver 140 is controlled by the controller 150. The structure and type of the driving unit 140 are well known to those skilled in the art, and various embodiments are possible, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The control panel 114 is provided at the front upper side of the cabinet. The control panel 114 includes an operation unit 116 for controlling the operation of the washing apparatus 100 and a display unit 118 for displaying an operating state of the washing apparatus 100. The operation unit 116 and the operation unit 118 are connected to the control unit 150 to control the operation of the washing apparatus 100, or display the operating state of the washing apparatus 100.

The damping device 200 includes a suspension spring 210 provided at an upper portion of the tub 120, and a damper 300 provided at a lower portion of the tub 120. The suspension spring 210 connects the upper portion of the tub 120 with the inner upper portion of the cabinet 110 to allow the tub 120 to float by elastic force. The damper 300 supports the tub 120 with respect to the inner bottom of the cabinet 110. The damper 300 is provided so that the damping force is variable according to the vibration of the tub 120 to buffer and attenuate the vibration of the tub 120. The damper 300 will be described in detail after the washing apparatus 100 is described.

The controller 150 controls the overall washing operation (eg, washing stroke, rinsing stroke, dehydrating stroke, etc.) of the washing apparatus 100 and operates the washing apparatus 100 according to the setting of the washing apparatus 100. . In particular, the controller 150 buffers and attenuates the vibration of the tub 120 by adjusting the damping force of the damper 300 with respect to vibration caused by the rotation of the drum 130 during each stroke.

Meanwhile, the laundry apparatus 100 having the above-described configuration may be further provided with a steam supply device (not shown), a hot air supply device (not shown), and the like. The laundry is dried by the steam supply device and the hot air supply device. And a refresh (refresh) stroke may be additionally performed.

Hereinafter, the damper 300 of the washing apparatus 100 as described above will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing a damper according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the damper 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed in the cylinder 310, the piston 320 inserted into the cylinder 310, and the piston 320, and power is applied. And a damping force adjusting unit 340 for generating pressure toward the inner circumferential surface side of the cylinder 310, and an expansion cover 330 covering the damping force adjusting unit 340 installed on the piston 320.

The cylinder 310 has a hollow in which one side is opened, and the piston 320 is inserted into the hollow. The outer end of the cylinder 310 is formed with a cylinder coupling portion 312 coupled to the tub 120 (or the base (not shown) of the cabinet 110).

The piston 320 is formed so that one side is inserted into the cylinder 310, the other side is formed with a piston coupling portion 321 is coupled to the base (not shown) (or tub 120) of the cabinet 110. An end portion of the piston 320 inserted into the cylinder 310 is formed with a cylindrical installation space 323 for installing the damping force adjusting unit 340. A ring-shaped friction member 325 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the installation space 323 of the piston 320 to be in close contact with the inner wall of the cylinder 310. On the outer circumferential surface of the piston 320 forming the installation space 323, a plurality of incisions in the longitudinal direction of the piston 320 so that the piston 320 forming the installation space 323 is expanded by the damping force adjusting unit 340. A portion 329 is formed.

The expansion cover 330 is inserted into and fixed to the installation space 323 of the piston 320. To this end, a plurality of locking grooves 327 are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the installation space 323, and a locking protrusion 331 is inserted into the locking groove 327 and mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the expansion cover 330. In addition, a plurality of cutouts 333 are formed in the longitudinal direction of the piston 320 to be extended by the damping force adjusting unit 340.

The damping force adjusting unit 340 is inserted into the installation space 323 formed in the piston 320 to press the friction member 325 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the piston 320 to the inner circumferential surface side of the cylinder 310.

The damping force adjusting unit 340 includes an actuator 341 which generates an operating force in the axial direction of the piston 320, a slide piston 343 moved by the actuator 341, and a movement of the slide piston 343. The cone slider 347 is moved between the cone slider 347 and the expansion cover 330 is provided with an elastic body 349 for pressing the cone slider 347 toward the actuator 341 side.

The actuator 341 generates an operating force for moving the cone slider 347 toward the expansion cover 330 as power is applied.

The actuator 341 may be provided with a heater that is heated by a power supply and a wax motor that is operated by a wax that causes a volume change by heat of the heater. In addition, it can be implemented using a linear actuator such as a solenoid to generate an operating force to the magnetic force generated by the power supply.

The slide piston 343 moves side by side along the inner circumferential surface of the piston 320 to transfer the operating force of the actuator 341 to the cone slider 347. The slide piston 343 is formed in a cylindrical shape that is slidably in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the installation space 323 of the piston 320. In the central portion of the slide piston 343, the pressing shaft 345 that is pressed by the actuator 341 may be provided separately.

The cone slider 347 is smaller than the inner circumferential surface of the piston 320 and is provided in the form of a circular truncated cone having an inclination angle greater than the inner circumferential surface of the expansion cover 330. The lower portion of the cone slider 347 is supported by the slide piston 343. The cone slider 347 is moved toward the expansion cover 330 according to the movement of the slide piston 343. As the cone slider 347 is moved, the expansion cover 330 is extended to the inner wall side of the cylinder 310 by the inclined surface of the cone slider 347.

Hereinafter, to describe the operation of the washing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above. Components and reference numbers described below will be understood with reference to the drawings and the description above.

First, the washing apparatus 100 performs the washing by rotating the drum 130 repeatedly in the forward or reverse direction by supplying water at the beginning of the washing stroke. In the rinsing stroke, the laundry is dehydrated and watered, and the drum 130 is rinsed by rotating. The process is repeated. In addition, in the dehydration stroke, the drum 130 is rotated at a high speed to remove moisture from the laundry object.

On the other hand, the present embodiment relates to a damper 300 for buffering and damping the vibration of the tub 120 by adjusting the damping force according to the vibration of the tub 120. This will be described as an example of the dehydration stroke in which the vibration of the tub 120 occurs most. However, the present invention is not limited to the dehydration stroke, and may be used for washing, drying, and the like.

Hereinafter, a damper control method of the washing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

Figure 4 is a graph showing the operation of the damper according to the dehydration operation of the laundry machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 is an operation diagram showing the operating state of the damper according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, with reference to Figure 4 will be described the progress of the dehydration administration of the washing machine, the operation of the damper.

As shown in the drawing, when the washing apparatus 100 performs the dehydration stroke, the controller 150 controls the driving unit 140 to increase the rotational speed of the drum 130. At this time, the controller 150 increases and maintains the rotational speed of the drum 130 to an appropriate dehydration rotational speed.

Here, in the initial stage of the dehydration stroke, excessive vibration is transmitted to the tub 120 by the initial driving and resonance of the drum 130. The vibration section generated during the initial driving of the drum 130 is referred to as 'transient vibration section'.

And as the rotational speed of the drum 130 is gradually increased, the vibration transmitted to the tub 120 is gradually reduced. When the drum 130 reaches the proper spin speed, the vibration transmitted to the tub 120 is greatly reduced compared to the initial spin spin. The vibration section generated when the drum 130 enters the proper spin speed is referred to as a 'normal vibration section'.

Here, the rotational speed, operating time, etc. of the drum 130 corresponding to the 'transient vibration section' and the 'normal vibration section' may be obtained through an experiment, and may be set and stored in the controller 150. In addition, the vibration of the tub 120 may be detected and applied through a separate vibration sensor (not shown).

On the other hand, the vibration generated in the transient vibration section and the normal vibration section as described above is absorbed by the damper 300. Hereinafter, the operation of the damper 300 during the progress of the dehydration stroke as described above will be described.

The controller 150 changes the damping force of the damper 300 by operating the actuator 341 of the damper 300 before the rotational speed of the drum 130 enters the transient vibration section as the dehydration stroke proceeds. At this time, the operating time of the actuator 341 is previously operated by the time T1 set before the drum 130 enters the transient vibration section. This is to prepare for an operational delay of the actuator 341. That is, when the actuator 341 has a long operation delay time such as a wax motor, the actuator 341 starts operation 70 to 80 seconds before entering the transient vibration section in consideration of the operation delay time. However, when the actuator 341, like the solenoid, has a very short operating delay time, the actuator 341 may start to operate simultaneously with the entry of the transient vibration section.

On the other hand, the controller 150 stops the operation of the actuator 341 when the rotational speed of the drum 130 enters the normal vibration section through the transient vibration section as the dehydration stroke progresses.

In this case, the time at which the actuator 341 is stopped is previously stopped by the time T2 set before the drum 130 enters the normal vibration section from the transient vibration section. This is to prepare for an operational delay of the actuator 341. That is, when the actuator 341 has a long operation delay time such as a wax motor, the operation is stopped 90 to 100 seconds before entering the normal vibration section from the transient vibration section in consideration of the operation delay time. However, if the actuator 341 has a very short operation delay time, such as a solenoid, the actuator 341 may start operation at the same time as the normal vibration section enters.

Here, the operation of the damper 300 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 5. As illustrated, when power is supplied to the actuator 341 of the damper 300 by the controller 150, the actuator 341 is operated to move the slide piston 343 toward the cone slider 347. Accordingly, the cone slider 347 is moved toward the expansion cover 330, and the outer circumferential surface of the expansion cover 330 is extended by the inclined surface of the cone slider 347.

Meanwhile, as the expansion cover 330 is expanded, the installation space 323 of the piston 320 to which the expansion cover 330 is coupled is expanded, and the friction member 325 located on the outer circumferential surface of the installation space 323 is disposed in the cylinder 310. It is pressed against the inner circumferential surface of As a result of the change in friction between the cylinder 310 and the piston 320, the damping force of the damper 300 is increased.

When the power supplied to the actuator of the damper 3300 is cut off by the controller 150, the cone slider 347 is operated by the elastic body 349 provided between the expansion cover 330 and the cone slider 347. It is moved while being pressed to the side. Accordingly, the pressure applied to the expansion cover 330 and the piston 320 by the cone slider 347 is removed, and the expansion cover 330 and the piston 320 return to their original states. Accordingly, the pressure applied to the inner wall of the cylinder 310 by the friction member 325 of the piston 320 is removed, and the damping force of the damper 300 is reduced.

As described above, according to the damper 300 according to the present embodiment, the damping force of the damper 300 depends on the magnitude of the vibration generated when the vibration is generated by the rotation of the drum 130 when the washing apparatus 100 operates. By controlling the noise, it is possible to prevent noise caused by vibration in response to various vibrations.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, The present invention may be modified in various ways. Therefore, modifications of the embodiments of the present invention will not depart from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the damper structure and control method thereof according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied not only to a drum washing apparatus but also to a pulsator, a loop washer, a dryer, and the like.

1 is a simplified view showing a washing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a washing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing a damper according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a graph showing the operation of the damper according to the dehydration stroke of the laundry machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an operation diagram showing an operating state of the damper according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (10)

Cylinders, A piston inserted into the cylinder and having an installation space formed therein; Located in the outer circumferential surface of the installation space, the friction member in contact with the inner surface of the cylinder, And a damping force control unit installed in the installation space and configured to pressurize an inner circumferential surface of the piston to adjust a pressure applied to the inner wall of the cylinder by the friction member. According to claim 1, wherein the damping force adjusting unit An actuator for generating an operating force for adjusting the damping force, And a cone slider which is lifted by the actuator, The installation space damper of the washing apparatus, characterized in that extending to the cylinder side by the movement of the slider. The method of claim 2, wherein the damping force adjusting unit And a slide piston for transmitting the actuation force of the actuator to the cone slider. The method of claim 2, wherein the damping force adjusting unit An expansion cover covering the installation space; And an elastic body provided between the expansion cover and the cone slider to press the cone slider toward the actuator side. The method of claim 4, wherein The expansion cover is formed in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the installation space on the outer peripheral surface, the inner circumferential surface of the damper of the washing apparatus, characterized in that formed in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cone slider. The method of claim 4, wherein A locking groove is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the installation space. Damper of the laundry machine, characterized in that the engaging projection is mounted to the engaging groove on the outer peripheral surface of the expansion cover. The method of claim 4, wherein The expansion cover and the installation space damper of the washing apparatus, characterized in that each cut is formed in the longitudinal direction. The damper of claim 2, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the installation space is further provided with a friction member in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. A first damping force adjusting step of adjusting a damping force of a damper before entering the transient vibration section as the tub of the washing machine enters the transient vibration section; And 2 damping force adjusting system for adjusting the damping force of the damper before entering the normal vibration section as the tub passes through the transient vibration section and enters the normal vibration section. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first damping force adjusting step increases the damping force of the damper, and the second damping force adjusting step reduces the damping force of the damper. .

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