KR20140034676A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a washing machine capable of regularly arranging balls within a ball balancer before dehydration. The washing machine has a ring type ball balancer (30) installed in a washing tub (6) around a vertical shaft (J). The ball balancer (30) comprises: a plurality of balls (50); a viscous fluid (60); a balancer case (31) including a ring type ring space (39) partitioned into the bottom, the top, an inner surface and an outer surface; and a plurality of division plates (41) partitioning the ring space (39) into arc type divided spaces (40). A sloped surface (42) is inclined circumferentially downward the deepest portion (43) from an end on a portion of the bottom in each divided space (40). The deepest part (43) is arranged on a position where weights of the balls (50) are balanced while the washing machine is in a stop state.

Description

Washing Machine {Washing Machine}

This invention relates to the vertical type automatic washing machine which can perform each process of "washing", "rinse", and "dehydration" continuously.

In this type of fully automatic washing machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a washing machine), a water tank accommodating a washing tank generally rotating around a longitudinal axis is installed in a state of being suspended inside the housing of the washing machine. The laundry is put in a washing tank, and a series of treatments from washing to dehydration are continuously performed by automatic control. The washing tank rotates at high speed during dehydration.

If the laundry is biased to one side in the washing tank during dewatering, the washing tank and the water tank vibrate greatly. As a result, the durability of a washing machine and the generation of noise are caused. Therefore, the annular balancer is normally provided in the washing tank in order to suppress the vibration.

An annular space (race) is formed inside the balancer, and a balance adjusting material such as liquid or solid is enclosed in the race. The balance adjuster acts to adjust the weight balance between the laundry and the laundry when it is biased to one side.

However, the balancer effectively exerts its balance adjustment function after the washing tank has become larger than a predetermined rotational speed (also referred to as resonance rotational speed) causing primary resonance. Therefore, the balancer rarely functions in the low speed range until the resonance speed is exceeded.

When the rotation speed of the washing tank exceeds the resonance rotation speed, the washing tank tends to rotate greatly with the vibration of the washing tank.

As one of the balancers, there is a ball balancer using balls such as steel balls as the balance adjusting material. The ball balancer exhibits excellent balance adjustment function after exceeding the resonant rotational speed, but may adversely affect the shake rotation of the tank when the resonant rotational speed is exceeded.

That is, if the position of the ball is not constant when the resonant rotation speed is exceeded, the ball itself becomes a cause of imbalance, and the shake rotation of the tank becomes large or vice versa, and the shake rotation of the tank is uneven (shake rotation unevenness). .

For example, depending on the state of the ball balancer, although the skew of the laundry is small, the shaking rotation of the water tank may increase. In that case, there is a possibility to stop abnormally and perform the dehydration treatment again.

In addition, although the washing | cleaning is large, the shake rotation of a water tank may become small. In such a case, there is a fear that a large vibration is caused after the dewatering rotation speed increases. For example, if the ball is positioned in the race in the opposite direction to the excessive washing of the laundry when the resonance speed is exceeded, the shaking rotation when the resonance speed is exceeded becomes small, and the excessive laundry is biased. Dehydration can not be stopped by detecting, and after the rotation speed is increased, a large vibration may be generated.

A washing machine designed to solve the drawbacks of such a ball balancer is disclosed (Patent Publication No. 10-52591, hereinafter Patent Document 1).

Patent Literature 1 makes it possible to arrange balls evenly at the beginning of dehydration. Specifically, three recessed accommodating portions for dropping the balls evenly on the bottom surface of the annular accommodating chamber accommodating the plurality of balls are formed at equal intervals.

The ball dropped to the recessed accommodating portion is configured to exit from the recessed accommodating portion when a predetermined number of revolutions is reached, and freely moves inside the accommodating chamber after exiting the recessed accommodating portion. The ball from the depression receiving portion is naturally accommodated in the depression receiving portion by the vibration during the deceleration rotation of the washing tank.

In addition, in connection with the present invention, a ball balancer is provided in which a plurality of resistance plates are provided in an annular annular chamber accommodating a plurality of spheres (balls) (Patent No. 58-209518, hereinafter Patent Document 2).

The resistance plate in patent document 2 protrudes toward the center from the outer peripheral side wall of an annular chamber. On the resistance plate, a flow path through which the sphere can pass is formed. Until the resonance speed is exceeded, the movement of the sphere is inhibited by the resistance plate. The outer circumferential side wall is inclined, and when the resonant rotation speed is exceeded, the sphere is placed in the flow path by raising the outer circumferential side wall, and the free movement in the circumferential direction becomes possible.

In the case of the washing machine of patent document 1, if all the balls can always be accommodated in each recess accommodating part before dewatering process, the increase of the shaking rotation of a water tank can be suppressed stably.

However, in the case of a ball balancer, it is necessary to suppress the movement of the ball to some extent in order to prevent self-vibration. Therefore, a high viscosity viscous fluid is accommodated inside the accommodating chamber together with the ball.

Therefore, since the movement of the ball is inhibited by the viscous fluid, it is time-consuming to accommodate the ball using the vibration during the deceleration rotation, like the washing machine of Patent Document 1, and all the balls are recessed. The receiver is difficult to reliably. Therefore, the washing machine of patent document 1 has difficulty in terms of stability.

In addition, the viscous fluid itself also causes movement with rotation. The movement of the viscous fluid is also a factor that increases the vibration and noise of the washing tank.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which is simple in structure and can stably arrange the balls in the ball balancer before dehydration treatment and can also suppress the viscous fluid movement.

The washing tank according to the present invention includes a housing, a water tank suspended in the housing, a washing tank accommodated in the water tank and rotating about a longitudinal axis, and an annular ball balancer installed in the washing tank about the vertical axis. It is a washing machine.

The ball balancer divides a plurality of balls, a viscous fluid, a balancer case having an annular ring space divided into a bottom surface, an upper surface, an inner circumferential surface, and an outer circumferential surface therein, and the ring space into a plurality of arc-shaped partition spaces. It has a plurality of dividers. Each of the divided spaces accommodates the viscous fluid and at least one of the balls. The inclined surface which inclines downward in the circumferential direction toward the deepest part from the end part with the said partition board is formed in the part of the said bottom surface in each said division space. The deepest portion of each of the divided spaces is disposed at a position where the weight balance of the plurality of balls is balanced in a stationary state.

According to the washing tank comprised in this way, the annular ring space provided in the ball balancer is divided into several arc-shaped division spaces by the partition plate, and the ball and viscous fluid are accommodated in each division space. On the bottom surface of these division spaces, the inclined surface which inclines toward the deepest part arrange | positioned in the position where the weight balance of a ball balances in the stop state is formed.

Therefore, when the ball is stopped, the balls accommodated in the divided spaces are guided to the inclined surface and are automatically collected at their deepest parts. Therefore, the ball balancer is always weight-balanced just by holding the ball balance to some extent before the start of the dehydration process. Can be in a balanced state.

As a result, the shake rotation unevenness of the water tank which arises when the rotation speed of a washing tank exceeds the resonance rotation speed can be suppressed stably.

In addition, since the ring space is partitioned by the partition plate, the movement of the viscous fluid can be effectively suppressed, and vibration and noise of the washing tank can be further suppressed.

For example, it is preferable that the partition plate has a smaller gap than the ball only in a portion between the outer circumferential surface.

Like the ball, the viscous fluid needs to be equally accommodated in each divided space so that the weight balance of the whole is equal. If there is such a gap, the fluid is naturally filled by simply filling a predetermined amount into the ring space while regulating the ball. It can be accommodated evenly in the partition space. Therefore, productivity is excellent.

When the ball balancer rotates to reach the high rotation region, the viscous fluid moves radially outward by the action of centrifugal force, and the liquid level of the viscous fluid is almost perpendicular to the inner circumferential surface side. However, since the gap is formed only in the portion between the outer circumferential surface, the flow of the viscous fluid is limited, and the movement can be effectively suppressed.

For example, it is preferable that the inclined surface separating the ball from the bottom surface is guided to the upper surface side at the time of high rotation so that the outer peripheral surface is formed.

In this case, since the ball is always in contact with the bottom surface in the stationary state or the low rotation state, each ball is always collected at the deepest part by the action of the inclined surface of the bottom surface, Uneven shaking of the tank can be suppressed.

When the washing tank reaches a high rotation state, each ball falls from the bottom surface by the action of the centrifugal force and the inclined surface of the outer circumferential surface, so that each ball is free from the inclined surface of the bottom surface and can move freely in the circumferential direction. . Therefore, the balance adjustment function of a ball balancer can be exhibited effectively.

In particular, it is preferable to form three division spaces.

By doing so, excellent vibration suppression efficiency can be exhibited.

Moreover, it is preferable that the said deepest part is located in the center part of the circumferential direction in the said division space.

By doing so, since the length of the circumferential direction of the inclined surface on the bottom surface is shortened, the inclined surface can be relatively increased, and each ball can be stably collected at the deepest portion.

According to the present invention, it is possible to stably arrange the balls in the ball balancer stably at the start of dehydration, and to suppress the pulsation of the viscous fluid.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing a washing machine to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 1.
3 is a schematic perspective view showing a ball balancer.
4 is a schematic perspective view showing the internal structure of the ball balancer.
5 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view showing the internal structure of the ball balancer.
6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ball balancer in a stationary state and a rotating state. (a) shows a stationary state, and (b) shows a rotation state.
7 is a view for explaining the movement of a viscous fluid. (a) is a schematic plan view, (b) is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view at the YY line of (a).
8 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of divisions of the ring space and the vibration suppression efficiency of the washing tank.
9 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of unbalanced balls and the range in which the water tank is rotated and rotated.
It is a graph which shows the time-dependent change of the vibration waveform of a washing tank. (a) is a case where there exists a partition plate, (b) is a case where there is no partition plate.
11 is a schematic view showing a modification of the washing machine.
12 is a schematic view showing a modification of the washing machine.
It is a schematic diagram which shows the modification of a washing machine.
14 is a schematic view showing a modification of the washing machine.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the following description is merely exemplary in nature and does not limit the present invention, its application or its use.

(Configuration of Washing Machine)

The fully automatic washing machine 1 which applied this invention to FIG. 1 is shown. The washing machine 1 has a rectangular box-shaped housing 2, and an inlet 2a is formed in the upper portion of the housing 2, which is opened upward and covered with a lid 3 which can swing open and close. The laundry enters and exits through this inlet 2a.

Various switches and display sections are provided behind the inlet 2a. In this washing machine 1, each operation of "washing", "rinse", and "dehydration" can be performed continuously and automatically by operating these switches.

As shown in FIG. 2, the water tank 5, the washing tank 6, the driving device 7, the stirrer 8, the ball balancer 30, and the like are provided inside the housing 2. Reference numeral 9 denotes a control device for controlling the drive device 7 and the like in accordance with each process.

The water tank 5 is a cylindrical container with a bottom, and is arrange | positioned in the center part of the housing 2 with an opening facing upward. The water tank 5 is suspended in the housing 2 via a plurality of suspension bars 10 so that the inside of the housing 2 can freely rotate and rotate.

Specifically, the bracket 11 is provided in several surroundings in the inside upper part of the housing | casing 2, and the upper end of the suspension bar 10 is connected to these brackets 11. As shown in FIG. And corresponding to these brackets 11, the connection part 5a is provided in several surroundings in the lower part of the water tank 5, and the lower end of the suspension bar 10 is connected to these connection parts 5a.

The washing tank 6 is a cylindrical container with a bottom one step smaller than the water tank 5. The washing tank 6 is accommodated in the water tank 5 in the state which centered both centers inside the water tank 5. On the outer surface of the washing tub 6, a plurality of through holes 6b for draining water are formed. The washing tub 6 is rotated about the longitudinal axis J extending in the substantially vertical direction by the drive of the drive device 7.

The drive device 7 is provided in the lower part of the water tank 5. The drive device 7 includes a drive motor 12, a power transmission device 13, and the like. The power transmission device 13 has the 1st rotation shaft 13a and the 2nd rotation shaft 13b which are located in the center of the water tank 5 etc. The first rotating shaft 13a penetrates the bottom wall of the water tank 5 and is installed in the washing tank 6. The 2nd rotary shaft 13b penetrates the bottom wall of the water tank 5 and the washing tank 6, protrudes into the washing tank 6, and is provided in the stirrer 8. As shown in FIG.

The power transmission device 13 rotates the first rotary shaft 13a and the second rotary shaft 13b so as to be reversed and inverted while being switched according to each process by the drive of the drive motor 12. For example, in the washing or rinsing process, the second rotating shaft 13b is driven, and the stirrer 8 rotates while being inverted at regular intervals. In the dehydration process, the 1st rotating shaft 13a is driven and the washing tank 6 rotates at high speed.

Although not shown in figure, the water tank 5 is provided with the drain opening to open and close control corresponding to each process. Moreover, the water supply apparatus which supplies water to the water tank 5 corresponding to each process is also provided in the inside of the housing 2.

Thus, for example, during washing or rinsing, water is supplied to the washing tank 6 while the drain port is closed, and water is stored in the water tank 5 and the washing tank 6. In addition, during the dehydration process, the drain port is opened, and the water dehydrated from the stored water or the laundry is discharged from the water tank 5 and the washing tank 6 through the drain port.

In each process, especially the dehydration process, the washing tank 6 vibrates. When the laundry is biased to one side, the vibration becomes even larger. The ball balancer 30 is provided in the upper part of the washing tank 6 in order to suppress the vibration.

(Configuration of Ball Balancer)

The ball balancer 30 has an annular shape, and is installed at the edge of the opening of the washing machine 1 so that its center coincides with the center of the washing tank 6, that is, the longitudinal axis J which is the rotation axis of the washing tank 6. have.

3 shows a ball balancer 30. The ball balancer 30 is composed of a balancer case 31, a ball 50, a viscous fluid 60, and the like.

The balancer case 31 is comprised from the annular case main body 32 and the annular lid member 33 joined to the case main body 32. As shown in FIG. An annular recess 34 is formed in the case main body 32. The recessed part 34 has an annular bottom face 35, a cylindrical inner circumferential face 36 standing up from a radially inner edge of the bottom face 35, and a bottom face 35 opposite the inner circumferential face 36. It is partitioned by the cylindrical outer peripheral surface 37 which stands up from the radially outer edge of and has a substantially rectangular cross section with an upper surface opened.

The lid member 33 is joined to the upper surface of the case body 32. By doing so, the upper surface 38 of the concave portion 34 is covered by the lid member 33, and a sealed annular ring space 39 is formed inside the balancer case 31. The bottom surface 35, the upper surface 38, and the inner circumferential surface 36 and the outer circumferential surface 37, which define the ring space 39, are substantially parallel, respectively, and are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface 35, the inner circumferential surface 36, and the like. Doing.

The ring space 39 is partitioned into a plurality of arc-shaped partition spaces 40 by a plurality of partition plates 41. In the present embodiment, the three dividing plates 41 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction are equally formed in the dividing space 40 having three identical structures inside the ring space 39.

The ball 50 is used in multiple numbers by the ball balancer 30 (24 in this embodiment). Each ball 50 is made of steel balls or the like, and all have the same weight and dimensions. Eight of these balls 50 are accommodated in each of the divided spaces 40.

The viscous fluid 60 is a fluid having a predetermined high viscosity and is accommodated in the ring space 39 together with the ball 50. Movement of the ball 50 is suppressed by the viscous fluid 60. The viscous fluid 60 is accommodated so that the space remains inside the ring space 39 (see FIG. 6).

As shown in FIG. 4, the inclined surface 42 (also called the bottom taper 42) is formed in the part of the bottom surface 35 in each division space 40. As shown in FIG.

Specifically, the deepest part 43 in which the bottom face 35 is lowest is located in the center part of the circumferential direction in the division space 40, and the inclination constant in the circumferential direction toward the deepest part 43 is shown. Bottom taper 42 inclined downward is formed on both sides of the deepest portion 43. Each bottom taper 42 extends to both ends in the circumferential direction of the dividing space 40, that is, to the lower edge of each dividing plate 41 which divides both ends of the dividing space 40.

In a state where the ball balancer 30 is stopped or rotated at a low rotational speed, each ball 50 is always in contact with the bottom taper 42 at any position. Therefore, even if each ball 50 is disperse | distributed, when time passes and dehydration is complete | finished, it will be guide | induced by the bottom taper 42, and will collect | collect to the deepest part 43 naturally.

These deepest parts 43 are arrange | positioned in the position where the weight balance of the whole ball 50 balances.

That is, when each ball 50 accommodated in each division space 40 gathers in the deepest part 43, the ball balancer 30 is balanced in a substantially horizontal state. In the case of this ball balancer 30, since the three division spaces 40 of the same structure are arrange | positioned evenly in the circumferential direction, the deepest part 43 is located in the center of the circumferential direction in each division space 40. FIG. have.

Therefore, according to this ball balancer 30, only the state which stopped before the dehydration process only ensures for more than a predetermined time, each ball 50 will always gather in the deepest part 43, and the weight of the whole ball 50 Balance is balanced. Therefore, the shake rotation nonuniformity of the water tank 5 which generate | occur | produces when the rotation speed of the washing tank 6 exceeds the resonance rotation speed can be suppressed stably.

As shown in FIG. 5, the inclined surface 44 (also called the side taper 44) is formed also in the part of the outer peripheral surface 37. As shown in FIG.

Specifically, the side taper 44 is formed in the middle part of the up-down direction of the outer peripheral surface 37 over the perimeter. The side taper 44 is inclined upward obliquely toward the radial direction outer side, and is formed so that the diameter of the outer peripheral surface 37 may become gradually larger from the lower side to the upper side.

The side taper 44 is gathered in the deepest part 43, and is formed in the range which the ball 50 which contact | connects the bottom surface 35 can contact at least. By the side taper 44, at the time of high rotation, each ball 50 is guided to the upper surface 38 side, and rises from the bottom surface 35 to the outer circumferential surface 37.

Specifically, after the rotational speed of the washing tub 6 passes a predetermined rotational speed (also referred to as a resonance rotational speed) causing primary resonance, the ball 50 is separated from the bottom surface 35 by centrifugal force. The side taper 44 is formed.

As shown in Fig. 6A, in the low rotational speed region from the stopped state until the washing tank 6 rotates and the rotational speed reaches the resonance rotational speed, the ball 50 always remains at the bottom surface ( 35). Therefore, each ball 50 is collected in the deepest part 43 by the action of the bottom taper 42.

As a result, since the weight balance of the whole ball 50 is always in a balanced state before the start of the dehydration treatment and at the beginning of the dehydration treatment, the rotation speed of the washing tub 6 is the resonance rotation speed. The shake rotation unevenness of the water tank 5 which arises when exceeding can be suppressed.

When the rotation speed of the washing tub 6 passes through the resonance rotation speed and reaches the high rotation speed region, the ball circumferential surface is separated from the inclined bottom surface 35 by the action of the centrifugal force and the side taper 44 ( Go up along 37). As shown in FIG. 6B, each ball 50 rises to a position not affected by the bottom taper 42. Therefore, the balance adjustment function of the ball balancer 30 can be exhibited effectively.

The angle between the reference line extending in the radial direction of the inclination angle θ ball balancer 30 and the side taper 44 of the side taper 44 is preferably set within a range of 40 ° to 88 °.

If it is 40 degrees or more, the ball 50 can be stably detached from the bottom surface 35 immediately after passing the resonance speed. In addition, if it is larger than 88 °, the ball 50 is less likely to fall from the bottom surface 35 even at a high rotation speed exceeding the resonance rotation speed, which may cause a decrease in the efficiency of the balance adjustment function of the ball balancer 30.

A gap 45 (also referred to as a communication gap 45) is formed between each partition plate 41 and the outer circumferential surface 37.

The partition plate 41 is formed in the case main body 32, and protrudes from the inner circumferential surface 36 toward the radially outer side inside the recessed part 34. As shown in FIG. The partition plate 41 is connected to the bottom surface 35, and there is no gap between the partition plate 41 and the bottom surface 35. In addition, the upper edge of the partition plate 41 is formed to be in close contact with or close to the inner surface of the joined lid member 33, and is also substantially spaced between the partition plate 41 and the upper surface 38. Is not.

On the other hand, between the protruding end of the partition plate 41 and the outer peripheral surface 37, the communication gap 45 of an elongate shape in the up-down direction is formed. The communication gap 45 is sufficiently smaller than the ball 50 and is formed so as to be open at least on the bottom surface 35 side.

Thus, the viscous fluid 60 can move freely between the divided spaces 40 through this communication gap 45, but the ball 50 is restricted by the divided plate 41, so that the divided space 40 accommodated therein. Only the inside of can be moved.

Since the range in which the ball 50 can move is limited to a part of the ball balancer 30, the ball 50 is easy to gather to the deepest part 43 quickly as the moving range becomes smaller.

In addition, like the ball 50, the viscous fluid 60 needs to be equally accommodated in each division space 40 so that the weight balance of the whole may become equal. Therefore, if there is no communication gap 45 in the partition plate 41, it is necessary to accommodate the same amount of viscous fluid 60 with high accuracy in each partition space 40, which requires time and effort in manufacturing. . On the other hand, in the case of this ball balancer 30, since there is a communication gap 45, when a predetermined amount is filled in the ring space 39, it can be accommodated equally in each division space 40 equally, and productivity will be improved. outstanding.

In addition, the partition plate 41 also has a function of suppressing movement of the viscous fluid 60.

In the ball balancer 30 in the stationary state or the state rotating at a low rotational speed, as shown in FIG. 6A, the liquid level 61 of the viscous fluid 60 is in a substantially horizontal state.

When the ball balancer 30 rotates to reach the high rotation region, as shown in FIG. 6B, the viscous fluid 60 moves radially outward by the action of the centrifugal force. Therefore, the liquid surface 61 of the viscous fluid 60 is located near the inner peripheral surface 36 side, and is in a substantially vertical state.

If the partition plate 41 is absent and the viscous fluid 60 can move freely in the circumferential direction, the viscous fluid 60 is caused in the ring space 39 with the rotation and vibration of the ball balancer 30. You can move (movement). When movement of the viscous fluid 60 occurs, the vibration and the noise of the washing tub 6 become even larger.

On the other hand, in this ball balancer 30, since the inside of the ring space 39 is divided by the partition plate 41, the flow of the viscous fluid 60 is inhibited, and the movement of the viscous fluid 60 can be suppressed. Can be.

The communication gap 45 is preferably formed in a range in which the liquid level 61 is blocked by the partition plate 41 even when the liquid level 61 is most oriented toward the outer circumferential surface 37 by movement.

Specifically, from the capacity of the viscous fluid 60 accommodated in the ring space 39, the liquid level (in the case where the liquid level 61 of the viscous fluid 60 becomes substantially perpendicular in the direction of the longitudinal axis J) Obtain the trajectory of the circle drawn by 61). The trajectory of the liquid surface 61 is eccentric until it comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface 36 as shown by a virtual line in FIG. In doing so, as shown in FIG.7 (b), even in the site | part where the distance from the outer peripheral surface 37 to the liquid surface 61 is the smallest, the communication gap within the range which the liquid surface 61 is interrupted | blocked by the partition plate 41 is shown. Form 45.

(Relationship between the dividing number of the ring space and the vibration suppression efficiency)

In FIG. 8, the result of having investigated the relationship between the dividing water of the ring space 39 and the vibration suppression efficiency of the washing tank 6 is shown graphically. Excellent vibration suppression efficiency was recognized when the number of divisions was 2 to 4, and the highest vibration suppression efficiency was recognized especially when the number of divisions was three.

If the number of divisions increases, the range in which the ball 50 can move by that amount becomes small, making it difficult to form a skewed weight balance. As a result, since the balance of the weight balance with the laundry becomes difficult to be obtained, the vibration suppression efficiency of the washing tub 6 is lowered.

(Relationship between the range of shaking of the tank and the deviation of the ball)

9, in the low speed range up to the resonance speed, the number of balls 50 (unbalanced balls) deviated from the position where the weight balance is balanced, and the water tank 5 inside the housing 2 are shaken. The result of having investigated the relationship with the range to rotate (the shake width of the water tank 5 seen from the direction of the vertical axis | shaft J) is shown graphically.

It was recognized that the larger the number of unbalanced balls, the larger the range of the swing rotation of the water tank 5 was. Therefore, according to this ball balancer 30, since the unbalanced ball can be eliminated stably, the range which the water tank 5 rotates and rotates can be suppressed effectively.

(Relationship between the Partition Plate and the Behavior of Viscous Fluid)

In FIG. 10, the result of having investigated the influence which the presence or absence of the partition plate 41 has on the rhythm of the viscous fluid 60 is shown graphically. The graph shows the chronological change of the vibration waveform of the washing tank 6, (a) is a case where the partition plate 41 is provided like this embodiment, and (b) is a case where the partition plate 41 is not provided. to be. Conditions other than the presence or absence of the partition plate 41, such as the state of laundry and the number of balls 50, are the same.

In (a), the weight balance was adjusted between the ball balancer 30 and the laundry, and the vibration of the viscous fluid 60 was suppressed by the partition plate 41, and as a result, stable vibration with a constant amplitude was recognized. . On the other hand, in (b), since the movement of the viscous fluid 60 occurred, the movement superimposed on the vibration of the washing tank 6, and the unstable vibration which generate | occur | produces a big amplitude periodically was recognized.

Therefore, by providing the divider plate 41 to suppress the movement of the viscous fluid 60, the vibration of the washing tank 6 can be more effectively suppressed.

In addition, the washing machine which concerns on this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, It also includes various other structures.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the deepest part 43 is not limited to the center of the circumferential direction in each division space 40, It may be located offset to either side of the circumferential direction. The point is that each innermost part 43 should just be arrange | positioned in the position where the weight balance of the whole ball 50 balances.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 12, the partition plates 41 may be unevenly disposed in the circumferential direction of the ring space 39, so that the size of each partition space 40 may be different. In addition, the number of balls 50 accommodated in each division space 40 may not be the same. The deepest portion 43 may also be unevenly located in the circumferential direction. The point is that when the balls 50 are gathered at each of the deepest portions 43, the weight balance of the entire ball 50 may be balanced.

As shown in FIG. 13, the bottom taper 42 which inclines uniformly between the both ends of the circumferential direction of the division space 40 can also be provided. In this case, since the deepest part 43 is located in the vicinity of one partitioning plate 41, each ball 50 is gathered toward the partitioning plate 41 side.

However, as described above, the deepest portion 43 is preferably located at the center of the circumferential direction of the divided space 40. By doing so, since the length of the circumferential direction of the bottom taper 42 becomes short, the inclination of the bottom taper 42 can be enlarged and each ball 50 can be made large, without increasing the thickness of the bottom part of the case main body 32. FIG. The deepest part 43 can be gathered stably.

As shown in FIG. 14, the portion of the deepest portion 43 on the bottom surface 35 may have a constant width in the circumferential direction. As a result, the inclination of the bottom taper 42 can be further increased, and the deepest portion 43 can be stably collected. In this case, at least, it is preferable that the ball 50 located at the outermost side in the circumferential direction is in contact with the bottom taper 42. By doing so, a gap does not occur between the balls 50 collected in the deepest portion 43, so that the balance of the stable weight balance can be obtained as in the above-described embodiment.

The size and number of the balls 50 can also be appropriately selected as necessary. All the balls 50 do not necessarily have to be the same size or weight.

The foregoing has shown and described specific embodiments. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the technical idea of the present invention described in the following claims .

1: washing machine 2: housing
5: water tank 6: washing tank
30: ball balancer 31: balancer case
35: bottom surface 36: inner circumference
37: outer circumference 38: top
39: ring space 40: partition space
41: divider 42: bottom taper (inclined surface)
43: deepest part 44: side taper (inclined surface)
45: communication gap 50: ball
60: viscous fluid J: longitudinal axis

Claims (5)

A housing,
A water tank suspended in the housing,
A washing tank accommodated in the tank and rotating about a vertical axis;
In the washing machine provided with an annular ball balancer installed in said washing tank centering on said longitudinal axis,
The ball balancer,
With a plurality of balls,
With viscous fluid,
And a balancer case having an annular ring space divided into a bottom surface, a top surface, an inner circumferential surface, and an outer circumferential surface thereof.
It has a plurality of partition plates for partitioning the ring space into a plurality of arc-shaped partition spaces,
Each of the divided spaces accommodates the viscous fluid and the at least one ball,
In the part of the said bottom surface in each said division space, the inclined surface which inclines downward in the circumferential direction toward the deepest part from the edge part with the said partition board is formed,
The deepest part of each said division space is a washing machine arrange | positioned in the position which the weight balance of the said some ball | balance balances in a stationary state. The method of claim 1,
The said partitioning plate has a clearance smaller than the said ball only in the part between the said outer peripheral surfaces. The method of claim 1,
And an inclined surface formed on the outer circumferential surface for guiding the ball toward the upper surface side at a high rotation and separating from the bottom surface. The method of claim 1,
A washing machine in which three partition spaces are formed. The method of claim 1,
The said deepest part is a washing machine located in the center part of the circumferential direction in the said division space.

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