SI9700297A - Shock absorber for washing machines, especially clothes washers - Google Patents

Abstract

The shock absorber of the vibrations of the container and the drum in clothes washers, consists of a tubular housing (28) and a rod (33) which slides to and fro in the housing and is made from two parts with an outer shape of a polygon having an equal number of equally-sized sides so that they fall in one with another in any position of the operation of the shock absorber. In this way they enable the frictional agent (56) which is attached to the rod (33) to perform continuous and uniform braking on the tubular housing (28). The shock absorber has a detachable and self-lubricating structure and can be provided in several versions.

Description

WASHER MACHINE SPECIALTY, SPECIALLY FOR HOUSEHOLDS

WASHING MACHINES FOR CLOTHING

The subject of the invention is a shock absorber for washing machines, especially for washing machines for clothes, which is intended to support the drum and dishes of the washing unit and to effectively mitigate the mechanical forces generated during the operation of such machines.

Various types of shock absorbers are known for washing machines, especially household washing machines for clothes, which are intended to support and dampen the mechanical forces of the respective washing unit (receptacles and drum) of such machines during operation and are fixed between the lower part of each washing unit and the base of the machine. .

These shock absorbers typically consist of a hollow cylinder and a cylindrical rod that slides back and forth in the cylinder and has braking surfaces of suitable material acting on the inner surface of the cylinder and which moves linearly here and there along the cylinder during machine operation due to the movement of the washing unit, caused by the rotation of the drum at different washing and spin speeds, thereby causing a brake that is intended to dampen the mechanical forces that result therefrom.

Shock absorbers of this type, usually made of metallic material and sometimes with plastic components, have certain disadvantages, especially when mounted on washing machines whose drum rotates at too high a spin speed (greater than 1000 rpm / min), and causing mechanical pressure of the washing unit on the machine structure. In such cases, it has actually been found that with each shock absorber the rods which slide in and out in a straight line move radially during its stroke, so that the braking surfaces of this rod no longer exert a distributed, almost uniform braking over the whole the inner surface of the cylinder, but improper and variable braking on the inner surface, which gladly concentrates at certain places on the inner surface, causing premature and unwanted wear, thereby reducing the life of the shock absorber and unsatisfactory inhibition of the mechanical forces of the washing unit.

The main object of the present invention is how to successfully eliminate the disadvantages associated with the use of a known shock absorber by implementing a new type of shock absorber, which will be designed to provide effective braking, which will be distributed almost evenly across this shock absorber at any stage of operation of the washing machine for clothing, and will be composed of simple, quick-assembling components that will be able to work long, satisfactory and reliable.

In addition, the shock absorber according to the invention will have a strong construction, making it very suitable for use.

The shock absorber according to the invention has structural features, which are mainly described with special reference to the accompanying claims.

We will describe the invention by way of a non-limiting example, and by pictures, of which:

1 is a schematic view of a washing machine with at least one shock absorber according to the invention;

2, 3 and 4 show a first embodiment of a shock absorber according to the invention as follows:

in front view, from the side and exhibited from perspective;

Figure 5 shows two main components of the shock absorber of the invention, one inserted into the other, in a side view;

two main components of Figure 5, drawn from one another, in schematic side view;

Figures 6 and 7 of Figures 8, 9, and 10 of the shock absorber of Fig. 5 in cross sections A-A, B-B and C-C in the floor plan;

Figures 11 a, b, c diagram of the distribution of braking in a conventional shock absorber;

Figures 12 a, b, c diagram of the distribution of braking in the shock absorber according to

Figure 13 invention; the second component of the shock absorber according to the invention in view from front;

Figures 14 and 15 are a component of Fig. 13 in cross sections D-D and E-E,

ίο picture 16 the second component of the shock absorber according to the invention in view from picture 17 front; the component of FIG. 16 in section F-F; picture 18 a second embodiment of the shock absorber of the invention in 15 fig. 19 front view; the shock absorber of Figure 18 in cross section H-H in view from pages; picture 20 half of the shock absorber of Figure 18 in cross section l-l in view from the page; picture 21 a third embodiment of the shock absorber of the invention in view 20 from the front; image 22 half of the shock absorber of Figure 21 in cross section M-M in side view;

Fig. 23 Figures 24 and 25 Fig. 26 of the shock absorber part of Fig. 21 in cross section M-M in side view;

the shock absorber of Figure 21 in two different working positions from perspective;

disassembled shock absorber from Figure 21 from perspective.

1 is a schematic view of a washing machine, in particular a household washing machine, numbered 20, consisting of a predominantly metal box-like housing 21, in which a washing unit 22 consisting of a washing vessel 23 and a rotating drum 24 for the clothing contained in the container is supported by a suspension spring 25 above and a shock absorber 26 attached between the lower part of the container 23 and the base 27 of the machine housing, which are intended to dampen the mechanical forces caused by the oscillations of the washing unit during drum operation. at different washes and spin speeds.

Figures 2-7 schematically show one of the two shock absorbers 26 according to the invention in the first embodiment, which mainly consists of two main components, i.e. a metal, tubular housing 28 which is elongated in shape and is hollow and has an open portion 29 and closed a bottom 30 connected to an end region 31 having a through hole 32 into which a rubber bearing and a plug (not shown) are inserted thereto for the articulated and vibrationally attenuated connection of the shock absorber to the base of the machine 27, and the extended straight rod 33 made of plastic, dimensioned so that it can be inserted and adjusted into the cavity 34 of the tubular housing 28 in such a way that it moves in a straight line here and there, and through its outer surface 35 is through a hole 36 which lies opposite the hole 32 on the tubular housing 28, and into which is first inserted a rubber bearing and then a plug (not shown) for the articulated and vibration damping connection of the shock absorber with the lower part of the container of the machine.

As is particularly apparent from Figures 2, 3, 4 and 8-10, the tubular metal casings 28 are made up of two halves 37 and 38, which are identical and symmetrical to each other, each of which is formed as described in the io continuation and obtained by drawing and cutting processes of suitable sheet metal, and each having two straight, flattened edges 39 and 40 which are opposite and intended for mutual alignment and overlapping and final jointing by means of resistance welding or by any other known means.

Each half individually consists of an elongated, straight housing 41, which has the shape of a polygon with equal or different sides, extending from the open portion 29 to the proximity of the closed portion 30, where it is joined to the end region 31 by two tapered threaded steps 42 and

43.

In this embodiment, each half has the outer shape of a rhombus with a straight central side 44 and two adjacent flat and sloping sides 45 and 46, which are almost identical in size and symmetrically inclined toward each other and oriented from the corresponding edge of the central side 44 toward the longitudinal axis symmetry AA extending through the center of the tubular housing 28. It can be seen that the shape and sides of the flat housing 41 of each of the halves 37 and 38 may be different in this embodiment, provided that we always obtain flat sides that can perform the function damping fluctuations of the washing machine washing unit according to the criteria described below. The elongated, straight level 33 is preferably entirely made of molded plastic and consists of two ribbed joints 47 and 48 that are fused together and have the same outer shape and are slightly smaller than the cavity 34 of the tubular housing 28 so that they can be in this housing io slides in and out in a straight line, with the corresponding longitudinal straight ribs 49, 50 and 51, 52 extending perpendicularly to said parts, which are perpendicularly connected to each other and terminating along a larger portion and smaller than the cross-sections of the tubular housing 28, s. said ribs at the ends being circumscribed by plates 53, 54 and 55 having the same outward appearance as the cavity 34, with the plate 53 being larger than this cavity and connected to the outer end region 35 of the rod 33 and the panels 54 and 55 they are slightly smaller than this cavity so that they can slide in, and the former are disposed at a position between the ribbed portions 47 and 48 and the second at the end of the bar 33, opposite to the position at which the plate 53 is.

When the rod 33 is thus inserted or removed from the cavity 34 of the tubular housing 28, as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the panels 54 and 55 exactly fit into that tubular housing, while the plate 53 restricts the free edge of said tubular housing and prevents to insert the pole completely into the housing.

Further, the ribs on the rib portion 48, which is shorter than the rest of the extended straight rod 33, are dimensioned to allow at least one friction attachment 56 made of a suitable anti-friction material to be provided on the outer casing, intended to brake, thereby when the rod 33, while moving here and there due to the oscillation of the container unit and the drum, during operation of the machine, rubs against the surface of the cavity 34 of the tubular housing 28, dampening the mechanical forces caused by these oscillations. The self-mounting nozzle is configured in such a way that each separate component is shaped like an elongated plate 59, the straight sides of which have the same outer shape and dimensions slightly larger than the cavity 34 of the tubular housing 28, thereby enabling that component they fit and slide in said cavity. In our case, the friction nozzle consists of two components 60 and 61, each of which has the same sides 62 and 63, which are symmetrically inclined for their entire length and have the same inclination of the corresponding fitting sides 45 and 46 of both halves 37 and 38 of the tubular housing 28. These elongated lugs, which are shown in more detail in Figures 16 and 17 in the front or cross-sectional view, have several through holes 64, which are evenly distributed on their surface, allowing the passage of grease and other suitable lubricants which are intended for continuous lubrication of all components of the shock absorber during the cycles of its operation and which are located externally on the flat ribs 51, 52 of the rib portion 48 of the extended bar 33, and in the middle there are flexible elements in the form of two metal flat springs 65 and 66 visible on Mr Rücker

4, 8-10, and each is dimensioned and shaped such that one surface has elongated plates on the corresponding friction extension and the opposite surface on the outer shape of the straight ribs 51, 52 of said rib portion 48.

Each metal flat spring is designed to have one or more slots for the passage of grease or other suitable lubricant with which the shock absorber components are continuously lubricated. In this embodiment, the flat spring is rectangular in shape and consists of a center slot 67 along its longitudinal edge 68 and two slots 69 and 70 along its second io longitudinal edge 71, with the slots being slit with respect to the previous split, and extending along their center lamella 72 oz. 73, which is bent with respect to the plane of the corresponding flat spring and facing the ribs 51 and 52 of the rib portion 48 so that it can flexibly act on it by constantly pushing the flat springs onto the elongate plate of the corresponding friction attachment, thereby permanently sliding thereon pinned to the surface of the cavity 34 of the tubular housing 28. Looking now at Figures 11 and 12, we see diagrams of the distribution of the braking forces of the conventional shock absorber and of the shock absorber of the invention. Fig. 11a schematically shows a conventional cylindrical shock absorber 74 consisting of a cylindrical bar 75 housed in a cylindrical, box-like housing 76 and arranged to slide in and out in a straight line.

In this case, the shock absorber is presented at standstill when the drum of the washing machine is stationary, so the rod 75 does not brake and is practically coaxial with the box housing 76. In Fig. 11b, which schematically depicts the shock absorber in working condition, it can be seen that the rod 75 tends to move not only axially but also radially in the box housing 76, thereby contacting the inner surface of the box housing, in our case in the area designated by number 77.

In such a working state, therefore, the rod 75 acts eccentrically with respect to the box housing 76 and therefore exerts an uneven brake on the inner surface of such housing, a brake which is larger in the contact area and progressively smaller than that area against the rest of said io surface, such as show force vectors 78 in Fig. 11 c. Looking now at Figure 12a, it schematically depicts a shock absorber 26 of the invention in the idle state, wherein it is observed that the rod 33 is coaxial with the tubular housing 28 and does not inhibit it. In contrast, in Fig. 12b, where the shock absorber is presented in an operating state in which the rod is always radially displaced by sliding eccentrically in the tubular housing 28, it is observed that in this case the friction attachment of the rod with the surface of its adjacent sides 62 and 63 arranged on the corresponding sides 45 and 46 of the tubular housing 28 in the junction area 77 such that the sliding of said friction mounting here and there in the tubular housing no longer exerts an uneven brake on the inner surface of the tubular housing, but exerts a constant and uniform effect on that inner surface. distributed braking, this is because the sides 62 and 63 of the friction pin are always positioned parallel to the opposite sides 45 and 46 of the tubular housing 28, both in the idle state and in the operating state, and therefore in the operating state when in any contact position these sides come in line with the different eccentricities between the rod and the tubular housing, and there is always friction to braking at the same strength on the same sides, schematically represented in FIG. 12c by force vectors 78 having all the same strength. In this way, the shock absorber of the invention enables braking, which is distributed almost uniformly in almost every operating condition of washing machines, which is due to the fact that during operation of these machines the friction nozzle constantly presses the tubular housing with io flat springs 65 and 66, which are both for this purpose, preferably made of harmonic steel and shaped so as to fit thoroughly to the shape of the plates 59 of the friction attachment as well as the ribs 51, 52 of the rib portion 48, thereby providing effective and reliable damping of the mechanical pressures caused by the oscillations. container and drum units during drum movement - especially at high spin speeds, on the other hand, lower wear and longer life of such shock absorber. In addition, each such shock absorber is of simple construction and consists of a small number of components that can be quickly assembled and disassembled and are made of metal material and allow the heat generated by friction between these parts to be released. Finally, the ribs on the ribbed sections of the shock absorber 47 and 48, which run along mechanical forces and are directed in the same direction as the mechanical forces exerted by the washing unit on the base of the machine, allow the shock absorber to successfully withstand all mechanical pressures of the washing unit, both in the condition idle as in different states of operation.

Another important advantage of using such a shock absorber is that it always ensures the efficient and continuous lubrication of the various components of the shock absorber, since there are several recesses 79 and 80 through the inner surface of the elongated straight housing 41 of both halves 37 and 38 of the tubular housing 28 aligned and tilted to one another in opposite directions of inclination with respect to the length of the elongated housing (Fig. 2 shows the indentation along the GG line).

io Thus, before mounting each shock absorber, grease or other suitable lubricant is collected on the washing machine, which is collected and accumulated in recesses 79 and 80 and is continuously drawn by the friction nozzle during its slide here and there through the tubular housing 28 and arranged all components of the shock absorber by passing through the holes 64 on the friction plate plates and through the recesses 67, 69 and 70 on the flat springs 65 and 66. In addition, each such shock absorber allows the air contained therein to be effectively discharges during the course of the rod 33 here and there in the tubular housing 28 due to the numerous through holes 81 located on both halves 37 and 38 of said tubular housing and in this embodiment are provided along the entire length of the respective central flat sides 44 of said halves. Finally, in accordance with the invention, it is also possible to change the shape of the friction attachment 56 and the tubular housing 28 so as to give them a polygon shape having several sides identical to each other, differing from those previously described merely by way of example, provided that the sides of such the nozzles and the tubular housing are always parallel and matched to each other in the operating state of the washing machine, and may always come in contact, thereby causing a steady and continuous brake in any contact position between said friction nozzle and the tubular housing. In Fig. 18, depicting the shock absorber of the invention in another embodiment, it is observed that in this case also the shock absorber is assembled as described above, and that the corresponding free parts of the tubular housing 28 and the bar 33 also have corresponding holes 32 and 36 through them. , io in which the corresponding rubber bearings 82, 83 and 84, 85 are inserted, which are concentric to one another (see Figure 26) for the passage of the corresponding articulated pin (not shown in the figure), which is attached to the base of the machine 27 or to the washer unit 22. As shown in Figures 19 and 26, the bearing pairs 82, 83 and 84, 85 are made of rubber or metal and dimensioned so that they fit together and can then be assembled in a corresponding through hole, each bearing however, it consists of two identical halves marked with reference numbers 82 ', 82', 83 ', 83' and 84 ', 84', 85 ', 85' and can be assembled and disassembled easily and quickly and without tools . Further, as also shown in FIG. 18, the halves 37 and 38 are, in their continuous, longitudinal straight edges, compatible with each other and shaped such that one has radially projecting teeth 86, 87 and the other cuts 88, 89 which are in such that they allow the teeth and slots of one half to be joined to the slots and teeth of the other half, so that the joints of these teeth and slots are completely continuous and aligned with one another. Such joints of the halves provide high dimensional stability and mechanical strength, as well as the successful and secure assembly of the halves themselves, which would be difficult to achieve in the case of conventional electric welding or joining of the two halves, designed as male and female connectors.

A further advantage of this solution is that each half can be made with a single form instead of the two different forms required in the case of male and female connectors, and that the joining equipment required is easier than electric welding. apparatus and associated control devices.

Looking again at Fig. 18, we notice that one of the halves of the tubular housing 28, in our case half 37, has at least one notch 90, which slightly enters back into the cavity and allows the slide bar 33 to be easily inserted into said cavity. prevents the rod from being pulled out of the tubular housing during the operation of the machine 28.

The design feature of the shock absorber according to the invention is that it can be dismantled with a stronger and predetermined shock by overcoming the force holding the bar 33 in the notch 90 and preventing the shock absorber from being accidentally accidentally mounted and improperly dismantled.

Referring to Figure 21, which shows the shock absorber of the invention in the third embodiment, it is observed that the shock absorber has the same characteristics as described above, with at least one of the halves - in this case, the halves 37 also having different impressions 91 and 92 formed by compressing the metal material in half and which slightly enter back into the cavity of the tubular housing 28 in the manner and for the purpose described below. As can be seen from Figure 23, the impressions with respect to the rod 33 are slightly inclined, with the impressions 91 slightly inclined towards each other from the centerline of the half 37 towards the free end of the part 93 having bearings 82, 83, thereby determining the corresponding inclinations surfaces 94, while the remaining two impressions 92 are slightly convergent with each other in the opposite direction from the previous ones, i.e. from the center line of the half 37 towards the other end of the half into which the rod 33 is inserted, thereby defining the corresponding sloping surfaces 95, thereby that said inclined surfaces 94 and 95 on the friction nozzle 56 of the rod 33 during its sliding into said tubular housing 28 act in such a way that the different strength increases, which increases if the pole slides with respect to the surfaces 94 and 95 in the N or respectively direction. Oh, and it goes down if the pole slides in the opposite direction.

Such variable braking is directly proportional to the mechanical force and serves to improve the damping ability of the shock absorber.

Looking now at Figures 24 and 25, we see our shock absorber in a condition in which a properly shaped bar 33 exits and enters the tubular housing 28, while in Fig. 26 we see different components of the same shock absorber, and in particular that the plates 59 are friction mountings 56 with the help of flexible elements (not shown) attached to the outer surface of the unconnected end 96 of the rod 33, which is inserted into the cavity of the tubular housing 28 and that the connection of the plates on the rod is easily made by means of teeth 97, projecting from the outer surface and grab the proper surfaces of these boards.

Therefore, the shock absorber thus constructed consists of various components that can be easily assembled and disassembled without tools, allowing 5 different types of materials to be separated and recycled in accordance with specific standards in the field.

For:

R. §D.S. S.r.l.

S. CORDENONS (PORDENONE)

Claims (10)

PATENT APPLICATIONS 1. Shock absorber for washing machines, in particular for household washing machines for clothing, intended to be fitted between the washing machine unit and the drum 5 and the base of the housing of these machines, in order to mitigate the mechanical forces generated during the rotation of the drum at different washing and spin speeds, with the shock absorber consisting of at least one tubular housing and a rod which is inserted into and slid thereon by said tube housing. here and there, and having a friction means which rubs against the tubular housing so that there is braking intended to dampen said mechanical forces, and the shock absorber is further characterized by said tubular housing (28) and said friction the means (56) of said rod (33) is removable and is in the regions of each other The friction contact 15 is formed as a multiple of the same number and shape of the sides, so that the corresponding sides of the tubular housing (28) and the friction means (56) coincide in each state, be it a standstill or a shock absorber, with said friction means ( 56) associated with the resilient means (65, 66) which is 20 for permanently maintaining friction contact with said tubular housing (28). Shock absorber according to claim 1, characterized in that said tubular housing (28) consists of at least the first and second separately metallic halves (37, 38), which are identical to each other and 5 are symmetrical and have straight, flattened edges (39, 40) which can be adjusted and joined in a known manner to form a cavity (34) into which the said rod (33) is inserted and slid thereon, the aforementioned first and second halves (39, 40) being each elongated, the level of the housing (41) having the shape of a polygon from the outside, and having the sides (44, 45, 46) of equal or different sizes extending from the open end ( 29) of the housing into which said rod (33) is inserted into said cavity (34), to the closed end (30) of the housing, which attaches to the washing machine. 15 Shock absorber according to claim 2, characterized in that said first and second halves (37, 38) have more internal recesses (79, 80) for storing grease or other suitable lubricant and several through holes (81) for venting, which it is in them. Shock absorber according to claim 3, characterized in that said rod (33) is preferably entirely made of cast plastic and is formed by the first and second rib parts (47, 48), which are joined and have the same external shape, are slightly smaller than said cavity (34) and also have long, straight ribs (49, 5 50; 51, 52) bounded by plates (53, 54, 55) having the same shape as the cavity (34), with the plate (53) being larger than said cavity (34) and the plate (54, 55) by they are slightly smaller than the same cavity, so they can slide around. io 5. Shock absorber according to claim 4, characterized in that said friction means (56) consists of a friction adapter made of a suitable antitome material, consisting of a first and a second separate component (60, 61), which are shaped as extended 15 is a plate (59), each having sides (62, 63) that coincide with the sides of said tubular cavity (34) and rub against them, and each plate (59) is located on the outside at said second rib portion (48) of said rod (33), in between said flexible means (65, 66) and having several through 20 holes (64) for connecting to said inner recesses (79, 80) through which grease or other suitable lubricant may pass. Shock absorber according to claim 5, characterized in that said flexible means consists of first and second metal flat springs (65, 66) of harmonic steel, which are formed 5 by fitting to the outer shape of both the plates (59) and the associated ribs (51, 52) of said second rib portion (48), said first and second springs (65, 66) having lamellae (72, 73), which are bent relative to the plane of the corresponding flat springs and facing the said ribs (51, 52) so that they resiliently act on them, and io also have slots (67, 69, 70) for the passage of grease or other suitable lubricant. A shock absorber according to the preceding claims, characterized in that 15 that said first and second halves (37, 38) have radially projecting teeth (86, 87) along their continuous, long straight edges, and slots (88, 89) arranged in such a way that the teeth and cuts of one the halves connect to the teeth and slots of the other halves, and also have a clamping means (90) which with Catching said rods (33) in such a way as to prevent it from being accidentally pulled out of said cavity. Shock absorber according to claim 7, characterized in that said pin means consists of at least one notch (90) which slightly enters back into the cavity. Shock absorber according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one of the halves (37) has compression-formed impressions (91, 92) that slightly enter back into said cavity, thereby determining the corresponding sloping surfaces (94, 95) with different tilting directions, the inks with said friction attachment (56) interact to cause a variable force inhibition during sliding of said rod (33) in both opposite directions of sliding in said tubular housing (28). Shock absorber according to claim 7, characterized in that said friction nozzle (56) is attached to said rod (33) by means of teeth (97) projecting from said rod.