WO2016193835A1

WO2016193835A1 - Vibration damping device

Info

Publication number: WO2016193835A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/052505
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ismael Gracia Bobed; Eduardo GRACIA CANO; Gerardo Martinez Perez; Eduardo Recio Ferrer
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2015-05-29
Filing date: 2016-05-03
Publication date: 2016-12-08
Also published as: ES2592570A1; ES2592570B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a vibration damping device (1) for a washing tub (10) of a washing or drying machine also comprising a housing (11). A first articulating piece (2) has a first end (21) and a second end (22), the first end (21) of the first articulating piece (2) being provided to be connected to the washing tub (10) in an articulated manner by means of a first articulation (4). A second articulating piece (3) has a first end (31) and a second end (32), the first end (31) of the second articulating piece (3) being connected to the second end (22) of the first articulating piece (2) in an articulated manner by means of a second articulation (5). The second end (32) of the second articulating piece (3) is provided to be connected to the housing (11) by means of a third articulation (6) that allows rotation around a third axis. The first articulation (4), the second articulation (5) and/or the third articulation (6) provides frictional resistance to rotation, and the first articulating piece (2) and/or the second articulating piece (3) is made of a thermally conductive material and forms part of at least a friction articulation having relative movement with respect to the friction element (9).

Description

VIBRATION DAMPING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a vibration damping device for the oscillation occurring in an oscillating element, which is particularly adequate to be utilized in the washing tub of a washing or drying machine.

Document ES 2387205 B1 shows a vibration damping device for the oscillation in a washing machine. This device allows damping the oscillation generated by the drum of the washing machine by means of a system comprising a supporting element, an articulating piece and a rotating articulation. This configuration aims at achieving a way to damp the oscillations by means of a rotating damping system. Nevertheless, this configuration does not take into account the problem consisting in the dissipation of the friction energy generated in the damping device. The present invention provides a solution to overcome this technical problem by a damping device and a washing or drying device according to the respective independent claim attached. Preferred embodiments of the invention derive from the dependent claims, the subsequent description and the figures of the drawing attached. Accordingly, a first inventive aspect of the invention relates to a vibration damping device for a washing tub of a washing or drying machine also comprising a housing, the device comprising:

a first articulating piece, with a first end and a second end, the first end of the first articulating piece being provided to be connected to the washing tub in an articulated manner by means of a first articulation that allows rotation around a first rotation axis,

a second articulating piece, with a first end and a second end, the first end of the second articulating piece being connected to the second end of the first articulating piece in an articulated manner by means of a second articulation that allows rotation around a second rotation axis, and the second end of the second articulating piece being provided to be con- nected to the housing by means of a third articulation that allows rotation around a third rotation axis,

in which the first articulation, the second articulation and/or the third articulation is an articulation comprising a friction element that provides frictional resistance to rotation, and wherein at least one of the first and the second articulating pieces is made of a thermally conductive material and forms part of at least a friction articulation having relative movement with respect to the friction element. This device gives the advantage consisting in providing an evacuation path for the heat generated by the friction occurring in the articulation that provides frictional resistance to rotation, in such a manner that the risk of overheating due to a prolonged functioning of said device is avoided, which could damage or even destroy the friction element of the same. A thermally conductive material is to be understood as a material having a thermal conductivity higher than 5 W/(m K), preferably higher than 10 W/(m K), and more preferably higher than 40 W/(m K).

In a radial damping device, an articulation that provides frictional resistance to rotation or a friction articulation is to be understood as an articulation in which the friction values during a rotation of the same exceed 10 N, the values ranging preferably from 20 N to 120 N and, more preferably, from 30 N to 60 N.

In a facultative embodiment, the articulation providing frictional resistance to rotation com- prises a bushing which can be crossed in the rotation axis by a bolt connectable to at least one lug, so that a friction element can be arranged being trapped between the bushing and the at least one lug and the bushing and/or the lug is made of a thermally conductive material and is connected to the articulating piece of a thermally conductive material in a thermally conductive manner. In a preferred manner, the bolt is connected to two lugs preferably arranged in a U-shaped configuration, each on one side of the bushing, what makes the structure of the articulation more rigid. Both lugs can clamp the bushing strongly and have a friction element between the bushing and the same.

In a particular case of the preceding embodiment with just one lug at the end of any of the articulating pieces and/or in the washing tub and/or in the housing, the bolt may contain a stop at its protruding end and, between the stop and the bushing, a friction element trapped between them, the friction surface being thereby increased. In another particular case of the preceding embodiment, the friction element can be fixedly connected to the at least one lug and the bushing is made of a thermally conductive material and is connected to an end of the articulating piece of a thermally conductive material in a thermally conductive manner. Thereby, the dissipation of the frictional heat generated in the friction articulation is increased.

In a further particular case of the preceding embodiment, the friction element is fixedly connected to the bushing and the at least one lug is made of a thermally conductive material and is connected to an end of the articulating piece of a thermally conductive material in a ther- mally conductive manner. Thereby, the dissipation of the frictional heat generated in the friction articulation is increased.

In another facultative embodiment, the articulation providing frictional resistance to rotation comprises a bushing which can be crossed in the rotation axis by a bolt fixedly arrangeable at at least one lug, so that a friction element is arrangeable being trapped between the bushing and the bolt and the bushing and/or the lug are made of a thermally conductive material and are connected to the articulating piece of a thermally conductive material in a thermally conductive manner. Preferably, the bolt is fixedly connected to two lugs preferably arranged in a U-shaped configuration, each on one side of the bushing, what makes the structure of the articulation more rigid.

Arranging the trapped friction element not fixedly at any element in any of the first, second and/or third rotation articulation has the advantage of that the dissipated heat generated in said friction articulation can be evacuated either through both articulating pieces or through one of the articulating pieces and, besides, the washing tub or the housing and the heat dissipation surface is thereby increased. This is advantageous in the intermediate articulation when both articulating pieces are made of a thermally conductive material and can dissipate heat. Moreover, it can be interesting for the articulations at the ends, insofar heat is dissipated through the housing and the tub.

In a particular case of the preceding embodiment, the friction element of the articulation providing frictional resistance to rotation can be fixedly connected to the bolt and the bushing is made of a thermally conductive material and is connected to an end of the articulating piece of a thermally conductive material in a thermally conductive manner. Thereby, the dis- sipation of the frictional heat generated in the friction articulation is increased. In another particular case of the preceding embodiment, the friction element of the articulation providing frictional resistance to rotation can be fixedly connected to the bushing and the bolt is made of a thermally conductive material and is connected to an end of the articulating piece of a thermally conductive material in a thermally conductive manner. Thereby, the dis- sipation of the frictional heat generated in the friction articulation is increased.

If one of the articulating pieces is not made of a thermally conductive material, the most advantageous configuration will be that in which the friction element is fixedly connected preferably to the piece not made of a thermally conductive material, so that only the piece made of a thermally conductive material has relative movement with respect to the friction element and dissipates the heat generated in the friction articulation.

In this manner, the bushing can be arranged at an end of one of the articulating pieces and, then, the lugs can be arranged at an end of the other articulating piece and/or in the washing tub and/or in the housing, or the bushing can be arranged in the washing tub and/or in the housing and the lugs can be arranged at an end of one of the articulating pieces. With this, the articulation providing resistance to rotation can be arranged in any of the three, i.e. first, second and third articulation, and, in this manner, a bigger contact surface of the friction element with the bushing and the bolt is achieved.

The articulation providing frictional resistance to rotation can be a combination of the preceding configurations when one or several friction elements are available, in such a manner that friction takes place both between the bushing and the bolt and between the bushing and the lugs, the friction surface being thereby increased. This allows to create damping devices having a higher friction force in a simple manner.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the bushing or the at least one lug of the articulation providing frictional resistance to rotation can be placed in the connection between the first end of the first articulating piece and the washing tub. In this manner, either the bushing or the at least one lug could be part of the washing tub or be connected to the same in a thermally conductive manner by means of an additional piece or plate of a thermally conductive material. The advantage of this configuration consists in that even the entire surface of the washing tub could be utilized as a radiating element to dissipate the heat generated in the articulation providing frictional resistance to rotation. In this case, the frictional heat dissi- pated by the washing tub can be used to warm water contained inside it. Preferably, the friction element is made of a high-compression material, in particular an expanded polyurethane sponge, e.g. from Cellasto ®.

In a further facultative embodiment, the articulating piece made of a thermally conductive material comprises a bushing and/or at least a lug integrated therein. In this manner, the total amount of pieces of the vibration damping device is reduced and a productive manufacturing of the same is facilitated.

In yet another facultative embodiment, the thermally conductive material is a metal or alloy such as, for example, steel, aluminium, zinc, copper, zamak, stainless steel, bronze, brass and/or titanium or alloys thereof or any material resistant to bending having an adequate thermal conductivity.

In yet a further facultative embodiment, the articulating piece made of a thermally conductive material is a bended sheet or the articulating piece made of a thermally conductive material is composed of two or more pieces connected to one another. The two pieces can be identical or not.

These particular embodiments provide the advantage consisting in an improved series man- ufacturing, since their manufacturing implies operations easily assumable in an assembly line, such as stamping and bending of metal sheets.

If one of the articulating pieces is not made of a thermally conductive material, this will be then of a smaller size than the articulating piece made of a thermally conductive material. So, it is guaranteed that a higher amount of heat is dissipated than it would be dissipated if the articulating piece made of a thermally conductive material had a smaller length. The ideal situation is that both articulating pieces are made of a thermally conductive material.

A second inventive aspect of the invention relates to a washing or drying machine comprising at least one vibration damping device according to the first inventive aspect.

The vibration damping devices can be fixed to the sides of the housing or to the lower part of the housing or in parallel to the suspension elements in the upper or lower part of the washing tub. Said washing or drying machine can contain a plurality of damping devices placed on one or both sides of the washing tub. All features and/or steps of methods described in this specification (including the patent claims, the description and the drawings) can be combined in any combination, except for those mutually excluding combinations of such features.

These and further features and advantages of the invention are now described in greater detail by means of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment. This embodiment is to be understood as an illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the figures of the drawing attached. In particular,

Figures 1 a and 1 b show a particular embodiment of a vibration damping device;

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of an articulation of a vibration damping device;

Figures 2a and 2b show an alternative embodiment of an articulation of a vibration damping device;

Figures 3a and 3b show an alternative embodiment of an articulation of a vibration damping device;

Figure 4 shows a section of an alternative embodiment of an articulation of a vibration damping device;

Figure 5 shows a first particular configuration of an articulating piece of a damping device;

Figure 6 shows a second particular configuration of an articulating piece of a damping device;

Figure 7 shows a third particular configuration of an articulating piece of a damping device; and

Figure 8 shows a feasible configuration of a washing or drying machine containing the vibration damping device.

Figure 1 a shows a particular embodiment of a vibration damping device 1 in a situation of use, installed in a washing or drying machine. In this figure, the following elements can be observed, which form part of this vibration damping device 1 :

a first articulating piece 2, with a first end 21 and a second end 22. The first end 21 of the first articulating piece 2 is connected to the washing tub 10 in an articulated manner by means of a first articulation 4 that allows rotation around a first rotation axis, a second articulating piece 3, with a first end 31 and a second end 32. The first end 31 of the second articulating piece 3 is connected to the second end 22 of the first articulating piece 2 in an articulated manner by means of a second articulation 5 that allows rotation around a second rotation axis, and the second end 32 of the second articulating piece 3 is connected to the housing 1 1 by means of a third articulation 6 that allows rotation around a third rotation axis.

In this particular example of the damping device 1 of the invention, the second articulation 5 is an articulation providing frictional resistance to rotation. Furthermore, the first articulating piece 2 and the second articulating piece 3 are made of a thermally conductive material.

In this particular example, both the first articulation 4, which is the connection between the first end 21 of the first articulating piece 2 and the tub 10, and the third articulation 6, which is the connection between the second end 32 of the second articulating piece 3 and the hous- ing 11 , are not friction articulations and, therefore, the bolts 8 that extend through the rotation axes of these articulations can be made of plastic or any non-thermally conductive material. If they are made of plastic, they can have at their ends limiting pieces made in one piece to avoid that they slip out of the orifice of the articulation. Figure 1 b shows an enlarged illustration of the second articulation 5, in which a lug 12 of the second end 22 of the first articulating piece 2 has been cut out, so that the second articulation 5 can be observed in a greater detail. In this figure, it can be seen how the second articulation 5 is an articulation that provides frictional resistance to rotation. This articulation 5 comprises a bushing 7, which is crossed in the rotation axis by a bolt 8 fixedly arranged at the lugs 12, so that a friction element 9 is arranged being trapped between the bushing 7 and the bolt 8. In this particular case, the friction element 9 is a friction foam, which counteracts rotation between said elements. The friction element 9 can be fixedly connected either to the bushing 7, so that the friction is exerted upon the bolt 8, or to the bolt 8, so that the friction is exerted upon the bushing 7, or to none of them, so that the friction occurs at both ends of the articulating pieces 2, 3 and, in this manner, heat is dissipated trough both of them. In this case, the bolt 8 needs to be fixedly arranged at the lug 12.

In figure 2, a first articulation 4 can be observed which is an articulation that provides frictional resistance to rotation. In this case, this first articulation 4 comprises several lugs 12 fixed to the washing tub 10 and a bushing 7 corresponding to the first end 21 of the first articulating piece 2, which is crossed in the rotation axis by a bolt 8 connected to the lugs 12, so that a friction element 9 is arranged being trapped between the bushing 7 and the lugs 12. This is an alternative configuration to the configuration shown in the preceding figure 1 b, the general functioning of the system being the same in both cases, except for the fact that the resistance to rotation is provided between the bushing 7 and the lug 12 and not between the bushing 7 and the bolt 8.

If the friction element 9 is arranged fixedly at the lugs 12 placed in the washing tub 10, the articulating piece 2 needs to be made of a thermally conductive material, or if the friction element 9 is arranged fixedly at the bushing 7 placed at the end 21 of the articulating piece 2, the washing tub 10 needs to contain a thermally conductive surface or be made of a thermally conductive material.

In figure 2a, a variant of the second articulation 5 is shown, which is an articulation providing frictional resistance to rotation. In this case, this second articulation 5 comprises a bushing 7 corresponding to the first end 31 of the second articulating piece 3, which is crossed in the rotation axis by a bolt 8 connected to the lugs 12 placed at the second end 22 of the first articulating piece 2, so that a friction element 9 is arranged being trapped between the bushing 7 and the lugs 12. Figure 2b shows an enlarged illustration of the second articulation 5, in which one of the lugs 12 arranged at the second end 22 of the first articulating piece 2 has been cut out, so that the second articulation 5 can be observed in a greater detail. In this figure, it can be seen that the second articulation 5 comprises a bushing 7 corresponding to the first end 31 of the second articulating piece 3, which is crossed in the rotation axis by a bolt 8 connected to the lugs 12 arranged at the second end 22 of the first articulating piece 2, so that a friction element 9 is arranged being trapped between the bushing 7 and the lugs 12.

Figure 3a shows a variant of an articulation, in this case, the second articulation 5, which is an articulation providing frictional resistance to rotation. In this case, this second articulation 5 comprises a bushing 7 corresponding to the first end 31 of the second articulating piece 3, which is crossed in the rotation axis by a bolt 8 connected to the lug 12 placed at the second end 22 of the first articulating piece 2, so that a friction element 9 is arranged being trapped between the bushing 7 and the lug 12. The own bolt 8 may also have a stop 13 at its protruding end to give more rigidity to the second articulation 5. A friction element 9 is arranged being trapped between the bushing 7 and this stop 13. Figure 3b shows an enlarged illustration of the second articulation 5, in which the stop 13 is not present and the bolt 8 with the friction element 9 can be seen. In this figure, it can be seen that this second articulation 5 comprises a bushing 7 corresponding to the first end 31 of the second articulating piece 3, which is crossed in the rotation axis by a bolt 8 connected to the lug 12 arranged at the second end 22 of the first articulating piece 2, so that a friction element 9 is arranged being trapped between the bushing 7 and the lug 12.

Figure 4 shows a section of the second articulation 5, which is an articulation providing fric- tional resistance to rotation. In this case, this second articulation 5 comprises a bushing 7 corresponding to the first end 31 of the second articulating piece 3, which is crossed in the rotation axis by a bolt 8 connected to the lugs 12 placed at the second end 22 of the first articulating piece 2, so that a friction element 9 is arranged being trapped between the bushing 7 and the lugs 12 and between the bushing 7 and the bolt 8. In this case, the friction element 9 is made in just one piece, but it can be made of several pieces.

In figures 5 to 7, several configurations of the first articulating pieces 2 made of a thermally conductive material are shown, which could also work as the second articulating piece 3 in any vibration damping device 1 according to the invention. Figure 5 shows a first particular configuration of a first articulating piece 2, which is a bended sheet. In this configuration, the first end 21 of the first articulating piece 2 defines a throughout orifice adequate to form part of an articulation, and the second end 22 of the first articulating piece 2 comprises two lugs 12, one of them containing a screw hole 81 to facilitate the connection to the bolt 8. Furthermore, this piece is achievable by a relatively simple manu- facturing method.

Figure 6 shows a second particular configuration of a first articulating piece 2, which is composed of two parts connected to one another. In this particular example, both parts are symmetrical, although the parts are not completely symmetrical in other particular examples, since it may happen that certain details exist only in one of both halves. These parts can be manufactured by stamping and can be joined together by press fit. In this figure, it is observed that the first end 21 of the first articulating piece 2 defines a throughout orifice adequate to form part of an articulation, and the second end 22 of the first articulating piece 2 comprises two lugs 12. Figure 7 shows a third particular configuration of a second articulating piece 3 comprising an integrated bushing 7. This first articulating piece 2, manufactured with the bushing 7 integrated therein, allows its coupling to a vibration damping device 1 in a much easier way, since the coupling of the bushing 7 is not required once the piece is manufactured.

Figure 8 shows a feasible configuration of a washing or drying machine containing at least one vibration damping device 1. In this particular example, a washing tub 10 is shown, which comprises a drum 28 actuated by a motor 25 that transmits the movement to the drum 28 by means of a pulley mechanism 29 fixedly arranged at the drum 28 and connected to the motor 25 by a belt 27. Said washing tub 10 is connected to the housing 11 by means of suspension elements 17 and two vibration damping devices 1 as detailed hereinabove. In Figure 8, the vibration damping devices 1 are fixed to the sides of the housing 11.

Claims

A vibration damping device (1) for a washing tub (10) of a washing or drying machine also comprising a housing (1 1), the device comprising:

a first articulating piece (2), with a first end (21) and a second end (22), the first end (21) of the first articulating piece (2) being provided to be connected to the washing tub (10) in an articulated manner by means of a first articulation (4) that allows rotation around a first rotation axis,

a second articulating piece (3), with a first end (31) and a second end (32), the first end (31) of the second articulating piece (3) being connected to the second end (22) of the first articulating piece (2) in an articulated manner by means of a second articulation (5) that allows rotation around a second rotation axis, and the second end (32) of the second articulating piece (3) being provided to be connected to the housing (1 1) by means of a third articulation (6) that allows rotation around a third rotation axis,

in which the first articulation (4), the second articulation (5) and/or the third articulation (6) is an articulation comprising a friction element (9) that provides fric- tional resistance to rotation,

characterized in that at least one from the first (2) or the second (3) articulating pieces is made of a thermally conductive material and forms part of at least a friction articulation having relative movement with respect to the friction element (9).

The vibration damping device (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the articulation providing frictional resistance to rotation comprises a bushing (7) which can be crossed in the rotation axis of the articulation by a bolt (8) connectable to at least one lug (12), so that a friction element (9) can be arranged being trapped between the bushing (7) and the at least one lug (12) and the bushing (7) and/or the lug (12) is made of a thermally conductive material and is connected to the articulating piece (2, 3) of a thermally conductive material in a thermally conductive manner.

The vibration damping device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the friction element (9) can be fixedly connected to the at least one lug (12) and the bushing (7) is made of a thermally conductive material and is connected to an end (21 , 22, 31 , 32) of the articulating piece (2, 3) of a thermally conductive material in a thermally conductive manner.

The vibration damping device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the friction element (9) can be fixedly connected to the bushing (7) and the at least one lug (12) is made of a thermally conductive material and is connected to an end (21 , 22, 31 , 32) of the articulating piece (2, 3) of a thermally conductive material in a thermally conductive manner.

The vibration damping device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the articulation providing frictional resistance to rotation comprises a bushing (7) which can be crossed in the rotation axis by a bolt (8) fixedly arrangeable at at least one lug (12), so that a friction element (9) is arrangeable being trapped between the bushing (7) and the bolt (8) and the bushing (7) and/or the bolt (8) and the lug (12) are made of a thermally conductive material and are connected to the articulating piece (2, 3) of a thermally conductive material in a thermally conductive manner.

The vibration damping device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the friction element (9) can be fixedly connected to the bolt (8) and the bushing (7) is made of a thermally conductive material and is connected to an end (21 , 22, 31 , 32) of the articulating piece (2, 3) of a thermally conductive material in a thermally conductive manner.

The vibration damping device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the friction element (9) can be fixedly connected to the bushing (7), the bolt (8) is made of a thermally conductive material and is connected to an end (21 , 22, 31 , 32) of the articulating piece (2, 3) of a thermally conductive material in a thermally conductive manner.

The vibration damping device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the articulating piece (2, 3) made of a thermally conductive material comprises a bushing (7) and/or at least one lug (12) integrated therein.

9. The vibration damping device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermally conductive material is of metal, in particular steel, aluminium, stainless steel, bronze, brass and/or titanium or alloys thereof.

10. The vibration damping device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the articulating pieces (2, 3) made of a thermally conductive material is a bended sheet.

1 1. The vibration damping device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one of the articulating pieces (2, 3) made of a thermally conductive material is composed of two pieces connected to one another.

12. The vibration damping device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the articulating pieces (2, 3) is not made of a thermally conductive material and has a smaller length than the articulating piece (2, 3) made of a thermally conductive material.

13. A washing or drying machine comprising at least one vibration damping device (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

14. The washing or drying machine according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a housing (1 1) and in that the at least one lug (12) and/or bushing (7) is connected to the housing (1 1) and the articulating piece (2, 3) made of a thermally conductive material is connected to said lug (12) and/or to said bushing (7) forming the third articulation (6).

15. The washing or drying machine according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a washing tub (10) and in that the at least one lug (12) and/or bushing (7) is connected to the washing tub (10) and the articulating piece (2, 3) made of a thermally conductive material is connected to said lug (12) and/or to said bushing (7) forming the first articulation (4).