Patent ID: 6397643
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
A suspension apparatus of a washing machine comprising:suspension rods the upper portions of which are connected to a casing of the washing machine and the lower portions of which are connected to a washing tub so that the washing tub can be supported in the casing in a suspended state; damper bases installed at the respective lower ends of the suspension rods; damping force changing means fitted around the respective suspension rods to be movable along the respective suspension rods and positioned above the respective damper bases, so as to be compressed according to the variations in load of the washing tub and change the damping force; and elastic means installed between the damping force changing means and the damper bases, respectively, so as to do buffering action, and, in addition, providing compression forces for the damping force changing means, respectively; wherein each of the damping force changing means includes a supporting member which has a center hole so as to be fitted around the suspension rod, supports a bracket fixed to the washing tub and is deformed in the inward or outward direction by the compression force provided by the washing tub and the elastic means; and a friction member which is installed in the supporting member and changes the friction force between the friction member and the suspension rod according to the deformation of the supporting member in the inward or outward direction; wherein the supporting member includes a slopingly surfaced portion and a cutout portion, the slopingly surfaced portion is located between the bracket of the washing tub and the elastic means and is slopingly projected so that when a vertical compression force acts on the supporting member, the supporting member can be deformed in the inward or outward direction, and the cutout portion is formed from the lower end of the supporting portion and to a predetermined height; wherein the supporting member is formed with the slopingly surfaced portion radially projected, a bracket-fitted portion formed to project in a cylindrical shape at the upside of the slopingly surfaced portion and inserted into the bracket of the washing tub, and a spring-fitted portion which is formed to project in a cylindrical shape at the downside of the slopingly surfaced portion and around which the elastic biasing means is fitted.