Patent ID: 8695382
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
1. A washing machine comprising: a water tub; a rotary tub rotatably installed in the water tub; a drive motor to rotate the rotary tub; a rotary shaft to transmit a drive force from the drive motor to the rotary tub; and a bearing housing supporting a bearing to rotatably retain the rotary shaft, the bearing having an inner race to rotate together with the rotary shaft, an outer race affixed to the bearing housing, and a plurality of balls movably disposed between the inner race and the outer race, wherein an elastic member is configured to exert pressure to the inner race of the bearing and the outer diameter of the rotary shaft to constrain a sliding between the rotary shaft and the inner race of the bearing to reduce noise and vibration of the washing machine, and wherein the elastic member comprises an O-ring and an annular leaf spring adapted to uniformly maintain a gap formed between the inner race of the bearing and the outer diameter of the rotary shaft and to increase a friction force between the rotary shaft and the inner race of the bearing such that a sliding between the rotary shaft and the inner race of the bearing is constrained.