Patent ID: 8171758
Filing Date: 2012-05-08
Classification: D06F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A drum type washing machine comprising: a housing forming an external appearance of the drum type washing machine; a spin tub rotatable with respect to a horizontal axis of the washing machine by receiving rotational force from a driving motor through a rotating shaft, the spin tub including a spin tub body having a cylindrical structure formed with a plurality of pores allowing water to pass through the spin tub, the spin tub body having a front section with a laundry receiving opening provided and a rear section opposite to the front section; a rear balancer installed at the rear section of the spin tub to reduce a dynamic imbalance during rotation thereof, the rear balancer including a single annular-shaped race having a closed internal space in which a plurality of balls and viscous fluid are accommodated, the single annular-shaped race including a first annular-shaped member and a second annular-shaped member joined to each other to define the closed internal space, the first annular-shaped member including a first side wall, a second side wall and a connecting wall between the first side wall and the second side wall, the first annular-shaped member having an open side opposite to the connecting wall, and the second annular-shaped member being adapted to cover the open side of the first annular-shaped member; a shaft flange including a hub section to fixedly install the rotating shaft and a plurality of arm sections extending radially outward from the hub section and mounted to the spin tub so as to uniformly transfer the rotational force to the spin tub; and a rear cover provided on the rear section of the spin tub, the rear cover including a support section provided at an outer peripheral end portion thereof, wherein an outer end of each of the plurality of arm sections of the shaft flange is adapted to engage with the support section of the rear cover and is secured to the spin tub by fastening a fastening member through a wall of the spin tub, through the support section of the rear cover and into the respective arm section, wherein a height of the first and second side walls of the first annular-shaped member is selected such that the balls contact with inner surfaces of the first and second side walls instead of contacting a joining region between the first annular-shaped member and the second annular-shaped member.