Drum type washing machine for preventing water from penetrating into a bearing

Disclosed is a drum type washing machine. The drum type washing machine includes a sealing member for preventing water between a tub and a drum from penetrating into a bearing for supporting a rotation shaft and a water penetration preventing unit for preventing the water between the tub and the drum from penetrating into the sealing member. Accordingly, it is doubly prevented that the water between the tub and the drum penetrates into the bearing, thereby preventing corrosion of the bearing due to the water. As a result, it is capable of preventing vibration and noise caused by the corrosion of the bearing and of stably supporting the rotation shaft with maintaining the initial performance of the bearing, thereby preventing the drum type washing machine from being out of order.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a drum type washing machine serves to wash laundry by using a friction force between a rotating drum and the laundry and the laundry dropping from a top to a bottom in the rotating drum. Accordingly, in the drum type washing machine, the laundry is little damaged and is not entangled.

The drum type washing machine includes a tub for holding water therein, a drum rotatably installed in the tub and receiving laundry therein, a driving motor is installed at a rear side of the drum so as to rotate the drum, a rotation shaft for transferring a driving force from the driving motor to the drum, a bearing for supporting the rotation shaft, and a sealing member installed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft in front of the bearing so as to prevent water between the tub and the drum from penetrating into the bearing.

Even though the sealing member is provided in front of the bearing, it is impossible to perfectly prevent the water between the tub and the drum from penetrating into the bearing through a gap between the sealing member and the rotation shaft.

Once the water penetrates into the bearing, the bearing is corroded. Then the corroded bearing cannot stably support the rotation shaft, which results in shaking of the rotation shaft and the drum. As a result, vibration and noise generated while the drum type washing machine is operated, which causes the drum type washing machine to be out of order.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the aforementioned problems, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum type washing machine comprising: a tub; a drum rotatably installed in the tub; a driving motor for rotating the drum; a rotation shaft for transferring a rotational force from the driving motor to the drum; a bearing for supporting the rotation shaft; a sealing member for preventing water from penetrating into the bearing; and a water penetration preventing unit for preventing the water from penetrating into the sealing member.

Preferably, the water penetration preventing unit is implemented as a rib formed at a spider connecting the rotation shaft and the drum to each other or a is rib formed at the sealing member.

Alternately the water penetration preventing unit is implemented as a first rib formed at a spider connecting the rotation shaft and the drum to each other and a second rib formed at the sealing member, preferably. Here, an external diameter of the first rib is larger than that of the second rib, and the first rib and the second rib are overlapped with each other in a length direction, preferably.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum type washing machine comprising: a tub; a drum rotatably installed in the tub; a driving motor for rotating the drum; a rotation shaft for transferring a rotational force from the driving motor to the drum; front and rear bearings for supporting the rotation shaft; a sealing member insertedly installed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft in front of the front bearing; and a rib formed at a spider connecting the rotation shaft and the drum to each other or formed at the sealing member. Here, it may be doubly prevented that water between the tub and the drum penetrates into the front and rear bearings by the sealing member and the rib.

Here, the rib is formed at the spider in a cylindrical shape, and is extended toward the sealing member with a length so as to form a gap between the rib and the sealing member, preferably.

Alternately the rib is formed at the sealing member in a cylindrical shape, and is extended toward the spider with a length so as to form a gap between the rib and the spider, preferably.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum type washing machine comprising: a tub; a drum rotatably installed in the tub; a driving motor for rotating the drum; a rotation shaft for transferring a rotational force from the driving motor to the drum; front and rear bearings for supporting the rotation shaft; a sealing member insertedly installed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft in front of the front bearing; a first rib formed at a spider connecting the rotation shaft and the drum to each other; and a second rib formed at the sealing member. Here, an external diameter of the first rib may be larger than that of the second rib, and the first rib and the second rib may be overlapped with each other in a length direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Description will now be given in detail of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Hereafter, a drum type washing machine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.FIG. 1is a schematic view showing the drum type washing machine in accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 2is an enlarged view of “A” portion inFIG. 1.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the drum type washing machine in accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet5forming an external appearance, a tub3installed in the cabinet5so as to hold water therein, a drum9rotatably installed in the tub3and receiving laundry therein, driving motors7,8for rotating the drum9, a rotation shaft17for transferring a rotational force from the driving motors7,8to the drum9, a bearing11for supporting the rotation shaft17, a sealing member13for preventing water between the tub3and the drum9from penetrating into the bearing11, and a water penetration preventing unit100for preventing the water between the tub3and the drum9from penetrating into the sealing member13.

A door1is disposed at a front side of the cabinet5, and a gasket2is installed between the door1and the tub3. A locking spring4for supporting the tub3is installed between an upper inner surface of the cabinet5and an outer upper surface of the tub3. A friction damper10for reducing vibration of the tub3is installed between a lower inner surface of the cabinet5and an outer lower surface of the tub3.

A detergent supply device30for supplying detergent to the tub3is disposed at a front upper side of the cabinet5. The detergent supply device30serves to mix the detergent with water and to supply the mixture to the tub5through a supply pipe31.

A water supply device20consisted of a plurality of valves for supplying water to the detergent supply device30is disposed at a rear upper side of the cabinet5. And, a supply pipe21connected to an external water supply source and a connection pipe22connected to the detergent supply device30are respectively installed at the water supply device20.

A drain pump41for draining the water stored in the tub3by outwardly pumping it is installed at a rear lower side of the cabinet5. And, a drain pipe41connected to the lower side of the tub3and a connection pipe42connected to an external drain are respectively installed at the drain pump40.

A plurality of lifters9afor moving the laundry up and down are disposed in the drum9.

The driving motors7,8consist of a stator7implemented as a direct drive type motor and provided with a coil wound at a slot, and a rotor8rotated at an outer circumferential surface of the stator7and provided with a permanent magnet12therein.

The stator7is coupled to a rear wall of the tub3by a plurality of coupling member19.

The rotor8is coupled to a rear end of the rotation shaft17by a coupling member18.

With such configuration, once the coil of the stator7receives a power and thus to become electromagnetic, the rotor8is rotated by an interaction between the coil of the stator7and the permanent magnet12attached in the rotor8. A rotational force of the rotor8is transferred to the drum9through the rotation shaft17.

The bearing11is installed in a bearing housing15and includes a front bearing11apositioned at a front side of the rotation shaft17and a rear bearing11bpositioned at a rear side of the rotation shaft17.

The sealing member13installed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft17in front of the front bearing11a, thereby preventing water B between the tub3and the drum9from penetrating into the bearing11.

The water penetration preventing unit100includes a first rib110having a cylindrical shape and formed at a spider6connecting the rotation shaft17and the drum9to each other, and a second rib120having a cylindrical shape and formed at the sealing member13.

Here, an external diameter D1of the first rib110is larger than an external diameter D2of the second rib120. Alternately, the external diameter D1of the first rib110may be smaller than the external diameter D2of the second rib120. Even in the second case, the external diameter D1of the first rib110should not be larger than an external diameter D3of the sealing member13. In other words, the external diameter D1of the first rib110should be same as or smaller than the external diameter D3of the sealing member13.

If the external diameter D2of the first rib110is larger than the external diameter D3of the sealing member13, the first rib110is positioned out of a central portion of the spider6. Then, due to a structure of the spider6, a gap through which water can penetrate is generated between the spider6and the first rib110, accordingly an effect with respect to preventing of water penetration may is be deteriorated.

In the meantime, the first rib110is extended toward the sealing member13and the second rib120is extended toward the spider6so that a length W1of the first rib110and a length W2of the second rib120may be overlapped with each other in a length direction.

By the first rib110and the second rib120, it is capable of preventing water dropping to the first rib110or the second rib120from approaching the sealing member13.

Hereafter, an operation principle of the water penetration preventing unit will be described.

While washing, rinsing or dehydrating, water kept in the drum9or at the lower portion of the tub3is splashed to an upper inner wall of the tub3by the rotational force of the drum9. Some of the water drops through an interval S between the tub3and the drum9. The water B dropping through the interval S between the tub3and the drum9drops to the first rib110or the second rib120in a direction of dotted line arrow.

The water dropping to the first rib110is splashed from the outer circumferential surface of the first rib110in a direction of solid line arrow by the rotational force of the rotating drum9.

The water dropping to the second rib120flows down along the outer circumferential surface of the second rib120in the direction of solid line arrow.

By the first rib110and the second rib120, it is capable of preventing the water from approaching the sealing member13.

Thus, by the first rib110and the second rib120and the sealing member13, it is capable of doubly preventing the water between the tub3and the drum9from penetrating into the bearing11.

Accordingly, it is capable of preventing vibration and noise caused by corrosion of the bearing11, and of stably supporting the rotation shaft17with maintaining its initial performance of the bearing11, thereby being capable of preventing the drum type washing machine from being out of order.

FIG. 3is a diagram showing a variation of a water penetration preventing unit ofFIG. 2.

Referring toFIG. 3, a water penetration preventing unit200is a cylindrical rib formed at the spider6. Here, the rib is extended toward the sealing member13as long as the rib does not come into contact with the sealing member13. That is, the rib has a length W3so that an interval between the rib and the sealing member13may be a minimum gap g1. Accordingly, the water penetration preventing unit200has a length W3longer than the length W1(refer toFIG. 2) of the first rib110(refer toFIG. 2).

When the water penetration preventing unit200is formed only at the spider6, even though water may penetrate into the bearing11through the gap g1, it is capable of simplifying the configuration and of reducing a cost, in comparison with the ribs formed both at the spider6and the sealing member13.

Hereafter, an operation principle of the water penetration preventing unit will be described.

While washing, rinsing or dehydrating, water kept in the drum9or at the lower portion of the tub3is splashed to an upper inner wall of the tub3by the rotational force of the drum9. Some of the water drops through an interval S between the tub3and the drum9. The water B dropping through the interval S between the tub3and the drum9drops to the rib200in a direction of dotted line arrow.

The water dropping to the rib200is splashed from the outer circumferential surface of the rib200in a direction of solid line arrow by the rotational force of the rotating drum9.

By the rib200, it is capable of preventing the water from approaching the sealing member13.

Thus, by the rib200and the sealing member13, it is capable of doubly preventing the water between the tub3and the drum9from penetrating into the bearing11.

Accordingly, it is capable of preventing vibration and noise caused by corrosion of the bearing11, and of stably supporting the rotation shaft17with maintaining its initial performance of the bearing11, thereby being capable of preventing the drum type washing machine from being out of order.

FIG. 4is a diagram showing another variation of a water penetration preventing unit ofFIG. 2.

Referring toFIG. 4, a water penetration preventing unit300is a cylindrical rib formed at the sealing member13. Here, the rib is extended toward the spider6as long as the rib does not come into contact with the spider6. That is, the rib has a length W4so that an interval between the rib and the sealing member13may be a minimum gap g2. Accordingly, the water penetration preventing unit300has the length W4longer than the length W2(refer toFIG. 2) of the second rib120(refer toFIG. 2).

When the water penetration preventing unit300is formed only at the sealing member13, even though water may penetrate into the bearing11through the gap g2, it is capable of simplifying the configuration and of reducing a cost, in comparison with the ribs formed both at the spider6and the sealing member13.

Hereafter, an operation principle of the water penetration preventing unit will be described.

While washing, rinsing or dehydrating, water kept in the drum9or at the lower portion of the tub3is splashed to an upper inner wall of the tub3by the rotational force of the drum9. Some of the water drops through an interval S between the tub3and the drum9. The water B dropping through the interval S between the tub3and the drum9drops to the rib300in a direction of dotted line arrow.

The water dropping to the rib300flows down along the outer circumferential surface of the rib300in a direction of solid line arrow.

By the rib300, it is capable of preventing the water from approaching the sealing member13.

Thus, by the rib300and the sealing member13, it is capable of doubly preventing the water between the tub3and the drum9from penetrating into the bearing11.

Accordingly, it is capable of preventing vibration and noise caused by corrosion of the bearing11, and of stably supporting the rotation shaft17with maintaining its initial performance of the bearing11, thereby being capable of preventing the drum type washing machine from being out of order.

Meanwhile, the drum type washing machine in the aforementioned embodiment is provided with a horizontal drum, however the present invention can be applied to a drum type washing machine having a drum inclined in a specific angle.

The drum type washing machine in accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention includes the sealing member for preventing water between the tub and the drum from penetrating into the bearing for supporting the rotation shaft, and the water penetration preventing unit for preventing the water between the tub and the drum from penetrating into the sealing member. Accordingly, it is capable of doubly preventing the water between the tub and the drum from penetrating into the bearing and thus to prevent corrosion of the bearing due to the water. Accordingly, it is capable of vibration and noise caused by the corrosion of the bearing, and of stably supporting the rotation shaft with maintaining the initial performance of the bearing, thereby preventing the drum type washing machine from being out of order.