ELASTIC ANTI-IMPACT AND ANTI-VIBRATION METAL CABLE DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A ROTARY UNIT

Abstract: An elastic anti-impact and anti-vibration metal cable device for supporting a rotary unit, in particular of a household electrical appliance, where the rotary unit is arranged freely floating with respect to a base structure of the appliance, comprising at least one pair of curved metal cables positioned between the base structure and the rotary unit, the at least one pair of metal cables being freely connectable at one end to the base structure and at their other end to the rotary unit.

Description: ELASTIC ANTI-IMPACT AND ANTI-VIBRATION METAL CABLE DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A ROTARY UNIT This utility model relates to an elastic anti-impact and anti- vibration metal cable device for supporting a rotary unit. The term "rotary unit" signifies a unit forming part of a household electrical appliance or the like, such as a tub plus drum of a washing machine, dishwasher or the like, to which the relative electric motor is connected for rotation, this also being in a suspended state. In this type of known household electrical appliance the rotary unit, or the drum tub, is suspended on four springs and is retained on the appliance base by two or more stabilizer elements, for example of piston type. In a washing machine for example, during the rotation of the drum contained in the tub the stabilizer elements brake the oscillations generated not only by the rotary movement of the drum but also, and in particular, by the vibrations determined by the variations undergone by the weight contained in the drum. It must also be considered that in such an appliance the passage from the wash stage to the spinning stage is particularly critical. This is because a very slow rotation state passes to a very fast rotation state with consequent creation of large- amplitude vibrations, with considerable jolting. This situation is also due to the fact that the masses are not distributed uniformly immediately and indeed can remain eccentric, in particular with a drum having a low weight of about 500-700 g when unloaded. These vibrations are currently reduced to a large extent by positioning inertial blocks of various materials such as concrete, cement, cast iron etc. on top of and to the side of the tub. These blocks usually weigh about 20-25 kg to increase the stability of the unit formed by the tub, motor and drum, so eliminating or at least limiting the amplitude of the vibrations along the three cartesian axes. The stresses induced in the rotary unit vary because of the eccentricity of the weights treated in the unit and also on the basis of the drum speed which, during the spinning stage, can reach 500-1200 rpm according to the type of washing machine. It should also be noted that for such a type of household electrical appliance provided with a rotary unit the critical speed is about 450-500 rpm with an internal weight of about 600 g. This occurs during passage from a low speed such as the wash speed to a high speed such as the spinning speed, as the masses present in the drum are not well distributed. In an attempt to solve this problem, some types of washing machine have been provided with electronic systems which during the transient state adjust the position of the masses to prevent the said vibration. Besides being particularly complicated and costly, these systems are unable to completely solve the aforesaid problems. An object of the present utility model is to provide a device for supporting a rotary unit of a household electrical appliance by which vibrations and impacts are eliminated in every stage of its operation. A further object is to provide an easily applied, low-cost support device. These objects are attained according to the present utility model by an elastic anti-impact and anti-vibration metal cable device for supporting a rotary unit, in particular of a household electrical appliance, where said rotary unit is arranged freely floating with respect to a base structure of said appliance, characterised by comprising at least one pair of curved metal cables positioned between said base structure and said rotary unit, the ends of said at least one pair of metal cables being freely connectable to said base structure and to said rotary unit. Characteristics and advantages of a device according to the present utility model will be more apparent from the description given hereinafter with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partly sectional schematic elevational view of a washing machine provided with a support device according to the present utility model; and Figure 2 is a partly cut-away side view of the washing machine of Figure 1. The figures show a washing machine 11 with a rotary unit 13 connected to its base structure 12 by an elastic support device according to the utility model. The rotary unit 13 comprises a tub 14 containing a drum 15 rotated by an underlying motor^-via a relative transmission 17. In the example, the support device comprises four metal cables 18, the ends of which are locked within terminal elements 19, for example having a ring-shaped end. The terminal elements 19 can be inserted into U blocks 20, the sides of which comprise two mutually aligned holes 21, 22. The blocks 20 are fixed respectively to the tub 14 and to the base structure 12 along the side provided with the threaded hole 22, for example by welding. The four metal cables are fixed by inserting relative screws 23 through the hole 21, through the ring-shaped end of the terminal element 19 and into the threaded hole 22. The four metal cables 18 are arranged in pairs of two curved to C- shape to form semi-circumferences, the bows of which face each other. The diameters joining the locked ends of the metal cables are arranged so that they converge towards the centre of gravity of the rotary unit 13 and are inclined at an angle of about 45° to the horizontal base. The arrangement formed by these metal cables enables the springs and stabilizer elements provided with rotary units of known type to be dispensed with. In this respect, the characteristics of the metal cable derive from the relative slippage between its individual constituent wires and strands when it is subjected to bending, shear and torsional stresses. This is because the deformation movement is braked along the slippage region by the effect of the friction between the individual wires or strands, ie for equal frequency the amplitude of the resultant vibration is considerably reduced. The device of the present utility model therefore achieves the effects deriving from the presence of springs and dampers in the household electrical appliances of the prior art. It should be noted that there does not necessarily have to be four metal cable segments 18, but there must be at least two. In this latter case a spring or retention stop must be provided to suitably prevent oscillation of the rotary unit 13 perpendicular to the plane containing the cable segments. The tub 14 must rest on the metal segments so that they work under compression-flexure. The diameter, length and number of strands and wires of the metal cables illustrated in the embodiment of the device can vary according to requirements based on the size and weight of the rotary unit 13. In addition, the radius of curvature depends on the cable diameter and its segment length. In particular the ends of the metal cable 18, individually curved and locked in any manner to define a ring, are preferably aligned so that they are positioned on the same axis. For optimum operability of the device, the metal cable segments fixed to the tub 14 must be positioned as close as possible to the plane containing the centre of gravity of the system. The present utility model therefore provides a metal cable device for supporting or suspending a rbtary unit in which the cable segments operate both as springs and as dampers, as stated. The metal cable can generally be of stainless steel, but alternatively can be a simple steel cable protected by a plastics sheath, indicated schematically by 24 in Figure 1, to prevent degradation and/or rusting.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An elastic anti-impact and anti-vibration metal cable device for supporting a rotary unit, in particular of a household electrical appliance, where said rotary unit is arranged freely floating with respect to a base structure of said appliance, characterised by comprising at least one pair of curved metal cables positioned between said base structure and said rotary unit, the ends of said at least one pair of metal cables being freely connectable to said base structure and to said rotary unit. 2. An elastic device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said at least one pair of metal cables is curved to C-shape. 3. An elastic device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each metal cable of said at least one pair of metal cables is positioned with its bow facing the bow of the other. 4. An elastic device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the diameters joining said connectable ends of said metal cables converge towards the centre of gravity of the rotary unit. 5. - An elastic device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the diameters joining said connectable ends of said metal cables are inclined by an angle of about 45° to the horizontal base. 6. An elastic device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said ends of said at least one pair of metal cables are ring- shaped. 7. An elastic device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said ends of said at least one pair of metal cables are locked within terminal elements. 8. An elastic device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said ends of said at least one pair of metal cables are freely connectable to said base structure and said rotary unit by U blocks. 9. An elastic device as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the sides of said U blocks comprise two mutually aligned holes. 10. An elastic device as claimed in ciaim 9, characterised in that at least one of said holes of said U blocks comprising two aligned holes is threaded. 11. An elastic device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each metal cable is inserted in a plastics sheath.

Inventors: CAMOSSI CARLO, CAMOSSI, CARLO
Applicants: CAMOSSI CARLO, CAMOSSI, CARLO
Application year: 1993
Main classification: F16F7
IPC codes: D06F37, F16F7, F16F15