Patent Publication Number: US-2020283942-A1

Title: Washing machine suppressing the vibration

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine having an apparatus for forcibly suppressing vibration generated in a rotating washing drum of a washing tub and reducing noise generated by vibration. 
     Prior Art 
     Generally, a conventional washing machine vibration noise reduction device has only slightly mitigated vibrations and noise by fixing one or more counter weights to one part in the washing machine body or various parts constituting the washing machine. When parts with counterweights are vibrated, the entire washing machine must be vibrated passively and dependently. 
     A similar or greater force will be required in order to reduce or cancel the vibration occurred by the dynamic force caused by the mismatch between the center of gravity of the rotating drum and the rotary shaft during the washing and dewatering process of the washing machine in the prior art. 
     However, in the prior art, vibration and noise generated in rotation of the rotary washing drum during the washing and dehydrating process are mainly mitigated by using suspension system, counter weight, counter balancer and the like. 
     That is, in the prior art, the force which is actively and forcibly applied to the outer tub enclosing the rotating inner drum to minimize or cancel the vibration or noise occurred by the rotating inner drum cannot be greater or equal to the dynamic force generated by the rotating inner drum during the spin cycle so vibration and noise can never be significantly reduced or canceled in the prior art. 
     In addition, by using suspension device such as damper, counter balancer, counter weight, or the like is a conventional technique of mitigating vibration and noise in a passive and minimal manner and the manufacturing and maintenance cost and the weight of the washing machine can be greatly increased. The weight of some washing machines is about 100 Kg, which caused high cost and difficulty and inconvenience for handling and transportation of washing machines. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the washing machine of the present invention, in order to reduce the vibration generated by the dynamic force caused by the mismatch between the center of gravity and the rotating shaft of the rotating drum during the washing and dewatering cycles of the washing machine, the external washing tub enclosing the rotating washing drum is wrapped, secured and connected to the heavy weight mass base at the bottom of the washing machine and the washing machine main body by wires, nets, belts or straps and the like. The force of the total weight of the weight mass base and the washing machine&#39;s weight including the laundry and water in the drum and the motor is greater than or at least equal to the dynamic force occurred by the mismatch between the center of gravity and the rotating shaft of the rotating drum during the washing and dewatering cycles of the washing machine and causing vibration and noise. 
     The dynamic force causing vibration and noise is suppressed or cancelled off aggressively and forcibly by the total weight of the heavy weight mass base at the bottom of the washing machine and the washing machine&#39;s whole weight including the laundry and water and the motor, so the vibration and the noise of the washing machine will be remarkably reduced compared to the prior art. 
     According to the present invention, the heavy weight mass base of the present invention is placed at the bottom of the washing machine, instead of fixing one or more counter weights to one place or various parts constituting the washing machine as in the prior art. 
     Since the weight mass base of the present invention is attachable and detachable to the frame of the washing machine, the weight mass base is separated and transported during transportation, and can be assembled at the final installation site, thereby facilitating comfortable handling and transportation, so reducing accidents, injuries, and damage to the washing machine. 
     Benefits of the Present Invention 
     1. Washing machine vibration and noise are reduced significantly so that increases customer satisfaction and reduces claims.
 
2. Reduction of manufacturing cost by reducing expensive parts for washing machine vibration and noise reduction causes lower the consumer price significantly and increases consumer satisfaction.
 
3. Failure rate of the washing machine is reduced due to reduction of components for vibration and noise reduction of washing machine
 
4. Vibration and noise reduction of washing machine extends the life of parts of the washing machine.
 
5. It is possible to secure idle space, and to reduce the volume of the washing machine body or to enlarge the volume of the washing capacity of the washing machine due to the parts reduced such as springs, dampers and counterweights for vibration prevention.
 
6. Total weight of the main body of the washing machine except the separable weight mass base can be reduced due to the reduced expensive parts such as springs, dampers, counterweights etc. to prevent vibration.
 
7. Reduction of electric energy due to the weight reduction of the tub of the washing machine.
 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects of the present invention will become more apparent and readily understood from the following description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a front loading washing machine in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a front loading washing machine illustrating main components of the present invention in accordance with the embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a top loading washing machine in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a top loading washing machine illustrating main components of the present invention in accordance with the embodiment; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail through embodiments described hereinafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in many different forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this invention will be thorough and complete, and the scope of the invention will convey to those skilled people in the art or science and are defined by the claims of the present invention. Throughout the description, the same reference numerals will be used to designate the same or like components. 
     Hereinafter, a washing machine according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference numerals to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a sectional view and  FIG. 2  is a top view of a front-loading washing machine in accordance with one embodiment illustrating main components of the present invention in accordance with the embodiment. 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view and  FIG. 4  is a top view of a top-loading washing machine in accordance with another embodiment illustrating main components of the present invention in accordance with the embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 , a washing machine  100  and  200  in accordance with this embodiment includes a washing machine case  1  forming the external appearance of the washing machine  100  and  200 , a door  9  installed on the front for the front-loading and on the top for the top-loading of the washing machine case  1  respectively to receive laundry, a frame  2  disposed inside the washing machine case  1 , a tub  5  disposed within the main body  30 , a rotating inner drum  6  enclosed within the tub  5 , a motor  8  to rotate the inner drum  6 , wires, belts, straps or nets and the like  3  are wrapping around the tub  5  and connecting tightly in tension to the clips  11 , clips  11  attached on the frame  2 , sensor units  7  attached on wires, belts, straps or nets and the like  3 , a weight mass base  40  located and assembled at the bottom of the washing machine case  1 , bolts  10  located at the bottom of the washing machine case  1  connecting the weight mass base  40  and the frame  2  of the washing machine  100  and  200 . 
     A door  9  is installed on the front and a lid  9  is installed on the top of the washing machine case  1  respectively to receive laundry into the opening of the tub  5 . 
     A frame  2  disposed inside the washing machine case  1  is attached to the inside of the washing machine case  1  and is attachable or detachable to the weight mass base  40  by bolts  10 . 
     A rotating inner drum  6  is mounted within the tub  5  which disposed within the main body  30 , and is wrapped by wires, belts, straps or nets and the like  3 , and the ends of the wires, belts, straps or nets and the like  3  are connected tightly in tension to the clips  11  to transfer the weight of the tub  5  and the rotating inner drum  6  including the laundry and water in it and the weight of the motor  8  to the total weight of the main body  30  additionally. 
     A rotating inner drum  6  mounted within the tub  5  receives laundry and water, which may cause the mismatch between the center of gravity and the rotating shaft of the rotating drum  6  during the washing and dewatering cycles of the washing machine  100 , and may generate vibration and noise. 
     A motor  8  is mounted at the end of the tub and connected to the rotating drum  6  by a drive shaft to rotate the inner drum  6 . 
     Wires, belts, straps or nets and the like  3  wrap around the tub  5  and the ends of the wires, belts, straps or nets and the like  3  connect tightly in tension to the clips  11  to transfer the weight of the tub  5  and the rotating inner drum  6  including the laundry and water in it and the weight of the motor  8  to the total weight of the main body  30  additionally. 
     Clips  11  attached on the frame  2  hold the ends of the wires, belts, straps or nets and the like  3  tightly with tension which wrap around the tub  5  wherein the rotating inner drum  6  is mounted and receives laundry and water and the motor  8  is connected. 
     Sensor units  7  attached on wires, belts, straps or nets and the like  3 , wherein batteries are enclosed, and they detect the tension or worn out status of the wires, belts, straps or nets and the like  3  and send the data to the user. 
     A weight mass base  40  located and interlocked by bolt and nut set or pin-lock and the like  10  at the bottom of the frame  2  of a washing machine  100  and  200  respectively is connected to the main body  30 . 
     The wires, belts, straps or nets and the like  3  which wrap around the tub  5 , and the ends of wires, belts, straps or nets and the like  3  are connected tightly with tension to the clips  11  of the frame  2  in the main body  30  so as to transfer the weight of the main body  30  including the laundry and water in the tub  5  and the weight of the motor  8  to the weight mass base  40  additionally. 
     Bolts  10  located at the bottom of the washing machine case  1  interlock the weight mass base  40  and the frame  2  of the washing machine  100 .