Locking mechanism for inner tub of washing machine, and washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10704181-B2
Application number	US-201515548568-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2015
Priority date	Feb 4, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A first positioning structure is arranged at the bottom of the inner tub of a washing machine, and a second positioning structure is arranged at the bottom of the outer tub. When the two positioning structures come into concave-convex cooperation, the inner tub is locked; and when the two positioning structures separate from each other, the inner tub is unlocked. A locking hole is formed at the bottom of the inner tub; a stretchable and contractible locking rod is arranged at the bottom of the outer tub; when the locking rod projects into the locking hole, the inner tub is locked; and when the locking rod separates from the locking hole, the inner tub is unlocked. During washing, the inner tub is locked without water between the inner tub and the outer tub.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A locking mechanism for an inner tub of a washing machine, comprising:
a locking rod, wherein the locking rod is configured for stretch and contraction and is arranged at a bottom of an outer tub of the washing machine;
a locking hole formed at a bottom of the inner tub for cooperating with the locking rod to lock the inner tub,
wherein when the locking rod projects into the locking hole, the inner tub is locked and when the locking rod separates from the locking hole, the inner tub is unlocked;
a mounting hole for the locking mechanism is formed at the bottom of the outer tub; and
a first sealing structure configured for stretch and contraction is arranged between the locking rod and the mounting hole.

2. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a fixed base for the locking rod; the fixed base, which is an annular structure, is fixed to an outer surface of the bottom of the outer tub; and a slideway is arranged at a center of the fixed base, and a valve rod is arranged in the slideway.

3. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a fixed shell, which is matched with the mounting hole; the locking rod is arranged in the fixed shell; a second sealing structure is arranged between the mounting hole and the fixed shell; and a third sealing structure is arranged between the fixed shell and the locking rod.

4. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 3 , wherein a seal ring is arranged between the mounting hole and the fixed shell; the third sealing structure between the fixed shell and the locking rod is a sealing sleeve that is stretchable and contractible along with stretching and contracting of the locking rod; a first end of the sealing sleeve is in sealed connection with the fixed shell, and a second end of the sealing sleeve is in sealed connection with the locking rod.

5. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 4 , wherein the first end of the sealing sleeve is in sealed connection with an upper end of the fixed shell, and the second end of the sealing sleeve extends axially to form a third end, and the third end is in sealed connection with a lower end of the fixed shell; an extension part is a sealing sleeve that is stretchable and contractible along with stretching and contracting of the locking rod.

6. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 5 , wherein the extension part is in the shape of a corrugated pipe.

7. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 4 , wherein the third sealing structure is in a shape of a corrugated pipe.

8. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein a boss is provided at an upper part of the locking rod, and the second end of the sealing sleeve or an inner circle of the annular seal ring is connected to the boss.

9. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein a spring is sleeved outside the slideway of the locking rod; the spring is located between a boss of the locking rod and the fixed base, and one end of the spring is in contact with the boss, and the other end is in contact with a fixed base; and when the locking rod moves downward, the spring is compressed.

10. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein a lower end of the locking rod is connected with a linear reciprocating motor, or the lower end of the locking rod is connected with a rotary motor through a connecting rod structure; and the linear reciprocating motor or the rotary motor is mounted in a housing, the housing is provided with an installation part, the installation part is fixed to the bottom of the outer tub.

11. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein when the locking rod contracts to a lowest position, a top end of the locking rod is lower than or flush with an internal surface of the bottom of the outer tub.

12. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 11 , wherein when the locking rod contracts to the lowest position, the top end of the locking rod is flush with the internal surface of the bottom of the outer tub.

13. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the locking hole is a blind hole formed in an inner tub flange, the inner tub flange is provided with a smooth groove on each of two sides in a circumferential direction of the locking hole respectively to form a guide rail; or the guide rail is a separate structure with a smooth groove formed on the guide rail, and the locking hole is located in a middle of the groove.

14. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of axial bulges are uniformly distributed on an inner wall of the slideway along a circumferential direction, and tops of the bulges are in contact with an external surface of the locking rod.

15. A washing machine with the locking mechanism according to claim 1 .

16. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first sealing structure is an annular seal ring, an inner circle of the annular seal ring is connected to the locking rod, and an outer circle of the annular seal ring is connected to the mounting hole.

17. The locking mechanism for the inner tub of the washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the annular seal ring is provided with a corrugated bend along a radial direction.

Assignees

• Qingdao Haier Washing Mach Co

Inventors

• Lv Peishi
• Yang Lin
• Wang Lingchen
• Tian Yun
• Cheng Baozhen
• Zhang Gangjin

Classifications

• D06F37/12

  adapted for rotation or oscillation about a vertical axis · CPC title

• D06F23/04

  and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis · CPC title

• D06F37/267 Primary

  Tubs specially adapted for mounting thereto components or devices not provided for in preceding subgroups (D06F37/206 takes precedence) · CPC title

• D06F37/263

  assembled from at least two elements connected to each other; Connecting or sealing means therefor · CPC title

• D06F39/083

  Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements · CPC title