Washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9481958-B2
Application number	US-201213410856-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2012
Priority date	Mar 4, 2011
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

A washing machine which is improved so as to firmly support a clutch. The washing machine includes a main body, a tub disposed within the main body, a drum rotatably disposed within the tub, a motor provided under the tub to provide driving force to rotate the drum, a clutch connected to the motor to transmit driving force of the motor to the drum, and a mounting plate to fix the clutch and the motor to connect the clutch and the motor to the lower surface of the tub. A first flange unit connected to the clutch is provided on the lower surface of the tub, and a second flange unit connected to the outer circumferential surface of the first flange unit is provided on the mounting plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine comprising:
a main body;
a tub disposed within the main body;
a drum rotatably disposed within the tub;
a motor provided under the tub to provide driving force to rotate the drum;
a clutch connected to the motor to transmit driving force of the motor to the drum, the clutch including a housing;
a mounting plate to fix the clutch and the motor to connect the housing of the clutch and the motor to the lower surface of the tub;
a first flange unit formed on the lower surface of the tub and connected to the clutch;
a second flange unit formed on the mounting plate and connected to the outer circumferential surface of the first flange unit; and
a sealing member connected to an outer circumferential surface of the housing,
wherein the second flange unit protrudes from one surface of the mounting plate in an opposite direction to the connecting direction of the mounting plate to the lower surface of the tub and is configured to be in parallel line contact with the first flange unit to reinforce the strength of the first flange unit, and
the second flange unit and the sealing member are in contact with and sandwich the first flange unit to prevent leakage of wash water contained in the tub.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first flange unit protrudes downwards from the lower surface of the tub to the outside of the tub; and
a first insertion hole is formed at the center of the first flange unit so that one end of the clutch is inserted into the first insertion hole and connected to the drum.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein a second insertion hole is formed at the center of the second flange unit so that the first flange unit is inserted into the second insertion hole.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the clutch further includes:
a drive shaft rotatably supported by bearings connected to the inside of the housing; and
a fixing plate extending from the outer circumferential surface of the housing to fix the clutch to the mounting plate.

5. The washing machine according to claim 4 , wherein the drive shaft passes through the first flange unit and is connected to the drum.

6. The washing machine according to claim 5 , wherein the mounting plate includes:
a fixing unit connected to the fixing plate; and
an accommodation part to accommodate the housing when the fixing plate and the fixing unit are connected; and
the second flange unit is provided at the accommodation part and protrudes to the inside of the accommodation part.

7. The washing machine according to claim 6 , wherein a protruding length of the second flange unit is smaller than a depth of the accommodation part.

8. A washing machine comprising a main body, a tub disposed within the main body to accommodate wash water, a drum rotatably disposed within the tub, a motor provided under the tub, and a clutch connected to the motor to transmit driving force of the motor to the drum, wherein the tub includes:
a flange unit protruding downwards from the lower surface of the tub to the outside of the tub and connected to the clutch;
a reinforcing member formed of a material having greater strength than the flange unit and connected to the outer circumferential surface to reinforce the strength of the flange unit; and
a sealing member positioned on an inner circumferential surface of the flange unit,
wherein the reinforcing member includes a flange that protrudes from one surface of the reinforcing member in a same direction as the protruding direction of the flange unit is configured to be in parallel line contact with the outer circumferential surface of the flange unit to reinforce the strength of the flange unit, and
the reinforcing member and the sealing member are in contact with and sandwich the flange unit to prevent leakage of the wash water accommodated in the tub.

9. The washing machine according to claim 8 , wherein the reinforcing member is connected to the motor and the clutch, and
the sealing member is connected to a housing of the clutch.

Assignees

• Park Sang Ho
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Sang Ho

Classifications

• D06F37/40

  for driving the receptacle and an agitator or impeller, e.g. alternatively {(D06F37/304, D06F37/308 take precedence)} · CPC title

• D06F37/264 Primary

  Tubs provided with reinforcing structures, e.g. ribs, inserts, braces · CPC title

• D06F37/206

  Mounting of motor · CPC title

• D06F37/20

  Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations · CPC title

• D06F37/263

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