Washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9963814-B2
Application number	US-201514796147-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2015
Priority date	Jul 11, 2014
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A washing machine including a casing, an outer tub, a support rod having one end connected to the casing and the other end having a support prop, first and second friction units movable along the support rod and applying frictional force between the friction units and the support rod, a receiving body movable along the support rod, the receiving body retaining the first and second friction units, the receiving body is integrally moved with the first friction unit and is displaceable relative to the second friction unit, an outer tub supporter movable along the support rod and formed independently of the receiving body to support the outer tub above the receiving body, and an elastic member supported by the support prop and elastically supporting the receiving body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine comprising:
a casing;
an outer tub disposed within the casing to receive wash water therein;
a support rod having one end connected to the casing, the other end of the support rod having a support prop;
a first friction unit and a second friction unit movable along the support rod applying a frictional force between the first and second friction units and the support rod;
a receiving body movable along the support rod, the receiving body retaining the first friction unit and the second friction unit,
wherein the receiving body is integrally moved with the first friction unit and displaceable relative to the second friction unit;
an outer tub supporter movable along the support rod, the outer tub supporter being formed independently of the receiving body to support the outer tub at the upper side of the receiving body; and
an elastic member supported by the support prop and elastically supporting the receiving body,
wherein the receiving body includes a partition to separate a first receiving portion for reception of the first friction unit from a second receiving portion for reception of the second friction unit, and
wherein the first receiving portion includes:
a tubular upper side portion extending upward from the partition, the support rod being located at a center of the tubular upper side portion; and
a plurality of ribs arranged in a circumferential direction, each rib radially protruding from an inner circumferential surface of the upper side portion toward the center,
wherein the first friction unit is disposed between an inner circumference formed by the plurality of ribs and the support rod, and between the adjacent ribs is provided a hollow space filled with lubricant to enable transferring of the lubricant from an upper side portion to a lower side portion along an outer surface of the first friction unit.

2. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the ribs are connected at lower ends thereof to the partition.

3. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the first friction unit includes a friction member having one surface in contact with the support rod and the other surface, opposite to the one surface, being pushed by the ribs facing the center.

4. The washing machine of claim 3 , wherein the friction member is formed of a porous fiber material.

5. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the outer tub supporter is separable from the receiving body.

6. The washing machine of claim 5 , wherein the second receiving portion is formed below the first receiving portion and the first receiving portion has an opening formed in a top surface thereof facing the outer tub supporter to allow the first friction unit to be introduced thereinto or removed therefrom in a state in which the receiving body is separated from the outer tub supporter.

7. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the receiving body has an opening in a lateral direction so as to outwardly expose the second friction unit.

8. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the receiving body includes:
a first receiving portion forming part to form the first receiving portion for reception of the first friction unit; and
a second receiving portion forming part coupled to the first receiving portion forming part, the second receiving portion forming part to form the second receiving portion for reception of the second friction unit below the first receiving portion form part.

9. The washing machine of claim 8 , wherein the first receiving portion forming part is disposed inside the second receiving portion forming part.

10. The washing machine of claim 9 , wherein the elastic member elastically supports the second receiving portion forming part.

11. The washing machine of claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the second receiving portion is formed inside the first receiving portion forming part.

12. A washing machine comprising:
a casing;
an outer tub disposed within the casing to receive wash water therein;
a support rod having one end connected to the casing, the other end of the support rod having a support prop;
a first friction unit and a second friction unit movable along the support rod applying a frictional force between the first and second friction units and the support rod;
a receiving body movable along the support rod, the receiving body retaining the first friction unit and the second friction unit,
wherein the receiving body is integrally moved with the first friction unit and displaceable relative to the second friction unit;
an outer tub supporter movable along the support rod, the outer tub supporter being formed independently of the receiving body to support the outer tub at the upper side of the receiving body;
an elastic member supported by the support prop and elastically supporting the receiving body; and
a damping member interposed between the outer tub supporter and the receiving body,
wherein in a top surface of the receiving body facing the outer tub supporter is formed an opening to allow the first friction unit to be introduced thereinto or removed therefrom in a state in which the receiving body is separated from the outer tub supporter, and the damping member is seat on the top surface,
wherein the receiving body includes a first receiving portion to delimit a space for reception of the first friction unit,
wherein the damping member has an opening communicating with the interior of the first receiving portion,
wherein the first receiving portion includes a plurality of ribs extending toward a central region for passage of the support rod, and
wherein the opening is located to correspond to gaps between the ribs.

13. The washing machine of claim 12 , wherein the damping member is formed of an elastic material.

14. A washing machine comprising:
a casing;
an outer tub disposed within the casing to receive wash water therein;
a support rod having one end connected to the casing, the other end of the support rod having a support prop;
a first friction unit and a second friction unit movable along the support rod applying a frictional force between the first and second friction units and the support rod;
a receiving body movable along the support rod, the receiving body retaining the first friction unit and the second friction unit,
wherein the receiving body is integrally moved with the first friction unit and displaceable relative to the second friction unit;
an outer tub supporter movable along the support rod, the outer tub supporter being formed independently of the receiving body to support the outer tub at the upper side of the receiving body; and
an elastic member supported by the support prop and elastically supporting the receiving body,
wherein the first friction unit is coupled to the receiving body in a lateral direction so as to be integrally moved with the receiving body,
wherein the receiving body includes an opening in a lateral direction so as to communicate a receiving space for reception of the first friction unit with the outside,
wherein the first friction unit is inserted into the receiving space through the opening in a state in which the receiving body is separated from the support rod, and
wherein the first friction unit includes:
a friction member in contact with the support rod; and
a friction member fixing frame to receive the friction member therein, the friction member fixing frame being supported, along with the receiving body, by the elastic member,
wherein the friction member fixing frame includes a first surface and the receiving body includes a second surface which belongs to a same plane as the first surface and

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Youngjun
• Yu Insik
• Kim Youngjong

Classifications

• D06F37/264

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

• D06F37/14

  Ribs or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle · CPC title

• D06F37/268

  for suspension devices · CPC title

• F16F7/08

  with friction surfaces rectilinearly movable along each other (F16F7/01 takes precedence {; one of the members being a spring F16F13/02}) · CPC title

• D06F37/20 Primary

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