Ball joint for a washing machine suspension system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9994989-B2
Application number	US-201514685976-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2015
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

A ball joint for use within a washing machine suspension system may generally comprise a joint body including a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion may define an outer surface having a curved profile. In addition, the joint body may define at least one lubrication inlet port extending between the upper and lower portions and at least one lubrication channel extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the lower portion along the outer surface. The lubrication channel(s) may be in fluid communication with the lubrication inlet port(s) such that, when a lubricant is injected into the lubrication inlet port(s) at the upper portion of the joint body, the lubricant flows from the lubrication inlet port(s) into the lubrication channel(s) and then flows circumferentially within the lubrication channel(s) along the outer surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A suspension system for a washing machine, the system comprising:
a frame member defining a joint recess having a curved profile, the joint recess defining a rod opening;
a suspension rod including an upper end configured to be inserted through the rod opening; and
a ball joint configured to vertically support the suspension rod relative to the frame member, the ball joint comprising:
a joint body including a lower portion configured to be seated within the joint recess and an upper portion opposite the lower portion, the lower portion defining an outer surface having a curved profile corresponding to the curved profile of the joint recess, the joint body defining at least one lubrication inlet port extending between the upper and lower portions and at least one lubrication channel extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the lower portion along the outer surface between an inlet end in direct fluid communication with the at least one lubrication inlet port and an outlet end opposite the inlet end,

wherein the at least one lubrication inlet port is in fluid communication with the at least one lubrication channel such that, when a lubricant is injected into the at least one lubrication inlet port at the upper portion of the joint body, the lubricant flows from the at least one lubrication inlet port into the at least one lubrication channel and then flows circumferentially within the at least one lubrication channel along the outer surface so as to lubricate an interface defined between the joint recess and the lower portion of the joint body,
wherein the joint body further defines at least one lubrication outlet port extending between the upper and lower portions, the at least one lubrication outlet port being in direct fluid communication with the outlet end of the at least one lubrication channel such that, when the lubricant is supplied through the at least one lubrication channel, excess lubricant is directed through the at least one lubrication outlet port to an outer surface of the upper portion of the joint body so as to be expelled from the upper portion along an exterior of the joint body.

2. The suspension system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lubrication inlet port comprises a first inlet port and a second inlet port separate from the first inlet port, each of the first and second inlet ports extending from an upper end adjacent to the upper portion of the joint body to a lower end adjacent to the lower portion of the joint body.

3. The suspension system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one lubrication channel comprises a first lubrication channel and a second lubrication channel, the first lubrication channel extending circumferentially along the outer surface between a first inlet end and a first outlet end, the first inlet end being in fluid communication with the lower end of the first inlet port, the second lubrication channel extending circumferentially along the outer surface between a second inlet end and a second outlet end, the second inlet end being in fluid communication with the lower end of the second inlet port.

4. The suspension system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second inlet ends of the first and second lubrication channels are spaced apart circumferentially from one another along the outer surface.

5. The suspension system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second outlet ends of the first and second lubrication channels are spaced apart circumferentially from one another along the outer surface.

6. The suspension system of claim 1 , wherein the joint body further defines a plurality of radial lubrication channels extending radially from the at least one lubrication channel along the outer surface.

7. The suspension system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of radial lubrication channels comprises a first radial lubrication channel extending radially outwardly from the at least one lubrication channel along the outer surface and a second radial lubrication channel extending radially inwardly from the at least one lubrication channel along the outer surface.

8. The suspension system of claim 1 , further comprising a lubricant injection tube extending outwardly from the at least one lubrication inlet port along the upper portion of the joint body.

9. The suspension system of claim 1 , wherein the joint body further defines a rod insertion channel extending between the upper and lower portions of the joint body, the upper end of the suspension rod being configured to be inserted through the rod insertion channel to allow the upper end to be engaged along the upper portion of the joint body.

10. The suspension system of claim 9 , wherein a groove is defined along the upper portion of the joint body that extends from the rod insertion channel, the groove being defined vertically above a retainer wall extending adjacent to the rod insertion channel, wherein the upper end of the suspension rod is configured to be received within groove such that a portion of the upper end is hooked around the retainer wall.

11. The suspension system of claim 9 , further comprising a rod support arm extending from the lower portion of the joint body, a portion of the rod insertion channel being defined in the rod support arm.

12. A ball joint for use within a suspension system of a washing machine, the ball joint comprising:
a joint body including a lower portion and an upper portion opposite the lower portion, the lower portion defining an outer surface having a curved profile, the joint body defining first and second lubrication inlet ports extending between the upper and lower portions, the joint body further defining first and second lubrication channels extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the lower portion along the outer surface, the first lubrication channel extending between a first inlet end in direct fluid communication with the first lubrication inlet port and a first outlet end opposite the first inlet end, the second lubrication channel extending between a second inlet end in direct fluid communication with the second lubrication inlet port and a second outlet end opposite the second inlet end,
wherein, when a lubricant is injected into the first and second lubrication inlet ports at the upper portion of the joint body, the lubricant flows from the first and second lubrication inlet ports into the first and second lubrication channels and then flows circumferentially within the first and second lubrication channels along the outer surface,
wherein the joint body further defines a first outlet port in direct fluid communication with the first outlet end of the first lubrication channel and a second outlet port in direct fluid communication with the second outlet end of the second lubrication channel such that, when the lubricant is supplied through the first and second lubrication channels, excess lubricant is directed through the first and second outlet ports to an outer surface of the upper portion of the joint body so as to be expelled from the upper portion along an exterior of the joint body.

13. The ball joint of claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second lubrication inlet ports extend from an upper end adjacent to the upper portion of the joint body and a lower end adjacent to the lower portion of the joint body.

14. The ball joint of claim 13 , wherein the first inlet end terminates at the lower end of the first lubrication inlet port such that the first inlet end is in direct fluid communication with the lower end of the first lubrication inlet port, the second inlet end terminates at the lower end of the second lubrication inlet port such that

Assignees

• Gen Electric
• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Coxon David John

Classifications

• Y10T403/32631

  Universal ball and socket · CPC title

• D06F37/268 Primary

  for suspension devices · CPC title

• F16C2340/00

  Apparatus for treating textiles · CPC title

• F16C11/0695

  Mounting of ball-joints, e.g. fixing them to a connecting rod · CPC title

• D06F37/24

  in machines with a receptacle rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis · CPC title