WASHING MACHINE

Abstract

In a washing machine, vibration of a cabinet vibrated by a tub is offset by a dynamic vibration absorber. Therefore, vibration of the cabinet is reduced and thus noise of the washing machine is reduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine for reducing a vibration generating while operating the washing machine.

BACKGROUND ART

In a conventional washing machine, as a drum rotates, a tub has a tendency to rotate in a rotating direction of the drum. Therefore, the tub vibrates by a vibration or an eccentricity. Referring to FIG. 1, a spring 5 supports a tub (not shown) within a side cabinet 16, and a vibration of the tub (not shown) laterally vibrates the spring 5. Further, the vibration vibrates a side cabinet 16 through a reinforcement member 18 in which the spring 5 is hanged. FIG. 2 shows a vibration state of the side cabinet 16.

The side cabinet 16 has a natural frequency according to a shape and rigidity. If a frequency of a vibration generating by a rotation of a drum (not shown) approaches the natural frequency, a vibration of the side cabinet 16 causes a large vibration, whereby noise is generated. Therefore, the vibration of the side cabinet 16 hinders stability of a product and generates noise.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above problems, and the present invention provides a washing machine for reducing a vibration generating while operating the same.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine including: a cabinet; a tub provided within the cabinet and for storing washing water; and a dynamic vibration absorber whose one end is fixed to the cabinet and whose the other end forms a free end and for offsetting a vibration of the cabinet vibrated by a vibration of the tub.

Technical Solution

The dynamic vibration absorber may include a vibration member whose one end is fixed to the inside of the cabinet and whose the other end is extended to the inside of the cabinet. The other end of the vibration member may be extended to the downside of the inside of the cabinet. The dynamic vibration absorber may further include a mass member having a predetermined mass and coupled to the vibration member.

The cabinet may include a side cabinet for defining the side of space in which the tub is disposed.

The dynamic vibration absorber may have a natural frequency substantially identical to a natural frequency of the side cabinet.

When the side cabinet has a plurality of natural vibration modes, a plurality of dynamic vibration absorbers may be disposed.

The plurality of dynamic vibration absorbers may have natural frequencies corresponding to a plurality of natural vibration modes of the side cabinet.

The washing machine may further include a reinforcement member disposed at the inside of the side cabinet and for reinforcing rigidity of the side cabinet.

The dynamic vibration absorber may damp a vibration of the cabinet by vibrating in a phase opposite to a vibration phase of the cabinet.

Advantageous Effects

The washing machine according to the present invention has the following effect.

First, because a portion of vibration energy to vibrate the cabinet is used to vibrate the dynamic vibration absorber, a vibration and noise of the cabinet reduce.

Second, when the dynamic vibration absorber vibrates in a phase opposite to a vibration phase of the cabinet, vibrations are offset to each other, so that a vibration and noise of the cabinet further reduce.

Third, because the dynamic vibration absorber can change a resonance frequency of the cabinet to the outside of an operation frequency range of the washing machine, a resonance phenomenon may not be generated while operating the washing machine.

Fourth, because a vibration of the cabinet reduces, a vibration transmitted to a base of the cabinet reduces. Therefore, in a floor surface in which the washing machine is provided, a vibration and noise reduce, whereby stability and reliability of a product are improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of a spring and a side cabinet in a conventional washing machine;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a vibration of a side cabinet of the washing machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an inner structure of a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating an upper part of a side cabinet of the washing machine of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating an upper part of the side cabinet taken along ‘A’ direction of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a vibration displacement of a side cabinet according to a rotation of a motor in the washing machine of FIG. 2 and the washing machine of FIG. 3.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A washing machine according to the present invention includes all appliances that can process the laundry such as a simple washing machine, a drying machine, and a dehydrator. Hereinafter, as an example of the washing machine, the simple washing machine is described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an inner structure of a washing machine 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating a part of an upside of a side cabinet 116 of the washing machine of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, the washing machine 100 generally includes a cabinet 101, a drum 103, and a tub 102. The cabinet 101 forms an external appearance and defines an inner space for housing the drum 103 and the tub 102. The cabinet 101 includes a side cabinet 116 for forming a side surface and a base 101a for forming a floor surface.

Referring to FIG. 3, the tub 102 is provided within and fixed to the cabinet 1. The drum 103 is provided to rotate within the tub 102 and rotates the laundry and washing water by a lift 103a. A motor (not shown) is disposed at the rear side of the drum 103, and the motor (not shown) rotates the drum 103.

Referring to FIG. 3, the springs 105 for elastically supporting the tub 102 are disposed within the cabinet 101. One end of each spring 105 is coupled to the upside of the tub 102 and the other end thereof is coupled to the upside of the side cabinet 116. Therefore, the tub 102 is elastically suspended by the springs 105. Further, a damper 106 is disposed at the downside of the tub 102 and the dampers 106 damp a vibration of the tub 102.

Referring to FIG. 3, the washing machine 100 further includes a dynamic vibration absorber 120 for damping a vibration of the cabinet 101. The dynamic vibration absorber 120 damps a vibration of the side cabinet 116 by damping a vibration of the side cabinet 116 vibrated through the spring 105. One end of the dynamic vibration absorber 120 is fixed to a place vibrating integrally with the side cabinet 116 and the other end thereof forms a free end. That is, when the side cabinet 116 vibrates, the dynamic vibration absorber 120 vibrates together with the side cabinet 116, thereby offsetting a vibration of the side cabinet 116, so that a vibration of the side cabinet 116 is damped. Because the dynamic vibration absorber 120 has a natural frequency substantially identical to a natural frequency of the side cabinet 116, a damp effect of the vibration largely increases.

FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating an upper part of the side cabinet taken along ‘A’ direction of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the dynamic vibration absorber 120 includes a vibration member 122 and a mass member 124. The vibration member 122 has a bar shape having a predetermined width. Further, the vibration member 122 is made of a metal material having predetermined elasticity so as to vibrate by a vibration applied to the side cabinet 116. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the vibration member 122 may be made of various materials. A natural frequency of the dynamic vibration absorber 120 changes according to a mass and rigidity. Therefore, the mass member 124 having a predetermined mass is disposed at a tip of the vibration member 122 so that the dynamic vibration absorber 120 may have a target natural frequency. However, when the target natural frequency is obtained with only the vibration member 122, a separate mass member may not be disposed.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a reinforcement member 118 for reinforcing rigidity of the side cabinet 116 is fixed to the upper end of the side cabinet 116. The reinforcement member 118 is disposed in a length direction of the front and rear along the upper end of the side cabinet 116, and has a cross-sectional shape similar to a shape of Korean alphabet “”. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the reinforcement member 118 may have various shapes.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, one end of the vibration member 122 is coupled to a lower end of the inside of the reinforcement member 118 and the other end thereof is extended toward the downside of the inside of the cabinet 116. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and one end of the vibration member 122 may be fixed to the reinforcement member 118 and the other end thereof may be extended toward the upside of the inside or a side surface of the side cabinet 116. Further, one end of the vibration member 122 may be directly coupled to the side cabinet 116 without a separate reinforcement member.

When the dynamic vibration absorber 120 vibrates, the dynamic vibration absorber 120 may cause noise by contacting with parts of the inside of the washing machine 100 or the side cabinet 116. However, referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, because one end of the vibration member 122 is fixed to the reinforcement member 118, the other end of the vibration member 122 is separated by a predetermined interval from the side cabinet 116. Therefore, noise generation possibility of the dynamic vibration absorber 120 can be largely reduced.

An operation of the washing machine 100 of FIG. 3 is described hereinafter.

If the washing machine 100 operates, the drum 103 rotates, and according to a rotation of the drum 103, the tub 102 vibrates, and the vibration is transmitted to the side cabinet 116 through the spring 105. As the side cabinet 116 vibrates, the dynamic vibration absorber 120 coupled to the upside of the side cabinet 116 vibrates. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the dynamic vibration absorber 120 vibrates in a direction opposite to a vibration direction of the side cabinet 116. That is, when the side cabinet 116 vibrates in a first direction (X direction), the vibrations member 122 vibrates in a second direction (−X direction), and when the side cabinet 116 vibrates in the second direction (−X direction), the vibration member 122 vibrates in the first direction (X direction). Therefore, because the dynamic vibration absorber 120 offsets a vibration of the side cabinet 116 while vibrating in a phase opposite to a vibration direction of the side cabinet 116, an entire vibration of the washing machine 100 reduces.

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a rotation speed of a motor (not shown) and a vibration of side cabinets (16, 116) in a conventional washing machine (washing machine of FIG. 1) and the washing machine 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 6, as a rotation speed of the motor (not shown) approaches a resonance frequency of the side cabinet 16, the side cabinet 16 of the conventional washing machine generates a resonance phenomenon, thereby largely increasing amplitude thereof.

However, in the washing machine 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment, as the dynamic vibration absorber 120 vibrates in a phase opposite to a vibration direction of the side cabinet 116, vibration energy to vibrate the side cabinet 116 is used to vibrate the dynamic vibration absorber 120. Therefore, an entire vibration of the washing machine 100 is damped. This is described in detail as follows. The dynamic vibration absorber 120 changes a resonance frequency of the washing machine 100. That is, as the dynamic vibration absorber 120 changes the resonance frequency to the outside of an operation vibration frequency range of the motor (not shown), a resonance phenomenon generating while operating the washing machine is prevented.

The side cabinet 116 has one natural vibration mode. However, the side cabinet 116 may have a plurality of different natural vibration modes. In this case, if a plurality of dynamic vibration absorbers is provided in the side cabinet 116 and has natural frequencies corresponding to the plurality of natural vibration modes, a plurality of resonance phenomena generating while operating the washing machine can be effectively reduced.

The embodiment of the invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

By providing a dynamic vibration absorber in a washing machine according to the present invention, a vibration of the washing machine can be reduced.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a tub provided within the cabinet and for storing washing water; and

a dynamic vibration absorber whose one end is fixed to the cabinet and whose the other end forms a free end and for offsetting a vibration of the cabinet vibrated by a vibration of the tub.

2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the dynamic vibration absorber comprises a vibration member whose one end is fixed to the inside of the cabinet and whose the other end is extended to the inside of the cabinet.

3. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein the other end of the vibration member is extended to the downside of the inside of the cabinet.

4. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein the dynamic vibration absorber further comprises a mass member having a predetermined mass and coupled to the vibration member.

5. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the cabinet comprises a side cabinet for defining the side of space in which the tub is disposed.

6. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein the dynamic vibration absorber has a natural frequency substantially identical to a natural frequency of the side cabinet.

7. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the other end of the dynamic vibration absorber is separated from the cabinet so that the dynamic vibration absorber does not contact with the cabinet, when the dynamic vibration absorber vibrates.

8. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein when the side cabinet has a plurality of natural vibration modes, a plurality of dynamic vibration absorbers is disposed.

9. The washing machine of claim 8, wherein the plurality of dynamic vibration absorbers has natural frequencies corresponding to a plurality of natural vibration modes of the side cabinet.

10. The washing machine of claim 5, further comprising a reinforcement member disposed at the inside of the side cabinet and for reinforcing rigidity of the side cabinet.

11. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the dynamic vibration absorber comprises:

a vibration member whose one end is coupled to the reinforcement member and whose the other end forms a free end extended to the downside of the inside of the cabinet; and

a mass member having a predetermined mass and coupled to the vibration member,

wherein the dynamic vibration absorber damps a vibration of the side cabinet by vibrating in a phase opposite to a vibration phase of the side cabinet.

12. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the dynamic vibration absorber damps a vibration of the cabinet by vibrating in a phase opposite to a vibration phase of the cabinet.