VIBRATION-REDUCING WASHING MACHINE AND VIBRATION-REDUCING METHOD FOR WASHING MACHINE

A vibration-reducing washing machine and a vibration-reducing method therefor. The washing machine has an outer drum, a cabinet, a motor, a main control panel, a damper device, and a vibration detection and control module fixed to the washing machine and connected to the main control panel. The vibration detection and control module detects and calculates vibration data and generates a control signal. The method includes setting a fixed tolerance for washing machine vibration, detecting and calculating vibration data, and comparing the vibration data with the fixed tolerance, and when the detected vibration data exceeds the fixed tolerance, adjusting working parameters of the motor and adjusting a damping magnitude of the damper device until the vibration data detected subsequently is maintained within the range of the fixed tolerance.

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Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of washing machines, and particularly to a vibration-reducing washing machine and a vibration-reducing method for a washing machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

According to a survey of users' degree of satisfaction, noise of a washing machine draws users' maximum concerns, so manufacturers spend great effort in optimized design of vibration-reducing structures and suspension design by all means and achieve some effects. However, this manner of reducing vibration only passively reduces vibration by optimizing the vibration-reducing structure and solves many forms of vibration in one fixed manner. Therefore, these methods cannot efficiently reduce vibration of washing machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The brief summary of the present invention is given below to provide basic understanding of some aspects of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this summary is not an exhaustive summary of the present invention. The summary is neither intended to determine key or important portions of the present invention, nor limits the scope of the present invention. The summary aims to present some concepts in a brief form and serves as a prelude to more detailed description hereunder.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vibration-reducing washing machine and a washing machine vibration-reducing method, which can efficiently and quickly reduce the vibration of the washing machine.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vibration-reducing washing machine which comprises an outer drum, a cabinet, a motor, a main control panel, a damper device, and a vibration detection and control module fixed to the washing machine and connected to the main control panel, wherein the vibration detection and control module is configured to detect and calculate vibration data of the washing machine and generate a control signal.

In another aspect, the present invention also provides a washing machine vibration-reducing method, comprising: setting a fixed tolerance for washing machine vibration; detecting vibration data of the washing machine; calculating the vibration data and comparing the vibration data with the fixed tolerance, when the detected vibration data exceeds a fixed tolerance range, adjusting working parameters of the motor and adjusting a damping magnitude of the damper device until the vibration data detected subsequently is maintained within the fixed tolerance range.

In further aspect, the present invention also provides another washing machine vibration-reducing method, comprising:

setting a fixed tolerance for washing machine vibration;

detecting vibration data of the washing machine; and

calculating the vibration data to obtain a calculation result, and comparing the calculation result with the fixed tolerance, when the calculation result exceeds the fixed tolerance, adjusting working parameters of the motor and adjusting a damping magnitude of the damper device until a calculation result obtained by calculating a subsequently detected vibration data is maintained within the fixed tolerance range.

As compared with the prior art, the vibration-reducing washing machine and the washing machine vibration-reducing method according to the present invention can detect the vibration data during operation of the washing machine and calculate the vibration data, and generate a control signal when the vibration data exceeds the fixed tolerance, and feeds back the control signal to the main control panel, then the main control panel adjusts working parameters of the motor as well as a damping magnitude of the damper device according to the control signal. Certainly, according to the above vibration data, some information such as a linear acceleration and a timeliness orientation angle can be calculated to obtain, as well as a vibration trajectory of the washing machine. Then based on these information, the magnitude of the damping force of the damper device and the working parameters of the motor are adjusted accordingly to adjust vibration more targetedly. Thus the vibration of the washing machine is lowered efficiently and quickly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

To more clearly describe technical solutions in embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the figures to be used in the description of the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art are introduced briefly. Obviously, the figures described hereunder only illustrate some embodiments of the present invention, a person of ordinary skill in the art may obtain other figures according to these figures without making any inventive effort.

FIG. 1 is a structural schematic view of a vibration-reducing washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a structural schematic view of a vibration-reducing washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a detecting unit of a vibration-reducing washing machine in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a washing machine vibration reducing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing connection of the washing machine of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To make objects, technical solutions and advantages of embodiments of the present invention more apparent, technical solutions in embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely with reference to the figures in embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the embodiments depicted herein are partial embodiments of the present invention other than all embodiments. An element or feature depicted in a figure or an embodiment of the present invention may be combined with one or more elements or features shown in other figures or embodiments. It should be appreciated that for clarity purpose, expressions and depictions of parts and treatment which are irrelevant to the present invention and already known by a person of ordinary skill in the art are omitted in the figures and description. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any inventive efforts all fall within the extent of protection of the present invention.

In the following embodiments of the present invention, the serial numbers and/or sequential order of the embodiments are just used for the convenience of description, rather than indicating the priorities thereof. Each embodiment is described with different emphasis; for the part not elaborated in an embodiment, reference may be made to related description in other embodiments.

Embodiment 1

The present invention provides a vibration-reducing washing machine. Referring to FIG. 1, the vibration-reducing washing machine comprises an outer drum 5, a cabinet 6, a motor 2, a main control panel 7, a damper device 3, and a vibration detection and control module fixed to the washing machine and connected to the main control panel, wherein the vibration detection and control module is configured to detect and calculate vibration data of the washing machine and generate a control signal. The vibration-reducing washing machine and the washing machine vibration reducing method according to the present invention are capable of detecting the vibration data during operation of the washing machine, performing calculation for the vibration data, and generating the control signal. As known from the above, the control signal is generated according to the calculation result of the vibration data, and using the control signal to perform vibration-reducing control for the washing machine is more targetedly, and the vibration-reducing effect is better.

Specifically, the vibration detection and control module comprises a detecting unit and a calculating unit. The detecting unit is fixed on the washing machine and used to detect the vibration data of the washing machine during operation of the washing machine. The calculating unit is connected to the detecting unit and the main control panel and used to calculate the vibration data detected by the detecting unit, and compare the vibration data with a fixed tolerance, then generate the control signal when the vibration data exceeds the fixed tolerance. The main control panel is connected to the damper device and the motor. In response to the control signal generated by the calculating unit, the main control panel adjusts working parameters of the motor and adjusts a damping magnitude of the damper device until the vibration data compared and calculated by the calculating unit is maintained within a range of the fixed tolerance.

To facilitate understanding, specific depictions are presented below in an optional manner. The vibration-reducing washing machine comprises an outer drum 5, a motor 2, a damper device 3, a detecting unit 1, a calculating unit 9 and a main control panel 7, wherein the damper device 3 is located between the outer drum 5 and other fixed parts of the washing machine, e.g., disposed between the outer drum 5 and the washing machine cabinet. The calculating unit 1 is used to detect the vibration data of the washing machine (certainly during the operation of the washing machine). The calculating unit calculates the above vibration data, and compares it with the fixed tolerance, then generates the control signal when the vibration data exceeds the fixed tolerance. The control signal is fed back to the main control panel 7, i.e., the main control panel 7 responds to the control signal generated by the calculating unit, adjusts working parameters of the motor and adjusts a damping magnitude of the damper device until the vibration data compared and calculated by the calculating unit is maintained within a range of the fixed tolerance. Certainly, the main control panel is connected to the damper device and the motor. Likewise, the detecting unit and the calculating unit are also connected to transfer signal data, etc.

Certainly, it should be appreciated that the above calculating unit compares the vibration data with the fixed tolerance to work out whether the vibration data exceeds the fixed tolerance, obtains a specific value of the vibration data through calculation of the vibration data, and generates control content of the control signal according to the calculation result.

The detecting unit employed by the vibration-reducing washing machine and washing machine vibration-reducing method according to the present invention can detect the vibration data during operation of the washing machine, and the calculating unit compares the vibration data with the fixed tolerance, then generates a control signal and feeds it back to the main control panel when the vibration data exceeds the fixed tolerance. The main control panel adjusts working parameters of the motor as well as a damping magnitude of the damper device according to the control signal. Certainly, according to the above vibration data, information such as a linear acceleration and timeliness orientation angle can be calculated to obtain, as well as a vibration trajectory of the washing machine. The magnitude of the damping force of the damper device is adjusted according to the information to adjust vibration more targetedly. Thus the vibration of the washing machine is lowered efficiently and quickly. The information such as a linear acceleration and timeliness orientation angle mentioned here can be calculated to obtain by the calculating unit, and the calculating unit can further generate the control signal accordingly according to the these calculated parameters.

Those skilled in the art all can appreciate that “Certainly, according to the above vibration data, information such as a linear acceleration and timeliness orientation angle can be calculated to obtain, as well as a vibration trajectory of the washing machine. The magnitude of the damping force of the damper device is adjusted according to these information to adjust vibration more targetedly” mentioned in the preceding text may be understood as calculating to obtain the calculation result according to the vibration data, and comparing the calculation result with the fixed tolerance to obtain the control signal. The above “information such as a linear acceleration and timeliness orientation angle” is the calculation result. Those skilled in the art may appreciate that the calculation result may also comprise conventional parameters such as amplitude or distance that characterize a vibration degree in the technical field of vibration measurement.

Furthermore, the above damper device may be a magneto-rheological damper which is certainly only an option. Other devices that can regulate the damping magnitude may also be used in the present invention. Certainly, the damper device for regulating the damping magnitude preferably performs electrically-controlled adjustment.

In addition, the above calculating unit 9 may be integrated with the detecting unit 1 into an integral structure.

The above range of fixed tolerance is a preset fixed value and used to compare with the vibration data and determine whether to adjust the damping magnitude, the motor rotation speed or the like to change vibration conditions. Besides, the above working parameters of the motor may include rotation speed and/or frequency.

The vibration of the washing machine is fully and purposefully reduced with aid of adjustment of the working parameters of the motor 2 in cooperation with adjustment of the damping force magnitude of the damper device 3.

The vibration data detected by the detecting unit 1 is vibration data in at least one direction during operation of the washing machine, and the vibration data comprises angular velocity and acceleration. It may be appreciated that the angular velocity and the acceleration included by the vibration data are angular velocity in at least one direction and/or acceleration in at least one direction. Besides, “at least one direction” stated here means that the detecting unit 1 can detect angular velocity of rotating around three directions during operation of the washing machine and can detect acceleration in three directions during operation of the washing machine. The above angular velocity in three directions and the acceleration in three directions are respectively detected by a gyro 12 and an accelerometer 13 included by the detecting unit 1. That is to say, the gyro 12 is used to detect angular velocity of rotating around three directions during operation of the washing machine, and the accelerometer 13 is used to detect acceleration in three directions during operation of the washing machine. The three directions are respectively: vertical direction, and two horizontal directions perpendicular to each other.

To understand the three directions better, an example is presented in which the ground surface on which the washing machine is placed in use is taken as a horizontal surface, one direction is a direction perpendicular to the ground surface (horizontal surface) and may be understood as an “up-down” direction; the remaining two directions are perpendicular to each other and concurrently perpendicular to the “up-down” direction, that is to say, the thee directions are all perpendicular to one another, and said remaining two directions may be understood as a “left-right” direction and a “front-rear” direction. Briefly speaking, the washing machine is placed on the horizontal ground surface, the gyro 12 and the accelerometer 13 respectively detect the angular velocity and acceleration of the washing machine in the up-down direction, the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, wherein the angular velocity refers to the angular velocity rotating around the above directions. Certainly, these directions are all optional in the present embodiment and not intended to limit the present invention, information such as the direction specifically to detect may depend on the gyro 12 or accelerometer 13 themselves or may vary with the detection needs. However, its purpose is to more thoroughly record the vibration data of the washing machine to reduce vibration more precisely.

As known from the above, the detecting unit 1 comprises the gyro 12 and the accelerometer 13 which may be collectively called a six-axis hybrid sensor (see FIG. 3). Alternatively, the detecting unit 1 and the calculating unit 9 may be integrated or disposed on the same fixed plate, or the detecting unit and the calculating unit may be an integral structure, i.e., the detecting unit 1 can perform detection as well as calculation. Certainly, this is only an alternative embodiment, and the figures do not show the situations of the embodiment accordingly.

Additionally, “fixed tolerance” can be illustrated more clearly here. For example, the fixed tolerance prescribes the “fixed tolerance” of the acceleration in a certain direction as a. When the detecting unit sends the detected vibration data to the calculating unit 9 which calculates that the acceleration in this direction is greater than a, the calculating unit generates the control signal and feeds it back to the main control panel. The fixed tolerance may be understood as a maximum allowable value of one or more vibration data. Certainly, due to difference of the value by which the vibration data exceeds the fixed tolerance, the calculating unit can correspondingly adjust the generated control signal, for example, when the value by which the vibration data exceeds the fixed tolerance is very large, the generated control signal acts upon the main control panel, then the main control panel needs to lower the rotation speed of the motor by 50%; when the value by which the vibration data exceeds the fixed tolerance is very small, the generated control signal acts upon the main control panel, then the main control panel only needs to lower the rotation speed of the motor by 10%. The example is only to facilitate understanding, and the specific value by which the rotation speed of the motor is lowered involved in this example is not intended to limit the present invention.

Through detection of the vibration data in these three directions, the vibration situations of the washing machine can be obtain more fully, and the damper device 3 and the motor 2 may be adjusted and controlled via the main control panel 7 more purposefully to improve the vibration-reducing efficiency of the washing machine.

Meanwhile, a movement trajectory (namely vibration trajectory) of the washing machine can be analyzed from these data. Vibration data in different directions of the movement trajectory are analyzed (the acceleration in the three directions and angular velocity of vibrating around three directions). When the vibration data in any direction exceeds the range of the fixed tolerance, the main control panel 7 adjusts the rotation speed and/or frequency of the motor 2 and the damping magnitude of the damper device 3 in the corresponding direction. It may be appreciated that analysis is performed for vibration data in different directions (at least the above three directions) of the movement trajectory, and that when the vibration data in any direction exceeds the range of the fixed tolerance, the main control panel 7 adjusts the rotation speed and/or frequency of the motor 2 and the damping magnitude of the damper device 3 in the corresponding direction.

Vibration-reducing adjustment is performed for the washing machine when the vibration data in any direction exceeds the tolerance range. Therefore, no matter how the washing machine vibrates, vibration can be detected and adjusted accordingly to efficiently complete vibration reduction and improve the rate of smaller vibration.

In addition to the above parts, the washing machine also comprises a washing machine cabinet 6, a control panel is disposed on the washing machine cabinet 6, a washing machine base 8 is disposed below the washing machine cabinet 6, the washing machine cabinet 6 is connected to the outer drum via the damper device 3, an inner drum 4 of washing machine is disposed around inside the outer drum, and the inner drum 4 of the washing machine is driven by the motor 2. The motor 2 is used as a motive power source, vibration generated upon operation of the motor 2 is transformed into a source of vibration of the washing machine, the inner drum rotates driven by the motor 2, an eccentric load is generated in the interior of the inner drum due to existence of clothes so that the inner drum generates vibration as being submitted to variable load and variable direction eccentricity. Meanwhile, the outer drum 5 also produces vibration due to vibration of the motor 2 and vibration of the inner drum. At this time, the damper device 3 connecting the outer drum to the washing machine cabinet can achieve vibration-reducing effect by changing the damping force. The above damper device 3 may be disposed circumferentially the outer drum of a pulsator washing machine and connects the outer drum to the circumferential wall of the washing machine cabinet 6. The circumferential wall here optionally refers to a wall surface connected to the base 8, and the wall surface enclosures the outer drum in the circumferential direction of the outer drum.

In another aspect, the present invention also provides a vibration-reducing method for a washing machine, comprising: setting a fixed tolerance for washing machine vibration; detecting vibration data of the washing machine; and calculating the vibration data and comparing the vibration data with the fixed tolerance, and when the detected vibration data exceeds the fixed tolerance, adjusting working parameters of the motor and adjusting the damping magnitude of the damper device until the vibration data detected subsequently is maintained within the range of the fixed tolerance. For the sake of easy understanding, referring to FIG. 4, the above method may be described as follows: step 1: setting a fixed tolerance for washing machine vibration; step 2: detecting vibration data of the washing machine; step 3: calculating the vibration data and comparing the vibration data with the fixed tolerance, and proceeding to step 4 when the vibration data exceeds the fixed tolerance; step 4: adjusting working parameters of the motor and adjusting a damping magnitude of the damper device 3 connected to the outer drum 5, and adjusting repeatedly until the vibration data detected subsequently is maintained within the range of the fixed tolerance.

Certainly, the washing machine vibration-reducing method may correspond to the above vibration-reducing washing machine. Hence, as known from above, the detecting subject of the above detecting the vibration data of the washing machine is the detecting unit, the subject of calculating the vibration data and comparing it with the fixed tolerance is the calculating unit; the subject of adjusting the motor and the damper device and other activities is the main control panel.

The vibration data comprise: an angular velocity of rotation in at least one direction when the washing machine vibrates, and/or an acceleration in at least one direction when the washing machine vibrates. Certainly, the above angular velocity and acceleration are not only in one direction. The angular velocity is the angular velocity in three different directions detected by the gyro 12 when the washing machine vibrates, the acceleration is the acceleration in three different directions recorded by the accelerometer 13 when the washing machine vibrates, wherein the three different directions are respectively: a vertical direction and two horizontal directions perpendicular to each other. Certainly, the angular velocity is the angular velocity of rotating around three directions.

In the washing machine vibration-reducing method of the present invention, the washing machine will be adjusted when any one of the above angular velocity in three different directions and acceleration in three different directions exceeds the fixed tolerance. According to the above-mentioned device of the present invention, when any one of the angular velocity of rotating around the above three different directions and acceleration in the above three different directions exceeds the fixed tolerance, the calculating unit 9 generates a control signal and feeds it back to the main control panel and reduces the vibration by adjusting the working parameters of the motor and the damping magnitude.

Referring to FIG. 5, to summarize and describe the above vibration-reducing method, the detecting unit 1 detects the vibration data of the outer drum 5, the calculating unit 9 calculates the vibration data and compares it with the fixed tolerance; when the detected vibration data exceeds the fixed tolerance, the calculating unit generates a control signal and sends it to the main control panel 7, the main control panel adjusts the magnitude of the damping force of the damper device and adjusts the rotation speed and/or frequency of the motor, changes of the magnitude of the damping force of the damper device cause changes to the vibration of the outer drum; meanwhile since the outer drum 5 vibrates due to vibration of the motor 2 and the vibration of the inner drum, changes of rotation speed of the motor and the inner drum will act upon the outer drum to cause changes of vibration of the outer drum. Under joint action of the damper device, the motor and the inner drum, the vibration situations of the outer drum change, whereupon the detecting unit 1 detects the vibration data of the outer drum again. The above method is repeated until the vibration data is maintained in the range of the fixed tolerance.

Vibration of the washing machine can be reduced or eliminated more purposefully in a way of detecting the vibration data during operation of the washing machine and adjusting the damping of the washing machine according to the calculation result of the vibration data via the main control panel 7. Certainly, from the above vibration data can be calculated to obtain information such as a linear acceleration and timeliness orientation angle, etc, and obtain a vibration trajectory of the washing machine. The magnitude of the damping force of the damper device 3 is adjusted according to the information to adjust vibration more purposefully, and therefore efficiently and quickly lower the vibration of the washing machine.

Those skilled in the art all can appreciate that “certainly, from the above vibration data can be calculated to obtain information such as a linear acceleration and timeliness orientation angle, etc, and obtain a vibration trajectory of the washing machine. The magnitude of the damping force of the damper device 3 is adjusted according to these information to adjust vibration more purposefully” mentioned in the preceding text may be understood as calculating to obtain the calculation result according to the vibration data, and comparing the calculation result with the fixed tolerance to obtain the control signal to adjust the working parameters of the motor and adjust the damping magnitude of the damper device. The above “information such as a linear acceleration and timeliness orientation angle, etc” is the calculation result. Those skilled in the art may appreciate that the calculation result may also comprise conventional parameters such as amplitude or distance or the like that characterize a vibration degree in the technical field of vibration measurement. A method of calculating an amplitude by using the acceleration and angular velocity of the vibration data is known well by those skilled in the art.

Those skilled in the art can all appreciate that according to the present invention, the calculation result obtained from the vibration data is compared with the fixed tolerance, and when the calculation result exceeds the fixed tolerance, the working parameters of the motor are adjusted and the damping magnitude of the damper device is adjusted until a calculation result obtained by calculating from subsequently-detected vibration data is maintained within the range of the fixed tolerance.

The washing machine vibration-reducing method in the present invention corresponds to the above vibration-reducing washing machine, and therefore will not be described in detail in the description.

In the present embodiment, the pulsator washing machine is described as an example, wherein the motor is mounted at the bottom of the outer drum. The bottom here refers to a bottom of the pulsator washing machine when placed on the horizontal surface and used. The above-mentioned detecting unit may be also mounted at the bottom of the outer drum to detect the vibration data of the washing machine more accurately and quickly.

Embodiment 2

Corresponding to Embodiment 1, a roller washing machine is described as an example in Embodiment 2. Referring to FIG. 2, different from Embodiment 1, the mounting positions of the motor 2 and detecting unit 1 disposed on the roller washing machine both vary accordingly. In the roller washing machine, a rotation axis of a rotation shaft of the motor 2 is different from the pulsator washing machine. Although the motor is mounted at the bottom of the outer drum, the direction of the bottom of the outer drum here is different from the direction of the bottom of the outer drum of the pulsator washing machine. Briefly, the rotation shaft of the motor mounted at the bottom of the outer drum in the pulsator washing machine is perpendicular to the horizontal surface and the bottom of the outer drum is close to the ground surface; but the rotation shaft of the motor of the roller washing machine in the present embodiment may be parallel to the horizontal surface, with the bottom of the outer drum being close to the rear wall of the washing machine.

In the present embodiment, the mounting position of the damper device 3 may be adjusted accordingly. The damper device further functions to support tubs (at least including an inner drum and an outer drum of the washing machine) in the direction of gravity. Therefore, the damper device needs to be disposed on an underside (close to the ground surface) of the outer drum and connected to fixed portions of the washing machine. The connected portions here also comprise a base (not shown in FIG. 2) of the washing machine. Certainly, the damper device may be disposed at other positions in the circumferential direction of the outer drum. Optionally, regardless of the type of washing machine in embodiments, the damper devices may be arranged around the circumferential direction of the outer drum and may be hydraulic dampers. In the present embodiment, the damper devices are arranged around the circumferential direction of the outer drum, so the damper device are connected to the outer drum as well as to the base, a top cover and two sidewalls surrounding the outer drum together with the base and the top cover in the circumferential direction of the outer drum.

Certainly, the arrangement manners of the damper devices 3 are not limited to the above mounting manners, and mounting manners that can achieve a vibration-reducing effect for the washing machine, particularly for the outer drum of the washing machine can all be used for the present invention.

The two embodiments may be identical in other aspects.

Although the present invention and its advantageous have been described in detail, it should be understood that various modification, substitution and change may be made without departing from the spirit and scope defined by the appended claims of the present invention. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments of the procedure, apparatus, means, method and steps described in the present specification. Those skilled in the art will understand, from the disclosure of the present invention, the procedure, apparatus, means, method or steps existing or to be developed in the future, which perform the basically same functions as the corresponding embodiment described herein or obtain the basically same results as the corresponding embodiment, may be used in the present invention. Therefore, the appended claims intend to cover such procedure, apparatus, means, method and steps in the scope thereof.

Finally, it shall be noted that, although the present invention and its advantageous have been described in detail, it should be understood that various modification, substitution and change may be made without departing from the spirit and scope defined by the appended claims of the present invention. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments of the procedure, apparatus, means, method and steps described in the present specification. Those skilled in the art will understand, from the disclosure of the present invention, the procedure, apparatus, means, method or steps existing or to be developed in the future, which perform the basically same functions as the corresponding embodiment described herein or obtain the basically same results as the corresponding embodiment, may be used in the present invention. Therefore, the appended claims intend to cover such procedure, apparatus, means, method and steps in the scope thereof.

Claims

1. A vibration-reducing washing machine, comprising: an outer drum, a cabinet, a motor, a main control panel, a damper device, and a vibration detection and control module fixed to the washing machine and connected to the main control panel, wherein the vibration detection and control module is configured to detect and calculate vibration data of the washing machine and generate a control signal.

2. The vibration-reducing washing machine according to claim 1, wherein

the vibration detection and control module comprises a detecting unit and a calculating unit;
the detecting unit is fixed on the washing machine and used to detect the vibration data of the washing machine during operation of the washing machine;
the calculating unit is connected to the detecting unit and the main control panel and used to calculate the vibration data detected by the detecting unit, compare the vibration data with a fixed tolerance, and generate the control signal when the vibration data exceeds the fixed tolerance.

3. The vibration-reducing washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the main control panel is connected to the damper device and the motor, and configured to respond to the control signal generated by the calculating unit, adjust working parameters of the motor and adjust a damping magnitude of the damper device until the vibration data compared and calculated by the calculating unit is maintained within a range of the fixed tolerance.

4. The vibration-reducing washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the detecting unit is specifically configured to detect the vibration data in at least one direction during operation of the washing machine, and the vibration data comprises angular velocity and acceleration.

5. The vibration-reducing washing machine according to claim 4, wherein

the detecting unit comprises a gyro and an accelerometer, wherein the gyro is used to detect the angular velocity of rotating around three directions during operation of the washing machine, and the accelerometer is used to detect acceleration in three directions during operation of the washing machine; and
the three directions are respectively: vertical direction, and two horizontal directions perpendicular to each other.

6. The vibration-reducing washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the damper device is a magneto-rheological damper.

7. A washing machine vibration-reducing method based on the vibration-reducing washing machine according to claim 1, comprising:

setting a fixed tolerance for washing machine vibration;
detecting vibration data of the washing machine;
calculating the vibration data and comparing the vibration data with the fixed tolerance, and when the detected vibration data exceeds the fixed tolerance, adjusting working parameters of the motor and adjusting a damping magnitude of the damper device until the vibration data detected subsequently is maintained within the range of the fixed tolerance.

8. The washing machine vibration-reducing method according to claim 7, wherein the vibration data comprise: an angular velocity of rotation in at least one direction when the washing machine vibrates, and/or an acceleration in at least one direction when the washing machine vibrates.

9. The washing machine vibration-reducing method according to claim 8, wherein the angular velocity is the angular velocity in three different directions detected by the gyro when the washing machine vibrates, the acceleration is the acceleration in three different directions recorded by the accelerometer when the washing machine vibrates, wherein the three different directions are respectively: a vertical direction and two horizontal directions perpendicular to each other.

10. The washing machine vibration-reducing method according to claim 9, wherein when the angular velocity in any one direction of the above three different directions or acceleration in any one of three different directions exceeds the fixed tolerance, adjusting working parameters of the motor and adjusting a damping magnitude of the damper device until the vibration data detected subsequently is maintained within the range of the fixed tolerance.

11. The vibration-reducing washing machine according to claim 1, wherein

the vibration detection and control module comprises a detecting unit and a calculating unit;
the detecting unit is fixed on the washing machine and used to detect the vibration data of the washing machine during operation of the washing machine;
the calculating unit is connected to the detecting unit and the main control panel and used to calculate according to the vibration data to obtain a calculation result, compare the calculation result with a fixed tolerance, and generate the control signal when the calculation result exceeds the fixed tolerance.

12. The vibration-reducing washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the main control panel is connected to the damper device and the motor, and configured to respond to the control signal generated by the calculating unit, adjust working parameters of the motor and adjust a damping magnitude of the damper device until the calculation result is maintained within the range of the fixed tolerance.

13. The vibration-reducing washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the detecting unit is specifically configured to detect the vibration data in at least one direction during operation of the washing machine, and the vibration data comprises an angular velocity and acceleration.

14. The vibration-reducing washing machine according to claim 13, wherein

the detecting unit comprises a gyro and an accelerometer, wherein the gyro is used to detect the angular velocity of rotating around three directions during operation of the washing machine, and the accelerometer is used to detect acceleration in three directions during operation of the washing machine;
the three directions are respectively: vertical direction, and two horizontal directions perpendicular to each other.

15. The vibration-reducing washing machine according to claim 13, wherein the calculation result comprises an amplitude.

16. The vibration-reducing washing machine according to claim 12, wherein the damper device is a magneto-rheological damper.

17. A washing machine vibration-reducing method, comprising:

setting a fixed tolerance for washing machine vibration;
detecting vibration data of the washing machine;
calculating the vibration data to obtain a calculation result, and comparing the calculation result with the fixed tolerance, and when the calculation result exceeds the fixed tolerance, adjusting working parameters of the motor and adjusting a damping magnitude of the damper device until a calculation result obtained by calculating from subsequently-detected vibration data is maintained within a range of the fixed tolerance.

18. The washing machine vibration-reducing method according to claim 17, wherein the vibration data comprise: an angular velocity of rotation in at least one direction when the washing machine vibrates, and/or an acceleration in at least one direction when the washing machine vibrates.

19. The washing machine vibration-reducing method according to claim 18, wherein the angular velocity is the angular velocity in three different directions detected by a gyro when the washing machine vibrates, the acceleration is the acceleration in three different directions recorded by an accelerometer when the washing machine vibrates, wherein the three different directions are respectively: a vertical direction and two horizontal directions perpendicular to each other.

20. The washing machine vibration-reducing method according to claim 19, wherein when a calculation result obtained by calculating from the angular velocity in any one direction of the above three different directions or acceleration in any one of three different directions exceeds the fixed tolerance, adjusting working parameters of the motor and adjusting a damping magnitude of the damper device until a calculation result obtained by calculating from subsequently-detected vibration data is maintained within the range of the fixed tolerance.

Patent History
Publication number: 20160312394
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 18, 2014
Publication Date: Oct 27, 2016
Inventors: Shuchun Wang (Qingdao, Shandong), Donghui Teng (Qingdao, Shandong), Cheng Huang (Qingdao, Shandong), Dong Li (Qingdao, Shandong), Guangchao Guan (Qingdao, Shandong)
Application Number: 15/102,774
Classifications
International Classification: D06F 37/20 (20060101); D06F 37/22 (20060101); D06F 37/24 (20060101);