Abstract: A damper includes: a cylinder; a piston rod disposed to be movable linearly in the cylinder; and a plurality of damping members installed between the cylinder and the piston rod, and generating a damping force by multi-stage so that when a vibration transmitted from the cylinder to the piston rod or from the piston rod to the cylinder is big, a strong damping force is generated, whereas when a vibration is small, a weak damping force is generated. A damping force is generated by stages depending on a displacement of a vibration transferred from the cylinder to the piston or from the piston to the cylinder. If a small amount of vibration is transferred, a weak damping force is generated, whereas if a large amount of vibration is transferred, a strong damping force is generated. Accordingly, a vibration damping performance can be improved.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for controlling a driving of a drum type washing machine preventing vibration and noise of a drum, reducing a usage of washing water, and reducing rinse time, and an apparatus thereof. To this end, the drum is rotated with a preset equilibrium speed faster than a speed that vibration of the drum is excessively generated accordingly as a rotation speed of the drum is decreased when a dewatering process of laundry is completed, and washing water is supplied into the drum type washing machine while maintaining the drum as the preset equilibrium speed.

Abstract: In the context of a single-phase universal motor, which has proven its worth in particular as an agile washing machine drive, the novel control provides for a substantial reduction in the remagnetization losses, rotary speed dependency, level of efficiency, and the fluctuations in the motor current pulsating at double the mains frequency, together with the resulting losses and production of noise in particular because of torque fluctuations and electromagnetically excited oscillations of the stator iron core. The motor is no longer operated by way of the phase-angle control, which is synchronized with the mains frequency, of a pulse-fired triac which is self-turning off with the current zero crossing and also no longer operated by way of the pulse duty factor of a chopper oscillating freely at high frequency.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet for forming an appearance; a tub fixed to an inner side of the cabinet and for storing washing water; a drum rotatably arranged in the tub for washing and dehydrating laundry; and a driving motor positioned at a rear side of the drum for generating a driving force by which the drum is rotated. The washing machine can increase washing capacity with maintaining an entire size thereof by increasing a diameter of the drum without increasing a size of the cabinet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gasket and drum type washing machine using the same. The present invention includes a cabinet having a first opening through which a laundry is put in at a cabinet front side wherein a door is installed to open/close the first opening, a tub installed in the cabinet to have a second opening at a tub front side corresponding to the first opening, a drum installed in the tub to have a third opening at a drum front side corresponding to the second opening, a rotation mans having a rotational shaft penetrating a rear side of the tub to be connected to the drum, and a gasket for preventing leakage of water.

Abstract: A washing machine having a dual-purpose sensor capable of detecting a degree of vibration generated during a dewatering step as well as measuring detergent levels present in the water. The washing machine having a sensor unit installed with respect to an outer tub for holding water. The washing machine includes a microcomputer having an input port receiving an applied voltage, the input port electrically connected to a supply voltage; first and second electrodes, installed so as to be submerged in the water of the outer tub, wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to the supply voltage and the second electrode is electrically connected to ground, to thereby generate the applied voltage for input to the input port of the microcomputer; a spherical conductor disposed adjacent to the electrodes; and a support for supporting the spherical conductor.

Abstract: A washing machine control method and a washing machine using the same are provided, by which the performance of a dewatering step is unimpeded and vibration and noise are prevented. The method includes steps of executing a dewatering step; accelerating a motor to rotate a drum, according to a predetermined rate, in response to the dewatering execution step; detecting, if the predetermined rate exceeds a first value but is less than a second value, whether a state of vibration exists with respect to the drum rotated according to the predetermined rate; and stopping the motor if the detected state of vibration exists. The method preferably includes steps of detecting an eccentricity value with respect to the drum rotated according to the predetermined rate; and comparing the detected eccentricity value to a reference eccentricity value stored in a lookup table.

Abstract: The invention provides a washing machine (10) operable even in the presence of a great eccentric load and exhibiting an outstanding vibration attenuating effect by suppressing eccentricity even if laundry in a drum (30) is in an unbalanced position. The washing machine (10) comprises an inner drum (30) having a rotatably supported axis and a closed wall at at least one end thereof, and a plurality of liquid holding boxes (35) provided on the closed wall of the inner drum (30) externally thereof and each having an opening facing toward the axis. The periphery of the inner drum (30) is provided with hollow liquid holding tubes (37) communicating with the respective liquid holding boxes (35).

Abstract: A washing machine having and using a dynamic absorber is disclosed. The washing machine includes a fixing member being provided at a bottom of an outer tub in the washing machine for storing wash water and an dynamic absorption member being extended from an outer surface of the fixing member, oscillating by vibration transmitted to the outer tub during rotation of an inner tub and having fixed mass and stiffness so as to absorb vibration of the outer tub. And, the dynamic absorption member includes a extension member extended from the outer surface of the fixing member to a radius direction and an mass member provided at outer end of the extension member.

Abstract: A drum washing machine is disclosed, in which a damper is not directly fixed to a cabinet but has an elastic member as an intermediate to be fixed to the cabinet. Accordingly, vibrations of the damper are absorbed to vibrations of the elastic member without being directly delivered to the cabinet and also, during transient vibration of the drum, the damper acts to attenuate the transient vibration as the amplitude of the elastic member is limited by the action of the upper and lower limiters.

Abstract: A drum washing machine includes an outer cabinet, a water tub disposed in the outer cabinet, a generally drum-shaped rotating tub rotatably mounted in the water tub, and an elastic support mechanism mounted inside the outer cabinet for elastically supporting the rotating tub. The elastic support mechanism includes an oil damper further including a cylinder and a predetermined amount of damping oil contained in the cylinder, and a coil spring having two ends and mounted outside the cylinder so that a central axis of the coil spring substantially corresponds with a central axis of the cylinder.

Abstract: A drawer-type washing machine and process of washing laundry using the washing machine is disclosed. The washing machine has a housing opened at its front to form a cavity. A cabinet, opened at its top, is received in the cavity of the housing such that the cabinet is movable forward or backward relative to the housing. A washing tub unit, consisting of an outer tub and an inner tub, is set within the cabinet. This washing tub unit contains washing water therein, and carries out both a washing operation and a spin-drying operation for laundry contained therein. A drive unit is installed at a position under the outer tub of the washing tub unit, and rotates the inner tub of the washing tub unit. A suspension unit supports the washing tub unit within the cabinet while performing a damping function of attenuating operational vibrations of the washing tub unit.

Abstract: A laundry appliance, such as a washing machine, comprises a drum for receiving a load of articles to be laundered. The drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions and a drive which can rotate the drum portions relative to one another. A controller causes the appliance to perform a laundering cycle which includes a spin cycle in which the drum is rotated at high speed. Before the spin cycle, the controller detects whether there is an imbalance of the load in the drum and, in the event of an imbalance, the controller causes the appliance to redistribute the load by causing the drive rotate the drum portions relative to one another. In the event of a continued imbalance, the controller can repeat the redistribute operation or it can limit the spin speed during the spin cycle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling device (19) for coupling a frictional damper with a middle longitudinal axis (21), which is coupled to an oscillatory washing unit with a drum axis, to a machine frame of a washing machine with a spin gear. The coupling device has a first bending axis, which runs vertically to the central longitudinal axis (21) and parallel to the drum axis, a second bending axis (33) which runs vertically to the central longitudinal axis (21) and to the first bending axis and intersects both at one point, a first connecting element for connecting the coupling device (19) to the frictional damper, a second connecting element for connecting the coupling device (19) to the machine frame and a spring element (24) that is located between the first connecting element and the second connecting element and is connected to both, the flexural strength of the coupling device (19) about the second bending axis (33) being greater than the flexural strength about the first bending axis.

Abstract: A method for identifying resonance in a rotating system, wherein the rotating system includes sensors and sensor measurements thereof whose responses to control actions is utilized to represent the rotating system through a control model is disclosed. The control model determines actions required to balance the system (i.e., to drive sensor measurements to zero). The current state of the system is evaluated and recorded by obtaining current sensor readings from at least one sensor associated with the rotating device. The system model can then be used with at least one current sensor reading to calculate at least one predicted sensor reading due to changes in rotational speed of the rotating system. After changing the speed of the rotating system new sensor readings can be obtained and recorded.

Abstract: Washing machine having a drum (4) inclined to the horizontal and supported by a suspension system including a first, lenear suspension unit (1, 2) inclined at an angle substantially normal to the axis of the drum (4), and a second suspension unit (3) generally parallel to the axis of the drum (4).

Abstract: A cabinet for a washing machine including a vibration-proof plate attached to the front panel to reduce vibrations. A recess is provided to the vibration-proof plate's lower part, and a recess is formed on the front panel's lower part corresponding to the recess of the plate. A plurality of screw holes are each provided to upper and lower ends of the respective vibration-proof plate and front panel, and the vibration-proof plate is screw attached to the front panel. The vibration-proof plate has a plurality of hooks that are provided on both sides of its inner surface, and the front panel has a plurality of mating hook holes that are provided on both sides thereof so that the vibration-proof plate is more firmly attached to the front panel. The overall vibration-proof plate is convex to the outside, and at least one vibration-absorbing member is attached to the inner surface of the vibration-proof plate, thus contacting the front panel.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a washing machine having a simple-structured mechanism for correcting the balance of the drum. In an embodiment of the present invention, plural water-holding chambers are located at the back of the drum around the rotation axis. The water-holding chamber has an opening for introducing water from a water discharge port 15. At the start of an extracting operation, all the water-holding chambers are emptied by rotating the drum at low speed. After that, when the eccentric load due to an uneven distribution of the laundry is greater than an upper limit value, the drum is rotated at a preset speed and a water supply valve is opened. Thus, the water from the water discharge port 15 is supplied into all the water-holding chambers, and the water is held in the water-holding chamber by the centrifugal force.

Abstract: Method for controlling washing during spinning in a tilt-type washing machine for attenuation of vibration, including (a) a main rotation step for exerting a centrifugal force to the laundry gathered to a center of the inner tub for spreading the laundry to an inside wall of the inner tub before the water discharging step, (b) a laundry disentangle alternately rotating step for alternately rotating the inner tub for a preset times to disentangle the laundry spread to the inside wall of the inner tub, and (c) a supplementary rotating step for rotating the inner tub at a preset RPM to keep the laundry in the tilted inner tub spread evenly during the water discharge step, or alternatively (a) a laundry disentangle alternately rotating step for alternately rotating the inner tub to eliminate the eccentricity of the laundry in the inner tub before the water discharge step, and (b) a determining step either for carrying out a control pattern to eliminate the eccentricity of the laundry if the eccentricity of the la

Abstract: A suspension apparatus of a washing machine which supports a washing tub in a suspended state in a casing of the washing machine is disclosed. The suspension apparatus includes suspension rods supporting the washing tub in the casing in a suspended state, damper bases installed at the lower ends of the suspension rods, damping force changing members fitted around the suspension rods so as to be compressed according to the variations in load of the washing tub and change the damping force, and elastic members installed between the damping force changing members and the damper bases. Since the damping force of the suspension apparatus is changed according to a washing load generated by the washing tub during the operation of the washing machine, vibrations and noises of the washing tub can be minimized.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and device for detecting an imbalance condition in a rotating washing machine tub. An indication of a power level required to maintain a given washing machine rotation speed is compared to a predefined standard power level associated with the given rotation speed, and a tub imbalance condition is detected in response to the comparison. The predefined standard power level may be stored in a memory device accessible by a processor that is programmed to calculate the power level required to achieve the given washing machine rotation speed and compare the required power level to the predefined standard power level to detect the tub imbalance condition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine with a tilted washing tub. The washing machine includes a casing on the rear portion of which an opening is formed. The opening is covered with a rear cover provided with an outward protrusion. A washing tub consists of outer and inner tubs. The outer tub is positioned in the casing to be tilted forward at a predetermined angle for containing washing water. The inner tub is positioned in the outer tub for washing and spin-drying laundry. Drive means is positioned under the outer tub to rotate the outer tub.

Abstract: A washing machine with a tilted tub assembly is disclosed. In the washing machine, the tub assembly is suspended and supported within an upright housing at a predetermined angle relative to the perpendicular of the housing. The tilted position of the tub assembly within the housing is stably held by damper hangers, shock absorbing units and/or elastic support units. The tilted tub assembly is convenient to users while putting or taking laundry into or out of the tub assembly. The tilted tub assembly also forms complex and active water currents suitable for preventing laundry from being entangled during a washing operation. The washing effect of the washing machine is thus improved with a reduced deviation of the washing effect. The washing machine almost completely prevents its drive motor from being overloaded and conserves the operational time while washing laundry. This saves water and electric power during a washing operation.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting an imbalance condition in a rotating washing machine tub includes receiving an indication of the actual tub rotation speed, comparing the actual tub rotation speed to a predetermined desired rotation speed to calculate a speed error, and determining maximum and minimum speed errors. The difference between the maximum and minimum speed error is calculated, and a tub imbalance condition is detected based at least in part on the calculated difference. In one embodiment, the speed error is input to a controller that produces an output used to minimize the absolute speed error. The difference between the minimum and maximum controller output is then used to determine tub imbalance. In another aspect of the invention, the method and system include receiving an indication of a power level required to achieve a given washing machine rotation speed and comparing the required power level to a predefined standard power level associated with the given rotation speed.