Including Counterbalance Patents (Class 68/23.2)
  • Patent number: 11976403
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub, rotatable drum, at least one transmitter coil, at least one ring shaped housing on the drum perimeter and having an annular channel therein and at least one balancing unit disposed in the channel. The balancing unit has a receiver coil configured to receive wireless power from the transmitter coil and an actuator powered by the receiver coil, a sensing element to detect a position of the balancing unit in the housing, a balancing control unit configured to control the positioning of the balancing unit by driving the transmitter coil to send power to the receiver coil to operate the actuator on a friction force element to change the friction between the housing and the balancing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Antonio Chiriatti
  • Patent number: 11781616
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet. A rotating drum is positioned within the cabinet. A blower directs process air through an airflow path. The airflow path includes the drum. A motor is coupled to the cabinet via a retaining bracket. The motor includes a drive shaft operably coupled to one of the drum and the blower. A damping ring is positioned about the drive shaft and between the motor and the retaining bracket. Damping apertures are defined within a body of the damping ring. The damping apertures define respective voids that absorb operational vibrations generated by the motor in an activated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew E. Borgerson, Eduardo Abraham Lopez, Pushpendra Prakash Mahajan, Amit A. Nikam
  • Patent number: 11697900
    Abstract: A laundry apparatus includes an exterior housing, a tub, one or more tub mounts rigidly mounting the tub to the exterior housing, a drum positioned within the tub and rotatable relative to the tub, a control unit, a motor, one or more load imbalance sensors, and a dynamic balancing assembly. The motor is communicatively coupled to the control unit and operatively coupled to the drum. The one or more load imbalance sensors are communicatively coupled to the control unit and configured to output a load imbalance signal to the control unit, the load imbalance signal being indicative of a load imbalance within the drum. The dynamic balancing assembly is includes one or more counterweight devices configured to be orbited about the primary rotation axis to counteract a detected load imbalance in the drum. The tub is unsupported by any displaceable suspension members extending between the tub and the exterior housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Clifford Theodore Papsdorf
  • Patent number: 11377774
    Abstract: A drum washing machine and a spraying system and a sealed window gasket. The drum washing machine includes a box, an outer barrel and an inner barrel that are arranged from outside to inside, the sealed window gasket is arranged between the box and the outer barrel. The spraying system includes a circulating pump, a water retaining structure and water spraying pipes, a water inlet of the circulating pump extends into the outer barrel, and a water outlet of the circulating pump is in communication with the p water spraying pipes; the water spraying pipes are all arranged on the sealed window gasket; and the water retaining structure is arranged inside the sealed window gasket, and the water retaining structure is provided such that washing water sprayed from each water spraying pipe can be scattered and reflected into the inner barrel. Thus, maintenance and installation are simpler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD., Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Peishi Lv, Sheng Xu, Zhiqiang Zhao, Xinyu Zhao
  • Patent number: 11365502
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine having an outer casing, a washing tub, a rotatable drum and at least one balancing ring rigidly secured to the drum for reducing vibrations thereof. The balancing ring comprises an annular housing rigidly secured to the drum, an internal closed annular inner cavity, and balancing masses in free movable manner inside the annular inner cavity. The annular housing has first and second discrete and complementary annular hemishells that are joined to one another to form the annular inner cavity. The annular hemishells are substantially coplanar and concentric to one another, and have approximately C-shaped cross sections that are substantially complementary to one another. The hemishells are joined to one another along corresponding first and second mating annular rims, which are arranged on opposite sides of a given intermediate plane perpendicular to the central axis of the annular housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Inventors: Igor Colin, Marcin Lorenc, Diana Moruzzi, Ashish Gupta, Rukesh Narayanan K R
  • Patent number: 11365503
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine having an outer casing, a washing tub, a rotatable drum and at least one balancing ring rigidly secured to the rotatable drum. The at least one balancing ring includes a substantially toroidal, annular housing that is rigidly secured to the drum, and has a tubular structure so as to delimit a closed annular inner cavity. A number of balancing masses are accommodated in movable manner inside the annular inner cavity, preferably together with a damping liquid. The annular housing has a substantially frustoconical outer wall segment that is inclined by an angle (?) lower than 90° with respect to the midplane (P) of the annular housing, and a peripheral supporting structure that juts out outwardly from the substantially frustoconical outer wall segment to stably abut against the body of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Inventors: Igor Colin, Marcin Lorenc, Diana Moruzzi, Ashish Gupta, Rukesh Narayanan K R
  • Patent number: 11274389
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a top load washing machine having excellent functions while saving water. The washing machine may include a housing having a drain path installed at the bottom, a water collecting tub supported on the housing in the inside of the housing, and a rotating tub rotating on a shaft extending vertically in the inside of the water collecting tub. The rotating tub may include an outlet opening to the lower portion of a body member that can store water independently from the water collecting tub. The water collecting tub may include a first drain hole opening to the inside space of the water collecting tub, and a second drain hole communicating with the outlet. The drain path may include a first path connected to the first drain hole, and a second path connected to the second drain hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Uetsuhara, Takehiero Nakanishi, Minsu Kim, Shigeki Hayashi, Shin Kagami, Tomoyuki Okuno, Toshihiro Kamii
  • Patent number: 11261556
    Abstract: A washing machine includes an inner barrel and an outer barrel which are arranged in a washing machine shell. A suspension damping piece and a support damping piece are both connected between the washing machine shell and the outer barrel. The suspension damping piece suspends the outer barrel in the washing machine shell and the support damping piece supports the outer barrel. The support damping piece and the suspension damping piece work together to reduce the shaking of the inner barrel and the outer barrel. The washing machine includes various kinds of damping pieces which are installed to realize mutual coordination and cooperative shock absorption, so that the vibration of the washing machine in all directions can be reduced. Also, the probability that the barrel assembly hits the washing machine shell in the washing process can be greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinghui Hao, Sheng Xu, Yanfen Lv, Di Wu, Peishi Lv
  • Patent number: 11174895
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a drivetrain of a wind turbine includes at least one shaft having a circumferential outer surface and a bearing secured circumferentially around the circumferential outer surface of the shaft(s). Further, the bearing assembly includes an elastomer support arranged on at least one of an inner surface or an outer surface of the bearing. The elastomer support is constructed, at least in part, of an elastomeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas Krauss
  • Patent number: 11174585
    Abstract: Provided is a washing machine including a rib extending outward from a central portion of a rear portion of a tub. One end of the rib is provided adjacent to the central portion of the tub, the other end of the rib is provided adjacent to an outer side of the tub, and since a width of the one end of the rib is greater than a width of the other end of the rib, thereby maintaining efficient rigidity against stress generated in the rear portion of the tub. Further, in order to secure rigidity against stress due to vibrations generated by a driving motor, an additional rib is included between a side to which the driving motor is coupled and the outer side of the tub, thereby efficiently maintaining rigidity against additional stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Hee Lee, Jeong Hoon Kang, Min Sung Kim, Ji Hoon Choi, Kwan Woo Hong
  • Patent number: 11168428
    Abstract: An apparatus for a laundry treating appliance can include a tub carrying a first basket defining a first treating chamber. A removable basket assembly can be included in the laundry treating appliance selectively carried at least partially within the first basket. A portion of the second basket can be sloped complementary to a portion of the second basket or a portion of the second basket in order to form a liquid-tight seal between the first basket and the second basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joao Arthur Pazzin Curiel, Dailor Moreno Barberis Alves Lima, Fernando Raiss Martins, Mauro R. Ushizima, Eduardo Luis Violin
  • Patent number: 11124913
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a leveling device, a washing machine with the leveling device and controlling method thereof. The leveling device comprises a hydraulic support, the hydraulic support comprises: a fix section, installed on a bottom of the household appliance; a movable adjustment section, sleeved with the fix section and moving axially relative to the fix section; an accommodate chamber for containing a hydraulic medium is arranged between the fix section and the movable adjustment section; at least two hydraulic supports connected by a communication device, depending on the pressure changing, the hydraulic medium flows between the hydraulic supports, and drives the movable adjustment section using pressure to move axially direction for leveling under the pressure; a sensor connecting port for connecting a pressure sensor is arranged at the hydraulic supports and/or on the communication device, and the hydraulic medium is allowed to flow through the sensor connecting port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD., QINGDAO HAIER SMART TECHNOLOGY R&D CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhiqiang Zhao
  • Patent number: 11035065
    Abstract: A laundry processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a cabinet; a tub, arranged in the interior of the cabinet, for storing laundry water; longitudinal dampers connecting the cabinet and tub and supporting the tub as same hangs from the cabinet; upper transverse dampers, connecting the upper part of the tub and cabinet, for reducing the horizontal vibration for the tub; and lower transverse dampers, connecting the lower part of the tub and cabinet, for reducing the horizontal vibration for the tub. The laundry processing apparatus according to the present invention allows the transverse dampers coupled structures, and when vibration occurs, the transverse dampers dampen the horizontal vibration and mitigates the vertical vibration through relative motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Insik Yu, Youngjong Kim, Youngjun Kim
  • Patent number: 10988884
    Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus is provided. The clothes treating apparatus may include a drum having a locking tab formed by cutting a portion of an outer circumferential surface to be bendable inward towards an interior of the drum, and a balancer having a fastener that protrudes from the outer circumferential surface to hold the locking tab. The locking tab may be configured to be pushed inward towards the interior of the drum in order to be locked in the fastener and to restrict movement of the balancer in a forward or backward direction of the drum as the drum rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Byeongheon Kwak, Jinwoong Kim, Hyunseok Seo
  • Patent number: 10774456
    Abstract: A laundry processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a cabinet; a tub, arranged in the interior of the cabinet, for storing laundry water; longitudinal dampers connecting the cabinet and tub and supported on supporting ends on the tub, and supporting the tub as same hangs from the cabinet; upper guide pins fixed to the upper parts of the cabinet and extending vertically with respect to the supporting ends; upper transverse dampers, connecting the upper guide pins and tub and vertically movable along the upper guide pins, for reducing the horizontal vibration for the tub; lower guide pins fixed to the lower parts of the cabinet and extending vertically with respect to the supporting ends; and lower transverse dampers, connecting the lower guide pins and tub and vertically movable along the lower guide pins, for reducing the horizontal vibration for the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Insik Yu, Youngjong Kim, Youngjun Kim
  • Patent number: 10513813
    Abstract: A laundry treating machine is provided. The laundry treating machine may include a tub to receive wash water, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, an air supply device to supply air to the tub, a lint filter to filter lint from the air circulated by the air supply device, a filter cleaning device to supply cleaning water to the lint filter to remove the lint from the lint filter, and a cooling water supply device to supply cooling water to an inner surface of the tub such that moisture contained in air is condensed at the inner surface of the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Youngjin Doh, Jihong Lee, Hong Namgoong, Kyuhwan Lee
  • Patent number: 10260191
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for balancing a machine with a rotary drum, the device comprising at least one balancing ring (20) for mounting coaxially on the rotary drum, which ring presents an inside space (51) subdivided into a plurality of distinct channels (52), said channels (52) extending around the axis of said balancing ring over its entire circumference. According to the invention, at least a portion of the channels (52) each present in at least one direction an inside dimension (b) that is not zero and less than or equal to 3 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: AMNC INNOVATIONS
    Inventor: Ali Messaoudi
  • Patent number: 10240273
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laundry treatment apparatus including a balancer capable of active control. The laundry treatment apparatus includes a cabinet 1 with a laundry feeding hole formed therein, a tub 10 provided within the cabinet and for holding washing water, a drum 20 rotatably installed around a rotation axis which may be forward inclined within the tub for holding laundry, a driving unit 30 to rotate the drum, a balancer 110 disposed in the drum and having an internal space therein, wherein water is selectively introduced into the internal space of the balancer when the drum is rotated, a centrifugal channel device 140a disposed on the backside of the drum, rotated along with the drum, and having an opening portion formed toward a back direction so that water is supplied to the opening portion and guided into the internal space of the balancer, and a nozzle 180 disposed at the back of the drum, spaced apart from the drum, to spray water toward the opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Mingyu Jo, Sungmin Kim, Seungjoon Kim, Seungchul Park
  • Patent number: 10202718
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a laundry treatment apparatus including balancers. The laundry treatment apparatus includes a cabinet 1 with a laundry feeding hole formed therein, a tub 10 provided within the cabinet and for holding washing water, a drum 20 installed within the tub for holding laundry, a driving unit to rotate the drum, a plurality of balancers 110 each having an internal space formed in the balancer in which water is received, the plurality of balancers spaced apart from each other on the circumference of the drum, and an inflow channel device 140 to selectively guide water from the outside of the drum to the internal spaces of the plurality of balancers when the drum is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Mingyu Jo, Hyoungmin Sim, Seungjoon Kim, Seungchul Park
  • Patent number: 9994988
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine having an improved balancing function. The washing machine includes a cabinet, a drum disposed in the cabinet to be rotatable, a balancer installed at the drum to offset an unbalanced load generated at the drum when the drum is rotated, and at least one magnetic body disposed between the balancer and the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Sung Kim, Jeong Hoon Kang, Dong Ha Jung
  • Patent number: 9990333
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system or method for kinematically synchronizing uncoupled, dissimilar rotational systems pertain to modeling a first rotational system using an equation of motion to obtain a first system model, modeling a second rotational system that is physically dissimilar to the first rotational system using the equation of motion to obtain a second system model, and matching kinematic matching coefficients of the equations of motion for the first and second system models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Kyle B. Reed, Ismet Handzic
  • Patent number: 9803308
    Abstract: A balancer includes a balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein, at least one mass movably disposed in the channel, and at least one magnet coupled to one side of the balancer housing to restrain movement of the mass along the channel when rotational speed of a drum of the washing machine is within a predetermined range. The magnet includes a plurality of unit magnets arranged in a circumferential direction of the balancer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Hoon Kang, Min Sung Kim, Dong Ha Jung, Doo Young Ryu
  • Patent number: 9790631
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably arranged within the cabinet, an annular recess provided in the drum, and a balancer to offset an unbalanced load caused within the drum during rotation of the drum. The balancer includes a balancer housing mounted to the recess and has an annular channel therein, at least one mass movably disposed in the channel, and at least one ball disposed between the balancer housing and the mass to generate rolling motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Ha Jung, Jeong Hoon Kang, Min Sung Kim, Doo Young Rou
  • Patent number: 9765466
    Abstract: A balancer of a washing machine having improved balancing performance. The balancer includes a balancer housing having an annular channel therein, at least one mass movably disposed in the channel at least one groove recessed in an inner surface of the balancer housing so as to accommodate the mass, and at least one magnet coupled to an outer surface of the balancer housing to restrict the mass accommodated in the groove when an RPM of the drum is within a specific RPM range. The magnet is configured as a plurality of N poles and S poles which are arranged alternately, and the outermost pole of the magnet among the plural N poles and S poles has a relatively shorter length than another adjacent pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Hoon Kang, Dong Ha Jung, Min Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 9719202
    Abstract: A balancer includes a balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein, at least one mass movably disposed in the channel, at least one magnet coupled to one side of the balancer housing to restrain movement of the mass along the channel when rotational speed of a drum of the washing machine is within a predetermined range, and an inclined sidewall formed at an inner surface of the balancer housing to support the mass in a direction resisting centrifugal force applied to the mass during rotation of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Ha Jung, Jeong Hoon Kang, Min Sung Kim, Doo Young Ryu
  • Patent number: 9708742
    Abstract: A dynamic balancer device for mounting to and balancing a rotatable drum in a laundry treating appliance comprises an enclosed non-metal annular housing having a radial circumferential wall, an annular metal race within the non-metal annular housing disposed against the radial circumferential wall, and a mass disposed in the annular race and movable therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Erickson, Mark R. Haslanger, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Jaime E. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9650736
    Abstract: A balancer includes a balancer housing coupled to a drum of a washing machine, the balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein, at least one mass movably disposed in the channel, at least one magnet to restrain movement of the mass along the channel when rotational speed of the drum is within a predetermined range, and at least one magnet fixing rib formed at one side of the balancer housing to fix the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Doo Young Ryu, Won Young Jung, Young Jin Cho, Jeong Hoon Kang
  • Patent number: 9637853
    Abstract: A washing machine capable of manipulating a balancer with a simple manipulation, and a balancer thereof, the washing machine including a rotating tub configured to accommodate a laundry while being rotatably disposed on a shaft, at least one mass mounted on the rotating tub so as to move in a circumferential direction of the rotating tub, thereby offsetting an unbalanced load of the rotating tub, at least one wire extending along the circumferential direction of the rotating tub and coupled to the at least one mass, and at least one driving unit coupled to the at least one wire and configured to rotate the at least one mass in the circumferential direction of the rotating tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hooi Joong Kim, Sung Jong Kim, Moo Hyung Lee, Jae Seuk Park, Sung Jin Cho, Ii Sung Bae, Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 9487899
    Abstract: A balancer of a washing machine including a balancer housing mounted to a front surface of a drum and having an annular channel therein, a plurality of masses movably disposed along the channel, at least one magnet coupled to the balancer housing so as to restrict the masses from moving along the channel when a revolution per minute value of the drum is within a specific revolution per minute range, and at least one guide groove which is formed on an inner surface of the balancer housing and guides movement of the plural masses when the drum rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Sung Kim, Dong Ha Jung, Jeong Hoon Kang
  • Patent number: 9243361
    Abstract: A washing machine that calculates a temperature of a balancer to effectively control a motor and a method of controlling the washing machine are provided. The washing machine comprises a rotatable drum that receives laundry, a motor that rotates the drum, a balancer that is connected to the drum, the balancer changing a center of gravity of the drum, and a controller that rotates the motor at a constant rotational speed and then calculates a temperature of the balancer based on a period of a variation in rotational speed of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Bon Kwon Koo, Kyo Soon Chae
  • Patent number: 9228286
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine includes a housing; a spin tub rotatable by a driving motor through a rotating shaft; a balancer installed at a rear section of the spin tub; a shaft flange including a hub section to fixedly install the rotating shaft and a plurality of arm sections extending radially outward from the hub section and mounted to the spin tub so as to uniformly transfer the rotational force to the spin tub; and a rear cover provided on the rear section of the spin tub. The balancer is disposed adjacent to the rear cover and the shaft flange such that the first annular-shaped member contacts the shaft flange and the second annular-shaped member contacts the rear cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ja Young Kim, Ito Michiaki, Doo Young Ryu, Myung Sun Kang
  • Patent number: 9175743
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry processing apparatus. In particular, the laundry processing apparatus comprises: a cabinet; an outer chamber provided within the cabinet and in which wash water is filled; an inner chamber rotatably provided within the outer chamber to hold laundry; an upper balancer disposed at an upper portion of the inner chamber; and a lower balancer disposed at a lower portion of the inner chamber, wherein either the upper balancer or the lower balancer is a liquid balancer filled with liquid, and the other balancer is a ball balancer having a ball therein, such that the advantages of maximized balancing results and an effective reduction in vibration may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Youngjong Kim, Hyuksoo Lee, Seongno Yoon, Dongyoon Kim, Dongmin Kim
  • Patent number: 9169591
    Abstract: A washing machine provided with a balancing device which may suppress variation in horizontal vibration of a spin basket without performing control operation. The balancing device includes a ring-shaped casing installed to be concentric with the spin basket, and a plurality of the balancing balls and a viscous fluid. A ring-shaped ball accommodation portion, a fluid accommodation portion provided at a lower inner side of the ball accommodation portion in a radial direction of the ball accommodation portion, and a communication channel are formed in the casing. The fluid accommodation portion is provided at a portion of the casing along a circumferential direction of the casing. A bottom surface of the ball accommodation portion is inclined downward such that the balancing balls gather at the opposite position facing the fluid accommodation portion when rotation of the spin basket is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ohyagi Atsushi, Ikeda Izumi
  • Patent number: 9150996
    Abstract: The bicycle-driven clothes washing machine includes a bicycle frame, a drive mechanism, and a washing machine drum assembly adjacent the bicycle frame. The drum assembly includes an outer drum having at least a portion thereof at least transparent or partially transparent, the outer drum selectively filled with a washing liquid. An inner drum having a plurality of perforations is rotatably positioned inside the outer drum and mounted to the drive mechanism to be driven thereby via pedal action, the inner drum holding contents to be washed. Both the outer drum and the inner drum can be provided with respective covers to secure contents within the respective drums. An inlet line for introducing washing liquid and an outlet line for draining are attached to the outer drum. Each inlet and outlet line is provided with a valve system selectively operable to supply washing liquid for washing and draining the washing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventor: Fawzi Behbehani
  • Patent number: 9145633
    Abstract: A small size pulsator-type automatic washing machine comprises a housing, a control panel seat mounted on the top of the housing, a pedestal mounted at the bottom of the housing, an outer tub and an inner tub mounted inside the housing. A direct driving motor and a bearing block are mounted at the bottom of the outer tub. The motor is mounted on the outer tub by fixing elements, and a motor shaft is coupled with a pulsator shaft inside the bearing block. A fastener strap fixes the motor and the bearing block together onto the outer tub of the washing machine, thus reducing occupied space of the washing machine while improving a variety of installation mechanism of conventional washing machine. An insulation unit is disposed in the joint between the motor shaft and the tub shaft, such that the two parts cannot be in direct contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignees: HAIER GROUP CORPORATION, QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peishi Lv, Sheng Xu, Jie Liu, Xiaojie Pi, Yuling Chen
  • Patent number: 9115782
    Abstract: Disclosed is a ball balancer that increases a rate of balls in ball detention portions and restricts aggravation of unbalance caused by balls outside of the ball detention portions. When a rotation speed of a rotator is less than a first rotation speed, the ball detention portion allows the ball moved from a rolling face to be detained therein and to allow the ball therein to come into contact with the released ball outside thereof to prevent separation of the released ball from the rolling face. Anti-separation portions are provided to come into contact with the released balls outside of the ball detention portions to prevent separation of the released balls from the rolling face. When the rotation speed is greater than the first rotation speed, the ball detention portion allows separation of the ball therein to the rolling face by centrifugal force applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shimada Yoshinari, Ohyagi Atsushi
  • Patent number: 9109322
    Abstract: A front loading washing machine including a housing; a water reservoir installed in the housing for containing washing water; a spin tub provided in the water reservoir to hold laundry to be washed, the spin tub having an annular recess and rotating with respect to a horizontal axis of the washing machine; and at least one balancer installed in the annular recess of the spin tub, the balancer comprising an annular shaped race formed of a plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Doo Young Ryu, Ja Young Kim, Ito Michiaki, Myung Sun Kang
  • Patent number: 9051678
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laundry machine having an increased wash capacity. The laundry machine includes a cabinet, a tub connected to vibration sources through a vibration transmission blocking member, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, a suspension unit to substantially damp and support the vibration sources, and ball balancers, each of which includes a race, balls contained in the race, and an oil filing the race, provided on the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Young Suk Kim, Hyun Seok Seo, Suk Yun Moon, Dong II Lee, Ig Geun Kwon
  • Publication number: 20150121968
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub provided inside the cabinet to store wash water therein, a drum rotatably provided inside the tub, and a balancer comprising an upper side surface covering an outer surface of a bottom of the drum and a lower side surface formed at one side of the upper side surface in a planar shape while facing an inner surface of a bottom of the tub. The balancer is configured to counterbalance an unbalanced load of the drum, thereby saving energy and enhancing balancing efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Hyun KIM, Sang Up LEE, Dae Gyu KANG, Seung Youp LEE
  • Patent number: 9003838
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a drum, defining a treating chamber, with a lifter and a balancing system having at least one balancing ring and a reservoir located in the lifter and a liquid supply system fluidly coupled to the reservoir. Liquid may be supplied to the ring and to the reservoir through the ring to offset an imbalance in a laundry load located within the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen D. Ostdiek, Vishal Verma
  • Patent number: 8991219
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) that comprises a tub (2), a cylindrical drum (3) having a rear wall (7) wherein the items to be washed are emplaced, disposed coaxially inside the tub (2), one or more ribs (4) arranged on the inner periphery of the drum (3) and forming protrusions into the drum (3), a shaft (8) housed in the tub (2) that transfers the movement to the drum (3) and a bearing (9) situated at the center of the tub (2) rear wall (7), remaining stationary together with the tub (3), wherein the shaft (8) is housed, extending towards the center of the drum (3) and at least one water feeding line (10) situated inside the bearing (9) having an inlet connected to the mains water supply and an outlet opening outside the bearing (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Levent Hasanreisoglu
  • Patent number: 8991223
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a drum, defining a treating chamber, with a lifter and a balancing system having at least one balancing ring and a reservoir located in the lifter and a liquid supply system fluidly coupled to the reservoir. Liquid may be supplied to the ring and to the reservoir through the ring to offset an imbalance in a laundry load located within the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Erickson, Farshad Farid, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Vishal Verma, Mark M. Xie
  • Patent number: 8984918
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine in which a balancer is directly mounted on a body of an inner tub without a front surface part of the inner tub. The washing machine includes an outer tub to store water, a body formed in a cylindrical shape provided with an opening at one surface thereof and provided in the outer tub, and a balancer connected to an inner diameter part at the opening of the body to reduce unbalance of the body generated during rotation of the body and to reinforce the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Kwon Kim, Kyu Chai Lee, Hong Seok Ko, Sang Up Lee
  • Publication number: 20150068255
    Abstract: A balancer of a washing machine including a balancer housing mounted to a front surface of a drum and having an annular channel therein, a plurality of masses movably disposed along the channel, at least one magnet coupled to the balancer housing so as to restrict the masses from moving along the channel when a revolution per minute value of the drum is within a specific revolution per minute range, and at least one guide groove which is formed on an inner surface of the balancer housing and guides movement of the plural masses when the drum rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Sung KIM, Dong Ha Jung, Jeong Hoon Kang
  • Patent number: 8950219
    Abstract: A washing machine which improves performance of balancers, and a control method thereof. The washing machine includes a drum accommodating laundry and rotated by rotary force transmitted from a drive source, balancer housings mounted on the drum, each of the balancer housings including a disc-shaped channel formed therein, balancing modules movably disposed in the channels of the balancer housings, vibration sensors to sense unbalance applied to the drum during rotation of the drum, position sensors to sense the positions of the balancing modules, and a controller controlling movement of the balancing modules to positions to compensate for the unbalance sensed by the vibration sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Seuk Park, Moo Hyung Lee, Il Sung Bae, Sung Jong Kim
  • Patent number: 8943860
    Abstract: A vibration control device for a washing machine is composed of a drum to house laundry, a washing tank to house the drum which is suspended by a chassis of the washing machine, a drum driving motor, an acceleration detecting unit to detect an acceleration in the horizontal direction of the washing tank, a linear actuator fixed to the chassis of the washing machine to generate a driving force in the horizontal direction to the chassis of the washing machine, a force transmitting unit to connect a movable axis of the linear actuator with the washing tank, and a control unit to control the driving force of the linear actuator based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting unit. The force transmitting unit transmits the driving force and absorbs mechanistically relative displacement in the back and forth direction and in the up and down direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaaki Hirai, Akiyuki Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20150020548
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus includes a casing; an outer tub; a supporting member coupling the outer tub to the casing; and at least one horizontal vibration buffering device connecting the supporting member with a side surface of the casing. The horizontal vibration buffering device includes a casing connecting part coupled to the casing; a supporting member connecting part coupled to the supporting member, and a damper. The supporting member connecting part has a displacement relative the casing connecting part as the outer tub vibrates. The damper provides an attenuation force corresponding to the displacement of the supporting member connecting part relative the casing connecting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Insik YU, Youngjun KIM, Youngjong KIM
  • Publication number: 20150020549
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus includes a casing; an outer tub disposed in the casing; and a horizontal vibration buffering device coupling the outer tub with the casing. The horizontal vibration buffering device includes a casing connecting part coupled to the casing; an outer tub connecting part coupled to an side surface of the outer tub and having a displacement relative the casing connecting part as the outer tub vibrates; and a damper providing an attenuation force corresponding to the displacement of the outer tub connecting part relative the casing connecting part, and wherein the casing connecting part is positioned lower side the outer tub connecting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Insik YU, Youngjun KIM, Youngjong KIM
  • Publication number: 20150020550
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus includes a casing, an outer tub suspended in the casing, and a pair of horizontal vibration buffering devices arranged to form opposite angles relative each other in the casing, the horizontal vibration buffering devices each coupling a predetermined support disposed outside the outer tub with the outer tub and each having a portion connected with the outer tub to be displaced relative a portion connected with the predetermined support as the outer tub vibrates, where the pair of horizontal vibration buffering devices each provide an attenuation force according to the displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Insik YU, Youngjun KIM, Youngjong KIM
  • Publication number: 20150013077
    Abstract: A washing machine with a balancer to counterbalance unbalanced load produced during rotation of a drum and a control method thereof. The washing machine with a balancer to counterbalance unbalanced load produced during rotation of a drum perform a ball distributing cycle of seating masses in a groove in the balancer before rotation of the drum possibly producing unbalance as in the spin-drying cycle begins to efficiently maintain balance of the drum, and a laundry untangling cycle of evenly distributing the laundry in the drum. Accordingly, vibration and noise may be reduced during the spin-drying cycle. In addition, in retrying the spin-drying, the ball distributing cycle is restricted based on the rate of rotation of the motor at the moment at which unbalance is sensed. Thereby, delay in cycle time in retrying the spin-drying cycle may be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Ha JUNG, Jeong Hoon Kang, Min Sung Kim