Abstract: A horizontally oriented laundry washing machine which includes automatic balancers is operated at a speed below the stick speed for the laundry load to redistribute portions of the load in the wash basket. By monitoring a condition of the machine indicative of the level of balance of the load, and selectively accelerating and decelerating the wash basket about the stick speed, the load can be redistributed so that the load imbalance is sufficient low to speed up the wash basket through its natural resonant frequencies.

Abstract: A method and a suspension structure for reducing displacement of a wash basket of a washing machine includes first providing the wash basket with a balance ring. The balancing ring is attached to the basket in the plane that is generally perpendicular to a rotation axis of the basket. The balancing has a balancing mass that is movable relative to the ring. The wash basket is supported by a tuned suspension structure to the machine. Two resonance critical frequencies for two translational degrees of freedom and that are in the plane of the balancing ring are determined. The three resonance rotational frequencies for the three rotational degrees of freedom of the suspension structure are also determined. The suspension structure is tuned so that the two critical frequencies of translation each occur at or below a critical first motor speed and so that the three rotational frequencies occur at a second speed that is above the critical rotation speed.

Abstract: A fluid balancing ring includes a plurality of partitions forming a circular array of sub-chambers around its circumference. A valve is associated with each of the partitions and is movable in response to the centrifugal force of the rotating balance ring from a closed position preventing fluid communication through the partitions to an open position permitting fluid communication through the partitions. A spring urges the valve to its closed position.

Abstract: The process for making an automatic balancing unit outbalance an unbalance condition in a rotating system, particularly a clothes washing machine with an outer casing an a suspended oscillating washing assembly comprising a wash tub, a cylindrically-shaped perforated drum housed in said tub and capable of rotating in the interior thereof about the axis of the cylinder during washing and spin-extraction, a motor capable of rotatably driving said drum at various speeds and provided with accessory means that are firmly associated with said tub, said drum being connected to said automatic balancing unit formed by at least one annular hollow body, forming a sealed closed-loop configuration and being mounted integrally with said cylindrical drum with their axis coinciding with the rotational axis of said perforated drum, and a plurality of moving masses capable of freely moving in a liquid filled in said hollow body, and which process incorporates that before at least a spin-extraction phase, the drum is driven to

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine with a balancer. This invention provides a washing machine with a balancer, which is capable of improving the balancing capacity of its balancer, preventing the balancer from being damaged due to thermal expansion, and simplifying the manufacture and assembly of the balancer. The washing machine includes an outer tub for accommodating washing water. An inner tub rotatably is mounted in the outer tub for washing and spin-drying the laundry. A balancer is mounted to the inner tub to be opened at its one side. The balancer accommodates water to balance the inner tub. Water supply means supplies washing water to the balancer. A cabinet constitutes the boundary of the washing machine and encloses the components of the washing machine.

Abstract: An improved front loading washing machine and method of wetting clothes in a front loading machine is provided. The balance ring of the machine has a plurality of holes extending 360° around the ring through which water is flowable. A water supply line directs water to the space between the machine tub and spinner, such that the water flows by gravity along the outer surface of the balance ring and then drains or drips through the holes in the balance ring for introduction into the spinner, thereby wetting the clothes in the spinner. With this improved machine, the amount of time required to saturate the clothes in the spinner is minimized, thereby enhancing the washing action on the clothes.