Washer damper thereof, and control method thereof

• US 20050188472A1
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Seuong Chul, Oh, Soo Young, Kim, Jae Hyun, Park, Gwan Ryong, Jeon, Si Moon, Jun, Cha Seung
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/158
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/20 Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/09 in dampers of the cylinder-and-piston type

Abstract

The present invention provides a washer, damper thereof, and control method thereof, by which noise is reduced by adjusting a damping force of the damper in a manner of turning on/off power of the damper according to an oscillation frequency of a vibrating body such as a washer. The control method reduces noise by supplying power to a damper in an excessive vibration state of a vibrating body such as a washer or by cutting off the power supplied to the damper in a normal vibration state of the vibrating body.

Claims

1. A damper comprising:

a cylinder;

a piston coupled with the cylinder to enable a reciprocating motion, the piston generating a magnetic force with power impression; and

a vibration-absorbing part provided within the cylinder, the vibration-absorbing part generating a frictional force by coming into contact with an inner circumference of the cylinder, the vibration-absorbing part attached to the piston by the magnetic force to absorb a vibration transferred to the cylinder or the piston.

2. The damper of claim 1, wherein a magnetic force generating part is further provided to one end of the piston to generate the magnetic force with the power impression.

3. The damper of claim 2, the magnetic force generating part comprising:

a core provided to the one end of the piston; and

a bobbin provided outside the core wherein a coil is wound on the bobbin to generate the magnetic force with the power impression.

4. The damper of claim 2, the vibration-absorbing part comprising:

a frictional member coming into contact with an inside of the cylinder to generate a frictional force; and

a movable member fixed to an inside of the frictional member to be attached to the piston by the magnetic force generated from the magnetic force generating part.

5. The damper of claim 2, wherein a guide extends from the magnetic force generating part along a length direction of the cylinder and wherein the guide slides to be inserted in the vibration-absorbing part.

6. The damper of claim 2, wherein a guide extends from the vibration-absorbing part along a length direction of the cylinder and wherein the guide slides to be inserted in the piston.

7. The damper of claim 2, wherein the magnetic force generating part is configured to be inserted in the vibration-absorbing part to enable a reciprocating motion of the magnetic force generating part.

8. The damper of claim 7, wherein a hollow portion is provided to the vibration-absorbing part so that the magnetic force generating part is inserted therein to enable a reciprocating motion of the magnetic force generating part.

9. The damper of claim 7, wherein a guide extends from the magnetic force generating part along a length direction of the cylinder, wherein the guide slides to be inserted in the vibration-absorbing part, wherein a first hollow portion is provided to the vibration-absorbing part so that the magnetic force generating part is inserted therein to enable a reciprocating motion of the magnetic force generating part, and wherein a second hollow portion is provided to the vibration-absorbing part to receive the guide therein.

10. A damper comprising:

a cylinder;

a piston coupled with the cylinder to enable a reciprocating motion; and

a vibration-absorbing part provided within the cylinder, the vibration-absorbing part generating a frictional force by coming into contact with an inner circumference of the cylinder, the vibration-absorbing part generating a magnetic force with power impression, the vibration-absorbing part attached to the piston by the magnetic force to absorb a vibration transferred to the cylinder or the piston.

11. The damper of claim 10, the vibration-absorbing part comprising:

a core extending from one end of the piston in a length direction of the cylinder;

a movable member provided within the cylinder, the movable member allowing the core to slide to be inserted therein;

a bobbin provided outside the movable member, the bobbin having a coil wound thereon to enclose the core; and

a frictional member enclosing an outer circumference of the movable member, the frictional member coming into contact with the inner circumference of the cylinder to generate a frictional force.

12. The damper of claim 11, wherein a guide extends from one end of the piston in a length direction of the cylinder and wherein the guide slides to be inserted in the vibration-absorbing part.

13. A method of controlling a damper, comprising the steps of:

driving a vibrating body;

deciding an oscillation frequency of the vibrating body; and

if the oscillation frequency is decided to exceed a predetermined value, absorbing a vibration transferred to a cylinder and a piston by attaching a piston and a vibration-absorbing part together by generating a magnetic force with power impression.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein if the oscillation frequency is decided below the predetermined value, the magnetic force is removed by cutting off the power impression.

15. A washer comprising:

a tub;

a drum rotatably provided within the tub;

a cylinder supported by either a base or the tub;

a piston supported by either the tub or the base, the piston coupled with the cylinder to enable a relative reciprocating motion, the piston generating a magnetic force with power impression; and

a vibration-absorbing part provided within the cylinder, the vibration-absorbing part generating a frictional force by coming into contact with an inner circumference of the cylinder, the vibration-absorbing part attached to the piston by the magnetic force to absorb a vibration transferred to the cylinder or the piston.

16. The washer of claim 15, wherein a magnetic force generating part is further provided to one end of the piston to generate the magnetic force with the power impression.

17. The washer of claim 16, the magnetic force generating part comprising:

a core provided to the one end of the piston; and

a bobbin provided outside the core wherein a coil is wound on the bobbin to generate the magnetic force with the power impression.

18. The washer of claim 16, the vibration-absorbing part comprising:

a frictional member coming into contact with an inside of the cylinder to generate a frictional force; and

a movable member fixed to an inside of the frictional member to be attached to the piston by the magnetic force generated from the magnetic force generating part.

19. A washer comprising:

a tub;

a drum rotatably provided within the tub;

a cylinder and a piston supported by a base and the tub, the cylinder and the piston assembled together to enable relative reciprocating motion; and

a vibration-absorbing part provided within the cylinder, the vibration-absorbing part generating a magnetic force with power impression, the vibration-absorbing part attached to the piston by the magnetic force to absorb a vibration transferred to the cylinder or the piston.

20. The washer of claim 19, the vibration-absorbing part comprising:

a core extending from one end of the piston in a length direction of the cylinder;

a movable member provided within the cylinder, the movable member allowing the core to slide to be inserted therein;

a bobbin provided outside the movable member, the bobbin having a coil wound thereon to enclose the core; and

a frictional member enclosing an outer circumference of the movable member, the frictional member coming into contact with the inner circumference of the cylinder to generate a frictional force.

21. A method of controlling a washer, comprising the steps of:

rotating a drum;

deciding an oscillation frequency of a tub; and

if the oscillation frequency is decided to exceed a predetermined value, absorbing a vibration transferred to the tub by attaching a piston and a vibration-absorbing part together by generating a magnetic force with power impression.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein if the oscillation frequency is decided below the predetermined value, the magnetic force is removed by cutting off the power impression.