Damper for washing machine

• US 7,472,567 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2004
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jae Hyun, Park, Seung Chul, Park, Gwan Ryong, Jeon, Si Moon
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin; Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US10/843,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20040261469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 68/23.R, 68/231, 68/233, 188/129, 188/166, 188/381, 267/196, 267/201, 267/202, 267/203
• US Class Current: 68/23.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/09 in dampers of the cylinder-and-piston type

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a damper for washing machines. The damper comprises a cylinder and a piston interactively coupled to each other in a state wherein the cylinder is connected to a tub and the piston is connected to a base, a first friction member provided around the piston for generating a frictional force when the piston moves inside the cylinder, a slider coupled to the piston inside the cylinder so as to move together with the piston if the piston moves beyond a predetermined displacement range, and a second friction member provided around the slider for generating a frictional force when the slider moves inside the cylinder. The damper configured as stated above generates different damping forces according to the vibration degrees of the tub, thereby effectively attenuating the vibration of the tub.

Claims

1. A damper for a washing machine, comprising:

a cylinder and a piston interactively coupled to each other in a state wherein the cylinder is connected to a tub and the piston is connected to a base;

a first friction member fixed around the piston to frictionally move in direct contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder for generating a frictional force when the piston moves inside the cylinder;

a slider coupled inside the piston inside the cylinder so as to move together with the piston if the piston moves beyond a predetermined displacement range; and

a second friction member fixed around the slider to frictionally move in direct contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder for generating a frictional force when the slider moves inside the cylinder.

2. The damper as set forth in claim 1, wherein the slider includes:

a slider body inserted inside the piston so as to linearly move; and

a mounting portion provided at one end of the slider body, around which the second friction member is mounted.

3. The damper as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

interlocking means provided at both the slider and the piston for allowing the slider to move together with the piston if the piston moves beyond the predetermined displacement range.

4. The damper as set forth in claim 3, wherein the piston includes a mounting portion at one end thereof to be inserted into the cylinder, around which the first friction member is mounted;

and

wherein the interlocking means is formed to cause the second friction member mounting portion of the slider to come into contact with the first friction member mounting portion of the piston as the slider is inserted into the piston.

5. The damper as set forth in claim 3, wherein the interlocking means includes:

protruding means formed at one of the slider and the piston; and

capturing means formed at the other one of the slider and the piston so as to capture the protruding means as the slider is extracted from the piston.

6. The damper as set forth in claim 5, wherein the protruding means is defined by protrusions extending outwardly from the slider;

and

wherein the capturing means is defined by elongated openings axially formed at the piston for capturing the protrusions therein, respectively.

7. The damper as set forth in claim 6, wherein the slider further includes slits formed along a longitudinal direction of the slider body for allowing the slider body to be easily inserted into and assembled inside the piston.

8. The damper as set forth in claim 5, wherein the protruding means is defined by a pin penetrating through the piston and fixed thereby;

and

wherein the capturing means is defined by elongated openings axially formed at the slider for capturing the pin.

9. The damper as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

damping means provided at the piston and the slider for absorbing a shock caused between the piston and the slider.

10. The damper as set forth in claim 9, wherein the piston includes a mounting portion formed at one end thereof to be inserted into the cylinder, around which the first friction member is mounted;

and

wherein the damping means is provided on at least one of facing surfaces of the first friction member mounting portion of the piston and the second friction member mounting portion of the slider.

11. The damper as set forth in claim 9, wherein the damping means is a spring for supporting the other end of the slider inside the piston.

12. The damper as set forth in claim 9, wherein the damping means is an air chamber defining a sealed structure between facing ends of the slider and the piston.

13. The damper as set forth in claim 1, wherein the piston includes:

a guide rod, around which the slider is mounted so as to move relatively within a predetermined range; and

stoppers provided at both ends of the guide rod for restricting the relative movement range of the slider.

14. The damper as set forth in claim 13, wherein the slider has a cylindrical structure and is mounted around the guide rod, the second friction member being mounted around an outer peripheral surface of the slider.

15. The damper as set forth in claim 13, wherein at least one of the stoppers is mounted with the first friction member.

16. The damper as set forth in claim 13, further comprising:

damping means provided at contact surfaces between the stoppers and the slider.

17. The damper as set forth in claim 16, wherein the damping means includes magnets installed so that those with the same polarity face each other.

18. The damper as set forth in claim 16, wherein the damping means includes coil springs provided between the stoppers and the slider for providing an elastic force.

19. A damper for a washing machine, comprising:

a cylinder connected to one of a tub and a base;

a piston interactively coupled to the other one of the tub and the base not connected with the cylinder;

a first friction member provided around the piston so as to frictionally move in direct contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder for generating a frictional force;

a slider inserted into the piston inside the cylinder so as to move relatively;

a second friction member provided around the slider so as to frictionally move in direct contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder for generating a frictional force; and

interlocking means provided at both the piston and the slider for allowing the slider to move together with the piston if the piston moves beyond a predetermined displacement range.

20. A damper for a washing machine, comprising:

a cylinder and a piston interactively coupled to each other in a state wherein the cylinder is connected to a tub and the piston is connected to a base;

a first friction member fixed around the piston to frictionally move in direct contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder for generating a frictional force when the piston moves inside the cylinder;

a slider coupled inside the piston inside the cylinder so as to move together with the piston if the piston moves beyond a predetermined displacement range and to move with the cylinder when the piston is located in the predetermined distance range; and

a second friction member fixed around the slider to frictionally move in direct contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder for generating a frictional force when the slider moves inside the cylinder.