JPH1094694A - Snubber base for damper assembly for washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the damping force of vibrations from being lowered even after a washing machine is used for a long time by forming a snubber base body with a compressing force absorbing means for absorbing compressing force to be generated when inserting the snubber base body into a damper cap. SOLUTION: With the vertical move of the damper cap caused by vibrations to be generated when operating the washing machine, friction is generated by the contact of a snubber base body 210 and the damper cap, and the vibrations are damped. In case of compression, most of compressing force is used for compressing the compressing absorbing means, namely, a long groove 212 formed on the outer surface of the snubber base body 210 and the plastic deformation of the snubber base body 210 is prevented. Besides, when the outer surface of the snubber base body 210 is adjusted so as to be tightly attached with the inner surface of the damper cap while using the elastic force of a snubber base spring, while preventing plastic deformation, damping force similar to the conventional case can be provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a washing machine.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a damper assembly for a washing machine, and more particularly to a snubber base of a damper assembly for a washing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A washing machine is a device that uses a motor as a driving source and applies a rotating force to laundry in a washing tub to wash the laundry. When the washing machine is operated, vibrations due to the driving force of the motor and vibrations due to the flow of the washing water and the like are generated. For this reason, washing machines are generally provided with a damper assembly for damping such vibrations.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a state in which a conventional damper assembly is mounted on a washing machine. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the conventional damper assembly is connected to the washing machine. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a conventional damper spring.

Hereinafter, a conventional damper assembly will be described with reference to FIG.

The damper assembly 10 includes a washing machine case 2
Between the washing machine and the washing tub 4, and plays a role of absorbing and mitigating vibration generated when the washing machine is operated. To elaborate,
The damper assembly 10 includes a pivot 6 connected to an upper end of the washing machine case 2, a damper 100 connected to an outer surface of a lower end of the washing tub 4, and a snubber bar 8 connecting the pivot 6 and the damper 100. Is done.

Next, the damper will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

A hollow damper cap 112 is connected to a bottom surface of the fixing member 4a formed below the outer surface of the washing tub 4, and a snubber bar 8 is provided between the damper cap 112 and a pivot (not shown). In addition, a damper spring 114 that performs a buffering action is inserted in a lower part of the snubber bar 8, and a snubber base 120 is connected to an end of the snubber bar 8. The snubber
The base 120 includes a snubber base body 122 which is usually made of a plastic material, and a snubber base body 122 which is tightly inserted and installed on the inner wall of the snubber base body 122.
And a base spring 126.

On the other hand, when the damper cap 112 moves up and down due to the vibration generated during the operation of the washing machine, the outer surface of the snubber base body 122 and the damper cap 11 move.
The outer diameter of the snubber base body 122 is formed to be larger than the inner diameter of the damper cap 112 so that the damping action can be performed by friction between the snubber base body 122 and the inner surface of the snubber base body 122.

As shown in FIG. 3, an annular snubber
Base spring 126 is snubber base body 1
The snubber base body 122 is inserted into the groove 122a formed in the inner wall of the tube 22 in a contracted state, and generates an elastic force that causes the snubber base body 122 to expand outward. Thus, when the damper cap 112 moves up and down, the snubber base body 122 comes into close contact with the inner wall surface of the damper cap 112.

The operation of the conventional damper assembly will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the damper assembly 10 is mounted,
Since the damper cap 112 is lowered by the weight of the washing tub 4, the snubber base 120 is sandwiched inside the damper cap 112. On the other hand, when vibration occurs as the washing machine operates, the vibration is transmitted to the damper 100. Then, damper cap 1
12 moves up and down along the snubber bar 8. At this time, since the outer diameter of the snubber base body 122 is larger than the inner diameter of the damper cap 112, the outer surface of the snubber base body 122 and the inner surface of the damper cap 112 come into close contact with each other. The vibration is attenuated by the generated frictional force.

[0012]

However, the above-mentioned conventional damper assembly has the following problems.

First, the snubber base body 122
Is inserted into the damper cap 112, the snubber base body 122 is compressed by a reaction force (compression force) generated by the damper cap 112. Therefore, a circumferential stress is generated at the lower end of the snubber base body 122. Therefore, if the washing machine is used for a long time, the snubber base body 122 will be plastically deformed due to this kind of stress, and the outer diameter of the snubber base body 122 will eventually be reduced. In such a case, the frictional force between the outer surface of the snubber base body 122 and the inner surface of the damper cap 112 is reduced, so that the damping force is also reduced. That is, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, as the use period of the washing machine increases, the outer diameter of the snubber base body 122 decreases, and thus the damping force also decreases.

Second, the snubber base spring 12
6 is produced by bending and cutting a wire, so that a burr occurs on the cut surface 126a. Such burrs may cause the inner wall of the snubber base body 122 to be worn during the repeated friction process between the damper cap 112 and the snubber base body 122. Eventually, there is a problem that the snubber base body 122 is damaged and the damping action is weakened.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a snubber base which does not reduce the damping force even when used for a long time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a snubber base which prevents damage to the snubber base body and which does not reduce the damping force even when used for a long time.

[0017]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a snubber base provided at an end of a snubber bar for damping vibration by a frictional action with a damper cap. A snubber base including a snubber base spring inserted into the inner wall of the snubber base body to maintain the shape of the snubber base body, wherein the snubber base body has the snubber base body attached to the damper cap. A compression force absorbing means for absorbing a compression force generated at the time of insertion is formed, whereby the object is achieved.

Here, it is preferable that the compressive force absorbing means has a plurality of long grooves formed on an outer surface of a lower end portion of the snubber base body. Further, it is preferable that the cut surface of the snubber base spring is bent inward in order to prevent the burr generated on the cut surface of the snubber base spring from interfering with the inner wall of the snubber base body.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention capable of specifically realizing the above-mentioned objects will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a snubber base of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a snubber base spring of the present invention. With reference to this, the snubber base of the present invention will be described below.

The snubber base 200 of the present invention comprises a snubber base body 210 and a snubber base spring 220 inserted into a groove in the inner wall of the body 210. In detail, the snubber
A large number of long grooves 212 are formed on the outer surface of the base body 210 in the axial direction (the axial direction of the snubber bar). And
Both ends 222 of the snubber base spring 220 are bent inward (toward the center of the ring).

Next, the function and effect of the snubber base assembly according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As the damper cap 112 moves up and down due to the vibration generated during the operation of the washing machine, friction occurs due to the contact between the snubber base body 210 and the damper cap 112, and the friction causes the vibration. Is attenuated. More specifically, when the snubber base body 210 is inserted into the damper cap 112 by the weight of the washing tub, the outer diameter of the snubber base body 210 is larger than the inner diameter of the damper cap 112. The body 210 is compressed by the damper cap 112. At this time, most of the compressive force is used to compress the compressive force absorbing means formed on the outer surface of the snubber base body 210, that is, to compress the long groove 212. Therefore, a small amount of stress is generated in the snubber base body 210 in the circumferential direction.
10 can be prevented from being plastically deformed. By doing so, the possibility of plastic deformation of the snubber base body 210 can be reduced, but as a result, the damping force generated by the dimensional difference between the inner diameter of the damper cap 112 and the outer diameter of the snubber base body 210 is reduced. May result. This allows the snubber base spring 220 to use the elastic force of the snubber base spring 220.
The outer surface of the base body 210 is the damper cap 112
When adjusted so that the snubber base body 210 is plastically deformed, the same damping force as in the related art can be obtained.

[0024]

That is, according to the present invention, the snubber
Since the decrease in the outer diameter due to plastic deformation of the base can be suppressed, there is an advantage that the damping force does not decrease even when the washing machine is used for a long time.

Further, since both ends 222 of the snubber base spring 220 of the present invention are bent inward, burrs formed on the cut surface do not contact the inner wall of the snubber base body 210. Therefore, even if the snubber base is used for a long time, it is possible to prevent the snubber base from being damaged, and also to prevent the damping force from decreasing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an installation state of a conventional damper assembly for a washing machine.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where a damper assembly for a conventional washing machine is installed.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a conventional snubber base spring.

FIG. 4a is a graph showing a relationship between a use period of a washing machine and a change in outer diameter of a snubber base when a conventional snubber base is used.

FIG. 4b is a graph showing a relationship between a use period of a washing machine and a change in damping force when a conventional snubber base is used.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a snubber base of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a snubber base spring of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 4 washing tub 6 hibot 8 snubber bar 10 damper assembly 100 damper 112 damper cap 114 damper spring 120 snubber base 122 snubber base body 126 snubber base spring 200 snubber base 212 long groove 210 snubber base body 220 snubber base spring

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A snubber base body provided at an end of a snubber bar for damping vibration by a frictional action with a damper cap, and inserted into an inner wall of the snubber base body to maintain the shape of the snubber base body. A snubber base including a snubber base spring, wherein the snubber base body is formed with a compression force absorbing means for absorbing a compression force generated when the snubber base body is inserted into the damper cap. Snubber base characterized by that. 2. The snubber base according to claim 1, wherein said compressive force absorbing means is a plurality of long grooves formed on an outer surface of a lower end portion of said snubber base body. 3. The cutting surface of the snubber base spring is directed inward so as to prevent the burr generated on the cutting surface of the snubber base spring from interfering with the inner wall of the snubber base body. The snubber base according to claim 1, wherein: