Drum washing machine

Abstract

A drum washing machine which reduces the number of balance weights installed on the rear surface of a tub, and prevents the tub from being cracked due to eccentric rotation. The drum washing machine includes a bearing housing installed on the tub for supporting a rotary shaft; and a bearing housing bracket fixing the bearing housing to the tub, and serving as a balance weight for reducing vibration generated due to the eccentric rotation of a rotary drum. The drum washing machine further includes a balance weight detachably attached to the tub separately from the bearing housing bracket. The bearing housing bracket may be made of cast iron. The weight of the bearing housing bracket may be at least three times the weight of the balance weight. The thickness of the bearing housing bracket is gradually reduced from an opening to an edge portion.

1 . A drum washing machine comprising: 
 a tub;    a rotary drum installed in the tub;    a rotary shaft extended from the rotary drum to the outside of the tub by passing through the tub;    a bearing housing installed on the tub for supporting the rotary shaft; and    a bearing housing bracket fixing the bearing housing to the tub, and serving as a balance weight for reducing vibration generated due to the eccentric rotation of the rotary drum.    
   
   
       2 . The drum washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a separate balance weight detachably attached to the tub separately from the bearing housing bracket.  
   
   
       3 . The drum washing machine as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the bearing housing bracket and the separate balance weight are installed on the rear surface of the tub.  
   
   
       4 . The drum washing machine as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the weight of the bearing housing bracket is at least three times the weight of the separate balance weight.  
   
   
       5 . The drum washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing bracket is made of cast iron.  
   
   
       6 . The drum washing machine as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the bearing housing bracket includes: 
 an opening formed through the central portion thereof for passing the bearing housing; and    an edge portion, through which a plurality of fixing holes are formed so that the bearing housing bracket is fixed to a rear surface of the tub by fasteners passing through the fixing holes.    
   
   
       7 . The drum washing machine as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein a thickness of the bearing housing bracket is gradually reduced from the opening to the edge portion.  
   
   
       8 . The drum washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the tub is fixed to a housing so that the tub is downwardly inclined from a front surface of the tub to a rear surface of the tub.  
   
   
       9 . The drum washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing and the bearing housing bracket are unitarily formed.