Washing machine having damping apparatus

Abstract

A washing machine having a structure in which a drum can stably rotate. The washing machine includes a cabinet including an outer frame that constitutes an exterior, an inner frame connected to an inner side of the outer frame, and a lower frame coupled to a lower part of the outer frame; a drum rotatably disposed in the inner frame; a base plate coupled to a lower part of the drum; a driving unit coupled to the base plate and driving the drum; and a damping apparatus that connects the base plate and the lower frame so as to absorb vibration occurring while the drum rotates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet comprising an outer frame that constitutes an exterior, an inner frame connected to an inner side of the outer frame, and a lower frame coupled to a lower part of the outer frame;   a drum rotatably disposed in the inner frame;   a base plate coupled to a lower part of the drum;   a driving unit coupled to the base plate and configured to rotate the drum; and   a damping apparatus configured to connect the base plate and the lower frame so as to absorb vibration occurring while the drum rotates.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the damping apparatus comprises:
 a support bracket coupled to a bottom surface of the base plate; and   a plurality of dampers having ends connected to the support bracket and the other ends connected to the lower frame.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of dampers are disposed in a radial form centering on a rotation central axis of the drum. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of dampers comprise a first damper and a second damper that are adjacent to each other and an angle between a virtual first extension line that extends from one end of the first damper toward the rotation central axis of the drum and a virtual second extension line that extends from one end of the second damper toward the rotation central axis of the drum is between 45° and 135°. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of dampers has one end connected to the support bracket and the other end connected to a corner of the lower frame. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein an angle between a virtual third extension line that extends from one end of at least one of the plurality of dampers toward a ground and the ground is between 5° and 30°. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the support bracket comprises:
 a body configured to surround at least a portion of the driving unit;   a fixing part bent from an upper side of the body toward an outer side of the body and having at least one fixing hole through which the support bracket is fixed to the bottom surface of the base plate; and   a plurality of fastening parts configured to protrude from sides of the body and connect the plurality of dampers to the support bracket.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of dampers are rotatably coupled to the support bracket and the lower frame. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein positions of the plurality of dampers are biased toward one of front and rear of a virtual first division plane that divides the cabinet in front and rear directions while passing through a rotation central axis of the drum. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein positions of the plurality of dampers are biased toward one of right and left of a virtual second division plane that divides the cabinet in right and left directions while passing through the rotation central axis of the drum. 
     
     
         11 . A washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub disposed in the cabinet and configured to store washing water;   a drum rotatably disposed in the tub;   a pulsator rotatably disposed in the drum;   a motor disposed in a lower part of the tub and configured to provide power for rotating the drum;   a clutch configured to selectively transfer power of the motor to the drum or pulsator;   a base plate configured to fix the clutch and the motor and coupled to a lower part of the tub; and   a damping apparatus configured to connect the base plate and the lower frame so as to absorb vibration occurring while the drum rotates,   wherein the damping apparatus comprises
 a support bracket coupled to a bottom surface of the base plate; and 
 a plurality of dampers having ends connected to the support bracket and the other ends connected to a lower part of the cabinet and disposed in a radial form centering on a rotation central axis of the drum. 
   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of dampers are rotatably coupled to the support bracket and the lower part of the cabinet. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of dampers comprise a first damper and a second damper that are adjacent to each other and an angle between the first damper and the second damper centering on the rotation central axis of the drum is between 45° and 135°. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein an angle between the first damper and the second damper and a ground is between 5° and 30°. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein positions of the plurality of dampers are biased toward one of front and rear of a virtual first division plane that divides the cabinet in front and rear directions while passing through the rotation central axis of the drum. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein positions of the plurality of dampers are biased toward one of right and left of a virtual second division plane that divides the cabinet in right and left directions while passing through the rotation central axis of the drum. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the support bracket comprises a collision prevention surface for preventing the motor and the clutch from colliding with the lower part of the cabinet while the drum rotates. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising at least two suspension members to couple the base plate to an upper part of the cabinet. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine according to  claim 18 , wherein upper ends of the at least two suspension members are coupled to respective corners of the cabinet via a coupling rib disposed at each of the respective corners of the cabinet. 
     
     
         20 . The washing machine according to  claim 19 , further comprising a connection bracket coupled to a space between the base plate and lower ends of the at least two suspension members,
 wherein the connection bracket includes an avoidance groove that is bent and formed in the lower end of the connection bracket so as to prevent interference with a draining groove of the washing machine.