Apparatus for reduction of vibration in washing machine

Abstract

An apparatus for reducing vibrations in a washing machine is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a rotatable drum configured to receive laundry therein; a stationary tub configured to receive and hold water; a cabinet surrounding the tub; a base under the tub, configured to support the tub and/or other components in the washing machine; a plurality of suspension units connected to a lower side of the tub and an upper side of the cabinet, configured to reduce vertical vibrations of the tub; and one or more dampers coupled to the tub and the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for reducing vibrations in a washing machine comprising:
 a rotatable drum configured to receive laundry therein;   a stationary tub surrounding the drum, configured to receive and hold water;   a cabinet surrounding the tub;   a base under the tub, configured to support the tub and/or other components in the washing machine;   a plurality of suspension units connected to a lower side of the tub and an upper side of the cabinet, configured to reduce vertical vibrations of the tub; and   one or more dampers coupled to the tub and the base.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the damper(s) are sloped or inclined between an outer lower side of the tub and the base. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of dampers are sloped or inclined between an outer lower side of the tub and the base. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a space between neighboring dampers is consistent. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a space between neighboring dampers is constant. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein four dampers are coupled to the tub and the base. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the dampers are configured to reduce horizontal vibrations of the tub. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the damper(s) comprise a coil spring having one end connected to the outer lower side of the tub and another end connected to the base. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the dampers comprise a coil spring having one end connected to the outer lower side of the tub and another end connected to the base. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the damper(s) comprise a cone spring having a diameter that increases from one of the tub and the base to the other of the tub and the base. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the dampers comprise a cone spring having a diameter that increases from one of the tub and the base to the other of the tub and the base. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the damper(s) are configured to reduce horizontal and vertical vibrations of the tub. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor in the base. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pulsator in the drum. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using an automatic washing machine to remove contaminants from laundry, comprising:
 supplying water to a tub in the automatic washing machine;   washing laundry in a drum in the automatic washing machine by rotating the drum at a first rotational rate;   removing water from the laundry in the drum by rotating the drum at a second rotational rate, wherein a plurality of suspension units reduce and/or absorb vertical vibrations of the tub, and one or more dampers reduce and/or absorb horizontal vibrations of the tub.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more dampers are between the tub and a base. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the suspension units are connected to the tub and a cabinet surrounding the tub. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a plurality of dampers are at midpoints between adjacent suspension units. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each of the one or more dampers comprise a coil spring having one end connected to the outer lower side of the tub and another end connected to a base. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each of the one or more dampers comprise a cone spring having a diameter that increases from one of the tub and a base to the other of the tub and a base.