Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine including a suspension to support an outer tub so as to absorb vibrations of the outer tub. The suspension includes an outer tub supporter disposed so as to be movable along a support rod, an elastic member to elastically support the outer tub supporter, a first friction unit to apply frictional force between the first friction unit and the support rod, and a second friction unit disposed above the first friction unit and movable along the support rod, the second friction unit applying frictional force between the second friction unit and the support rod, the second friction unit being displaceable relative to the outer tub supporter within a space delimited by the outer tub supporter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a casing;   an outer tub disposed inside the casing, to receive wash water therein;   a support rod having one end connected to the casing, the other end of the support rod having a support prop;   an outer tub supporter to support the outer tub, the outer tub supporter being disposed so as to be movable along the support rod;   an elastic member supported by the support prop, the elastic member elastically supporting the outer tub supporter;   a first friction unit to apply frictional force between the first friction unit and the support rod; and   a second friction unit disposed above the first friction unit and movable along the support rod, the second friction unit applying frictional force between the second friction unit and the support rod,   wherein the second friction unit is displaceable relative to the outer tub supporter within a space delimited by the outer tub supporter.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the outer tub supporter includes:
 a seating portion forming a seating surface to allow the outer tub to be seated thereon; and   a receiving body including a second receiving region extending downward from the seating portion so as to receive the second friction unit therein and a first receiving region formed below the second receiving region so as to receive the first friction unit therein.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the receiving body includes an opening configured to be open in a lateral direction so as to outwardly expose the interior of at least one of the first receiving region and the second receiving region. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the elastic member elastically supports the seating portion. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the receiving body includes a partition to separate the first receiving region and the second receiving region. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein the second friction unit is moved downward by the seating portion and moved upward by the partition. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the seating portion and the partition includes a protrusion formed at a portion thereof coming into contact with the second friction unit. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the outer tub supporter further includes an outwardly protruding portion extending downward from the seating portion and protruding outward beyond the receiving body. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 8 , wherein the outwardly protruding portion is supported by the elastic member. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a cover coupled to the outer tub supporter, a lower end portion of the cover protruding outward from the outer tub supporter being supported by the elastic member.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein any one of the cover and the second friction unit is formed with a vertically extending guiding groove and the other one is formed with a guiding protrusion to be guided along the guiding groove. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein the second friction unit includes:
 a tubular friction member housing to be fitted around the support rod; and   a friction member disposed inside the tubular friction member housing so as to generate friction with the support rod, and   wherein the guiding groove or the guide protrusion is formed at the tubular friction member housing.   
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second friction unit includes a friction member formed of a flexible material to apply friction between the second friction unit and an outer circumferential surface of the support rod. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 13 , wherein the friction member includes a collision portion on one or both of an upper end of the friction member or a lower end of the friction member which collides with the second receiving region when the friction member is moved along the support rod, and the collision portion has a convex shape more raised than a peripheral portion. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , wherein the friction member includes convex portions corresponding to the convex shape and concave portions near the convex portions, the convex portions and the concave portions being alternately formed. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 15 , wherein the friction member takes the form of a sheet wound around the support rod. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first friction unit is disposed so as to be fixed to the outer tub supporter. 
     
     
         18 . A washing machine comprising:
 a casing;   an outer tub disposed inside the casing, receive wash water therein;   a support rod having one end connected to the casing, the other end of the support rod having a support prop;   an outer tub supporter to support the outer tub, the outer tub supporter being disposed so as to be movable along the support rod;   an elastic member supported by the support prop, the elastic member elastically supporting the outer tub supporter; and   a first friction unit and a second friction unit movable along the support rod so as to apply frictional force between the first and second friction units and the support rod,   wherein the second friction unit is located above the first friction unit, and   wherein only the first friction unit is integrally moved with the outer tub supporter while the outer tub vibrates within a prescribed amplitude of vibration, and the first friction unit and the second friction unit are moved together while the outer tub vibrates at a greater amplitude of vibration than the prescribed amplitude of vibration.