Washing machine appliance with a tub counterweight

Abstract

A washing machine appliance includes a tub positioned within a cabinet. The tub has a wall and a plurality of ribs extending from the wall. A secondary wall is positioned on the plurality of ribs opposite the wall of the tub such that the secondary wall is spaced from the wall on the plurality of ribs. The wall of the tub, the plurality of ribs and the secondary wall define a plurality of cavities between the wall of the tub and the secondary wall. Each cavity of the plurality of cavities is at least partially filled or fillable with a liquid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub positioned within the cabinet, the tub having an end wall, an annular side wall and a plurality of ribs, the annular side wall extends from the end wall and the plurality of ribs extend from the end wall;   a basket positioned within the tub such that the basket is rotatable within the tub; and   a secondary wall positioned on the plurality of ribs opposite the end wall of the tub such that the secondary wall is spaced from the end wall on the plurality of ribs;   wherein the end wall, the plurality of ribs and the secondary wall define a plurality of cavities between the end wall and the secondary wall, each cavity of the plurality of cavities at least partially filled or fillable with a liquid.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the tub defines an interior volume that is fillable with wash fluid, the basket positioned within the interior volume of the tub, the secondary wall positioned at the interior volume of the tub. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary wall defines at least one hole that extends between the interior volume of the tub and one of the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one check valve, each check valve of the at least one check valve positioned at a respective hole of the at least one hole, the at least one check valve configured to allow liquid flow into plurality of cavities and limit liquid flow out of the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the tub defines an interior volume that is fillable with wash fluid, the basket positioned within the interior volume of the tub, the secondary wall positioned outside of the interior volume of the tub such that the plurality of ribs extend from the end wall away from the interior volume of the tub. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the end wall defines at least one hole that extends between the interior volume of the tub and one of the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one check valve, each check valve of the at least one check valve positioned at a respective hole of the at least one hole, the at least one check valve configured to allow liquid flow into plurality of cavities and limit liquid flow out of the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein each cavity of the plurality of cavities is at least ninety percent filled with the liquid. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 8 , wherein a weight of the liquid within the plurality of cavities is no less than two pounds and no greater than sixty pounds. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises water or an electrolyte. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs are molded with the end wall, the secondary wall spin-welded, ultrasonically-welded, snap-fit, hot-plate welded or blow molded onto the plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein no concrete or metal counterweight is mounted to the tub. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the basket is rotatable about a vertical axis within the tub, and the end wall is a bottom wall of the tub. 
     
     
         14 . A washing machine appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub positioned within the cabinet, the tub having a wall and a plurality of ribs extending from the wall;   a basket positioned within the tub such that the basket is rotatable within the tub; and   a secondary wall positioned on the plurality of ribs opposite the wall of the tub such that the secondary wall is spaced from the wall on the plurality of ribs;   wherein the wall of the tub, the plurality of ribs and the secondary wall define a plurality of cavities between the wall of the tub and the secondary wall, each cavity of the plurality of cavities filled or fillable with a liquid.   
     
     
         15 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the tub defines an interior volume that is fillable with wash fluid, the basket positioned within the interior volume of the tub, the secondary wall positioned outside of the interior volume of the tub such that the plurality of ribs extend from the wall away from the interior volume of the tub. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the wall defines at least one hole that extends between the interior volume of the tub and one of the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the wall of the tub is one of a cylindrical side wall and an end wall, the end wall positioned at an end of the cylindrical side wall. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , wherein each cavity of the plurality of cavities is at least ninety percent filled with the liquid, and a weight of the liquid within the plurality of cavities is no less than ten pounds and no greater than thirty pounds. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid comprises one or more of water and a salt. 
     
     
         20 . A washing machine appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a basket positioned within the tub such that the basket is rotatable within the tub; and   means for holding a sealed volume of filling on the tub,   wherein the sealed volume of filling weighs no less than two pounds and no more than sixty pounds.