Locking mechanism for inner tub and washing machine

Abstract

A locking mechanism for an inner tub comprises a locking rod capable of reciprocating along an axial direction, and a driving unit for driving the locking rod to move; and the locking mechanism further comprises a position switch with a triggering structure arranged on the locking rod. A locking hole is formed in the bottom of the inner tub of the washing machine; after the locking rod sticks into the locking hole and is locked in place, the triggering structure triggers the position switch, and the position switch sends out a locked-in-place signal; and after the locking rod retracts from the locking hole and is subjected to retracting resetting, the triggering structure triggers the position switch, an unlocked-in-place signal is sent out, and thus, a master control board of the washing machine can control the washing machine to perform a procedure of the next step.

1 . A locking mechanism for an inner tub comprising a locking rod capable of reciprocating along an axial direction, a slideway for a movement of the locking rod and a driving unit for driving the locking rod to move; wherein, the locking mechanism further comprises a position switch, and a triggering structure of the position switch is arranged on the locking rod. 
     
     
         2 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 1 , wherein the position switch is fixedly arranged on the slideway at outside of the locking rod,
 the locking rod reciprocates to a set position,   the triggering structure on the locking rod triggers the position switch, and the position switch sends out a status signal of the locking rod.   
     
     
         3 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 1 , wherein the position switch is a contact switch, a contact point of the contact switch faces to the locking rod;
 a side face, facing to the contact point, of the locking rod at least comprises two side face sections, vertical distances of the two side face sections to the contact point are different, and a joint of the two side face sections is of an oblique transition face.   
     
     
         4 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 3 , wherein the locking rod is of a column body and at least comprises a first locking part and a second locking part,
 the first locking part and the second locking part are different in diameter, and   a joint of the first locking part and the second locking part is of smooth transition.   
     
     
         5 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 3 , wherein the locking rod is of a cylinder body,
 an upper part of the locking rod serves as the first locking part, a lower part of the locking rod serves as the second locking part,   a diameter of the first locking part is greater than that of the second locking part, and   a diameter changing portion is of smooth transition through a slant face.   
     
     
         6 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking rod moves to a set position, the contact point of the contact switch corresponds to the second locking part of the locking rod,
 the locking rod is reset, and the contact point of the contact switch corresponds to the first locking part of the locking rod.   
     
     
         7 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 1 , wherein the position switch is an inductive switch,
 the triggering structure serves as a signal emission part,   the signal emission part is arranged on the locking rod and moves along with the locking rod,   the inductive switch is fixedly arranged on the slideway at the outer side of the locking rod, and an induction part of the inductive switch faces to the locking rod.   
     
     
         8 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 1 , wherein the position switch is arranged in a side wall of the slideway or arranged at an end part of the slideway. 
     
     
         9 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a fixing seat,
 the slideway is arranged at a center of the fixing seat,   the locking rod penetrates through the slideway, and   the position switch is arranged in the side wall of the slideway or arranged at the end part of the slideway.   
     
     
         10 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a fixing shell, the fixing shell is mounted on the fixing seat, the locking rod and the slideway are arranged in the fixing shell, and a sealing structure is arranged between the fixing shell and the locking rod. 
     
     
         11 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 1 , wherein a boss is arranged at the upper part of the locking rod,
 a second spring is arranged below the boss, one end of the second spring is in contact with a lower surface of the boss, another end of the second spring is fixed, and   the second spring is compressed when the locking rod moves downwards.   
     
     
         12 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a crank-link structure, a lower end of the locking rod is connected with a link of the crank-link structure, and a crank is connected with a rotating motor. 
     
     
         13 . A washing machine with the locking mechanism according to  claim 1 , comprising the locking mechanism arranged on an outer tub of the washing machine, and a locking hole formed in the inner tub,
 wherein the inner tub is locked when the locking rod sticks into the locking hole,   the inner tub is unlocked when the locking rod leaves the locking hole, and a sealing structure is arranged between the locking mechanism and the outer tub.   
     
     
         14 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 5 , wherein the locking rod moves to a set position, the contact point of the contact switch corresponds to the second locking part of the locking rod,
 the locking rod is reset, and the contact point of the contact switch corresponds to the first locking part of the locking rod.   
     
     
         15 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 2 , wherein the position switch is an inductive switch,
 the triggering structure serves as a signal emission part,   the signal emission part is arranged on the locking rod and moves along with the locking rod,   the inductive switch is fixedly arranged on the slideway at the outer side of the locking rod, and an induction part of the inductive switch faces to the locking rod.   
     
     
         16 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 11 , wherein the other end of the second spring is in fixed contact with the fixing seat. 
     
     
         17 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 12 , wherein the rotating motor is arranged in a shell, the shell is provided with a mounting part, the mounting part is fixed below the lower end of the fixing seat, and a through hole for enabling the locking rod to pass through is formed in a center of the mounting part. 
     
     
         18 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 12 , wherein the position switch is arranged in the through hole, and an opening for mounting the position switch is formed in a side wall of the through hole. 
     
     
         19 . The locking mechanism for the inner tub according to  claim 12 , wherein the crank is an eccentric wheel, an eccentric shaft of the eccentric wheel is hinged to the link, and the center of the eccentric wheel is connected with a motor shaft of the rotating motor. 
     
     
         20 . The washing machine with the locking mechanism according to  claim 13 , wherein, a mounting hole of the locking mechanism is formed in the outer tub, the fixing seat of the locking mechanism is mounted at the bottom of the outer tub, the fixing shell of the locking mechanism is mounted in the mounting hole, and a sealing structure is arranged between the fixing shell and the mounting hole.