Washing machine including damper apparatus

Abstract

A washing machine includes a washing tub, a dewatering tub arranged rotatably in the washing tub, a housing to accommodate the washing tub, a suspension to suspend the washing tub from the housing substantially in a vertical direction, and a damper to connect the washing tub to the housing. The damper includes a translational damper to apply a damping force in a direction of translation, and a first rotational damper and a second rotational damper respectively connected to opposite ends of the translational damper while securing a degree of freedom substantially in the vertical direction of the translational damper, and to respectively apply the damping force in a rotating direction. The first rotational damper is arranged on a lower portion of the housing to be rotatable about a first rotary axis substantially in the vertical direction. The second rotational damper is arranged on a bottom of the washing tub to be rotatable about a second rotary axis substantially in the vertical direction.

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a washing tub;   a dewatering tub arranged rotatably in the washing tub;   a housing to accommodate the washing tub;   a suspension to suspend the washing tub from the housing substantially in a vertical direction; and   a damper configured to connect the washing tub to the housing,   wherein the damper comprises:
 a translational damper configured to apply a damping force to the washing tub in a direction of translation; and 
 a first rotational damper and a second rotational damper (respectively connected to opposite ends of the translational damper while securing a degree of freedom substantially in the vertical direction of the translational damper, and to respectively apply the damping force to the washing tub in a rotating direction, 
 the first rotational damper is connected to one end of the translational damper and is arranged on a lower portion of the housing to be rotatable about a first rotary axis substantially in a vertical direction, and 
 the second rotational damper is connected to an other end of the translational damper and is arranged on a bottom of the washing tub to be rotatable about a second rotary axis substantially in a vertical direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the damper has a damping force in a circumferential direction of the first rotary axis of the first rotational damper, and has a damping force in a circumferential direction of the second rotary axis of the second rotational damper. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the translational damper is rotatable about a third rotary axis substantially in a horizontal direction with respect to the first rotational damper, and is rotatable about a fourth rotary axis substantially in the horizontal direction with respect to the second rotational damper. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the damper has a damping force in a circumferential direction of the third rotary axis of the translational damper with respect to the first rotational damper, and has a damping force in a circumferential direction of the fourth rotary axis of the translational damper with respect to the second rotational damper. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein, while the washing tub is translationally moving, the translational damper applies the damping force to the washing tub by expanding and contracting, the first rotational damper applies the damping force to the washing tub by rotating about the first rotary axis, and the second rotational damper applies the damping force to the washing tub by rotating about the second rotary axis. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the translational damper is arranged to translate toward a rotary shaft of the dewatering tub. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the translational damper is arranged in parallel to a direction of a central axis of a drain hose. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the translational damper is arranged nearly perpendicular to a direction of a central axis of a drain hose. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first rotational damper is arranged near a corner portion of the lower portion of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the second rotational damper is arranged so that a direction from the first rotational damper to the second rotational damper is nearly parallel to a direction of a central axis of a drain hose. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the second rotational damper is arranged so that a direction from the first rotational damper to the second rotational damper is nearly perpendicular to a direction of a central axis of a drain hose. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first rotational damper and the second rotational damper comprises:
 a holder fixed to a part of the washing machine, on which the first rotational damper or the second rotational damper is arranged, and having a holder opening substantially in a vertical direction;   an arm rotatably inserted into the holder opening, connected to the translational damper, and having an arm opening substantially in a vertical direction;   a cap inserted in the arm opening and fixed to the arm so that the arm does not escape from the holder in the vertical direction; and   a friction material disposed between the holder and the arm in a horizontal direction and configured to apply a rotating damping force in response to rotating the arm relative to the holder.   
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first rotational damper and the second rotational damper comprises an O-ring disposed between the holder and the arm in the vertical direction. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the arm includes a lock opening substantially in the horizontal direction, and
 the cap includes a hook that is inserted and hooked by the lock opening.   
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the holder includes a holder extension portion formed by extending to inside of the holder opening, the cap includes a cap extension portion facing the holder extension portion in the vertical direction,
 the friction material is disposed between the holder extension portion and the cap extension portion, and   the holder extension portion has a first wall portion having a first thickness substantially in the horizontal direction and a second wall portion having a second thickness substantially in the horizontal direction, the second thickness being less than the first thickness.   
     
     
         16 . A washing machine comprising:
 a washing tub;   a dewatering tub arranged rotatably in the washing tub;   a housing to accommodate the washing tub;   a suspension to suspend the washing tub from the housing substantially in a vertical direction; and   a damper configured to connect the washing tub to the housing,   wherein the damper comprises:
 a rotating arm configured to be rotatable about a rotary axis in a vertical direction; 
 a first translation damper having one end connected to a bottom of the washing tub and an other end connected to the rotating arm; 
 a second translational damper having one end connected to a lower portion of the housing and an other end connected to the rotating arm; and 
 a rotating member configured to be rotatable about the rotary axis in the vertical direction, 
   wherein the first translational damper is rotatable about a rotary axis in a horizontal direction with respect to the rotating arm, and the second translational damper is connected to the lower portion of the housing via the rotating member, and   wherein while the washing tub is translated, the first translational damper is translated and the rotating arm rotates, and a rotation of the rotating arm is dampened by the second translational damper.