The invention is directed to a rotatable drum for a washing machine or similar equipment. Embodiments of the invention include an outer drum, a rotatable inner drum, and a stabilization assembly coupled to the outer drum and the rotatable inner drum.

In a laundry treating apparatus, flat surfaces are installed at both sides of a tub for storing water therein, so that a spacing between each of the both sides of the tub and each side of a cabinet is smaller than a spacing between a lower surface of the tub and a bottom of the cabinet. Further, a control panel is disposed between the lower surface of the tub and the bottom of the cabinet.

In a laundry treating apparatus, flat surfaces are installed at both sides of a tub for storing water therein, so that a spacing between each of the both sides of the tub and each side of a cabinet is smaller than a spacing between a lower surface of the tub and a bottom of the cabinet. Further, a control panel is disposed between the lower surface of the tub and the bottom of the cabinet.

A washing machine having a cabinet, a drum for receiving laundry from its open end where the drum is rotatable around its longitudinal axis within the cabinet, a balancer having a mass channel, and a balancing weight where the mass channel extends in a direction from the lateral surface of the drum to the inside of the drum and receives the balancing weight and the balancing weight is movable within the mass channel along the direction of the extension of the mass channel is disclosed. The invention also relates to a method of increasing the balance of a drum rotating along its longitudinal axis within a washing machine, the method determining the unbalanced load of the laundry received by the drum, and moving a balancing weight in a direction between the lateral surface and the longitudinal axis of the drum.

A laundry apparatus includes an exterior housing, a tub, one or more tub mounts rigidly mounting the tub to the exterior housing, a drum positioned within the tub and rotatable relative to the tub, a control unit, a motor, one or more load imbalance sensors, and a dynamic balancing assembly. The motor is communicatively coupled to the control unit and operatively coupled to the drum. The one or more load imbalance sensors are communicatively coupled to the control unit and configured to output a load imbalance signal to the control unit, the load imbalance signal being indicative of a load imbalance within the drum. The dynamic balancing assembly is includes one or more counterweight devices configured to be orbited about the primary rotation axis to counteract a detected load imbalance in the drum. The tub is unsupported by any displaceable suspension members extending between the tub and the exterior housing.

A laundry apparatus includes an exterior housing, a tub, one or more tub mounts rigidly mounting the tub to the exterior housing, a drum positioned within the tub and rotatable relative to the tub, a control unit, a motor, one or more load imbalance sensors, and a dynamic balancing assembly. The motor is communicatively coupled to the control unit and operatively coupled to the drum. The one or more load imbalance sensors are communicatively coupled to the control unit and configured to output a load imbalance signal to the control unit, the load imbalance signal being indicative of a load imbalance within the drum. The dynamic balancing assembly is includes one or more counterweight devices configured to be orbited about the primary rotation axis to counteract a detected load imbalance in the drum. The tub is unsupported by any displaceable suspension members extending between the tub and the exterior housing.

A seal for a tub/drum assembly has a ring body to secure the seal to the tub/drum assembly. An arm extends from the ring body. The arm reduces a gap between the tub and drum. A mass at an end of the arm. The mass enables the arm to deflect at high drum rotational speeds increasing the gap between the tub and drum during high rotational speed of the drum. Alternatively, the arm is of a material prohibiting substantial deflection so that the gap is maintained at all speeds between the tub and drum without the arm contacting the drum creating high resistance in an airflow path.

A seal for a tub/drum assembly has a ring body to secure the seal to the tub/drum assembly. An arm extends from the ring body. The arm reduces a gap between the tub and drum. A mass at an end of the arm. The mass enables the arm to deflect at high drum rotational speeds increasing the gap between the tub and drum during high rotational speed of the drum. Alternatively, the arm is of a material prohibiting substantial deflection so that the gap is maintained at all speeds between the tub and drum without the arm contacting the drum creating high resistance in an airflow path.

Provided are a balance assembly and a household appliance. The balance assembly is applied in the household appliance. The balance assembly includes a balancing ring, a balancer, an identification member and a first detection member. The balancing ring has a chamber defined therein. The balancer is movably arranged in the chamber and includes a rotating member and a driving member. The driving member is connected to the rotating member and configured to drive the rotating member to rotate to drive a movement of the balancer within the chamber. A relative movement between the first detection member and the identification member occurs during the movement of the balancer. The first detection member is to detect a number of times of the identification member passing through the first detection member. The number of times of the identification member passing through the first detection member is related to a position of the balancer.

Provided are a balance assembly and a household appliance. The balance assembly is applied in the household appliance. The balance assembly includes a balancing ring, a balancer, an identification member and a first detection member. The balancing ring has a chamber defined therein. The balancer is movably arranged in the chamber and includes a rotating member and a driving member. The driving member is connected to the rotating member and configured to drive the rotating member to rotate to drive a movement of the balancer within the chamber. A relative movement between the first detection member and the identification member occurs during the movement of the balancer. The first detection member is to detect a number of times of the identification member passing through the first detection member. The number of times of the identification member passing through the first detection member is related to a position of the balancer.