WASHING MACHINE

Abstract

The present invention provides a washing machine capable of suppressing vibration and noise and capable of reducing a gap between a circumferential wall of an outer tub and a housing so as to reduce a useless space. The washing machine includes a box-shaped housing having an internal space opened upward; and a washing tub unit suspended and supported through a hanger bar in the internal space. The washing tub unit includes an outer tub presented in a bottomed quasi-cylindrical shape; an inner tub presented in a bottomed quasi-cylindrical shape, coaxially configured inside the outer tub and rotatably supported by the outer tub; and a driving mechanism arranged at a lower end of the outer tub and configured to drive the inner tub to rotate.

Claims

1. A washing machine, comprising: a box-shaped housing having an internal space opened upward; and a washing tub unit suspended and supported in the internal space through a hanger bar, wherein the washing tub unit comprises an outer tub presented in a bottomed quasi-cylindrical shape; an inner tub presented in a bottomed quasi-cylindrical shape, coaxially configured inside the outer tub and rotatably supported by the outer tub; and a driving mechanism arranged at a lower end of the outer tub and configured to drive the inner tub to rotate; a base end side of the hanger bar is mounted in the vicinity of an upper end of the housing, and a top end side is installed at a lower portion of the outer tub; and a center of gravity of the washing tub unit is set at a position higher than a height center in a vertical direction of the housing.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the hanger bar is mounted at a predetermined angle, and the top end side is mounted at a suspended supporting portion arranged at the lower portion of a circumferential wall of the outer tub; and the suspended supporting portion is set at a position higher than the height center in the vertical direction of the housing.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the driving mechanism selectively drives the inner tub and an agitator arranged at a bottom of the inner tub by transferring a rotating force of a motor; and a depth of the inner tub is set in a range of 50% to 70% of a diameter of the inner tub.

4. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein an accommodating portion is arranged below the washing tub unit.

5. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the accommodating portion is a drawer.

6. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein an accommodating portion is arranged below the washing tub unit.

7. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the accommodating portion is a drawer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view illustrating a washing machine of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view schematically illustrating the same washing machine.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the same washing machine.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section view schematically illustrating an example of an existing washing machine.

A LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0028] 1, 101: washing machine [0029] 2: housing [0030] 3, 103: hanger bar [0031] 3A, 103A: base end (of hanger bar) [0032] 3B, 103B: top end (of hanger bar) [0033] 4, 104: washing tub unit [0034] 5, 105: outer tub [0035] 6, 106: inner tub [0036] 7: driving mechanism [0037] 8: drawer (accommodating portion) [0038] 24: upper end (of housing) [0039] 51, 151: bottom plate [0040] 52, 152: circumferential wall [0041] 53: suspended and supporting portion [0042] 61, 161: bottom plate [0043] 62, 162: circumferential wall [0044] 63: agitator [0045] 72, 172: motor [0046] 73, 173: power distribution unit [0047] Dp0, Dp1: depth (of inner tub) [0048] Hb: height center of housing [0049] Hc0, Hc1: height of center of gravity (of washing tub unit) [0050] Hu: height of housing [0051] Pc0, Pc1: center of gravity (of washing tub unit) [0052] Sp: internal space [0053] : angle (of hanger bar)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to drawings.

[0055] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view illustrating a washing machine 1 of embodiments of the present invention. The washing machine 1 has a substantially quadrangular shape in top view, and FIG. 1 illustrates a state that the washing machine 1 is sectioned at a position of a diagonal line. Furthermore, FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a general structure of the washing machine 1 and omitting portions unrelated to the present invention. It shall be noted that the same reference numerals are given to the portion in FIG. 1 same as that in the existing washing machine 101 shown in FIG. 4.

[0056] The washing machine 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is configured as a called vertical type washing machine and has a housing 2 and a washing tub unit 4 suspended and supported inside the housing 2 through hanger bars 3. In addition, the washing tub unit 4 has a bottomed quasi-cylindrical outer tub 5, a bottomed quasi-cylindrical inner tub 6 coaxially configured inside the outer tub, and a driving mechanism arranged at a bottom of the outer tub 5.

[0057] The housing 2 is formed by a substantially rectangular bottom surface 21 and four wall surfaces 22 erecting from the bottom surface 21 and is formed into a box shape having an internal space Sp opened upward. Moreover, four corners of the bottom surface 21 have feet 23. The vertical height of the housing 2 of the present embodiment refers to a height including the feet 23 and is defined as a height from an arrangement surface F to an upper end 24 of the housing 2. Four corners near the upper end 24 of the housing 2 are provided with hook-shaped suspending and fixing portions 25, and the suspending and fixing portions 25 suspend base end 3A sides of the hanger bars 3 so as to function as supporting points for hanging the hanger bars 3.

[0058] The upper portion of the housing 2 is provided with a cover 26 integrated with an operation panel, one portion of the cover 26 is configured as an opening and closing cover 26a, as shown in FIG. 2, and the internal space Sp can be opened and closed by changing the opening and closing cover to be in an open state PO and a closed state PC.

[0059] Returning to FIG. 1, the outer tub 5 forming the washing tub unit 4 is a bottomed quasi-cylindrical member having a substantially circular bottom plate 51 in top view for forming the bottom and a circumferential wall 52 erecting from an edge portion of the bottom plate 51. Hook-shaped suspended and supporting portions 53 are substantially uniformly and integrally configured at four portions of the lower portion of the circumferential wall 52 in top view. The suspended and supporting portions 53 can be mounted at top end 3B sides of the hanger bars 3.

[0060] The inner tub 6 is configured as a so-called washing and dewatering drum and formed into a bottomed quasi-cylindrical shape having a substantially circular bottom plate 61 in top view for forming the bottom and a circumferential wall 62 erecting from an edge portion of the bottom plate 61. The inner tub 6 is configured inside the outer tub 5 coaxially with the outer tub 5, and rotatably suspended and supported by the outer tub 5 through the driving mechanism 7. The bottom plate 61 and the circumferential wall 62 are provided with a plurality of water through holes not shown, and water in the inner tub 6 can be discharged through the water through holes. Furthermore, an agitator 63 generally called an impeller is coaxially arranged right above the bottom plate 61 of the inner tub 6.

[0061] The driving mechanism 7 includes a basal plate member 71 installed at the lower surface of a bottom plate 51 of the outer tub 5, a motor 72 installed at the basal plate member 71, and a power distribution unit 73 including a clutch. The motor 72 and the power distribution unit 73 respectively have a belt pulley 72a and a belt pulley 73a; and the peripheries of the belt pulleys 72a and 73a are wounded with an annular transmission belt 74, so that the power can be mutually transferred.

[0062] The power distribution unit 73 has two output shafts 75 and 76 coaxially assembled. The first output shaft 75 at the inner side is connected to the center of the above agitator 63, and the second output shaft 76 is connected to the bottom plate 61 of the inner tub 6. The power distribution unit 73 can selectively switch an output target of a driving force inputted from the motor 72 through the belt pulley 73a only to the first output shaft 75 or to both the first output shaft 75 and the second output shaft 76 according to an external instruction. Therefore, the washing machine 1 can only enable the agitator 63 to rotate when in washing, and enables the inner tub 6 and the agitator 63 to rotate integrally when in dewatering.

[0063] Four hanger bars 3 are configured correspondingly to four corners of the housing 2. Each hanger bar 3 is slightly obliquely configured in such a manner that top ends 3B are close to each other, and the base ends 3A are suspended and fixed at the suspending and fixing portions 25 of the housing 2. Moreover, the top end 3B is provided with a damping mechanism 31 including a spiral spring 31A serving as an elastic member, and the upper end 31A of the damping mechanism 31 is suspended and fixed at the suspended and supporting portion 53 arranged at the outer tub 5. Thus, the washing tub unit 4 including the outer tub 5 is suspended and supported through four hanger bars 3.

[0064] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view schematically illustrating the washing machine 1. In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are given to portions same as those in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 2, a dimensional relation of various portions is described below in detail.

[0065] Firstly, a height Hu of the housing 2 is defined as a dimension in the vertical direction from the arrangement surface F to the upper end 24 of the housing 2. In the present embodiment, an overall dimension of the housing 2 is set to be substantially same as that of the existing ordinary washing machine, and the height Hu of the shell 2 is set to be about 770 mm which is the same as the housing of the existing washing machine.

[0066] Moreover, the bottom plate 61 of the inner tub 6 is arranged at a position higher than the existing washing machine, and the distance from the upper end 24 of the housing 2 to the bottom plate 61 is configured to be short.

[0067] Herein, the depth Dp1 of the inner tub 6 is defined as a dimension in the vertical direction from the upper end 24 of the housing 2 to the lowermost portion of the upper surface of the bottom plate 61 of the inner tub 6, and the diameter Di1 of the inner tub 6 is defined as a maximum diameter at an inner surface of the circumferential wall 62 of the inner tub 6. In the existing ordinary washing machine 101 (referring to FIG. 4), in the case that the depth Dp0 and the diameter Di0 of the inner tub 106 are defined same as above, generally the depth Dp0 of the inner tub 106 is about 110% of the diameter Di0 and is longer in a lengthwise direction.

[0068] Relative to this, in the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, the depth Dp1 of the inner tub 6 is set as about 60% of the diameter Di1 and about half of the depth of the inner tub of the existing washing machine. Therefore, the washings can be easily taken in and out of the inner tub 6. Furthermore, since the height Hu of the housing 2 is same as that of the housing of the existing washing machine, the upper end 24 may not become too low and people do not need to bend down to take in and out the washings.

[0069] Furthermore, since the inner tub 6 is connected with the second output shaft 76, a height from the supported bottom plate 61 to the upper end 64 is reduced. Therefore, even in the case of taking the washings to a limit position of the upper end 64, the washings may also be imbalanced when in rotation, and the torque acting in a tilting direction of the inner tub 6 is also reduced. Therefore, relative displacement between the outer tub 5 and the inner tub 6 can be reduced, so that the gap Ci1 between the circumferential walls 52 and 62 of the outer tub 5 and inner tub 6 is smaller than the gap Ci0 between the circumferential walls 152 and 162 of the outer tub 105 and the inner tub 106 of the existing washing machine. Specifically, the gap Ci1 is set as about 80% of the existing gap Ci0. Thus, the useless space can be further reduced; and moreover, useless water, i.e. dead water, entering the gap between the outer tub 5 and the inner tub 6 when in washing can also be reduced.

[0070] Furthermore, in the case that the stirring force generated by the agitator 63 needs to be transferred to the upper end 64 of the inner tub 6 when in washing, since the height to the upper end 64 is reduced, the stirring force can be set to be relatively small. Therefore, the capacity of the motor 72 can be set to be smaller than that of the existing motor 172; and moreover, the load resistance performance of the power distribution unit 73 is set to be smaller than that of the existing power distribution unit 173, so that the miniaturization and cost reduction of the driving mechanism 7 can be realized. Furthermore, the electric power consumption generated by the motor 72 can also be reduced, thereby reducing the operation cost.

[0071] Furthermore, as described above, when the bottom plate 61 of the inner tub 6 is set at a higher position, the bottom plate 51 of the outer tub 5 and the driving mechanism 7 mounted at the side of the lower surface side are also set at higher positions. Therefore, the integral center-of-gravity position Pc of the washing tub unit 4 is also set at a higher position.

[0072] Herein, the height Hc1 of the center Pc1 of the washing tub unit 4 is defined as a dimension in the vertical direction from the arrangement surface F to the center of the gravity Pc. In the existing ordinary washing machine 101 (referring to FIG. 4), in the case that the height Hc0 of the center of gravity Pc0 of the washing tub unit 104 is defined same as above, generally the height Hc0 of the center of gravity Pc0 is about 40% of the height Hu of the housing 2.

[0073] Relative to this, in the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, the height Hc1 of the center of gravity Pc1 of the washing tub unit 4 is greater than 50% of the height Hu of the housing 2. That is, in the case that a half position of the height Hu of the housing 2 is defined as a height center Hb in the vertical direction of the housing 2, the center of gravity Pc1 of the washing tub unit 4 is higher than the position of the height center Hb.

[0074] Therefore, in the case that the agitator 63 and the inner tub 6 are driven by the driving mechanism 7 to rotate, and particularly during dewatering operation that the agitator 63 and the inner tub 6 are integrally driven to rotate at high speed, even in the case of swinging rotation of the washing tub unit 4, since the upper end 24 of the housing 2 having the supporting points for suspending and supporting the hanger bars 2 is close to the center-of-gravity position Pc1, the swinging is reduced and the overall vibration and noise are reduced.

[0075] Furthermore, in the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, as the bottom plate 51 of the outer tub 5 and the center-of-gravity position Pc1 of the washing tub unit 4 are set to be higher, the position of the suspended and supporting portion 53 for installing the top end 3B side of the hanger bar 3 is also higher than the position of the suspended and supporting portion of the existing washing machine. Specifically, the distance Ls1 from the suspending and fixing portion 25 for installing the base end 3A of the hanger bar 3 to the supporting point of the suspended and supporting portion 53 for installing the top end 3B side is reduced to be about 60% of the distance Ls0 between the supporting points of the existing washing machine. Therefore, the swinging of the washing tub unit 4 can be further reduced, thereby further reducing the vibration and noise.

[0076] Furthermore, the length La1 of the hanger bar 3 can also be shortened by shortening the distance Ls1 between the supporting points. Specifically, in the case of utilizing the damping mechanism same as before, the length La1 of the hanger bar 3 is changed to be about 70% of the length La0 of the hanger bar 103 of the existing washing machine. Therefore, an effect for reducing the manufacturing cost of parts and further narrowing the useless space in the housing 2 can be achieved.

[0077] Furthermore, each hanger bar 3 is inclinedly mounted at a predetermined angle such that the top end 3B sides are close to each other. Thus, a pulling force is applied to four corners of the washing tub unit 4 through each hanger bar 3, so that the stability of the central position of the housing 2 in top view can be improved. Specifically, the angle is also set to be about 9 same as that of the existing washing machine.

[0078] In the case that the hanger bars 3 are inclined at the specified angle , corresponding to the distance Ls1 between the supporting points for installing the hanger bars 3, a gap Co1 between the wall surface 22 of the housing 2 and the circumferential wall 52 of the outer tub 5 needs to be set. In the present embodiment, as described above, the distance Ls1 between the supporting points is set to be about 60% of the distance Ls0 between the supporting points of the existing washing machine, and correspondingly the circumferential wall 52 of the outer tub 5 is disposed in the outer diameter direction, thereby narrowing the useless space, and the gap Co1 is smaller than the gap Co0 of the existing washing machine. Specifically, the gap Co1 is set to be about 80% of the gap Co0 of the existing washing machine, and correspondingly the diameter of the outer tub 5 is increased.

[0079] Moreover, except that the gap Ci1 between the outer tub 5 and the inner tub 6 is set to be smaller than the gap Ci0 of the existing washing machine, by setting the gap Co1 between the wall surface 22 of the housing 2 and the circumferential wall 52 of the outer tub 5 to be smaller than the gap Co0 of the existing washing machine, the diameter Di0 of the inner tub 5 is increased correspondingly. Specifically, the diameter Di0 of the inner tub 5 is set to be about 115% of the diameter Di0 of the inner tub 105 of the existing washing machine, and the space in the radius direction is increased, thereby increasing the washing capacity. Therefore, the washing capacity is not reduced proportionally to the reduction of the depth Dp1, but a sufficient washing capacity can be ensured.

[0080] Furthermore, for the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment as described above, the washing tub unit 4 is integrally installed at the top, so that the lower side of the internal space Sp can be open to a large extent. Therefore, the space can be used to install the drawer 8 as the accommodating portion.

[0081] FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram illustrating the washing machine and illustrates a condition that the drawer 8 is drawn forwards. The lower portion of the wall surface 22 at the front side of the washing machine 1 is provided with a rectangular opening 22a which is longer in a transverse direction, and the inner side of the opening is provided with the drawer 8. Therefore, the space below the washing tub unit 4 (referring to FIG. 2) can be effectively utilized, thereby further narrowing the useless space. Furthermore, the drawer 8 is used as the accommodating space for detergents, bleaching agents and softening agents necessary for washing as well as utensils such as washing nets and the like, so that a peripheral environment of the washing machine in a tendency of disorder can be easily sorted and arranged, and the usability is further improved.

[0082] It shall be noted that a specific structure of each portion is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0083] For example, in the above embodiments, the accommodating portion 8 is configured as the drawer, and the accommodating portion can also be configured as a storage shelf with an opening and closing door.

[0084] Furthermore, various apparatuses for increasing additional functions can also be properly included and can be integrally configured to substitute the accommodating portion 8.

[0085] Furthermore, the dimension of each portion of the washing machine 1 is not limited to the above solution and can be appropriately changed.

[0086] Various variations can be made to other structures without departing from technical spirit of the present invention.