# US 11,299,844 B2 · Washing machine

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- Number: US 11,299,844 B2
- Document ID: US11299844B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/578,097
- Filed: 2019-09-20
- Published: 2020-04-30
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2018-09-21
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: LG Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Jeonguk Lee; Joonho Pyo; Taehee Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299844B2

## CPC

- D06F 37/40: for driving the receptacle and an agitator or impeller, e.g. alternatively {(D06F37/304, D06F37/308 take precedence)}
- D06F 23/04: and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis
- F16C 35/063: Fixing them on the shaft (with interposition of an element F16C35/07)
- F16D 11/14: with clutching members movable only axially (F16D11/02, F16D11/08 take precedence)
- F16D 27/09: and with interengaging jaws or gear-teeth
- H01F 7/081: {Magnetic constructions}
- H01F 27/24: Magnetic cores
- H01F 27/325: {Coil bobbins (formers for coils in general H01F5/02)}
- D06F 37/30: Driving arrangements (control circuits or arrangements D06F34/08)
- D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES

## Abstract

A washing machine includes a washing tub which accommodates laundry, a pulsator disposed in the washing tub, a drive which rotates the pulsator, a dehydration shaft connected to the washing tub, a solenoid, a clutch provided at a lower side of the solenoid to perform a shaft-joint connection between the drive shaft and the dehydration shaft at a connection position and to perform a shaft-joint release between the drive shaft and the dehydration shaft at a disconnection position lifted from the connection position by a magnetic force of the solenoid, a bearing disposed above the solenoid and supporting the dehydration shaft, and a bearing housing which receives the bearing and the solenoid. The bearing housing includes a first fixing core surrounding an outer circumference of the bearing, and a second fixing core extended downward from the first fixing core and surrounding an outer circumference of the solenoid.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A washing machine, comprising:
a washing tub provided to accommodate laundry therein;
a dehydration shaft configured to rotate the washing tub, the dehydration shaft having a hollow portion therein;
a pulsator rotatably disposed in the washing tub;
a drive shaft passing through the hollow portion of the dehydration shaft, the drive shaft configured to rotate the pulsator;
a solenoid configured to generate a magnetic field when a current is applied to the solenoid;
a clutch lifted along the dehydration shaft from a lower side of the solenoid when the current is applied to the solenoid, the clutch being configured to selectively transmit rotation of the drive shaft to the dehydration shaft;
a bearing configured to rotatably support the dehydration shaft, the bearing being located at an upper side of the solenoid; and
a bearing housing configured to receive the bearing and the solenoid therein, the bearing housing comprising:
a first fixing core surrounding an outer periphery of the bearing and contacting the outer circumference of the bearing; and
a second fixing core extended downward from the first fixing core, the second fixing core surrounding an outer periphery of the solenoid to fix an arrangement of the solenoid,
wherein the first fixing core and the second fixing core are integrally formed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the second fixing core has an inner diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the first fixing core.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The washing machine of claim 2, wherein the solenoid is supported by an upper end portion of the second fixing core.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The washing machine of claim 3, wherein the solenoid comprises a bobbin and a coil wound around the bobbin,
wherein the bobbin comprises:
a bobbin body portion providing an aperture through which the dehydration shaft passes, the bobbin body portion including an outer circumferential surface around which the coil is wound; and
an upper plate portion extended radially outward from an upper end of the bobbin body portion, and
wherein the upper end portion of the second fixing core supports the upper plate portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The washing machine of claim 1, further comprising a water storage tub to contain water therein,
wherein the washing tub is located in the water storage tub,
wherein the bearing housing comprises:
an upper bearing housing coupled to a bottom surface of the water storage tub; and
a lower bearing housing located below the upper bearing housing, the upper bearing housing and the lower bearing housing defining a space to accommodate the bearing therein,
wherein the lower bearing housing comprises:
a ring-shaped coupling flange portion coupled to the upper bearing housing; and
a housing side portion extended downward from an inner diameter portion of the coupling flange portion,
wherein the lower bearing housing comprises the first fixing core and the second fixing core, and
wherein the second fixing core defines an opening through which the dehydration shaft passes.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The washing machine of claim 5, wherein the solenoid comprises a bobbin and a coil wound around the bobbin, the bobbin providing an aperture through which the dehydration shaft passes, and
wherein the opening of the second fixing core has a diameter larger than a diameter of the aperture of the bobbin.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The washing machine of claim 6, wherein the lower bearing housing comprises:
a housing lower plate portion extended radially inward from a lower end of the housing side portion, and through which the dehydration shaft passes;
wherein the first fixing core extends downward from the housing lower plate portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the clutch comprises:
a clutch coupler movable along the dehydration shaft between a first position and a second position, the dehydration shaft being connected to the drive shaft when the clutch coupler is in the first position, and the dehydration shaft being disconnected from the drive shaft when the clutch coupler is in the second position; and
an armature fixed to the clutch coupler, the armature being movable by the solenoid to thereby move the clutch coupler from the first position to the second position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The washing machine of claim 8, wherein the armature comprises:
a core base located below the second fixing core, the core base extending outward from the clutch coupler; and
a core outer portion extending upward from an outer periphery of the core base.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The washing machine of claim 9, wherein an uppermost end of the core outer portion is spaced apart from a lowermost end of the second fixing core when the clutch coupler is in the first position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The washing machine of claim 9, wherein a distance between the dehydration shaft and an uppermost end of the core outer portion is larger than a distance between the dehydration shaft and a lowermost end of the second fixing core.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The washing machine of claim 9, wherein an uppermost end of the core outer portion is located higher than a lower end of the second fixing core when the clutch coupler is in the second position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The washing machine of claim 9, wherein the core base includes an opening through which the dehydration shaft passes,
wherein the armature further comprises a core inner portion extended upward from the core base at the opening,
wherein the clutch coupler is secured to the core inner portion, and
wherein the clutch coupler comprises a synthetic resin material.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The washing machine of claim 8, further comprising:
a motor having a rotor; and
a rotor hub connecting the rotor to the drive shaft,
wherein the clutch coupler is engaged with the rotor hub in the first position and separated from the rotor hub in the second position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The washing machine of claim 1, further comprising an elastic member configured to apply a biasing force to the clutch in a direction biasing the clutch coupler toward the first position.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the solenoid comprises:
a bobbin through which the dehydration shaft passes; and
a coil wound around the bobbin, and
wherein the elastic member is a coil spring disposed between the bearing and the clutch.

### Claim 17

A washing machine, comprising:
a washing tub provided to accommodate laundry therein;
a dehydration shaft configured to rotate the washing tub, the dehydration shaft having a hollow portion therein;
a pulsator rotatably disposed in the washing tub;
a drive shaft passing through the hollow portion of the dehydration shaft, the drive shaft configured to rotate the pulsator;
a solenoid configured to generate a magnetic field when a current is applied to the solenoid;
a clutch lifted along the dehydration shaft from a lower side of the solenoid when the current is applied to the solenoid, the clutch being configured to selectively transmit rotation of the drive shaft to the dehydration shaft, the clutch being movable along the dehydration shaft between a first position and a second position, the dehydration shaft being connected to the drive shaft when the clutch is in the first position, and the dehydration shaft being disconnected from the drive shaft when the clutch is in the second position;
a bearing configured to rotatably support the dehydration shaft, the bearing being located at an upper side of the solenoid; and
a bearing housing configured to receive the bearing and the solenoid therein, the bearing housing comprising a ferromagnetic material, the bearing housing including a cylindrical portion surrounding an outer circumference of the bearing and an outer circumference of the solenoid,
wherein the solenoid is located in an area defined by the cylindrical portion, and
wherein an inner diameter of a second section of the cylindrical portion surrounding the outer circumference of the solenoid is smaller than an inner diameter of a first section of the cylindrical portion surrounding the outer circumference of the bearing.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The washing machine of claim 17, further comprising a water storage tub to contain water therein,
wherein the washing tub is located in the water storage tub, and
wherein the bearing housing comprises:
an upper bearing housing coupled to a bottom surface of the water storage tub; and
a lower bearing housing located below the upper bearing housing, the upper bearing housing and the lower bearing housing defining a space to accommodate the bearing therein, the cylindrical portion being formed in the lower bearing housing.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The washing machine of claim 18, wherein the lower bearing housing comprises:
a ring-shaped coupling flange portion coupled to the upper bearing housing;
a cylindrical housing side portion extended downward from an inner diameter portion of the coupling flange portion; and
a housing lower plate portion extended radially inward from a lower end of the housing side portion, and through which the dehydration shaft passes.

### Claim 20

A washing machine, comprising:
a cabinet;
an outer tub located in the cabinet, the outer tub being provided to accommodate wash water therein;
an inner tub located in the outer tub, the inner tub being provided to accommodate laundry therein;
an outer shaft configured to rotate the inner tub, the outer shaft having a hollow portion therein;
a pulsator rotatably disposed in the inner tub;
an inner shaft passing through the hollow portion of the outer shaft, the inner shaft configured to rotate the pulsator;
a clutch lifted along the dehydration shaft from the lower side of the solenoid when a current is applied to the solenoid, the clutch being configured to selectively transmit rotation of the inner shaft to the outer shaft;
a solenoid configured to generate a magnetic field when the current is applied to the solenoid;
a bearing configured to rotatably support the outer shaft, the bearing being located at an upper side of the solenoid; and
a bearing housing configured to receive the bearing and the solenoid therein, the bearing housing comprising a ferromagnetic material, the bearing housing including a cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion including:
a first fixing core surrounding an outer periphery of the bearing and contacting the outer circumference of the bearing; and
a second fixing core extended downward from the first fixing core, the second fixing core surrounding an outer periphery of the solenoid to fix an arrangement of the solenoid, and
wherein the clutch comprises:
a clutch coupler movable along the outer shaft between a first position and a second position, the outer shaft being connected to the inner shaft when the clutch coupler is in the first position, and the outer shaft being disconnected from the inner shaft when the clutch coupler is in the second position, and
an armature fixed to the clutch coupler, the armature being movable by the solenoid to thereby move the clutch coupler from the first position to the second position, the armature comprising:
a core base located below the second fixing core, the core base extending outward from the clutch coupler; and
a core outer portion extending upward from an outer periphery of the core base,
wherein an uppermost end of the core outer portion moves alongside an outer periphery of the first fixing core as the clutch coupler moves from the first position to the second position.