Balancer and washing machine having the same
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsDong Ha JUNG, Jeong Hoon Kang, Min Sung Kim, Doo Young Ryu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A balancer includes a balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein, at least one mass movably disposed in the channel, at least one magnet coupled to one side of the balancer housing to restrain movement of the mass along the channel when rotational speed of a drum of the washing machine is within a predetermined range, and an inclined sidewall formed at an inner surface of the balancer housing to support the mass in a direction resisting centrifugal force applied to the mass during rotation of the drum.
Claims23
A balancer mounted to a drum of a washing machine to offset unbalanced load generated in the drum during rotation of the drum, the balancer comprising:
- a balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein;
- at least one mass movably disposed in the channel;
- at least one magnet coupled to one side of the balancer housing to restrain movement of the mass along the channel when rotational speed of the drum is within a predetermined range;
- and
- an inclined sidewall formed at an inner surface of the balancer housing to support the mass in a direction resisting centrifugal force applied to the mass during rotation of the drum.
A washing machine comprising:
- a cabinet;
- a drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet;
- and
- a balancer coupled to the drum to offset unbalanced load generated in the drum during rotation of the drum,
- wherein the balancer comprises
- a balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein;
- at least one mass movably disposed in the channel;
- and
- a first magnet and a second magnet coupled to one side of the balancer housing to restrain movement of the mass along the channel when rotational speed of the drum is within a predetermined range, and
- an angle between a first perpendicular line perpendicularly connecting the first magnet and a center of rotation of the drum and a second perpendicular line perpendicularly connecting the second magnet and the center of rotation of the drum is between 150 and 210 degrees.
A balancer mounted to a rotating body, the balancer comprising:
- a balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein;
- at least one mass disposed in the channel;
- and
- at least one magnet coupled to the balancer housing;
- wherein an inner surface of the balancer includes an inclined sidewall configured to support the mass in a direction resisting centrifugal force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.