Balancer and washing machine having the same
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsDoo Young RYU, Won Young JUNG, Young Jin CHO, Jeong Hoon KANG
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A balancer includes a balancer housing coupled to a drum of a washing machine, the balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein, at least one mass movably disposed in the channel, at least one magnet to restrain movement of the mass along the channel when rotational speed of the drum is within a predetermined range, and at least one magnet fixing rib formed at one side of the balancer housing to fix the magnet.
Claims25
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 coupled to the drum, the balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein;
- at least one mass movably disposed in the channel;
- at least one magnet to restrain movement of the mass along the channel when rotational speed of the drum is within a predetermined range;
- and
- at least one magnet fixing rib formed at one side of the balancer housing to fix the magnet.
A washing machine comprising:
- a cabinet;
- a drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet;
- an annular recess provided at the drum;
- and
- a balancer to offset unbalanced load generated in the drum during rotation of the drum,
- wherein the balancer comprises
- a balancer housing mounted in the recess, the balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein;
- at least one mass movably disposed in the channel;
- at least one magnet to restrain the mass when rotational speed of the drum is within a predetermined range;
- and
- at least one magnet fixing rib provided at a rear surface of the balancer housing opposite to the recess to fix the magnet.
A balancer of a washing machine to offset unbalanced load present in a drum of the washing machine, the balancer comprising:
- a balancer housing coupled to at least one selected from between a front surface and a rear surface of the drum, the balancer housing having a channel extending in a circumferential direction of the drum;
- a plurality of masses movably disposed along the channel;
- and
- at least one magnet to restrain movement of the masses along the channel when rotational speed of the drum is lower than predetermined rotational speed,
- wherein the magnet is inserted into a mold to form the balancer housing by injection molding during manufacture of the balancer housing.
A method of manufacturing a balancer of a washing machine coupled to a drum of the washing machine to offset unbalanced load present in the drum, the balancer comprising a first housing opened at one side thereof and a second housing to cover the first housing to define an annular channel, the method comprising:
- disposing a first mold having a cavity to mold the first housing and a second mold having a molding part inserted into the cavity;
- disposing a core mold, in which a magnet is inserted, between the first mold and the second mold;
- injecting a molding resin into the cavity;
- separating the core mold from the magnet after full solidification of the molding resin;
- separating the first housing, to which the magnet is coupled, from the first mold and the second mold;
- disposing a plurality of masses made of metal in the first housing;
- disposing a damping fluid to prevent abrupt movement of the masses into the first housing;
- and
- coupling the first housing to the second housing.
A method of manufacturing a balancer having a magnet on an outside of the balancer, the method comprising:
- molding a first housing having an annular channel therein by disposing a first mold having a cavity to mold a first housing, disposing a second mold having a molding part inserted into the cavity, disposing a core mold having the magnet therein, between the first mold and the second mold, injecting a molding resin into the cavity, separating the core mold from the magnet, and separating the first housing having the magnet coupled thereto, from the first mold and the second mold;
- molding a second housing;
- inserting at least one rolling mass in the annular channel of the first housing;
- and
- coupling the first housing to the second housing to form a sealed balancer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.