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 member coupled to an outside of the balancer housing to receive and fix the magnet.
Claims39
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 member to receive and fix the magnet, the magnet fixing member being coupled to an outside of the balancer housing.
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 case to receive the magnet, the magnet case being coupled to an outside of the balancer housing.
A balancer mounted to a rotating body, the balancer comprising:
- a balancer housing, the balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein;
- at least one mass movably disposed in the channel;
- at least one magnet configured to restrain the mass when rotational speed of the rotating body is within a predetermined range;
- and
- at least one magnet case to receive the magnet, the magnet case being coupled to an outside of the balancer housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.