Laundry treating appliance with integrated dynamic balancer
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsGEORGE W. MALHEIROS, SCOTT T. THALLS, CLIFTON G. GREEN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laundry treating appliance includes a rotatable drum for receiving a laundry load. The rotatable drum includes a cylindrical body with an cylindrical wall, and a cover at one or both ends. The cover has an annular groove formed by a first, second, and third walls. A fourth wall extends from the second wall. A first land is secured to the third wall and a second land is secured to the fourth wall. An adjoining piece has an adjoining wall that is attached to and extends between the first and second lands. A hollow space is bounded by the adjoining wall and the second and third walls. A movable mass is disposed in the space.
Claims20
A laundry treating appliance with an integrated dynamic balancer comprising:
- a rotatable drum for receiving a laundry load wherein the rotatable drum includes a cylindrical body with a cylindrical wall about a longitudinal axis, and a cover at one end thereof, the cover having an annular groove formed by a first wall adjacent to the cylindrical wall, a second wall spaced from the first wall, a third wall extending between the first and second walls, and a fourth wall having at least a portion thereof extending from the second wall generally normal to the longitudinal axis,
- a first land secured to the third wall, and a second land secured to the fourth wall,
- a adjoining piece having at least one adjoining wall attached to and extending between the first and second lands wherein a hollow space is bounded by the at least one adjoining wall and the second and third walls, and
- a mass disposed in the hollow space and movable therein.
A method of manufacturing, comprising:
- molding a first plastic pieces onto a cover of a washing machine basket having an annular groove, with the first plastic piece being at least partially in the annular groove;
- molding a second plastic piece onto the cover of the washing machine basket having an annular groove, with the second plastic piece being one of at least partially in the annular groove or adjacent to the annular groove;
- inserting a third plastic piece such that the third plastic piece makes contact with the first and second plastic pieces to substantially enclose at least a portion of the annular groove;
- and
- joining the third plastic piece with the first and second plastic pieces to create a substantially fluid tight chamber enclosed by the cover of the washing machine, the first plastic piece, the second plastic piece, and the third plastic piece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.