Suspension system for an automatic washing machine

Abstract

A suspension rod assembly for a resiliently supporting a moving system of a washing machine. The suspension rod assembly includes a rod having an upper end engaging a stationary support structure and a lower end. An end cap including a washer and an annular retainer is mounted to the lower end of the rod. A friction tube is disposed about the lower portion of the rod and has a flanged bottom edge captured between the annular retainer and the washer. The friction tube extends upwardly from the end cap about the rod and a tubular cup is provided about the friction tube. The cup includes a cylindrical wall forming an elongated annular cavity between the friction tube and the cylindrical wall. A compressible friction member is disposed within the elongated annular cavity and is radially compressed between the cylindrical wall and friction tube for frictionally engaging the friction tube. The compressible friction member is formed from a rectangular sheet of foam material which is wrapped about the friction tube such that it is configured into a hollow cylindrical body having an axial gap or slit. A spring is arranged coaxially around the friction tube between the end cap and tubular cap. A cap mounts above the open top end of the tubular cup for capturing the compressible friction member between the cap and the tubular cup. The cap supportably engages the moving system of the washer such that suspension rod assembly resiliently supports the moving system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.