# US 7,607,326 B2 · Drum type washing machine and bearing housing structure thereof

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- Number: US 7,607,326 B2
- Document ID: US7607326B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/165,332
- Filed: 2005-06-24
- Published: 2006-01-26
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2004-07-20
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Jae Won Chang; Hee Tae Lim; Si Moon Jeon; Kyeong Hwan Kim; Hyun Seok Seo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607326B2

## CPC

- D06F 37/22: in machines with a receptacle rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis
- D06F 37/269: {for the bearing of the rotary receptacle}
- F16C 35/042: {Housings for rolling element bearings for rotary movement}
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A drum type washing machine including a tub installed in a cabinet is disclosed. The drum type washing machine includes a drum performing washing, a motor rotating the drum, bearing housings having bearings to support a rotation shaft, a suspension connected to the bearing housings and the cabinet to mitigate vibration generated during rotation of the drum, a bracket installed to the bearing housings to form the rear side of the tub, and a gasket installed between the bracket and the tub to seal the tub and to prevent vibration from being transmitted from the bracket to the tub. Volumes of the tub and the drum can be easily increased without increasing the volume of the cabinet. Even when the volume of the washing machine is changed, only one of the tub and the bearing housings, which is not applicable to the drum type washing machine having the changed washing capacity, is selectively replaced. Thus parts can commonly used in various drum type washing machine having different volume.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drum type washing machine comprising:
a tub to hold water;
a drum to wash laundry therein, the drum disposed in the tub;
a cabinet enclosing the tub;
a rotational shaft connected to the drum;
a plate through which the rotational shaft passes, the plate configured to form a rear side of the tub;
a bearing housing fastened on the plate and supporting the shaft;
a gasket connected between the plate and the tub, the gasket configured to form a rear side of the tub and suppress vibration of the plate to be transmitted to the tub;
a damper bracket connected to the bearing housing; and
a damper positioned between the damper bracket and the cabinet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a water seal disposed between the plate and the rotational shaft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a center portion of the plate has a portion protruded toward the drum.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plate has a plurality of strength-reinforcing ribs extended from a face of the plate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plate is made of synthetic resin.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearing housing has a convex portion to seat on the plate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearing housing has a portion protruded opposite to the plate where a stator of the motor is fastened.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the drum includes a front balancer and a rear balancer.

### Claim 9

A drum type washing machine comprising:
a tub to hold water;
a cabinet enclosing the tub;
a drum to wash laundry therein, the drum disposed in the tub;
a rotational shaft connected to the drum;
a plate through which the rotational shaft passes, the plate configured to form a surface facing with a rear side of the drum;
a bearing housing fastened on the plate, and supporting the shaft and a motor;
a gasket connecting the plate and a rear portion of the tub, the gasket configured to allow relative movement of the plate to the tub;
a damper bracket connected to the bearing housing;
a first damper positioned under and in a center line of the bearing housing; and
a second damper positioned at a radial offset from the first damper.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plate is made of non-oxidizable resin.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plate has a plurality of radial reinforcing ribs.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bearing housing has a front side portion contact with the plate and a rear side portion contact with a stator of the motor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The drum type washing machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the drum includes a front balancer and a rear balancer.