Damper, washing machine, and washer/dryer

A washing machine comprising:

• an exterior housing;
• a tub disposed inside the tub;
• a rotary tub driven in rotation within the tub;
• a suspension provided with a damper configured to elastically support the tub inside the exterior housing and to reduce oscillation of the tub, the damper including:
• a cylinder;
• a coil disposed inside the cylinder;
• a plurality of yokes disposed inside the cylinder so that one of the yokes is located at each axial end of the coil, respectively, and being configured to form a magnetic circuit within the cylinder;
• a magnetic viscous fluid retained on inner surfaces of the yokes and the coil;
• a plurality of seals disposed inside the cylinder so as to be located axially outside the yokes, the seals being configured to maintain the retention of the magnetic viscous fluid on the inner surfaces of the yokes and the coil by preventing leakage of the magnetic viscous fluid;
• a shaft which is supported so as to be axially reciprocable relative to the yokes, the coil, and the seals such that reciprocation of the shaft does not substantially displace the magnetic viscous fluid between the seals;
• and
• a plurality of bearings disposed axially outside the seals, the bearings being configured to support the shaft.

A washer dryer comprising:

• an exterior housing;
• a tub disposed inside the tub;
• a rotary tub driven in rotation within the tub;
• a suspension provided with a damper configured to elastically support the tub inside the exterior housing and to reduce oscillation of the tub;
• a heater configured to generate warm air;
• and
• a blower configured to blow the warm air into the rotary tub;
• wherein the damper includes:
• a cylinder;
• a coil disposed inside the cylinder;
• a plurality of yokes disposed inside the cylinder so that one of the yokes is located at axial end of the coil, respectively, and being configured to form a magnetic circuit within the cylinder;
• a magnetic viscous fluid retained on inner surfaces of the yokes and the coil;
• a plurality of seals disposed inside the cylinder so as to be located axially outside the yokes, the seals being configured to maintain the retention of the magnetic viscous fluid on the inner surfaces of the yokes and the coil by preventing leakage of the magnetic viscous fluid;
• a shaft which is supported so as to be axially reciprocable relative to the yokes, the coil, and the seals such that reciprocation of the shaft does not substantially displace the magnetic viscous fluid between the seals;
• and
• a plurality of bearings is disposed axially outside the seals, the bearings being configured to support the shaft.