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EP 2 643 512 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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07.09.2016 Bulletin 2016/36 |
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Date of filing: 25.11.2011 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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International application number: |
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PCT/EP2011/071067 |
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International publication number: |
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WO 2012/069648 (31.05.2012 Gazette 2012/22) |
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HOME APPLIANCE WITH A VIBRATION DAMPING DEVICE
HAUSHALTSGERÄT MIT EINER SCHWINGUNGSDÄMPFENDEN VORRICHTUNG
APPAREIL MÉNAGER, COMPRENANT UN DISPOSITIF D'AMORTISSEMENT DES VIBRATIONS
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL
NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
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Priority: |
26.11.2010 ES 201031737 17.05.2011 ES 201130793
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Date of publication of application: |
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02.10.2013 Bulletin 2013/40 |
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Proprietor: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH |
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81739 München (DE) |
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Inventors: |
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- GRACIA BOBED, Ismael
E-50194 Zaragoza (ES)
- MARTINEZ PEREZ, Gerardo
E-50015 Zaragoza (ES)
- RECIO FERRER, Eduardo
E-50013 Zaragoza (ES)
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References cited: :
EP-A1- 0 531 917 WO-A1-2011/070092 DE-B- 1 211 555
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EP-A1- 0 535 443 DE-A1- 1 460 968
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
|
[0001] The invention relates to a home appliance, in particular a washing machine or a dryer,
with a housing in which a laundry drum is rotatably mounted in a laundry tub, the
laundry tub being coupled to the housing via at least one support element of a vibration
damping device including pivot articulations comprising a first pivot articulation.
The support element is articulated to the housing via a pivot lever which is articulated
to the housing, particularly to a housing side, via the first pivot articulation about
a first pivot axis fixed with respect to the housing.
[0003] Conventionally, washing machines and dryers with a drum rotatably mounted in a tub
comprise a vibration damping device, which couples the tub with the housing, thereby
vibrations and noise caused by the rotation of the drum are damped. Usually, the tub
vibrations are absorbed by means of a piston-cylinder damper device with an axial
friction damper.
[0004] JP-1111-4280-A describes a washing machine with a damper, which is disposed onto the housing of
the washing machine in a direction perpendicular with respect to the drum rotational
axis.
[0005] WO-2007/013021-A1 describes a conventional home appliance with a piston-cylinder vibration damping
device, which connects a laundry tub with the housing base of the home appliance.
The cylinder-piston vibration damping device is slideably mounted on the housing base,
in such a way that a limited sliding motion of the piston-cylinder device is provided
along the housing base. Thus, at least part of the vibrations of the tub during operation
can be transferred into a linear sliding motion of the piston-cylinder device. The
disadvantage of such vibration damping device is that it is relatively expensive.
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a home appliance with an easy to
assemble and manufacture vibration damping device.
[0007] Another object is to provide a more compact home appliance, i.e. a home appliance
with a greater ratio of volume of the tub to volume of the housing than that of conventional
home appliances with cylinder-piston vibration damping devices.
These and other objects of the present invention are solved by the features of the
independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent
claims.
[0008] The support element is articulated to the housing via a pivot lever. In this way,
the tub vibrations during operation in a direction along the extension of the support
element are transferred to the pivot lever. The oscillations or vibrations of the
support element are converted into rotation motion at least partially by means of
the pivot lever, so that the vibrations are damped at least partially. The pivoting
lever is articulated to the housing via a first pivot articulation about a first pivot
axis fixed to the housing, particularly to a housing side.
[0009] Hereinafter without otherwise stated, dimensions should be understood as determined
at a position of the home appliance where the tub is unloaded and remains static relative
to the housing during no operation of the home appliance. In this sense, relative
terms such as vertical, horizontal, above, below, height, etc. should be understood
as referred to the position in which the home appliance is to be disposed during operation.
[0010] According to the invention, at least one of the pivot articulations includes a rotational
friction damper, and the first pivot axis is above a horizontal plane passing through
the lowest point of the tub.
[0011] According to the invention, pivot lever and/or the support element is articulated
against a predetermined rotational friction torque. For that, at least one of the
pivot articulations includes a rotational friction damper. In this way, at least part
of the translational energy caused by the vibrations can be converted into friction
energy. By means of the conversion of translational energy into friction energy, it
can be totally eliminated the need of an axial friction damper, though it is also
contemplated that the support element and/or the pivot lever comprises an axial friction
damper.
[0012] Advantageously, such a vibration damping device is easy to implement as far as technical
issues of its components are concerned. In particular, the assembly process is simplified,
since a number of components of the first pivot articulation may be mounted on the
housing in a previous step. The coupling of the tub to the housing via the vibration
damping device may be arranged easily as far as technical issues of the assembly process
are concerned.
[0013] The reaction force that is transferred to the housing through the damping device
of the invention can be significantly reduced as compared to that of conventional
axial friction dampers, consequently bending and shearing stresses at the connection
to the housing are reduced as well. This somewhat precludes the utilization of axial
friction dampers coupled to the housing side. Furthermore, there is no need to provide
long enough support elements in order to adequately dissipate friction energy from
the friction dampers without failure in buckling or longitudinal bending as it is
the case of axial friction dampers.
[0014] The first pivot axis may be at a height above a housing base of the home appliance.
In this way a space is released under the tub where other components can be allocated,
such as a drawer which can be useful to store inside any items by the user. This enables
to reduce the overall height of the home appliance and hence to provide a more compact
home appliance. In this way, It is also possible to provide multiple configurations
of home appliances with for example at least one drawer up and/or down beside a compact
home appliance module, a tank for storing water of the last rinsing cycle or a tank
for storing detergent of a detergent dosing system.
[0015] The first pivot axis may be connected to the housing, particularly to the housing
side, via a bracket element, so as to provide rigidity to the housing structure at
the connection. The bracket element may be a cross plate fixed to the corners of the
housing side. Optionally the bracket element is not contacting the housing in order
to reduce vibrations being transferred to the housing. In this way the vibrations
are better damped. Alternatively, the bracket element may be a bearing pin which extends
along the direction of the first pivot axis where the pivot lever is connected. This
allows providing a more flexible bracket element.
[0016] Preferably, the pivot lever may be articulated to the support element via a second
pivot articulation about a second pivot axis movable with respect to the housing.
In particular preferably, the support element may be articulated to the tub via a
third articulation fixed to the tub. This arrangement provides a simple solution in
terms of technical components to the problem of providing a motion to the support
element and, thus, for damping tub vibrations during operation.
Hereinafter, the term "housing ceiling" may be defined as an upper plane of the home
appliance where the tub springs are suspended from.
[0017] Preferably, the first, second and/or third pivot articulation may comprise a bearing
bushing, in which at least a bearing pin is rotatably connected, especially with a
press-fit connection. By this means, it can be devised a design which enables a reliable
and safe operation, as well as avoid maintenance of one or of a number of the pivot
articulations. More preferably, the bearing pin of the first pivot articulation may
be rotatably connected to the bearing bushing with a rotational friction torque resistance.
The bearing pin may be tubular shaped and be made of a thermal conductive material,
especially of metal, so that the temperature can be dissipated quickly thereby allowing
to extent the life of the friction layers.
[0018] In particular, the support element and/or the pivot lever are rigid components. The
complexity of the vibration damping device can thus be further reduced. Furthermore,
simple manufacturing components can be used. They may also be made of a rigid material
having enough elasticity to withstand the friction at the articulations. Particularly,
the support element and/or the pivot lever are made of plastic.
[0019] The support element length may be equal to or greater than the pivot lever length.
Also, the tub may have projections that allow providing a more spaced first pivot
articulation from the drum rotational axis in order to be able to make the support
element length shorter. Thus, a rotational friction torque acting on the first articulation
through the pivot lever can be reduced.
[0020] Preferably, the support element or a force line of action of the support element
is located at an effective lever arm distance from the first pivot articulation. The
effective lever arm distance is measured perpendicularly to the force line of action
and may vary due to vibrations of the tub during operation.
[0021] Optionally, in the case in which the first pivot articulation is located at a height
above the housing base of the home appliance, said height and/or a pivot lever length
and/or a support element length, and/or the effective lever arm distance may be selected
so as to provide an improved damping effect, particularly at a resonance vibration
frequency. The pivot lever length and the support element length are measured between
respective pivot axes. The improved damping effect includes minimizing vibration amplitudes,
minimizing vibration reaction force at the connection to the housing, etc. as it would
be recognized by a person skilled in the art. In this sense, it has been observed
that a variable friction coefficient depending on the stroke of the damping device
can be achieved with the features of the invention.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the support element length is greater than twice a pivot
lever length.
[0023] Optionally, the home appliance according to the invention comprises a vibration control
system. The vibration control system may comprise a goniometer sensor for obtaining
the angle between the pivot lever and the support element during operation of the
home appliance so as to allow determination of the position of the third pivot articulation
and the tub with respect to the housing in a reliable and easy way. This enables for
example to extra minimize vibration amplitudes and therefore allowing providing a
more compact home appliance.
[0024] Optionally, it is also contemplated that the vibration damping device may comprise
at least one
antitorque element connected to the pivot lever for preventing twisting of the pivot lever about its
longitudinal axis and/or the turning about an axis perpendicular to the first pivot
axis during operation, by contact reaction of the antitorque element against a reaction
element fixed with respect to the first pivot axis. Particularly, the antitorque element
may be configured as a silentbloc joint. More particularly, the antitorque element
may be integrated in the pivot lever. On the other hand, the reaction element may
be constituted by the bearing pin. In a preferred embodiment, it may be provided at
least one antitorque element on either side of the pivot lever. The incorporation
of an antitorque element enables to reduce the number of vibration damping device
down even to two.
[0025] Particularly preferably, the home appliance comprises at least two support elements
with at least one support element disposed at either side of the tub with respect
to a vertical central plane. This arrangement of the support elements allows a reliable
vibration damping of the tub.
[0026] Finally, other secondary features that may be incorporated to the washing machine
of the invention in order to provide a more compact home appliance are as follows.
The home appliance drive motor may be of a
BLDC type, the counterweights may be allocated on front and/or back sides of the tub,
the control panel may be located at the appliance's door or at a side of the front
panel upper part and the detergent dispenser may be placed also at the appliance's
door or also compacted at the front panel upper part. The door also may close directly
the tub without any gasket between the front wall saving space in appliance depth.
[0027] Below, two preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to
the figures contained in the attached drawings. In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine with a washing machine door opened;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the washing machine in the plane AA of Figure 1 with
a vibration damping device according to the invention;
Figure 3 shows a sectional view of a support element and a pivot lever of the vibration
damping device of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a support element and a pivot lever of the
vibration damping device of Figure 2;
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a support member and a pivoting lever of the
vibration damping device of Figure 2;
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a support member and a pivoting lever of the
vibration damping device of Figure 2;
[0028] Figure 1 shows a washing machine 1 with a housing 3. At a housing front 5 of the
housing 3 it is provided a washing machine door 7 for closing the load opening 9.
According to Figure 1, the door 7 is represented in an opened position, so that through
the load opening 9 of the housing front it is visible a laundry drum 11 for moving
laundry items (not shown).
[0029] Figure 2 shows a drum 13 of the washing machine 1 along the sectional plane A-A.
As it is apparent from Figure 2, the drum 11 is rotatably mounted in the tub about
a drum rotational axis 15, driven by a drive motor 25. Power is transmitted via a
transmission belt 27 which is functionally engaged to the back side of the tub 11
via a driven pulley 29.
[0030] The tub 13 is suspended via two springs 17 onto a housing ceiling 19 of the housing
3. At the bottom, the tub 13 is coupled to the housing sides 35 via two rod shaped
support elements 31 articulated to the housing side 35 via pivot levers 33. In this
case, the support elements 31 are arranged symmetrically one to each other with respect
to a central vertical plane of the tub 13. More than one support element 31 may be
disposed on at least one of the housing sides 35.
[0031] The springs 17, the support elements 31, and the pivot levers 33 constitute a vibration
damping device of the washing machine 1. By means of the vibration damping device,
vibrations of the tub 13 during operation of the drum 11 are absorbed and damped.
[0032] According to Figure 2, the pivot lever 33 is articulated to the housing side 35 via
a first pivot articulation 37 about a first pivot axis 39 fixed with respect to the
housing 3. At the opposite side of the first pivot articulation 37, the pivot lever
33 is articulated to the support element 31 via a second pivot articulation 47 about
a second pivot axis 49 movable with respect to the housing 3. On the contrary, at
the opposite side of the support element 31 to the second pivot articulation 47, the
support element 31 is articulated to the tub 13 via a third pivot articulation 51
fixed to the tub 13. The support member length a may be less than, equal to or greater
than the pivot lever length b.
[0033] Figure 3 shows a sectional view of one of the support elements 31 of Figure 2 with
the pivot lever 33. The first pivot articulation 37 has a bearing pin 43 fixed to
a plate bracket element 45 fixedly coupled to the housing side 35 close to the pivot
lever 33, which is fixedly connected to a bearing bushing 41, which may be realized
by plate cutting and bending of a plate bracket element 45. According to Figure 3,
the articulation of the pivot lever 33 to the housing side 35 is arranged like a crankshaft.
[0034] Furthermore, Figure 3 shows that the bearing pin 43 is mounted with a press-fit connection
in the pivot lever 33. By means of a press-fit connection, it is achieved an improved
friction through a friction layer 50, between the pivot lever 33 and the bearing pin
43. Antitorque elements 53 are formed from extensions of the pivot lever 33 on either
side of the pivot lever 33 along the longitudinal direction of the bearing pin 43.
[0035] Below, the physical conditions of the vibration damping device are described using
the schematic representation of Figure 4. According to Figure 4, the oscillations
or vibrations of the tub 13 during operation are introduced in the support element
31 and, through the support element 21, they are transferred along the force line
of action f to the pivot lever 33. By means of the pivot lever 33, the vibrations
are converted into rotation motion. In this case, the force line of action f of the
support element 33 is spaced from the first pivot articulation 37 in an effective
lever arm distance I. The effective lever arm distance I is measured perpendicularly
to the force line of action and may vary due to vibrations of the tub during operation.
As mentioned above, the a support element length a may be many times larger than the
pivot lever length b, by means of what a rotation torque at the first pivot articulation
is reduced.
[0036] Taking into account the tub vibrations caused during operation, the effective lever
arm distance I between the support element 31 and the first pivot articulation varies.
Due to the increased friction in the first pivot articulation 37, a translational
energy of the tub 13 is at least partially converted into friction energy. In this
way, vibrations and noise during operation of the drum 11 can be further reduced.
[0037] Figure 5 shows the right support element 31 of Figure 4 with the pivot lever 33 in
a perspective view. As shown in Figure 5, the bearing bushing 41 of the first pivot
articulation 37 is fixedly connected to the housing side 35 via a plate bracket element
45. The pivot lever 33 is attached to a continuous tubular shaped bearing pin 43 fixed
in rotation with respect to the pivot lever 33 and rotatably mounted to the bearing
bushing 41 where friction layers 50 are arranged and heat is dissipated.
[0038] Figure 6 shows the right support element 31 of Figure 5 with the pivot lever 33 in
a perspective view. As it is apparent from Figure 3, the bearing bushing 41 of the
first pivot articulation 37 is fixedly connected to the housing via a cross plate
bracket element 45 which is fixed at both edges of the housing side 35. The bearing
bushing 41 is obtained by cutting and folding the cross plate bracket element 45 in
such a way that two hugs are formed. The pivot lever is rotatably connected to the
bearing bushing 41 via a continuous bearing pin 43 fixed with respect to the bearing
bushing 41 in this case, the aforementioned friction layers are arranged in the pivot
lever 33.
LIST OF REFERENCES
[0039]
- 1
- washing machine
- 3
- housing
- 5
- housing front
- 7
- washing machine door
- 9
- load opening
- 11
- drum
- 13
- tub
- 15
- drum rotational axis
- 17
- springs
- 19
- housing ceiling
- 23
- housing base
- 25
- drive motor
- 27
- transmission belt
- 29
- driven pulley
- 31
- support element
- 33
- pivot lever
- 35
- housing side
- 37
- first pivot articulation
- 39
- first pivot axis
- 41
- bearing bushing
- 43
- bearing pin
- 45
- bracket element
- 47
- second pivot articulation
- 49
- second pivot axis
- 50
- friction layer
- 51
- third pivot articulation
- 53
- antitorque element
- a
- support element length
- b
- pivot lever length
- f
- force line of action on the support element
- l
- effective lever arm distance
1. Home appliance, in particular a washing machine (1) or a dryer, with a housing (3),
in which a drum (11) is rotatably mounted in a tub (13), the tub (13) being coupled
to the housing (3) via at least one support element (31) of a vibration damping device
(17, 31, 33) including pivot articulations (37, 47, 51) comprising a first pivot articulation
(37); the support element (31) being articulated to the housing (3) via a pivot lever
(33) which is articulated to the housing (3), particularly to a housing side (35),
via the first pivot articulation (37) about a first pivot axis (39) fixed with respect
to the housing (3); characterized in that at least one of the pivot articulations (37, 47, 51) includes a rotational friction
damper, and the first pivot axis (39) is above a horizontal plane passing through
the lowest point of the tub (13).
2. Home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the first pivot axis (39) is at a height
above a housing base (23) of the home appliance.
3. Home appliance according to claim 2, wherein a drawer is allocated under the tub (13).
4. Home appliance according to any of the above claims, wherein the first pivot axis
(39) is connected to the housing (3), particularly to the housing side (35), via a
bracket element (45) so as to provide rigidity to the housing structure at said connection.
5. Home appliance according to any of the above claims, wherein the pivot lever (33)
is articulated to the support element (31) via a second pivot articulation (47) about
a second pivot axis (49) movable with respect to the housing (3).
6. Home appliance according to any of the above claims, wherein the support element (31)
is articulated to the tub via a third pivot articulation (51) about a third pivot
axis fixed with respect to the tub (13).
7. Home appliance according to any of the above claims, wherein at least one of the pivot
articulations (37, 47, 51) comprises a bearing bushing (41), in which at least a bearing
pin (43) is rotatably connected, the bearing pin (43) being tubular shaped and made
of a thermal conductive material, especially of metal, such that friction heat is
dissipated through the bearing pin (43).
8. Home appliance according to any of the above claims, wherein the support element (31)
and/or the pivot lever (33) are rigid.
9. Home appliance according to any of the above claims, wherein a support element length
(a) is greater than twice a pivot lever length (b).
10. Home appliance according to any of the above claims, wherein it comprises a goniometer
sensor for obtaining the angle between the pivot lever (33) and the support element
(31) during operation of the home appliance so as to allow determination of the position
of the third pivot articulation (51) with respect to the housing (3).
11. Home appliance according to any of the above claims, wherein the vibration damping
device comprises at least one antitorque element (53) formed from extensions of the
pivot lever (33) on either side of the pivot lever (33) along a longitudinal direction
of the bearing pin (43), for preventing the twisting of the pivot lever (33) about
its longitudinal axis and/or the turning about an axis perpendicular to the first
pivot axis (39).
12. Home appliance according to any of the above claims, wherein it comprises at least
two support elements (31) with at least one support element disposed at either side
of the tub with respect to a vertical central plane.
1. Haushaltsgerät, insbesondere eine Waschmaschine (1) oder ein Trockner, mit einem Gehäuse
(3), in dem eine Trommel (11) drehbar in einem Laugenbehälter (13) angebracht ist,
der über mindestens ein Halteelement (31) einer Schwingungsdämpfungsvorrichtung (17,
31, 33), die Schwenkgelenke (37, 47, 51) aufweist, welche ein erstes Schwenkgelenk
(37) umfassen, mit dem Gehäuse (3) gekoppelt ist, wobei das Halteelement (31) über
einen an das Gehäuse (3) angelenkten Schwenkhebel (33) über das erste Schwenkgelenk
(37) um eine in Bezug auf das Gehäuse (3) feste erste Schwenkachse (39) an das Gehäuse
(3), insbesondere an eine Gehäuseseite (35), angelenkt ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mindestens eines der Schwenkgelenke (37, 47, 51) einen Drehreibungsdämpfer aufweist
und die erste Schwenkachse (39) über einer horizontalen Ebene liegt, die durch den
niedrigsten Punkt des Laugenbehälters (13) verläuft.
2. Haushaltsgerät nach Anspruch 1, bei dem die erste Schwenkachse (39) in einer Höhe
über einem Gehäuseboden (23) des Haushaltsgeräts liegt.
3. Haushaltsgerät nach Anspruch 2, bei dem eine Schublade unter dem Laugenbehälter (13)
angeordnet ist.
4. Haushaltsgerät nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die erste Schwenkachse
(39) über ein Trägerelement (45) so mit dem Gehäuse (3), insbesondere der Gehäuseseite
(35), verbunden ist, dass der Gehäusekonstruktion an der Verbindungsstelle Steifigkeit
verliehen wird.
5. Haushaltsgerät nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem der Schwenkhebel (33)
über ein zweites Schwenkgelenk (47) um eine in Bezug auf das Gehäuse (3) bewegbare
zweite Schwenkachse (49) an das Halteelement (31) angelenkt ist.
6. Haushaltsgerät nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem das Halteelement (31)
über ein drittes Schwenkgelenk (51) um eine in Bezug auf den Laugenbehälter (13) feste
dritte Schwenkachse an den Laugenbehälter angelenkt ist.
7. Haushaltsgerät nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem mindestens eines der
Schwenkgelenke (37, 47, 51) eine Lagerbuchse (41) umfasst, in der zumindest ein Lagerzapfen
(43) drehbar verbunden ist, wobei der Lagerzapfen (43) rohrförmig und aus einem wärmeleitfähigen
Material, insbesondere Metall, hergestellt ist, so dass Reibungswärme über den Lagerzapfen
(43) abgeleitet wird.
8. Haushaltsgerät nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem das Halteelement (31)
und/ oder der Schwenkhebel (33) steif sind.
9. Haushaltsgerät nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem eine Halteelementlänge
(a) größer ist als das Doppelte einer Schwenkhebellänge (b).
10. Haushaltsgerät nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei es einen Winkelmesssensor
umfasst, mit dem sich im Betrieb des Haushaltsgeräts der Winkel zwischen dem Schwenkhebel
(33) und dem Halteelement (31) erfassen lässt, so dass eine Bestimmung der Position
des dritten Schwenkgelenks (51) in Bezug auf das Gehäuse (3) möglich ist.
11. Haushaltsgerät nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die Schwingungsdämpfungsvorrichtung
mindestens ein Drehmomentausgleichselement (53) umfasst, das auf beiden Seiten des
Schwenkhebels (33) in einer Längsrichtung des Lagerzapfens (43) aus Verlängerungen
des Schwenkhebels (33) gebildet ist, um zu verhindern, dass sich der Schwenkhebel
(33) um seine Längsachse verdreht und/ oder um eine senkrecht zur ersten Schwenkachse
(39) verlaufende Achse dreht.
12. Haushaltsgerät nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei es mindestens zwei Halteelemente
(31) umfasst, wobei in Bezug auf eine vertikale mittige Ebene mindestens ein Halteelement
auf jeder Seite des Laugenbehälters angeordnet ist.
1. Appareil ménager, en particulier un lave-linge (1) ou un sèche-linge, avec une carcasse
(3), dans laquelle un tambour (11) est monté rotatif dans une cuve (13), la cuve (13)
étant couplée à la carcasse (3) par l'intermédiaire d'au moins un élément support
(31) d'un dispositif (17, 31, 33) d'amortissement de vibrations incluant des articulations
à pivot (37, 47, 51) comprenant une première articulation à pivot (37) ; l'élément
support (31) étant articulé sur la carcasse (3) par l'intermédiaire d'un levier pivotant
(33) qui est articulé sur la carcasse (3), particulièrement sur un côté (35) de carcasse,
par l'intermédiaire de la première articulation à pivot (37) autour d'un premier axe
de pivot (39) fixe par rapport à la carcasse (3) ; caractérisé en ce qu'au moins une des articulations à pivot (37, 47, 51) inclut un amortisseur de frottement
en rotation, et le premier axe de pivot (39) est au-dessus d'un plan horizontal passant
à travers le point le plus bas de la cuve (13).
2. Appareil ménager selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le premier axe de pivot (39)
est à une certaine hauteur au-dessus d'une base (23) de carcasse de l'appareil ménager.
3. Appareil ménager selon la revendication 2, dans lequel un tiroir est prévu sous la
cuve (13).
4. Appareil ménager selon l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel
le premier axe de pivot (39) est connecté à la carcasse (3), particulièrement au côté
(35) de carcasse, par l'intermédiaire d'un élément d'équerre (45) de façon à apporter
une rigidité à la structure de carcasse au niveau de ladite connexion.
5. Appareil ménager selon l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel
le levier pivotant (33) est articulé sur l'élément support (31) par l'intermédiaire
d'une deuxième articulation à pivot (47) autour d'un deuxième axe de pivot (49) mobile
par rapport à la carcasse (3).
6. Appareil ménager selon l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel
l'élément support (31) est articulé sur la cuve par l'intermédiaire d'une troisième
articulation à pivot (51) autour d'un troisième axe de pivot fixe par rapport à la
cuve (13).
7. Appareil ménager selon l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel
au moins une des articulations à pivot (37, 47, 51) comprend un coussinet de palier
(41), dans lequel au moins une broche de palier (43) est connectée rotative, la broche
de palier (43) étant de forme tubulaire et constituée d'un matériau thermo-conducteur,
spécialement d'un métal, de telle sorte qu'une chaleur de frottement est dissipée
à travers la broche de palier (43).
8. Appareil ménager selon l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel
l'élément support (31) et/ou le levier pivotant (33) sont/est rigide(s).
9. Appareil ménager selon l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel
une longueur (a) d'élément support est supérieure à deux fois une longueur (b) de
levier pivotant.
10. Appareil ménager selon l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel
il comprend un capteur à goniomètre pour obtenir l'angle entre le levier pivotant
(33) et l'élément support (31) lors du fonctionnement de l'appareil ménager de façon
à permettre une détermination de la position de la troisième articulation à pivot
(51) par rapport à la carcasse (3).
11. Appareil ménager selon l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel
le dispositif d'amortissement de vibrations comprend au moins un élément anti-couple
(53) constitué d'extensions du levier pivotant (33) sur l'un ou l'autre côté du levier
pivotant (33) le long d'un sens longitudinal de la broche de palier (43), pour prévenir
la torsion du levier pivotant (33) autour de son axe longitudinal et/ou la rotation
autour d'un axe perpendiculaire au premier axe de pivot (39).
12. Appareil ménager selon l'une quelconque des revendications ci-dessus, dans lequel
il comprend au moins deux éléments support (31) avec au moins un élément support disposé
sur l'un ou l'autre côté de la cuve par rapport à un plan central vertical.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description