A connecting piece, a braking mechanism and a washing machine

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of washing machines, and discloses a connecting piece, a braking mechanism and a washing machine. The washing machine comprises a braking mechanism, the braking mechanism comprises a deceleration clutch provided with a braking arm, a connecting piece and a traction assembly, the connecting piece is used for connecting the braking arm and the traction assembly, the braking arm is provided with a through hole, the connecting piece comprises a body part, a guide column and a mounting part, the guide column is connected with the body part, the end of the guide column is provided with at least two locking hooks, the guide column can penetrate through the through hole, so that the locking hooks are clamped on the braking arm, and the mounting part is connected with the body part, and the body part is configured to mount the traction assembly. The connecting piece of the present application is convenient to install with the braking arm and has good reliability. The braking mechanism of the present application has high overall assembly efficiency and good connection reliability by arranging the connecting piece. The washing machine of the present application has high assembly efficiency and high action precision by arranging the braking mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of washing machine technology, and more particularly to a connector, a braking mechanism, and a washing machine. Background Technology

[0002] The reduction clutch is a crucial transmission component for switching the rotation mode of the washing machine's inner drum. During the washing process, the reduction clutch is connected to the inner drum, meaning the washing machine's motor drives the inner drum through the reduction clutch. When the washing machine needs to spin-dry, the transmission relationship between the reduction clutch and the inner drum needs to be disengaged, meaning the motor directly drives the inner drum to rotate. Disengaging the reduction clutch from the inner drum requires the use of a traction device. Specifically, the reduction clutch includes a brake arm, and the output end of the traction device is connected to a metal wire with a copper tip at the end. The copper tip connects to a connector, which in turn connects to the brake arm. When the traction device winds up the metal wire, the wire pulls the brake arm through the connector, thus disengaging the reduction clutch from the inner drum.

[0003] In existing technologies, the connector is usually connected to the brake arm by passing a pin through the brake arm and the connector in sequence, and then bending the end of the pin. This method is cumbersome and has low assembly efficiency. Furthermore, the degree of bending of the pin affects the reliability of the connection between the connector and the brake arm, which depends on the operator's skill level, and the reliability of the installation cannot be guaranteed.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a connector, a braking mechanism, and a washing machine to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The first objective of this invention is to provide a connector that is easy to install and has good reliability with the brake arm.

[0006] The second objective of this invention is to provide a braking mechanism that, by setting the aforementioned connecting parts, achieves high overall assembly efficiency and good connection reliability, thereby ensuring the stroke accuracy of the traction metal wire pulled by the traction device.

[0007] The third objective of this invention is to provide a washing machine that, by setting the aforementioned braking mechanism, achieves high assembly efficiency and high operational precision.

[0008] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0009] A connector for connecting a brake arm and a traction assembly, the brake arm having a through hole, the connector comprising:

[0010] Body part;

[0011] A guide post is connected to the main body. At least two locking hooks are provided at the end of the guide post. The guide post can pass through the through hole so that the locking hooks can be engaged with the brake arm.

[0012] The mounting section is connected to the body section, which is configured to mount the traction assembly.

[0013] Preferably, the guide post is provided with a draft angle along its axial direction so that it can swing within the through hole.

[0014] Preferably, the through hole is a waist-shaped hole, and the cross-sectional shape of the guide post matches the shape of the waist-shaped hole.

[0015] Preferably, the end of the guide post is provided with a notch extending along its axis, the notch dividing the end of the guide post into at least two connecting parts, each of the locking hooks being connected to one of the connecting parts.

[0016] Preferably, the body includes a rectangular frame, the guide post is disposed inside the rectangular frame, and the mounting part is connected to the outside of the rectangular frame.

[0017] Preferably, the traction assembly includes a metal wire and a copper head connected to the end of the metal wire. The mounting part is provided with a limiting groove extending axially in a first direction and a guide groove extending axially in a second direction. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The guide groove passes through the first sidewall of the limiting groove along the second direction. The copper head can be inserted into the limiting groove along the first direction. The metal wire passes through the guide groove.

[0018] Preferably, one end of the guide groove along the first direction is open, and the metal wire is inserted into the guide groove from the opening along the first direction;

[0019] The limiting groove is provided with a limiting rib at one end along the first direction and near the opening. The limiting rib is provided with a mounting hole, which communicates with the guide groove. The mounting hole allows the copper head and the metal wire to be inserted into the limiting groove along the first direction. When the copper head abuts against the first sidewall, the limiting rib can prevent the copper head from moving along the first direction.

[0020] Preferably, the mounting hole includes a narrow section and a wide section along the second direction. The narrow section communicates with the guide groove and allows the metal wire to pass through, while the wide section is located at one end away from the guide groove and allows the copper head to pass through.

[0021] A braking mechanism, comprising:

[0022] A deceleration clutch, including a brake arm having a through hole;

[0023] A traction device, the output end of which is connected to one end of the traction assembly and is capable of winding up the traction assembly;

[0024] The connector has a guide post that passes through the through hole, and the other end of the traction assembly is connected to the mounting part.

[0025] A washing machine including the braking mechanism therein.

[0026] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0027] The connector of this invention achieves connection with the traction assembly by setting an installation part. A guide post and a locking hook are provided on the main body. When the guide post passes through the through hole, the locking hook engages with the brake arm. At this time, the portion of the main body with the guide post and the locking hook are located on both sides of the through hole, thus achieving the connection between the connector and the brake arm. The process of connecting the brake arm and the connector only requires pressing the guide post into the through hole, which is simple to operate and has high installation efficiency. Furthermore, once the locking hook engages with the brake arm, it indicates that the brake arm and the connector have achieved reliable installation, making the installation standard intuitive and reliable.

[0028] The braking mechanism of the present invention, by setting the above-mentioned connecting parts, has high overall assembly efficiency and good connection reliability, thereby ensuring the stroke accuracy of the traction metal wire of the traction device.

[0029] The washing machine of the present invention, by setting the above-mentioned braking mechanism, has high assembly efficiency and high operation precision. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of a washing machine provided in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a portion of the braking mechanism provided in a specific embodiment of the present invention from one perspective.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a portion of the braking mechanism provided in a specific embodiment of the present invention from another perspective;

[0033] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of a portion of the structure of the braking mechanism provided in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of the connector provided in a specific embodiment of the present invention from one viewpoint;

[0035] Figure 6 This is a structural schematic diagram of the connector provided in a specific embodiment of the present invention from another perspective.

[0036] In the picture:

[0037] 100 - Casing; 200 - Cylinder;

[0038] 1-Connector; 11-Main body; 12-Guide post; 121-Connecting part; 13-Locking hook; 14-Mounting part; 141-Limiting groove; 1411-First sidewall; 142-Guide groove; 143-Limiting rib; 144-Mounting hole; 1441-Narrow hole section; 1442-Rough hole section; 145-Stop part; 15-Notch;

[0039] 2-Reducer clutch; 21-Brake arm; 211-Through hole;

[0040] 31-Traction device; 32-Traction assembly; 321-Metal wire; 322-Copper head. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings show only the parts relevant to the present invention and not the entire structure.

[0042] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0043] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0044] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper," "lower," "right," etc., refer to the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for ease of description and simplification of operation, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used only for distinction in description and have no special meaning.

[0045] This embodiment provides a connector 1, a braking mechanism, and a washing machine. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the washing machine includes a casing 100, within which a drum 200, a motor (not shown), and a braking mechanism are disposed. The drum 200 includes an inner drum and an outer drum, and the motor drives the inner drum to rotate. The braking mechanism includes a reduction clutch 2, which enables the transmission connection between the motor and the inner drum, allowing the motor to reduce speed before driving the inner drum to rotate, or disconnects the connection between the motor and the inner drum, allowing the motor to directly drive the inner drum to rotate. Specifically, as... Figures 1-3 As shown, the reduction clutch 2 includes a brake arm 21, and the braking mechanism also includes a traction assembly 32, a traction device 31, and a connecting piece 1. The output end of the traction device 31 is connected to one end of the traction assembly 32, and the other end of the traction assembly 32 is connected to the brake arm 21 through the connecting piece 1. The traction device 31 can retract the traction assembly 32, thereby driving the brake arm 21 to move around the rotation center of the reduction clutch 2, thus disconnecting the reduction clutch 2 from the motor and / or the inner cylinder, so that the motor can directly drive the inner cylinder to rotate at high speed. When the brake arm 21 is not being pulled by the traction device 31, the reduction clutch 2 is connected to the inner cylinder and the motor in a transmission manner, that is, the motor drives the inner cylinder to rotate at a lower speed after being reduced in speed by the reduction clutch 2. It should be noted that the specific structure and working principle of the reduction clutch 2, as well as the connection relationship between the reduction clutch 2 and the inner cylinder and the motor, are existing technologies and will not be described in detail here.

[0046] When the washing machine is performing the washing process, the deceleration clutch 2 is connected to the inner drum and the motor. The motor drives the inner drum to rotate at a low speed through the deceleration clutch 2. Before the washing machine performs the spin-drying process, the traction device 31 retracts the traction component 32 so that the connecting piece 1 drives the brake arm 21 to move, so that the deceleration clutch 2 is disengaged from the transmission connection between the motor and / or the inner drum. At this time, the motor directly drives the inner drum to rotate at a faster speed, thereby realizing the spin-drying operation.

[0047] Preferably, such as Figure 4 As shown, the brake arm 21 is provided with a through hole 211. The connector 1 includes a body part 11, a guide post 12 and a mounting part 14. The guide post 12 is connected to the body part 11. At least two locking hooks 13 are provided at the end of the guide post 12. The guide post 12 can pass through the through hole 211 so that the locking hooks 13 can be engaged with the brake arm 21. The mounting part 14 is connected to the body part 11 and the traction assembly 32 is connected to the mounting part 14.

[0048] In this embodiment, the connector 1 is connected to the traction assembly 32 via the mounting part 14. A guide post 12 and a locking hook 13 are provided on the main body 11. When the guide post 12 passes through the through hole 211, the locking hook 13 engages with the brake arm 21. At this time, the portion of the main body 11 with the guide post 12 and the locking hook 13 are located on both sides of the through hole 211, thus achieving the connection between the connector 1 and the brake arm 21. The connection between the brake arm 21 and the connector 1 only requires pressing the guide post 12 into the through hole 211, making the operation simple and the installation efficient. Furthermore, once the locking hook 13 engages with the brake arm 21, it indicates that the brake arm 21 and the connector 1 are reliably installed, making the installation standard intuitive and reliable. The braking mechanism of this invention, by providing the aforementioned connector 1, achieves high overall assembly efficiency and good connection reliability, thereby ensuring the stroke accuracy of the traction device 31 pulling the metal wire 321. The washing machine of this invention, by providing the aforementioned braking mechanism, achieves high assembly efficiency and high operational accuracy.

[0049] Specifically, in this embodiment, as Figure 4 As shown, the main body 11 has a rectangular frame structure, the guide post 12 is disposed inside the rectangular frame, and the mounting part 14 is connected to the outside of the rectangular frame, thereby effectively separating the mounting position of the brake arm 21 on the connector 1 from the mounting position of the traction assembly 32 on the connector 1, avoiding interference between the traction assembly 32 and the brake arm 21 during the winding process. When connecting the brake arm 21 and the connector 1, the brake arm 21 extends into the rectangular frame, so that the through hole 211 on the brake arm 21 is opposite to the guide post 12. Then, the guide post 12 is pressed into the through hole 211 so that the locking hook 13 engages with the brake arm 21. Optionally, the end of the guide post 12 is provided with two locking hooks 13. After the two locking hooks 13 hook the brake arm 21 respectively, they can prevent the guide post 12 from coming out of the through hole 211 of the brake arm 21. In other embodiments, the number of locking hooks 13 may be three or more, which is not specifically limited here.

[0050] In this embodiment, the guide post 12, the locking hook 13, the main body 11, and the mounting part 14 are integrally injection molded. Injection molding can directly form parts with relatively complex surface shapes, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process of the entire connector 1 and increasing manufacturing efficiency.

[0051] The end of the traction assembly 32 connected to the traction device 31 is defined as the first end, and the end of the traction assembly 32 connected to the connector 1 is defined as the second end. Since the traction direction of the traction device 31 on the first end of the traction assembly 32 is different from the movement direction of the brake arm 21, if the second end of the traction assembly 32 and the brake arm 21 are in a completely fixed connection state, it will cause stress concentration at the ends of the first and / or second ends of the traction assembly 32, resulting in wear or bending damage.

[0052] Preferably, Figure 4As shown, the guide post 12 is provided with a draft angle along its axial direction to allow it to swing within the through hole 211. When the traction device 31 drives the first end of the traction assembly 32 to wind up and pulls the brake arm 21 to move around the center of the deceleration brake 2, the winding of the first end of the traction assembly 32 and the movement of the brake arm 21 occur in different directions. At this time, the guide post 12 on the connecting member 1 can swing within the through hole 211 of the brake arm 21, causing the entire connecting member 1 to swing relative to the brake arm 21. This adjusts the extension direction of the second end of the traction assembly 32, making the direction of the second end of the traction assembly 32 as similar as possible to the direction of the first end, thereby alleviating the stress concentration problem at the end of the traction assembly 32. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the adjustment of the extension direction of the end of the traction assembly 32 is achieved by the relative swing between the connecting member 1 and the brake arm 21. That is, the second end of the traction assembly 32 will not swing relative to the connecting member 1, thus avoiding wear between the traction assembly 32 and the connecting member 1 and ensuring the service life of the traction assembly 32. Specifically, in this embodiment, the draft angle can be 10° to 15°. In other embodiments, the specific angle of the draft angle can be flexibly adjusted as needed, and is not limited here.

[0053] Preferably, as shown in Figure 4, the through hole 211 is an oblong hole, and the cross-sectional shape of the guide post 12 matches the shape of the oblong hole. It should be noted that in this embodiment, since the guide post 12 has a draft angle, the size of the cross-section of the guide post 12 is different along the axial direction. Matching the shape of the cross-section of the guide post 12 with the shape of the oblong hole means that the cross-sections at different positions of the guide post 12 only have the same shape as the oblong hole, but their sizes are different. Setting the cross-sectional shape of the guide post 12 and the through hole 211 to correspond to the shape of the oblong hole can prevent the guide post 12 from rotating around its own axis within the through hole 211, thus ensuring that the swing direction of the connecting member 1 relative to the brake arm 21 is uniquely determined, thereby guaranteeing the accuracy of adjusting the extension direction of the second end of the traction assembly 32.

[0054] Preferably, such as Figure 4 As shown, the end of the guide post 12 is provided with a notch 15 extending along its axis, which divides the end of the guide post 12 into at least two connecting portions 121, with each locking hook 13 correspondingly connected to one connecting portion 121. The notch 15 provides the connecting portion 121 with good elastic deformation capability, thereby facilitating the smooth passage of the locking hook 13 at the end of the guide post 12 through the through hole 211, further improving the convenience of installing the connector. Optionally, in this embodiment, the notch 15 divides the end of the guide post 12 into two connecting portions 121. In other embodiments, the number of connecting portions 121 divided by the notch 15 at the end of the guide post 12 is the same as the number of locking hooks 13, and is not limited here.

[0055] In this embodiment, as Figure 3As shown, the traction assembly 32 includes a metal wire 321 and a copper head 322. One end of the metal wire 321 is connected to the traction device 31 so that the traction device 31 can wind up the metal wire 321. The copper head 322 is connected to the other end of the metal wire 321. The copper head 322 facilitates the connection between the metal wire 321 and the connector 1.

[0056] Specifically, such as Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the mounting part 14 is provided with an axially spaced feature along the first direction ( Figure 5 The limiting groove 141 extends in the X direction and axially along the second direction (in the middle) Figure 5 A guide groove 142 extending in the Y direction (with the second direction perpendicular to the first direction) penetrates the first sidewall 1411 of the limiting groove 141 along the second direction. A copper head 322 can be inserted into the limiting groove 141 along the first direction. A metal wire 321 passes through the guide groove 142, thereby connecting with the copper head 322 located within the limiting groove 141. For example... Figure 3 As shown, the copper head 322 and the metal wire 321 are finally confined within the limiting groove 141 and the guide groove 142, respectively, thereby realizing the connection between the traction assembly 32 and the mounting part 14.

[0057] Furthermore, such as Figure 6 As shown, one end of the guide groove 142 along the first direction is open, facilitating the direct insertion of the metal wire 321 into the guide groove 142 from the opening along the first direction. A limiting rib 143 is provided at the end of the limiting groove 141 along the first direction and near the opening. The limiting rib 143 has a mounting hole 144 that communicates with the guide groove 142, allowing the copper head 322 and the metal wire 321 to be inserted into the limiting groove 141 along the first direction. Thus, the copper head 322 and the metal wire 321 can be inserted together along the first direction into the mounting hole 144 and the guide groove 142 respectively when connected. When the copper head 322 enters the first limiting groove 141 and abuts against the first sidewall 1411, the limiting rib 143 prevents the copper head 322 from moving along the first direction. This makes the connection between the traction assembly 32 and the connector 1 more convenient.

[0058] To prevent the copper head 322 from falling out of the limiting groove 141, such as Figure 6 As shown, the mounting hole 144 includes a narrow hole section 1441 and a coarse hole section 1442 along the second direction (i.e., the Y direction). The narrow hole section 1441 is connected to the guide groove 142 and allows the metal wire 321 to pass through. The coarse hole section 1442 is located at the end away from the guide groove 142 and allows the copper head 322 to pass through.

[0059] The process of installing the metal wire 321 and the copper head 322 onto the mounting part 14 is as follows:

[0060] like Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, firstly, the copper head 322 is aligned with the coarse hole section 1442, and the metal wire 321 is aligned with the fine hole section 1441 and the guide groove 142. Then, the copper head 322 and the metal wire 321 are moved together along the X direction so that the copper head 322 is inserted into the coarse hole section 1442 and the metal wire 321 is inserted into the fine hole section 1441 and the guide groove 142. When the copper head 322 and the metal wire 321 have completely passed through the limiting rib 143 along the X direction, they enter the limiting groove 141. Finally, the metal wire 321 and the copper head 322 are pulled along the Y direction so that the copper head 322 abuts against the first side wall 1411 of the limiting groove 141. At this time, the copper head 322 is aligned with the fine hole section 1441 on the limiting rib 143, while the metal wire 321 is located in the guide groove 142, thereby effectively preventing the copper head 322 from falling out of the limiting groove 141. This embodiment achieves a simple structure and convenient installation by setting the fit between the limiting groove 141, the guide groove 142, the limiting rib 143 and the mounting hole 144 on the limiting rib 143. This allows the installation of the traction component 32 and the connector 1 to be done without the need for additional fasteners.

[0061] Furthermore, such as Figure 6 As shown, a stop 145 is provided on the narrow section 1441. The stop 145 increases the resistance of the metal wire 321 entering and exiting the narrow section 1441, thereby further preventing the traction component 32 from falling off the connector 1 and ensuring the reliability of the connection between the connector 1 and the traction component 32.

[0062] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, based on the concept of the present invention, there will be changes in specific implementation methods and application scope. The content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting a brake arm (21) and a traction assembly (32), wherein the brake arm (21) is provided with a through hole (211), characterized in that, The connector includes: Body part (11); The guide post (12) is connected to the main body (11). At least two locking hooks (13) are provided at the end of the guide post (12). The guide post (12) can pass through the through hole (211) so that the locking hooks (13) can be engaged with the brake arm (21). Mounting part (14) is connected to the main body part (11), which is configured to mount the traction assembly (32). Along the axial direction of the guide post (12), the guide post (12) is provided with a draft angle so that the guide post (12) can swing within the through hole (211).

2. The connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The through hole (211) is a waist-shaped hole, and the cross-sectional shape of the guide post (12) matches the shape of the waist-shaped hole.

3. The connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the guide post (12) is provided with a notch (15) extending along its axis, the notch (15) dividing the end of the guide post (12) into at least two connecting parts (121), and each of the locking hooks (13) is connected to one of the connecting parts (121).

4. The connector as described in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The main body (11) includes a rectangular frame, the guide post (12) is disposed inside the rectangular frame, and the mounting part (14) is connected to the outside of the rectangular frame.

5. The connector as described in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The traction assembly (32) includes a metal wire (321) and a copper head (322) connected to the end of the metal wire (321). The mounting part (14) is provided with a limiting groove (141) extending axially in a first direction and a guide groove (142) extending axially in a second direction. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The guide groove (142) passes through the first sidewall (1411) of the limiting groove (141) in the second direction. The copper head (322) can be inserted into the limiting groove (141) in the first direction. The metal wire (321) passes through the guide groove (142).

6. The connector as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The guide groove (142) has an opening at one end along the first direction, and the metal wire (321) is inserted into the guide groove (142) from the opening along the first direction. The limiting groove (141) is provided with a limiting rib (143) at one end along the first direction and near the opening. The limiting rib (143) is provided with a mounting hole (144). The mounting hole (144) is connected to the guide groove (142). The mounting hole (144) allows the copper head (322) and the metal wire (321) to be inserted into the limiting groove (141) along the first direction. When the copper head (322) abuts against the first side wall (1411), the limiting rib (143) can prevent the copper head (322) from moving along the first direction.

7. The connector as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The mounting hole (144) includes a narrow hole section (1441) and a coarse hole section (1442) along the second direction. The narrow hole section (1441) communicates with the guide groove (142) and allows the metal wire (321) to pass through. The coarse hole section (1442) is located at one end away from the guide groove (142) and allows the copper head (322) to pass through.

8. A braking mechanism, characterized in that, include: The deceleration clutch (2) includes a brake arm (21) and a through hole (211) is provided on the brake arm (21). The traction device (31) has its output end connected to one end of the traction assembly (32) and can wind up the traction assembly (32). The connector according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the guide post (12) passes through the through hole (211), and the other end of the traction assembly (32) is connected to the mounting part (14).

9. A washing machine, characterized in that, Includes the braking mechanism as described in claim 8.

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