A type of drum washing machine

Abstract

A drum-type washing machine includes a casing, an outer drum, and an inner drum. Its distinguishing feature is that it further includes a front suspension device and a rear suspension device for supporting and buffering the vibration of the inner drum. The planes of the front and rear suspension devices are perpendicular to the central axis of the inner drum. The front suspension device connects to both the inner drum and the outer drum, and the rear suspension device connects to both the inner drum and the casing. The rear suspension device is connected to the inner drum via a drive device. The advantages of this invention are that the combined use of the front and rear suspension devices keeps the center of mass of the inner drum on its axis, not only providing stable support but also effectively counteracting center offset caused by inner drum vibration, thus reducing inner drum vibration during washing. Therefore, the gap between the inner and outer drums can be reduced, allowing for a larger inner drum diameter within existing casing dimensions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a washing machine apparatus, and more particularly to a drum-type washing machine. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, drum washing machines are the mainstream model in the market. A drum washing machine typically consists of a casing, an outer tub for holding water, and an inner tub inside the outer tub that holds the laundry and rotates. The main problem with drum washing machines during operation is the random shift of the center of mass, especially during the high-speed rotation of the inner tub. This causes excessive centrifugal force on the laundry, leading to vibration. This vibration caused by the inner tub is transmitted to the outside of the washing machine via the outer tub and casing. Therefore, to prevent vibration from being transmitted from the inner tub to the casing via the outer tub, traditional drum washing machines require not only gaps between the inner and outer tubs but also gaps between the outer tub and the casing to accommodate a shock-absorbing system for buffering and damping the vibration of the outer tub. To ensure sufficient space for swaying and displacement during high-speed rotation, the inner tub diameter of most mainstream drum washing machines (e.g., 10kg capacity) is around 500mm, assuming a standard casing width (600mm).

[0003] However, existing drum washing machines generally suffer from the following two major problems: First, the shock absorption system, which uses springs and dampers, typically consists of two bottom support dampers and two top springs. The four components of the shock absorption system are on the same plane, often located at the center plane of the inner drum in the front-to-back direction. When the center of mass shifts randomly, there will often be a front-to-back shift, at which point the shock absorption system cannot perform at its best. Second, most drum washing machines are not installed separately but are dependent on the existing installation environment (such as in a built-in environment). This requires that the size of the drum washing machine be limited by the space available in the actual installation environment. This limitation makes it very difficult to increase the diameter of the inner drum in the structure of drum washing machines.

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, existing invention patents such as ZL201080017293.4 ("Washing Machine") and ZL201080020322.2 ("Washing Machine") disclose a washing machine with a fixed outer tub and a shock absorber buffer assembly positioned between the inner tub and the casing. These patents, in order to increase the diameter of the inner tub, achieve a relatively fixed outer tub (i.e., the outer tub is more rigidly supported) to reduce the gap between the outer tub and the casing.

[0005] However, the suspension structure with bottom buffer support in the aforementioned patents only causes excessive shaking of the inner tub, which cannot effectively solve the problem of center shift caused by inner tub vibration during washing. Moreover, although the aforementioned patented structure can increase the diameter of the inner tub to some extent, it cannot avoid the displacement caused by inner tub vibration, and a gap of about 25mm still needs to be left between the inner tub and the outer tub. Its inner tub diameter can only be about 520mm, which is not a significant improvement compared to the inner tub diameter of existing mainstream drum washing machines.

[0006] In conclusion, further improvements and refinements are needed to effectively reduce vibration during the washing process of drum washing machines while maximizing the inner drum diameter. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The first technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a drum washing machine with less vibration and a larger inner tub diameter within the existing washing machine outer shell size, in view of the above-mentioned existing technology.

[0008] The second technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a drum washing machine that is easier to clean and can effectively prevent dirt from accumulating in the door gaps, in light of the above-mentioned existing technology.

[0009] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the first technical problem mentioned above is: a drum-type washing machine, comprising:

[0010] chassis;

[0011] The outer tub, which can hold washing water, is fixedly installed inside the machine casing;

[0012] The inner cylinder is rotatably housed within the outer cylinder;

[0013] The drive unit can drive the inner cylinder to rotate;

[0014] The washing machine is characterized in that: it further includes a front suspension device and a rear suspension device for supporting and buffering the vibration of the inner drum, wherein the plane of the front suspension device and the plane of the rear suspension device are perpendicular to the central axis of the inner drum; wherein, the front suspension device is disposed at the front end of the inner drum and is respectively connected to the inner drum and the outer drum, and the rear suspension device is disposed at the rear end of the inner drum and is respectively connected to the inner drum and the machine casing; the drive unit is disposed at the rear end of the inner drum, and the rear suspension device is connected to the inner drum through the drive unit.

[0015] Considering the simple overall structure, ease of installation and disassembly, and convenient maintenance, the front suspension device is a ball bearing track device, which includes...

[0016] The track race, which is fixed to the front end of the inner cylinder, includes a track guide groove;

[0017] The ball, which is rollably arranged in the track guide groove;

[0018] The ball retainer, which enables the rolling connection between the ball and the track race, forms a chamber with the track race to accommodate and limit the ball;

[0019] The elastic traction member, which is arranged between the ball retainer and the outer cylinder, has a tendency to keep the axis of the inner cylinder always coincident with the axis of the outer cylinder.

[0020] For the convenience of assembling the ball track device, as a further preference, the inner cylinder includes a cylinder body and a front end cover fixedly connected to the cylinder body and having a convex cross-section. The track race includes an annular track body and a flange axially limited on the front end cover. The cross-section of the track body is perpendicular to the cross-section of the flange; among them, the track body can be sleeved on the small-diameter convex end of the front end cover, the flange can be axially limited on the convex step surface of the front end cover and fixedly connected to the front end cover. The circular inner diameter formed by the flange is adapted to the diameter of the small-diameter convex end of the front end cover; the side wall of the track body is provided with a track guide groove for installing the ball along the circumference.

[0021] For making the rotation of the track race more flexible and labor-saving and increasing the rolling friction between the track race and the ball retainer, as a preference, the track guide groove includes an upper guide rail formed on the outer side wall of the track body and a lower guide rail formed on the inner side wall of the track body. The ball retainer and the upper guide rail cooperate to form an upper chamber for accommodating the ball, and the ball retainer and the lower guide rail cooperate to form a lower chamber for accommodating the ball. Thus, balls can be arranged on both the outer side wall and the inner side wall of the track race to reduce the friction of the track race during the rolling of the inner cylinder.

[0022] For facilitating the formation of the upper and lower chambers, as a preference, the flange includes a first side, a second side and a third side that are vertically connected in sequence. Among them, the first side is vertically downward from the middle of the inner side wall of the track body, the second side is perpendicular to the first side and folds towards the convex step surface, and the third side is perpendicular to the second side and folds downward and is parallel to the first side; the lower guide rail includes a first lower guide rail formed on the left side of the first side and a second lower guide rail formed on the right side of the first side. The ball retainer and the upper guide rail cooperate to form an upper chamber for accommodating the ball, the ball retainer and the first lower guide rail cooperate to form a first lower chamber for accommodating the ball, and the ball retainer and the second lower guide rail cooperate to form a second lower chamber for accommodating the ball. Thus, the cross-section formed by the upper chamber, the first lower chamber and the second chamber is arranged in a "pin" shape.

[0023] For the convenience of the installation and removal of the balls, preferably, the ball retainer includes a front cover, an upper cover and a rear cover with cross-sections all in a C shape. Moreover, the openings of the front cover and the rear cover are arranged opposite to each other, and the upper cover is connected to the tops of the front cover and the rear cover. An opening groove through which the first side can pass is formed at the bottom of the ball retainer. That is, the front cover, the upper cover and the rear cover are interconnected to form a cavity with a cross-section in a "mouth" shape, and an opening groove through which the first side can pass is formed at the bottom of the "mouth" - shaped cavity; the front cover cooperates with the track body on the left side of the first side to form the first lower chamber, the rear cover cooperates with the track body on the right side of the first side to form the second lower chamber, and the upper cover cooperates with the outer side wall of the track body to form the upper chamber.

[0024] To ensure the assembly accuracy of the balls and prevent the balls from deviating from the guide rail, as a further preference, the front cover and the rear cover respectively have L-shaped flanges arranged opposite to each other, and a limiting hole adapted to the balls is formed on each L-shaped flange. The balls can be rollingly accommodated in the limiting holes. Thus, the lower guide rail and the corresponding limiting holes form a locally arc-shaped inner cavity, and the balls can be better stabilized in this inner cavity, which can not only achieve free rolling but also prevent deviation from the guide rail groove, enabling the installation and limitation of the balls and ensuring the stability of operation.

[0025] To ensure the stability of the front suspension device, preferably, there are at least three elastic traction members. Each elastic traction member includes a spring sleeve that can limit the axial stretching amount of the spring and a spring accommodated in the spring sleeve. Moreover, all the elastic traction members are always located in the same plane perpendicular to the central axis of the inner cylinder.

[0026] To achieve better balance and shock absorption effects, as a further preference, there are six elastic traction members, and the elastic traction members are evenly divided into two groups and respectively arranged on the upper half and the lower half of the track collar. Correspondingly, there are six ball retainers and they are respectively arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the elastic traction members.

[0027] To facilitate the fixation of the spring, preferably, hooks that can be respectively exposed outside the spring sleeve are arranged at both ends of the spring. The hook at one end of the spring is fixedly connected to the ball retainer, and the hook at the other end of the spring is fixedly connected to the outer cylinder.

[0028] To facilitate the fixation of the ball retainer and at the same time reduce the vibration influence of the inner cylinder on the outer cylinder, a traction member hanging ring is arranged between the ball retainer and the outer cylinder. The traction member hanging ring is fixedly connected to the outer cylinder, and a connection hole that can be connected to the hook at the other end of the spring is formed on the traction member hanging ring.

[0029] To ensure the stability of the rear suspension, preferably, the rear suspension includes at least two damper assemblies disposed between the bottom of the housing and the lower half of the drive unit; and at least one upper suspension connection assembly disposed between the top of the housing and the upper half of the drive unit.

[0030] Preferably, the driving device includes:

[0031] The motor assembly includes a bearing and a motor shaft rotatably disposed within the bearing, the inner cylinder being fixedly connected to the motor shaft;

[0032] A motor mounting plate is located at the rear end of the inner cylinder. The motor mounting plate is fixedly connected to the bearing and is also sealed to the outer cylinder.

[0033] To simplify the structure, as a further preferred embodiment, the damper assembly includes a damper and a damper connecting plate, with the fixed end of the damper connected to the bottom of the housing and the movable end of the damper connected to the motor mounting plate.

[0034] To simplify the structure and facilitate installation, as a further preferred embodiment, the upper connecting assembly includes an elastic reset member and an upper connecting plate. One end of the elastic reset member is connected to the housing, and the other end is connected to one end of the upper connecting plate. The other end of the upper connecting plate is connected to the motor mounting plate.

[0035] To facilitate the connection between the elastic reset component and the housing, preferably, the housing includes a rear panel, the top of which is bent inwards to form a flange with a transverse L-shaped cross-section, and one end of the elastic reset component is fixed to the flange.

[0036] Preferably, the inner cylinder includes a cylinder body and a rear end cover fixedly connected to the cylinder body, and the motor shaft is disposed on the central axis of the rear end cover and fixedly connected to the rear end cover.

[0037] For ease of manufacturing and installation, preferably, the outer cylinder includes a front outer cylinder and a rear outer cylinder that are fixedly connected, and the housing includes a front panel with an openable door. Correspondingly, a door frame that can cooperate with the door is formed on the front outer cylinder.

[0038] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the second technical problem mentioned above is as follows: a door gap sealing ring is provided between the door frame and the door, wherein the door frame has an open end that matches the inner diameter of the door, the inner wall of the open end is smooth, and the open end of the door frame is formed with a radially outward flared opening, and an annular groove is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the flared opening; correspondingly, the door gap sealing ring includes a sealing ring and a sealing retaining ring integrally formed with the sealing ring; the sealing ring can be fitted outside the flared opening, and the cross-section of the sealing ring is a U-shaped rib that matches the annular groove; the sealing retaining ring is located on one side of the sealing ring and its inner diameter is smaller than that of the sealing ring; the sealing retaining ring is parallel to the end face of the door frame and makes the door tightly fit with the door frame when closed.

[0039] To facilitate quick connection and fixation between the outer cylinder and the housing and for easy assembly, the housing preferably includes a front panel, a top plate, a bottom plate, a rear panel, and two opposite side plates. The front and rear faces of the outer cylinder are respectively provided with circumferentially arranged protruding connecting posts. The front and rear panels of the housing are connected to the corresponding end faces of the outer cylinder via fasteners passing through the connecting posts.

[0040] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows:

[0041] 1. By using the front and rear suspension devices together, the center of mass of the inner drum can be kept on the axis of the inner drum. This not only provides stable support for the inner drum, but also effectively counteracts the center offset caused by the vibration of the inner drum. In other words, it better restrains the displacement of the inner drum during vibration and reduces the vibration of the inner drum during the washing process. Therefore, the gap between the inner drum and the outer drum can be reduced, and a larger inner drum diameter can be achieved within the existing outer shell size.

[0042] 2. The outer drum is fixed, eliminating the need for rubber buffers between the outer drum and the door panel. This eliminates the traditional rubber ring structure inside the door frame of washing machines. The integrated door seam sealing ring, combined with the optimized convex door frame structure, achieves a wrinkle-free door seam, thus preventing dirt and grime from accumulating in the door seam, making cleaning easier, reducing cross-contamination, and improving washing performance and hygiene.

[0043] 3. The use of a ball bearing track device as the front suspension device results in low frictional resistance during operation, ensuring stable and reliable equipment operation; the structure is simpler, the manufacturing cost is lower, and the installation and disassembly are more flexible. Attached Figure Description

[0044] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention (with part of the outer shell removed).

[0045] Figure 2 This is a side view of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention (top cover and side panels removed).

[0046] Figure 3 This is a front view of the mounting structure of the front suspension device for a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 4 This is a front view of the installation structure of the rear suspension device of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Figure 5 This is an exploded perspective view of the front suspension device of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the track ring in the front suspension device shown.

[0050] Figure 7 for Figure 5 An exploded perspective view of the ball retainer in the front suspension system.

[0051] Figure 8 This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the assembly structure of the track ring and ball retainer of the front suspension device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of the assembly structure of the front suspension device of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] Figure 10 for Figure 9 The enlarged view of part I shown.

[0054] Figure 11 This is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the door seal structure of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] Figure 12 This is a cross-sectional view of the door seal ring of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] Figure 13 This is a cross-sectional view of the front outer drum of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] Figure 14 This is an exploded perspective view of the inner drum of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0058] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0059] This embodiment discloses a drum washing machine, such as Figures 1 to 14As shown, the drum washing machine includes a casing 1, an outer drum 2, an inner drum 3, a drive unit, a front suspension device, and a rear suspension device. The outer drum 2 can hold washing water and is fixedly installed inside the casing 1. The inner drum 3 is rotatably housed within the outer drum 2. The front and rear suspension devices are used to support and buffer the vibration of the inner drum 3. The front suspension device is located at the front end of the inner drum 3 and is connected to both the inner drum 3 and the outer drum 2. The rear suspension device is located at the rear end of the inner drum 3 and is connected to both the inner drum 3 and the casing 1. The planes of the front and rear suspension devices are perpendicular to the axis of the inner drum 3. The drive unit is located at the rear end of the inner drum 3 and can drive the inner drum 3 to rotate. The rear suspension device is connected to the inner drum 3 through the drive unit.

[0060] Considering ease of installation and disassembly, as well as convenient maintenance, such as Figure 3 , Figures 5-10 As shown, the front suspension device is preferably a ball bearing 82 track device, which includes a track ring 81, balls 82, a ball retainer 83, and an elastic traction member 84. The track ring 81 is fixed to the front end of the inner cylinder 3 and includes a track guide groove. The balls 82 are rotatably disposed in the track guide groove. The ball retainer 83 enables the rolling connection between the balls 82 and the track ring 81. The ball retainer 83 and the track ring 81 cooperate to form a chamber that can accommodate and limit the balls 82. The elastic traction member 84 is disposed between the ball retainer 83 and the outer cylinder 2. The elastic traction member 84 has a tendency to keep the axis of the inner cylinder 3 always coincident with the axis of the outer cylinder 2.

[0061] To ensure the stability of the front suspension device, the elastic traction member 84 includes at least three, each elastic traction member 84 including a spring sleeve 841 that can limit the axial tension of the spring 842 and a spring 842 housed in the spring sleeve 841, and all elastic traction members 84 are always located in the same plane perpendicular to the central axis of the inner cylinder 3.

[0062] To achieve better balance and vibration reduction, this embodiment has six elastic traction members 84, which are divided into two groups and respectively arranged in the upper and lower halves of the track ring 81. Correspondingly, there are six ball retainers 83, each corresponding to one of the elastic traction members 84, and each ball retainer 82 contains a ball 82. The number and distribution of the elastic traction members 84 can be adjusted according to the actual situation. For example, two elastic traction members 84 can be arranged in the upper and lower halves of the track ring 81, or three elastic traction members 84 can be arranged in the upper half and two in the lower half. Accordingly, the number of ball retainers 82 can be adjusted adaptively as the number of elastic traction members 84 changes.

[0063] To facilitate the fixing of the spring 842, hooks are provided at both ends of the spring 842, which can be exposed outside the spring sleeve 841 respectively. The hook 843 at one end of the spring 842 is fixedly connected to the ball 82 retainer, and the hook 844 at the other end of the spring 842 is fixedly connected to the outer cylinder 2.

[0064] To facilitate the fixing of the ball retainer 83 and reduce the vibration impact of the inner cylinder 3 on the outer cylinder 2, a traction ring 85 is also provided between the ball retainer 82 and the outer cylinder 2. The traction ring 85 is fixedly connected to the outer cylinder 2, and a connection hole 851 is provided on the traction ring 85 to be connected to the hook at the other end of the spring 842.

[0065] To facilitate the assembly of the ball bearing 82 track device, the inner cylinder 3 in this embodiment includes a front end cover 31, a cylinder body 32, and a rear end cover 33. See [reference needed]. Figure 14 The front cover 31 and the rear cover 33 are fixedly connected to the cylinder body 32 respectively. A tripod 34 is also fixedly installed on the inner side of the rear cover 33 of the cylinder body 32. The tripod 34 can increase the strength of the inner cylinder and can drive the inner cylinder 3 to rotate as a transmission component (the motor shaft and the tripod 34 are fixed).

[0066] The front end cover 31 of the inner cylinder 3 has a convex cross-section, including a convex small diameter end 311, a convex large diameter end 312, and an end cover connecting surface 313 extending radially outward from the bottom end of the large diameter end 312. The track ring 81 includes an annular track body 811 and a retaining edge 812 that can be axially limited on the front end cover. The cross-section of the track body 811 and the cross-section of the retaining edge 812 are perpendicular to each other. The track body 811 can be fitted onto the convex small diameter end 311 of the front end cover 31, and the retaining edge 812 can be axially limited on the convex stepped surface 314 of the front end cover 31 and fixedly connected to the front end cover 31. The circular inner diameter formed by the retaining edge 812 is adapted to the diameter of the convex small diameter end 311 of the front end cover 31. The side wall of the track body 811 is provided with a track guide groove along the circumferential direction for the installation of the ball bearing 82.

[0067] To make the rotation of the track ring 81 more flexible and effortless, and to reduce the rolling friction between the track ring 81 and the ball retainer 83, the track guide groove includes an upper guide rail 8111 formed on the outer side wall of the track body 811, and a lower guide rail formed on the inner side wall of the track body 811. The ball retainer 83 cooperates with the upper guide rail 8111 to form an upper chamber C that can accommodate the ball 82, and the ball retainer 83 cooperates with the lower guide rail to form a lower chamber that can accommodate the ball 82. The ball 82 can be accommodated in both the upper chamber C and the lower chamber, so that the upper and lower parts of the track ring 81 are rolledly connected with the ball retainer 83.

[0068] For the convenience of forming the upper and lower chambers and simplifying the assembly structure at the same time, the specific structure of the baffle edge 812 is as follows: the baffle edge 812 includes a first edge 8121, a second edge 8122, and a third edge 8123 that are vertically connected in sequence. Among them, the first edge 8121 is vertically downward from the middle of the inner side wall of the track body 811, the second edge 8122 is folded perpendicular to the first edge 8121 in the direction close to the convex step surface 314, and the third edge 8123 is folded perpendicular to the second edge 8122 downward and is parallel to the first edge 8121. To improve the strength, reinforcing ribs 8124 are also arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction on the inner side wall of the second edge 8122; the lower rail includes a first lower rail 8112 formed on the left side of the first edge 8121 and a second lower rail 8113 formed on the right side of the first edge 8121. The ball retainer 83 and the upper rail 8111 cooperate to form an upper chamber C that can accommodate the balls 82. The ball retainer 83 and the first lower rail 8112 cooperate to form a first lower chamber A that can accommodate the balls 82. The ball retainer 83 and the second lower rail 8113 cooperate to form a second lower chamber B that can accommodate the balls 82. Thus, the cross-section formed by the upper chamber C, the first lower chamber A, and the second chamber is arranged in a "pin" shape. See Figure 8 .

[0069] For the convenience of installing and disassembling the balls 82, the ball retainer 83 includes a front cover 831, an upper cover 832, and a rear cover 833 whose cross-sections are all in a C shape. Moreover, the openings of the front cover 831 and the rear cover 833 are opposite to each other. The opening 8321 of the upper cover 832 faces downward and is connected to the tops of the front cover 831 and the rear cover 833. The front cover 831, the upper cover 832, and the rear cover 833 are both independent and can be connected to each other as a whole. After the three are connected, a cavity with a cross-section in the shape of a "square" is formed. An opening groove 834 through which the first edge 8121 can pass is opened at the bottom of the "square" cavity. See Figure 7 , Figure 8 ; The front cover 831 and the inner side wall of the track body 811 on the left side of the first edge 8121 cooperate to form the first lower chamber A. The rear cover 833 and the inner side wall of the track body 811 on the right side of the first edge 8121 cooperate to form the second lower chamber B. The upper cover 832 and the outer side wall of the track body 811 cooperate to form the upper chamber C. A hanging ear 8333 is also formed on the rear cover 833, and a hanging hole 8334 that can be connected to the hook 843 at one end of the spring is opened on the hanging ear 8333.

[0070] To ensure the assembly accuracy of the balls 82 and prevent the balls 82 from deviating from the guide rail, the front cover 831 and the rear cover 833 also respectively have L-shaped flanges that are opposite to each other. At least one limiting hole 8312, 8332 that can be adapted to the balls 82 is opened on the bottom edges 8311, 8331 of each L-shaped flange, as Figure 7As shown, in this embodiment, two limiting holes 8312 and 8332 are respectively opened on the bottom edge of the L-shaped fold of the front cover 831 and the rear cover 833, that is, two balls 82 can be installed in each cavity as a group, and the balls 82 can be rolled and accommodated in the corresponding limiting holes 8312 and 8332.

[0071] Therefore, the limiting holes on the L-shaped fold of the first lower guide rail 8112 and the corresponding front cover 831 (or the limiting holes on the L-shaped fold of the second lower guide rail 8113 and the corresponding rear cover 833) form upper and lower semi-arc inner cavities, which can both realize the free rolling of the ball 82 and prevent the ball 82 from deviating from the guide rail groove, thus ensuring the reliability and stability of operation.

[0072] To ensure the stability of the rear suspension system, the rear suspension system in this embodiment includes at least two damper assemblies, such as... Figure 4 As shown, a damper assembly is disposed between the bottom of the housing 1 and the lower half of the drive unit; and at least one upper suspension connection assembly is disposed between the top of the housing 1 and the upper half of the drive unit. Depending on actual needs, the number of damper assemblies and upper suspension connection assemblies of the rear suspension system can be adjusted appropriately. For example, two upper suspension connection assemblies and two damper assemblies can be used in combination, or three upper suspension connection assemblies and two damper assemblies can be used in combination to further improve suspension stability.

[0073] The drive device in this embodiment includes a motor assembly 4 and a motor mounting plate 5. The motor assembly 4 includes a bearing, a shaft water seal, and a motor shaft rotatably disposed within the bearing. The motor assembly 4 can adopt a conventional structure in the prior art. The specific mounting structure of this drive device is as follows:

[0074] The motor mounting plate 5 is located behind the rear end cover 33 of the inner cylinder 3. The motor mounting plate 5 and the outer cylinder 2 are sealed and connected by an elastic connecting ring 51. The motor mounting plate 5 is fixedly connected to the bearing. The inner cylinder 3 is fixedly connected to the motor shaft. Specifically, the motor shaft is fixedly connected to the tripod 34. The tripod 34 drives the inner cylinder 3 to rotate together. Furthermore, the motor shaft and the central axis of the inner cylinder 3 are on the same straight line.

[0075] To simplify the structure, the damper assembly includes a damper 91 and a damper connecting plate 92. The fixed end of the damper 91 is connected to the bottom of the housing 1, and the movable end of the damper 91 is connected to the motor mounting plate 5.

[0076] To simplify the structure and facilitate installation, the upper connection assembly includes an elastic reset member 93 and an upper connecting plate 94. One end of the elastic reset member 93 is connected to the housing 1, and the other end is connected to one end of the upper connecting plate 94. The other end of the upper connecting plate 94 is connected to the motor mounting plate 5.

[0077] For ease of manufacturing and installation, the outer cylinder 2 includes a front outer cylinder 21 and a rear outer cylinder 22 that are fixedly connected. The housing 1 includes a front panel 11, a top plate, a bottom plate 12, a rear panel 13, and two opposite side plates. The front panel 11 is also provided with an openable door 7. The door 7 is provided with a door glass 71 that is convex in the shape of a frustum. Correspondingly, the front outer cylinder 21 is formed with a door frame that can cooperate with the door glass 71. The door glass 71 can be inserted into the opening of the door frame so that the door 7 is closed.

[0078] A door gap sealing ring 6 is provided between the door frame and the door glass 71, see [link / reference]. Figures 10-12 The door frame has an open end that matches the inner diameter of the maximum cross-section of the door glass 71. The inner wall of this open end is smooth, and the open end of the door frame is formed with a radially outwardly flared opening 211. An annular groove 212 is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the flared opening 211. Correspondingly, the door gap sealing ring 6 includes a sealing ring 61 and a sealing retainer ring 62 integrally formed with the sealing ring 61. The sealing ring 61 can be fitted outside the flared opening 211, and the cross-section of the sealing ring 61 is a U-shaped rib 611 that matches the annular groove 212. The sealing retainer ring 62 is located on one side of the sealing ring 61 and its inner diameter is smaller than that of the sealing ring 61, that is, the cross-section of the door gap sealing ring 6 is L-shaped. The cross-section of the sealing retainer ring 62 is perpendicular to the sealing ring 61. The sealing retainer ring 62 is parallel to the end face of the door frame, so that when the door 7 is closed, the door glass 71 and the door frame are in an interference fit. See [reference needed]. Figure 10 .

[0079] To achieve quick connection and fixation between the outer cylinder 2 and the housing 1, circumferentially arranged protruding connecting posts 23 are respectively provided on the front and rear faces of the outer cylinder 2. The front panel 11 and rear panel 13 of the housing 1 are connected to the corresponding end faces of the outer cylinder 2 via fasteners passing through the connecting posts 23. To facilitate the connection between the elastic reset member 93 and the housing 1, the top of the rear panel 13 of the housing 1 is bent inward to form a flange 131 with a transverse L-shaped cross-section. One end of the elastic reset member 93 is fixed to this flange 131. (See Figure 131 for details.) Figure 2 .

[0080] This embodiment employs a combination of front and rear suspension devices, ensuring that the center of mass of the inner drum 3 tends to always lie on its axis during rotation. The front and rear suspension devices not only provide stable support for the inner drum 3 but also better restrain its displacement during vibration, thereby reducing vibration during washing. This allows for a smaller gap between the inner drum 3 and the outer drum 2, enabling a larger diameter for the inner drum 3 within the existing outer casing dimensions. Increasing the diameter of the inner drum 3 offers the following advantages: ① It extends the tumbling path of the clothes during washing, resulting in cleaner washing; ② During spin-drying, a longer inner drum diameter allows for greater centrifugal force, resulting in drier clothes; ③ During drying, a larger inner drum diameter allows clothes to stretch more freely, reducing wrinkles; ④ It increases washing capacity while maintaining the same depth. Therefore, a larger inner drum diameter offers significant advantages.

[0081] Meanwhile, this embodiment adopts the method of fixing the outer drum 2. Therefore, there is no need for rubber buffer between the outer drum 2 and the door 7 panel. The structure of setting a rubber ring inside the door frame in traditional washing machines is eliminated. Through the integrated door seam sealing ring 6 and the optimized door frame structure, the door seam is wrinkle-free, thereby avoiding dirt and grime from accumulating in the door seam, making it easier to clean, improving the washing effect and improving the hygiene environment inside the washing machine, making the product more environmentally friendly and healthy to use.

[0082] The specification and claims of this invention use terms indicating direction, such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "side," "top," and "bottom," to describe various exemplary structural parts and elements of the invention. However, these terms are used herein merely for ease of explanation and are determined based on the exemplary orientations shown in the accompanying drawings. Since the embodiments disclosed in this invention can be arranged in different orientations, these terms indicating direction are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limitations. For example, "upper" and "lower" are not necessarily limited to directions opposite to or consistent with the direction of gravity.

Claims

1. A drum-type washing machine comprising a machine housing (1); an outer drum (2) capable of containing washing water, the outer drum (2) being fixedly arranged in the machine housing (1); an inner drum (3) rotatably accommodated in the outer drum (2); a driving unit capable of driving the inner drum (3) to rotate; characterized in that the drum-type washing machine further comprises front and rear suspension devices for supporting and buffering the vibration of the inner drum (3), the plane where the front suspension device is located and the plane where the rear suspension device is located are respectively perpendicular to the central axis of the inner drum; wherein the front suspension device is arranged at the front end of the inner drum (3) and connected with the inner drum (3) and the outer drum (2) respectively, the rear suspension device is arranged at the rear end of the inner drum (3) and connected with the inner drum (3) and the machine housing (1) respectively, and the driving unit is arranged at the rear end of the inner drum (3), and the rear suspension device is connected with the inner drum (3) through the driving unit; the front suspension device is a ball track device, which comprises a track sleeve (81) fixedly arranged at the front end of the inner drum (3), the track sleeve (81) comprising a track guide groove (813); a ball (82) rollably arranged in the track guide groove (813); a ball retainer (83) capable of achieving the rolling connection between the ball (82) and the track sleeve (81), the ball retainer (83) and the track sleeve (81) cooperatively forming a cavity capable of containing and limiting the ball (82); a resilient traction member (84) arranged between the ball retainer (83) and the outer drum (2), the resilient traction member (84) having a tendency to always keep the axis of the inner drum (3) coinciding with the axis of the outer drum (2); the inner drum (3) comprises a drum body (32) and a front end cover (31) fixedly connected with the drum body (32) and having a convex cross section, the track sleeve (81) comprises an annular track body (811) and a stop edge (812) axially limited on the front end cover (31), and the cross section of the track body (811) is arranged perpendicular to the cross section of the stop edge (812); wherein the track body (811) can be sleeved on the convex small-diameter end (311) of the front end cover (31), the stop edge (812) is axially limited on the convex step surface (314) of the front end cover (31) and fixedly connected with the front end cover (31), the circular inner diameter formed by the stop edge (812) is matched with the diameter of the convex small-diameter end (311) of the front end cover (31), and the side wall of the track body (811) is circumferentially provided with the track guide groove (813) for installing the ball (82).

2. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: the track guide groove (813) comprises an upper guide rail (8111) formed on the outer side wall of the track body (811) and a lower guide rail formed on the inner side wall of the track body (811), the ball retainer (83) cooperatively forms an upper cavity capable of containing the ball (82) with the upper guide rail (8111), and the ball retainer (83) cooperatively forms a lower cavity capable of containing the ball (82) with the lower guide rail.

3. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The baffle (812) comprises a first edge (8121), a second edge (8122) and a third edge (8123) connected vertically in sequence, wherein the first edge (8121) is vertically downward from the middle of the inner side wall of the track body (811), the second edge (8122) is folded vertically to the first edge (8121) in the direction close to the convex step surface (314), and the third edge (8123) is folded vertically to the second edge (8122) downward and parallel to the first edge (8121); the lower guide rail comprises a first lower guide rail (8112) formed on the left side of the first edge (8121) and a second lower guide rail (8113) formed on the right side of the first edge (8121), the ball retainer (83) and the upper guide rail (8111) cooperate to form an upper chamber (C) capable of accommodating the balls (82), the ball retainer (83) and the first lower guide rail (8112) cooperate to form a first lower chamber (A) capable of accommodating the balls (82), and the ball retainer (83) and the second lower guide rail (8113) cooperate to form a second lower chamber (B) capable of accommodating the balls (82).

4. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The ball retainer (83) comprises a front cover (831), an upper cover (832) and a rear cover (833) which are all C-shaped in cross section, and the openings of the front cover (831) and the rear cover (833) are oppositely arranged, and the upper cover (832) is connected to the top of the front cover (831) and the rear cover (833), and the bottom of the ball retainer (83) is provided with an opening slot (834) through which the first edge (8121) passes. The front cover (831) and the rear cover (833) are respectively provided with oppositely arranged L-shaped folded edges, and each L-shaped folded edge is further provided with a limiting hole matched with the ball (82), and the ball (82) is rollably accommodated in the limiting hole.

5. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The elastic traction member (84) comprises at least three, each elastic traction member (84) comprises a spring sleeve (841) capable of limiting the axial stretching amount of the spring (842) and a spring (842) accommodated in the spring sleeve (841), and all the elastic traction members (84) are always located in the same plane perpendicular to the central axis of the inner cylinder (3).

6. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic traction member (84) has six, and the elastic traction member (84) is divided into two groups and arranged in the upper half and the lower half of the track ring (81) respectively, and correspondingly, the ball retainer (83) has six and is arranged one by one corresponding to the elastic traction member (84).

7. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: ​ 8. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: Two ends of the spring (842) are also provided with hooks which can be exposed outside the spring cover (841) respectively, the hook of one end of the spring (842) is fixedly connected with the ball retainer (83), and the hook of the other end of the spring (842) is fixedly connected with the outer cylinder (2).

9. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: A traction member hanging ring (85) is further arranged between the ball retainer (83) and the outer cylinder (2), the traction member hanging ring (85) is fixedly connected on the outer cylinder (2), and a connecting hole (851) which can be connected with the hook of the other end of the spring (842) is formed on the traction member hanging ring (85).

10. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rear suspension device comprises at least two damper assemblies arranged between the bottom of the casing (1) and the lower half of the driving unit, and At least one upper hanging connecting assembly is arranged between the top of the casing (1) and the upper half of the driving device.

11. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 10, characterized in that: The driving unit comprises A motor assembly (4) comprising a bearing and a motor shaft rotatably arranged in the bearing, the inner cylinder (3) is fixedly connected with the motor shaft; A motor mounting plate (5) arranged at the rear end of the inner cylinder (3), the motor mounting plate (5) is fixedly connected with the bearing, and the motor mounting plate (5) is sealingly connected with the outer cylinder (2).

12. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 11, characterized in that: The damper assembly comprises a damper (91) and a damper connecting plate (92), the fixed end of the damper (91) is connected with the bottom of the casing (1), and the movable end of the damper (91) is connected with the motor mounting plate (5).

13. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 11, characterized in that: The upper hanging connecting assembly comprises a resilient reset member (93) and an upper connecting plate (94), one end of the resilient reset member (93) is connected with the casing (1), the other end of the resilient reset member (93) is connected with one end of the upper connecting plate (94), and the other end of the upper connecting plate (94) is connected with the motor mounting plate (5).

14. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 13, characterized in that: The casing (1) comprises a rear panel (13), the top of the rear panel (13) is bent and formed into a flange (131) with a cross-section in a horizontal L shape inside the casing (1), and one end of the resilient reset member (93) is fixed on the flange (131).

15. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 11, characterized in that: The inner cylinder (3) comprises a cylinder body (32) and a rear end cover (33) fixedly connected with the cylinder body (32), and the motor shaft is arranged on the central axis of the rear end cover (33) and fixedly connected with the rear end cover (33).

16. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer cylinder (2) comprises a front outer cylinder (21) and a rear outer cylinder (22) fixedly connected, the casing (1) comprises a front panel (11), and a door (7) which can be opened and closed is further arranged on the front panel (11), and correspondingly, a door frame is formed on the front outer cylinder (21) which can cooperate with the door (7).

17. A drum-type laundry washing machine according to Claim 16, characterized in that: The door frame is provided with a door gap sealing ring (6) between the door frame and the door (7), wherein the door frame has an opening end matched with the inner diameter of the door (7), the inner wall of the opening end is smooth, and the opening end of the door frame is formed with a flared portion (211) turned outward in the radial direction, an annular clamping groove (212) is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the flared portion (211), correspondingly, the door gap sealing ring (6) comprises a sealing ring (61) and a sealing check ring (62) integrally formed with the sealing ring (61), the sealing ring (61) can be sleeved outside the flared portion (211), and the cross section of the sealing ring (61) is in the shape of a U-shaped convex rib (611) matched with the annular clamping groove (212); the sealing check ring (62) is located on one side of the sealing ring (61) and has an inner diameter smaller than that of the sealing ring (61), the sealing check ring (62) is parallel to the end surface of the door frame and makes the door (7) tightly fit with the door frame in the closed state.

18. A drum-type washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell (1) comprises a front panel (11), a top panel, a bottom panel (12), a rear panel (13) and two opposite side panels, wherein the front end surface and the rear end surface of the outer cylinder (2) are respectively provided with outer convex connecting columns (23) arranged in the circumferential direction, and the front panel (11) and the rear panel (13) of the shell (1) are respectively connected with the corresponding end surfaces of the outer cylinder (2) through the fixing members penetrating the connecting columns (23).

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