To provide a washing machine including a suspension capable of exerting desired damping force by forming a magnetic circuit free from the leakage of a magnetic field so as to stabilize the viscosity change of a magnetic viscous fluid.
A suspension, which vertically supports a water tub in a housing in a vibration-isolated manner, includes: a coil spring; a cylinder; a shaft reciprocating in the cylinder; a magnetic field generator disposed around the shaft with a space therebetween; a magnetic viscous fluid filled into the space; sealing members sealing the upper and lower ends of the space; and bearing members pivotally supporting the shaft in a reciprocable manner. The magnetic field generator includes a coil and yokes disposed at the upper and lower parts of the coil. When the coil is energized, a magnetic circuit is formed through the members, such as the shaft, the yokes and the cylinder which are disposed around the coil, thereby applying a magnetic field to the magnetic viscous fluid. The sealing members or the bearing members or both of the members adjacent to the magnetic circuit are formed of non-magnetic material.
KANEDA YUKIKATSU
TOSHIBA CONSUMER ELECT HOLDING
TOSHIBA HOME APPLIANCES CORP
| JP2010187976A | 2010-09-02 | |||
| JP2006057767A | 2006-03-02 | |||
| JPH0560138A | 1993-03-09 | |||
| JPH1119736A | 1999-01-26 |