A BEARING ASSEMBLY AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF

TECHNICAL FIELD

Invention relates to a bearing assembly of a drum, which is suitable for use in washing or drying machine and its production method. This invention especially relates to a new bushing structure that forms the set of a bearing assembly and its production method.

THE PRIOR ART

At the front loading washing machines, the washing operation is carried out according to the type and pollution of the laundry with the help of a control knob located on the machine.

Constituent parts of the washing machine can be sorted as tub, drum arm, shaft, roller recess, drum metal sheets, balance weight, motor.

The washing machine components can be listed as the tub, drum, shaft, roller bearing, drum sheets, balance weight and motor. The drum shaft which is a rotary on the end piece connected to the drum and its connected to the tub and another end pieces are free for rotation into the machine housing and mounted in a washing machine which is loading from front opening and connected to the drum inside of tub and for the movement of the drum, a shaft which is connected to drum at the bearing inside of tub there is a bearing assembly which is consist of bearing elements. The drum is located inside the outer tub of the washing machine. There is usually a pulley attached to the shaft at the back of the drum. In order to provide free rotation, the shaft at the back of drum is mounted with roller bearing. The motor drives the belt and drum is being rotated in a predefined way by means of pulley that is connected to drum shaft moved by belt. The bushings used at drum shaft bearing in the washing machine are made of either brass or cast iron, are not economic and lightweight.

Shape changes such as diameter changes of shaft, the change of length or profile changes at outer surface are made for the cost optimization. The tub is made of plastic and the component of drum shaft and bearings are produced from metal. The operation of washing machines causes different fatigue time of two different materials which causes distortion, twisting in time. The roller bearings are made of heavy and expensive cast metal.

However, higher rotational speed of the washing machines causes distortion and mechanical twisting load each time on the shaft at drum bearing in tub of washing machine. This makes high costs of the components and their materials used in shaft bearing of the drum of washing machine caused by false adjustment, low life time of the components etc.

DE4119516 discloses a clamp bushing for settling into torque rod motor drive at the side of a front loaded washing machine motor drive which contains a horizontal axis providing connection between drum and tub and couple of radial torque rods in order to reduce the number of components in drive motor bearing of an automatic washing machine and there is a bearing for drive shaft of washing machine drum.

German utility model application, DE10040319C1 discloses a drum bearing that has one support sleeve to rotate the drum bearing into liquid container connected to drum in washing machine and a drum shaft which is separated into two parts between rollers of bearing sleeve supported by a twin separate rollers. One of the bearing components is integrated to the back wall of liquid container of laundry washing operation. In free claim of invention production method is explained for washing machine drum intended for drum bearing.

Such applications confine the space of the shaft with additional components brings extra cost as well as design challenges. For this purpose, a new bearing component and bearing set is required for bearing the shaft providing movement flexibility to the drum in a space in order to reduce fatigue impact occurred in economic and technical condition. New structure is expected to prevent of reducing to resistance, fatigue, abrasive by time. At the same time, it is important to reduce manufacturing cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention is to provide material saving in a washing machine.

The reduction weight of material used will be the cause for reduce to the amount of factory wastes with petroleum product because of less usage of raw materials.

Another purpose of invention, the bearing assembled with strong but lean manner to the tub. Additionally, another purpose of invention with the reducing carbon footprint by creating an eco-friendly product.

In order to achieve above objectives, invention is a bearing assembly for a laundry machine comprising a rotary drum having a door a tub surrounding the drum in an accessible manner from a loading opening and at least two roller bearing disposed at a front end piece and a rear end piece of a tub opening wherein a drum shaft rotating the drum is supported.

In a preferred embodiment, a front bushing and a corresponding rear bushing is having an outer periphery in a polygonal shape having at least one protrusion mounted to a front roller and a rear roller and extending radially outwardly between the edges or at least one edge of the each bushing to provide a mechanical coupling to the tub. The polygonal profiles are on the bearings prevent the axial misalignment of the drum shaft which may occur over time due to rotation.

In a preferred embodiment, the small front bushing and relatively larger rear bushing is tight fitted to a roller bearing consist of the front roller and the rear roller and the protrusions are provided at the edge of each one of the rollers. The hexagonal structure provides optimum distribution of equilibrium stretches formed by rotations.

An example of the invention mentioned in the construction, front bushing is close to the front of the drum has a smaller width or diameter than the rear bushing in the rear side accordance with the shaft geometry.

In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of the protrusions are configured in order to form a groove at a periphery of the side wall of the bushings with a predefined spacing and in particular, at a vicinity with a distance between 1 to 3 mm of the outlet at the drum shaft front end piece side of a tub opening of the front bushing having a smaller diameter. The tub opening in the rear wall of the tub was formed for position to the shaft bearing. The protrusion formed in a large number form the support against the rotational forces coming from bushing. The mentioned protrusion provide a better grip of the part and provide rotating due to forces acting on bearing part of the invention subject.

In a preferred embodiment, three protrusion on polygonal front and rear bushing in a fin form are extending radially outwardly following the longitudinal axis from at least three point at the side wall of the bushings in a random order. The fins are formed by determined to balanced of observed loads which is formed by mentioned in random order points, homogenous coordinate system and in coordinate system on shaft. Mentioned that at least a points preferably near side of drum shaft front end piece which is include a protrusion to create on position will be inside of between 1 mm to 3mm from protrusion opening of tub openings. Fin forms provide better adsorption to the tub against to torsion.

In a preferred embodiment, a fin formed protrusion is extending radially outwardly from the tree edges of the front bushing and the rear bushing and arranged in an equal distances to each other at an axis of symmetry of the polygonal bushing edges. Mentioned on the bushing has protrusion which edges located by symmetrically supply optimum balanced for consist of loads on shaft. In a preferred embodiment, between of the three mentioned points dimension is equal and equidistant from each others. As the construction of special washer at the sequential corners or on the lateral surface can be symmetric points relative to each other. In a preferred embodiment, one or more protrusions spaced apart at a distance of preferably 0,2mm or greater than 0,2mm are extending radially outwardly from at least one edge of the bushing in a polygonal form. Multiple protrusions of in a corner provide rivet as more stable and effective of bushing to the tub. In invention include a protrusions serial of varying frequent distances suitable for increasing diameter of the shaft according to increasing cycle number of washing machines.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer peripheral wall of the front and rear roller and/or inner wall of front and rear bushing is having a rugged surface to hold the drum shaft. In this case, due to lateral surfaces roughness of bushing and bearing which is facing to each other, the tub is more resistant and more efficiency against to rotating forces.

In a preferred embodiment, at least to array of protrusions having a number of protrusions arranged so that extending radially outwardly with a predefined spacing along the side wall such that surrounding outer periphery of the polygonal bushing. In the preferred application, fixing channel of length is formed 0,2mm at the near side of the drum shaft front end piece, along the longitudinal axis to rear side fixing channel will be formed width of distances can be 0,3mm, 0,4mm or 0,5mm.

Two protrusions array providing a support against to rotational forces with by two way rotation of the drum.

In a preferred embodiment, inner diameter of the bushing is configured between 20mm to 600mm and particularly, 36mm and having a greater thickness smaller than 44mm or equal to 44mm. In this between, is observed to provide much better bearing of the shaft and contribute to saving energy at the washing machine working conditions.

In a preferred embodiment, the front and rear bushings are made of heat treated steel having a Rockwell hardness selected from the range between 20 - 100 hr-b. This hardness value, allows changing just bearing group during broken any of a shaft at the operation conditions of the washing machines.

Plastic material which is used on bushing bearings harder than the drum bearings so density also much more too. In this way deformation can be prevented which may occur at the roller bearings with effect of observed loads to the shaft bearings.

In a preferred application, production of a front and a rear bushing in substantially hexagonal geometry using at least one of the precise cutting, CNC, wire cutting, milling cutter, lathe and subsequent to the completion of moulding, ramming a burry front and a rear bushing to a roller made of metal material in a tight fitting manner and disposing the front and rear bushing into the plastic tub having a corresponding tub opening by means of a mandrel. In here, produce by machining as well as hot - cold hammering and extrusion method provide advantage of cost on process. Leaving without burnishing when machining is preferred against a eliminate cleaning last process step, this is provide cost advantage.

Alternative a application of the invention, joining front and rear bushing made of plastics on the front and rear rollers on the drum shaft extending inside the plastic moulded tub using plastic injection process, providing preassembled bearing assembly on the rollers by means of an injection moulding and bushing elements at the drum injection mould and penetration of the bearing assembly, roller and bushing elements inside the tub mould by means of the heat and pressure during the production of the tub. On the invention, bushing of bearing preferably made of steel material as an alternative produce from plastic product provide on production part flexibility, process flexibility and easy part replacement is formed to eco friendly a production and product.

Alternative a application of the invention, from plastic material which is used on the tub produce by more density a material of plastic based and longitudinal axis has a empty body will take into in a manner that rear bushing and mentioned front bushing and it is constituted of on a recess housing of channel, a front bushing constitute to by a mechanic features link preferably from the section to a entrance opening of tub opening between the distances 0, 1 mm to 0,3mm inside of the location from inner side from radial outwardly to extension, protrusions has like a pipe is contained house of auxiliary housing. On the invention, if it is projected that degreasing diameter or thickness on the bushing which is added to bearing assembly due to shaft and tub openings geometry and with standard dimension resulting of spaces can be filled with suitable and economic form which is a part of produce from plastic is provide by housing cover.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, inside a front and a rear roller had in order of the mentioned a front and rear bushing to connect each other on more than one rib and at least had a housing channels and/or according to each other rear end piece of drum shaft more width than the according to front end piece of drum shaft had multiple number of the horizontally ribs in more frequently interval is contained housing cover.

Subject of the invention, housing cover of the bearing is formed into bearing assembly Is formed provide mechanic strength requested from working conditions of washing machines. In order to achieve above objectives, Any one of the claims according to a washing machine or washing-drying machine be a washer which is include bearing assembly has a front and a rear bushing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES This invention, explained in more detail through the preferred structures in detail explanation and after the attached drawings. On these drawings;

Figure 1 a schematic drawing of a front loading washing machine in sectional side view of a known application regarding a bearing of oscillation group,

Figure 2 Invention subject is a bushing of a roller bearing perspective view of a preferred a structure which is placed in the drum shaft related with rear of body tub for bearing of the drum shaft

Figure 3 Invention subject is a bushing of a roller bearing perspective view of a alternative a structure which is placed in the rum shaft related with rear of body tub for bearing of the drum shaft

Figure 4 Invention subject is top view of mounted on rear side of the washing machines tub, drive the bearing inside of the bearing assembly

Figure 5 Invention subject is mounting on sealing gasket and driving into roller bearing view of section at the A-A axis section of figure 4 which is mounted rear side holes at the washing machines tub of bearing assembly

Figure 6 The invention subject bushing is a unassembled view a sealing which is related from bushing front opening with in a structuring preferred providing along to coaxial formation and more resistant adhesion at this bearing to the tub and front roller bearing which is in front end piece of the drum shaft.

Figure 7 The invention subject bushing is a unassembled view a sealing which is related from bushing front opening with in a structuring alternative providing along to coaxial formation and more resistant adhesion at this bearing to the tub and front roller bearing which is in front end piece of the drum shaft.

Figure 8 Invention subject is a bushing of a roller bearing on preferred has housing cover which is produce with plastic material is placed in the drum shaft related with rear of body tub for bearing of the drum shaft. In invention any other perspective view of an alternative view.

REFERANCE NUMBERS

1 Washing machine 1 1 Laundry loading opening 12 Detergent dispenser 13 Drum 14 Motor 15 Motor shaft 16 Pulley 17 Tub 170 Tub rear wall 172 Back wall recess 174 Rear wall rib 176 Tub opening 18 Fixing element 19 Clamp nut 20 Drum shaft 22 Drum shaft knurls

24 Drum shaft front end piece 26 Drum shaft rear end

30 Bearing assembly 36 Housing part

40 Roller bearing 42 Front roller

44 Rear roller 46 Roller ball

50 Sealing 60 Bearing bushing

62 Front bushing 64 Rear bushing

600 Bushing lateral surface 602 Bushing protrusion

604 Bushing protrusion array 606 Hole

608 Bushing fixing channel 70 Auxiliary housing cover 72 Orthogonal rib 74 Housing channel 76 Inclined rib A-A axis

X is a section view which is marked by circle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Invention subject of bearing assembly at the figure 1 which is preferred horizontal axis of a washing machine (1), a drum (13) is showed visible form with schematically. The washing machine (1 ) has a laundry loading opening (11 ) which body is extendable from front side.

Laundry loading opening (1 1) is extendable to inside of drum (13).

A plastic tub (17) is placed in the body which is wrapping around the drum (13) A laundry loading opening (1 1) which is providing take in and take and action into the laundry, has a detergent dispenser (12) which is placed into cleaning equipment located on board zone which control group parts are located in. The washing machine (1) contains a tub (17) which has a rear wall (170) with rib (174) and back wall recess (172) provide for material cost reduction and mechanic stability of strength during on working.

On the invention, inside of the tub (17) which is rotation axes are aligned concentrically tub (17) with a cylindrical drum (13) which laundry is put in and placed concentrically, a drum shaft (20) is transferred movement to the drum (13) and bearing to the tub (17) which is connected at the rear side in the middle of the drum (13), there is a tub opening (176) in the middle of rear wall (170) for connected this shaft (20) which is in the tub rear wall (170), there is a bearing housing (30) through the centre of the drum (13) which is bearing inside of the drum shaft (20) still standing with tub (17) at the middle of tub rear wall (170) and there are two roller bearings (40) concentrically with together inside of bearing assembly (30) and consist of two bushes (60) which is contain a bearing set.

There is pulley (16) which is connected on shaft (20) from rear side of the drum (13). This shaft (20) is passed though the middle of the bearing assembly (30). Shown in Figure 1 provide for without disintegration working and stability which is mention that moving assembly has fixing element (18) and tightening nut (19) wherein pulley (16) assembly, motor shaft (15) and connection points of the drum shaft (20) to the pulley (16).

Bearing for drum shaft (20) at the figure 2 and figure 3 related with subject of invention is a front and rear roller bearing (42, 44) is passed which is located into a known drum shaft (20). Front and rear bushing (62, 64) of invention subject is a perspective viewed of preferred embodiment. Structuring of invention subject zoomed viewed of drum shaft front end piece (24) related in middle side of the drum (13) as for front end piece (26) of drum shaft is related with motor (14) by pulley (16) assembly from on rear wall of tub (170).

Mention that the drum shaft (20) in tub opening (176) allow moved by has a bearing assembly at the viewed of the figure 1.

Mention that the bearing assembly (30) has roller bearing (40). There are roller balls (46) at the roller bearing (40) provide for moving to the drum shaft (20).

Mentioned that bearing assembly (30) wherein related with the drum (13) front roller (42) is located as for rear roller (44) is located wherein motor (15) related with pulley (16). Between of front roller (42) with drum is located sealing (50) for damp and wet condition due to the function of the working condition. In a preferred application is showed on the figure 2 and figure 3, invention subject is roller bearing (60) is at least two pieces preferably to be a front bushing (62) and rear bushing (64) with hexagonal shape. Radial lateral surfaces (602) of bushing at the figure 3 by the protrusion (604) formed in the corresponding portion to the at least one of hexagonal corner, this bushing (60) part more adsorption to the tub (17).

Alternative a application of the invention is bushing bearing (60) include on at least one protrusion (602) wherein is a cylindrical formation in the a application, protrusion array of bushing (604) formed by preferable many bushing protrusion is formed radial lateral surfaces (602) of cylindrical formation of bushing (60).

In the figure 2 is shown protrusion on at least three corners which is consecutive sequence by randomly. Results of studies, bushing of bearing (60) during assembly to the tub (17) due to working condition to distortion prevent side and mechanic twisting is formulated and manufactured. At he figure 2 especially 1000 and over high cycle t the washing machine (1) increase resistant and mechanic stability of washing machine (1) and bearing assembly (30) is formulated bushing protrusion array (604) include bushing protrusion (602) on one or more corners of polygonal structure.

At the figure 2, Invention subject is hexagonal shape of bushing bearings (60) on the every corners include two pieces protrusion (602) are formed two row array (604) of shape and between of this two bushing protrusion array (604) is formulated one fixing channel of bushing (606).

Shown like at the figure 3, during production to be increased related surface are of the tub (17) material mentioned that on protrusion (602) include at least one hole (606).

Alternative structure of invention can be more than one holes (606) on the a protrusion (602) and more than one corner.

At the figure 4 mentioned that on the rear wall (170) of tub is located rear wall rib (174) and back wall recess of the tub (172) for material saving. The top view of hammering form of bushing bearing (60) and roller bearing (40) into the this assembly (30) and is assembled of bearing assembly (30) into the tub opening (176).

Asymmetric structure of A-A axis given at the figure 5 given for more clearly viewed of protrusion (604) into the X section view which is mounted on sealing (50) and hammering roller bearing (42, 44) at the figure 5 is a section view from A-A axis which is viewed of assembled to rear wall opening of washing machine (1) tub. The invention subject of bushing (62) is given unassembled view of sealing (50) which is related with front opening of bushing (42) with a preferable structure of bushing (62) which is a invention subject provide with along the coaxial formation of the form and assembly of this bearing (30) adhesion to the tub (17) more solidly and front roller bearing (42) located on front end piece (24) of drum shaft at the figure 6.

Also at the figure 7, invention subject of bushing (60) is given unassembled view of sealing (50) which is related on front opening of this bushing (62) with structuring formation of a alternative protrusion (602).

At the figure 8 any other alternative structuring of the invention bearing for the drum shaft (20) related with rear wall (170) of tub, inside of this located a known drum shaft (20) invention subject is a bushing of a roller bearing located on housing cover which is preferably produce by plastic material is given perspective view.

Outer side of the bushing (62, 64) should have a surface formed of geometric shapes for to be tight penetrating bushing bearing (60) to the tub (17) on a application. Otherwise it will not be able to effectively engage with roller bearing (40) which is geometric shape is similar if the surfaces of the bushes (60) is smooth.

Outer side of the bushes (60) through the geometric shapes will not be peeling or discharging problem from roller bearing (40) during rotating shaft (20) or cycle around the axis.

Specifically bushes (60) as a alternative produce by plastic material. Any other alternative application on the bushes (60) existing of auxiliary housing cover (70) which is preferable made of plastic.

Mentioned that on the housing cover (70) extending the contract surface are with the tub (17) to provide desired performance in working conditions and to provide a durable assembly structuring to the axis of tub opening (176) is preferable formed auxiliary housing rib (72) with parallel shape.

Which are located top and bottom ends of roller bearing (42, 44) and on the lateral side is formed pound among the of this rib (72) and the shaft (20) is formed pond among the of this rib (72) at the lateral side it has a depth that does not prevent of movement, existing of auxiliary housing channel(74).

Auxiliary housing cover (70) produce by plastic materials are defined as shrinkage on this channels (74) are formed preferably at least one housing gap (76) for balance of changing which can be happen at the formation. One of application on the invention bearing assembly (30) of the drum shaft (20) one front and one rear bushing (62, 64) produce with near to hexagonal shape of geometry by using at least one step of below process.

Sensitive cutting, produce by at least using one of method hot-cold hammering, extrusion or like a machining method, CNC, wire erosion, milling and turning moulding machine

Complete of moulding process with moulding produce steps after than leaving burred One front and one rear metal bushing (62, 64) is hammering by driving fit on the roller ball (40) which is on the shaft (20) of into tub which is related with drum (13) produce by plastic

- And one front and one rear metal bushing (62, 64) located in the tub (17) injection moulding which is formed internal form help of with mandrel.

Mentioned that bearings (30) are hammering during driving fit process, the bearing is heated and expended is placed, when it gets cold it is fall in place by shrinkage.

Mentioned that roller bearing bushing (60) in the bearing assembly (30) of the drum (13) shaft (20) using for washing machines (1)

Application of invention mentioned that roller bearing of bushing (60) in the bearing assembly (30) of the drum (13) shaft (20) using for washing machines (1).

The roller bearing used in the existing conditions creates weight on the machine according to different diameters in the range of 15-140mm according to the rotation speed of the drum and this requires a bed formed with more material amount.

Invention compare with the especially known solution is revealed more advantage of structured. Solution of new invention is the helped of less material usage.

Invention subject is roller bearing assembly (30) be a more light to provide energy recovery and is the help of by indirectly to turn more efficiently of drum (13) which is connected tub (17) bearing. This invention is formed inner diameter 36mm is the small one and inner diameter 44mm is the big one which has neat to two hexagonal form of bushing bearing by machining is based on achieving with hammering as a tight fit on roller ball (42, 44) which is on the shaft (20) into the tub (17) with plastic body by moulding technology. Using material is heat treatable steel Rockwell hardness value is between of 20-100 hr-b. For these reason a hardness was used that would be effected by adverse physical effects like axial displacement or twisting, crushing by the shaken result of load and rotation of the machine. Bushing (62,64) bearing with hexagonal shape of outer periphery is taken with sensitive cutting and CNC is taken preferably can rounded from corners but forming thick burr on the corners provide evolution also tub adsorption more tightly at the plastic injection besides that normally thought that a negative figure of dunnage residue or burr for these reason invention is the helped of environmental waste management. It is not used as a consumables, used as a main material due to degreasing of operation expenses in this way provide extra labour recovery. In terms of mould technology and in terms of producibility can be adapted to mould of key industry also mould of supplier.

Steps of mould production can be realized by using related technology with sensitive cutting, CNC, wire erosion, milling and turning machine from machining production method. In additionally will be produce by sensitive cutting or extrusion method, hot-cold crushing as a alternative.

This invention is based on merging by plastic injection method on bushing bearing (62, 64) which is tight fitting on roller ball (42, 44) bearing on shaft (20) which is into body of plastic tub (17) through the moulding technology near to hexagonal shape of bearing which has outer diameter is 36mm of small one and outer diameter is 44mm of big one two bushing (62, 64) is formed through by machining.

Over the bushing bearing (62, 64) merged part at the plastic injection happens penetration with covalence and pressure effect and heat into part drum mould during tub (17) production when the tub (17) located into injection mould. Current product heavier than the new situation as a metal weight, transportation expense will be degreasing because of raw material consumption.

Different structure of invention at the figure 6 and figure 7 has to be a surface (602) which is located recess and protrusion is formed with different geometric shapes of outer bushing (60) bearing for more tight penetration to the preferable bearing bushes (62, 64) of tub (17) mould.

Bearing bushes (62, 64) that will pass over the roller ball (42, 44) if does not contain bushing protrusion (602) or fixing channel (608) with smooth surface couldn't provide active connection of this bushing (62, 64) bearings which is like a polygonal or hexagonal shape of geometry in fact tub opening (176) can be deformation during working.

Alternative embodiment of the invention, bearing bushes (62, 64) will produce by plastic which is formed protrusion (604) on the outer side through the geometric shapes formed a mechanic shape link between of bearing assembly (30) and the tub (17) and during rotating of drum shaft (20) will be prevent like a peeling and discharging situation from bearing assembly (30). On alternative embodiment, plastic material is used by bearing bushes (60) harder than the which plastic material used for tub (17) so density will be more. This will prevent deformation of the tub (17) and bearing assembly (30) due to the loads on bearing of the shaft (20).