Laundry machine

Abstract

A laundry machine is disclosed. The overall weight of the vibrating system provided in the laundry machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be reduced and the vibration of the drum may be stabilized by new means for adding weights. In addition, the front of the drum may be prevented from falling downward because of the introduction of laundry.

1 . A laundry machine comprising:
 a tub to hold water therein;   a drum rotatably placed in the tub;   a drive assembly comprising a shaft connected to the drum, a bearing housing rotatably supporting the shaft, and a motor to rotate the shaft;   a suspension unit to reduce vibration of the drum;   means for adding mass to a vibration system in which the drum is a vibrating object, wherein the motor and the overall mass center of the means are located distant from a center of the drum in a same axial direction of the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means comprises at least one weight attached to the suspension unit. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one weight is attached to a bracket of the suspension unit. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the bracket is a radial bracket or an axial bracket. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means comprises at least one weight which is integrally made with a bracket of the suspension unit. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the bracket is a radial bracket or an axial bracket. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the bracket is made of iron by casting. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means comprises a couple of brackets of which the total mass is larger than the mass of the bearing housing. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the couple of brackets are a couple of radial brackets or axial brackets which are comprised in the suspension unit. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the overal mass center of the means is located between the center of the drum and an end of the motor. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the overal mass center of the means is located distant from the drum or the tub in the axial direction. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the laundry machine further comprises a door at a front portion thereof to close and open a front opening of the tub, and the overal mass center of the means is located behind the drum or the tub. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the overal mass center of the means is located under the shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means comprises a couple of weights which are located opposite to each other with respect to the axial direction. 
     
     
         15 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein each of the weights weighs 2.5˜3.5 kg. 
     
     
         16 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means comprises the bearing housing which is made of iron by casting. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means comprises at least one weight attached to the bearing housing. 
     
     
         18 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the suspension unit is attached to the bearing housing. 
     
     
         19 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexible material to prevent the water inside the tub from leaking toward the drive assembly and allow the drive assembly to move relatively to the tub.   
     
     
         20 . The laundry machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tub is supported more rigidly than the drum is supported by the suspension unit.