Suspension system for tub assembly in clothes washing machine

Abstract

A suspension system for a washing machine including a tub assembly having an outer stationary tub and an inner clothes receiving tub mounted for rotation on a central shaft extending downwardly through the lower wall of the stationary tub, comprises a first support cup defined in the base of the washing machine, support legs spaced about the periphery of and attached at first ends to the outer tub and at opposite ends to a second support cup shaped complementarily to the first cup. In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the support cups is a truncated hemisphere. The second support cup is received in the first cup to support the tub assembly on the base. A plurality of spring members are provided about the periphery of the outer tub, extending between the last mentioned tub and base to aid in stabilizing the tub assembly. A transmission, drive pulley and a brake assembly also mounted on the central rotatable shaft, serve as a drive mechanism for the washing machine, the pulley being coupled by a drive belt to a drive motor mounted on the base of the machine. A balance ring member of a predetermined weight is coupled to the central shaft for rotation therewith and is located as near as is practical to the true center of mass of the inner rotatable tub and washing machine drive mechanism, for stabilizing the rotating tub during high speed spinning, even when a clothes load in the tub is out of balance.