Drum type clothes washer having a fluid balancing mechanism

Abstract

A drum-type clothes washing machine includes an outer tub, and an inner tub rotatable relative to the outer tub about a horizontal axis of rotation. The inner tub is tapered, with a larger diameter disposed at one end thereof. A balancer having an inner chamber is disposed on the inner tub at the smaller diameter end. A liquid-absorbing member, such as a sponge, is disposed within the chamber and extends annularly about the axis of rotation. A liquid is contained in the chamber and is disposed at a lower end thereof when the inner tub is at rest. The balancer and sponge rotate together with the inner tub such that a lower portion of the sponge, which is immersed in the liquid, passes through the liquid to cause the liquid to be uniformly distributed throughout the sponge. At low speed rotation (washing mode) the sponge is saturated with liquid to function as a counterbalancing weight. At high speed rotation (spin-drying mode), liquid can exit the sponge under the action of centrifugal force.