The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 04, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 21, 1998
Paul Wierzba, Calgary, CA;
Weijia Cao, Calgary, CA;
ETI Technologies, Inc., St. Peter Port, GB;
Abstract
A speed dependent response control balancing device of the present invention provides control of vibrations in a rotatable member such as a rotatable basket of a washing machine. The balancing device has two compartments including an annular ball race and a reservoir. A plurality of balls are positioned within the annular ball race and move within the ball race to counteract the imbalance of the basket. A varying amount of viscous fluid is delivered from the reservoir into the ball race depending on a rotational speed of the balancing device. Accordingly, the reaction or 'quickness' of the response of the balls within the ball race changes with the rotational speed of the balancing device to provide quick response during a start-up period and slower response at high rotational speeds.