Washing machine appliance with a damper

摘要

A washing machine appliance is provided. The washing machine appliance includes a cabinet and a tub disposed within the cabinet. The washing machine appliance also includes features for variably damping motion of the tub relative to the cabinet, such as a damper with a first, rigid piston and a second, compliant piston slidably received within a cylinder of the damper.

主权项

1. A washing machine appliance, comprising:
a cabinet; a tub disposed within the cabinet; and a damper comprising
a rod extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, the rod coupled to the cabinet at the first end portion of the rod;a cylinder positioned adjacent the second end portion of the rod, the cylinder defining an axis of motion;a rigid piston disposed within the cylinder such that the rigid piston is slidable along the axis of motion within the cylinder, the rigid piston comprising a center support positioned on the rod at the second end portion of the rod;a compliant piston disposed within the cylinder such that the compliant piston is slidable along the axis of motion within the cylinder, the compliant piston comprising a center support positioned on the rod at the second end portion of the rod; andwherein the compliant piston comprises a skirt positioned on an inner surface of the cylinder and an undulate disc portion extending between the skirt of the compliant piston and the center support of the compliant piston, the undulate disc portion coupling the skirt of the compliant piston to the center support of the compliant piston.