PL2060667T3 - Household appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

Household appliance (1) having a casing (2) subjected to vibrations, and a vibration damper (9) fixed to the casing (2) to reduce vibrations transmitted to latter; the vibration damper (9) comprising a supporting frame (10) rigidly fixed to the appliance casing (2), at least a first magnet (11, 11') rigidly fitted to the supporting frame (10), and at least a second magnet (12, 18, 12') fitted in sliding manner to the supporting frame (10), so as to have one of its magnetic poles faced to one of the magnetic poles of the first magnet (11) for allowing the magnetic field of the second magnet (12, 18, 12') to interact with the magnetic field of the first magnet (11, 11'); the first magnet (11, 11') or the second magnet (12, 18, 12') being an electromagnet (12, 12', 18), and the vibration damper (9) also comprising an electric power unit (13) capable to power the induction coil (17, 20) of the electromagnet (12, 12', 18) with an alternate current so as to cause reciprocating movement of the second magnet (12, 18, 12') along the supporting frame (10), and a central control unit (15) which controls the electric power unit (13) and is capable to determine, instant by instant, the frequency of the alternate current to be supplied to the induction coil (17, 20) of said electromagnet (12, 12', 18) for producing mechanical vibrations almost in phase-opposition with respect to the mechanical vibrations of the appliance casing (2), so as to reduce the amplitude of the mechanical vibrations of said casing (2).