Washing machine appliance and damper assembly for same
Washing machine appliances and damper assemblies are provided. A damper assembly includes a cylinder defining a central longitudinal axis, the cylinder including a sidewall that defines an interior, the sidewall defining a central bore and a pocket concentrically surrounding the central bore, the sidewall including an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder that each connect the pocket and the central bore. The damper assembly further includes a piston partially disposed in the central bore and movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the cylinder. The damper assembly further includes a tube assembly concentrically surrounding the piston and at least partially disposed in the pocket, the tube assembly having a length that is less than a length of the pocket. The piston is further movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the tube assembly.
1. A damper assembly, comprising:
a cylinder defining a central longitudinal axis, the cylinder comprising a sidewall that defines an interior, the sidewall defining a central bore and a first pocket concentrically surrounding the central bore, the sidewall comprising an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder that each connect the first pocket and the central bore, the sidewall further defining a second pocket concentrically surrounding the first pocket and further comprising an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder that each connect the second pocket and the first pocket, the second pocket having length that is less than the length of the first pocket;
a piston partially disposed in the central bore and movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the cylinder;
a first tube assembly concentrically surrounding the piston and at least partially disposed in the first pocket, the first tube assembly having a length that is less than a length of the first pocket; and
a second tube assembly concentrically surrounding the first tuba assembly and at least partially disposed in the second pocket, the second tube assembly having a length that is less than a length of the second pocket,
wherein the piston is further movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the first tube assembly.
2. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tube assembly comprises a rigid layer and a flexible layer.
3. The damper assembly of claim 2 , wherein the rigid layer is a metal cylinder and the flexible layer is an elastomeric tube.
4. The damper assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flexible layer is disposed within the rigid layer.
5. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the length of the first tube assembly is greater than the length of the second pocket.
6. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein a difference between the length of the first pocket and the length of the first tube assembly is greater than a difference between the length of the second pocket and the length of the second tube assembly.
7. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall further defines a third pocket concentrically surrounding the second pocket and further comprises an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder that each connect the third pocket and the second pocket, the third pocket having a length that is less than the length of the second pocket, and further comprising a third tube assembly concentrically surrounding the second tube assembly and at least partially disposed in the third pocket, the third tube assembly having a length that is less than a length of the third pocket.
8. The damper assembly of claim 7 , wherein the length of the second tube assembly is greater than the length of the third pocket.
9. The damper assembly of claim 7 , wherein a difference between the length of the second pocket and the length of the second tube assembly is greater than a difference between the length of the third pocket and the length of the third tube assembly.
10. A washing machine appliance, comprising:
a cabinet;
a tub disposed within the cabinet; and
a damper assembly, the damper assembly comprising:
a cylinder defining a central longitudinal axis, the cylinder comprising a sidewall that defines an interior, the sidewall defining a central bore and a first pocket concentrically surrounding the central bore, the sidewall comprising an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder that each connect the first pocket and the central bore, the sidewall further defining a second pocket concentrically surrounding the first pocket and further comprising an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder that each connect the second pocket and the first pocket, the second pocket having a length that is less than the length of the first pocket;
a piston partially disposed in the central bore and movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the cylinder;
a first tube assembly concentrically surrounding the piston and at least partially disposed in the first pocket, the first tube assembly having a length that is less than a length of the first pocket; and
a second tube assembly concentrically surrounding the first tube assembly and at least partially disposed in the second pocket, the second tube assembly having a length that is less than a length of the second pocket,
wherein the piston is further movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the first tube assembly.
11. The washing machine appliance of claim 10 , wherein the tube assembly comprises a rigid layer and a flexible layer.
12. The washing machine appliance of claim 11 , wherein the rigid layer is a metal cylinder and the flexible layer is an elastomeric tube.
13. The washing machine appliance of claim 11 , wherein the flexible layer is disposed within the rigid layer.
14. The washing machine appliance of claim 10 , wherein the length of the first tube assembly is greater than the length of the second pocket.
15. The washing machine appliance of claim 10 , wherein a difference between the length of the first pocket and the length of the first tube is greater than a difference between the length of the second pocket and the length of the second tube.
16. The washing machine appliance of claim 10 , wherein the sidewall further defines a third pocket concentrically surrounding the second pocket and further comprises an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder that each connect the third pocket and the second pocket, the third pocket having a length that is less than the length of the second pocket, and further comprising a third tube assembly concentrically surrounding the second tube assembly and at least partially disposed in the third pocket, the third tube assembly having a length that is less than a length of the third pocket.
17. The washing machine appliance of claim 16 , wherein the length of the second tube assembly is greater than the length of the third pocket.
18. The washing machine appliance of claim 16 , wherein a difference between the length of the second pocket and the length of the second tube is greater than a difference between the length of the third pocket and the length of the third tube.