WO2016107641A1

WO2016107641A1 - Laundry washing machine drum and baffle fixing arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2016107641A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/079404
Authority: WO
Inventors: Uguray KALOGLU; Omer Faruk OZER; Faruk TURK
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2014-12-30
Filing date: 2014-12-30
Publication date: 2016-07-07
Also published as: EP3240924A1; EP3240924B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry washing machine (1) with a drum (2) equipped with a plurality of baffles (5) having protection flaps (8) by which any damage to the connecting tabs (16) of the baffle (5) is prevented. The present invention more particularly relates to a laundry washing machine (1) comprising a rotary drum (2) in which cloth items are placed and accessible via a front door, a water tub in which the rotary drum (2) is rotated, a motor providing the rotary drum (2) to be driven by means of a belt-pulley mechanism or direct-drive mechanism disposed outside the tub (15) and a plurality of baffles (5) to agitate the laundry being provided in the drum (2).

Description

LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE DRUM AND BAFFLE FIXING ARRANGEMENT

The present invention relates to a laundry washing machine with a drum equipped with a plurality of baffles having protection flaps by which any damage to the connecting tab of the baffle is prevented.

Laundry washing machines with drying function or without drying function have a drum along a plurality of internal surface axial lines of which several baffles at various dimensions are provided in the manner to increase the washing efficiency by enabling the movement of the laundry. While the washing process takes place, the cloth items are raised to a certain height and then left free to fall, thereby a required displacement is accordingly induced in the washing receptacle.

A drum is typically produced by joining two opposite sides of a plate so as to obtain a cylindrical shape and by covering the axial ends of the resulting form by means of front and rear lids. A conventional technique for joining the two opposite sides of a plate is the clinching method by which the two metal layers one over the other are fastened together with the help of a punch and die. The tooling typically clamps the layers between the punch and die by drawing and squeezing the same into the die so as to form a lock.

A baffle can be obtained by conventional manufacturing techniques such as cutting, boring and bending or can be manufactured as a separate element to be mounted within the drum. A baffle can be attached to the drum through holes on the internal surface thereof by means of connection tabs. It is to be noted that the connection tabs projecting outwardly on the outer surface of the drum may get damaged due to foreign objects left in pockets of clothes, i.e. metal coins. Such hard objects passing through the gap between the drum and the bellows gets stuck between the drum and the tub and hits the connection tabs of the drum during spinning cycles which causes risk of breaking away of the baffle from the drum’s inner surface.

It is therefore desirable to obtain a structural arrangement by which the connection tabs are embedded in a protective manner so as to avoid mechanical damages.

A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as GB1161219, which discloses a baffle for a washing drum, formed as a hollow polypropylene molding of triangular cross section with closed ends which slope towards each other so as to be in the form of a trough, the edges of the trough having extensions to engage keyhole slots in the cylindrical side wall of the washing drum. The trough is shorter than the axial length of the washing drum. The washing unit of the machine is mounted on springs and dampers and the washing drum is driven by an electric motor by way of a centrifugally operated pulley. A water heater element is provided.

The present invention provides a laundry washing machine with a drum equipped with a plurality of baffles having protection flaps by which any damage to the connecting tab of the baffle is prevented as provided by the characterizing features defined in Claim 1 and subsequent Claims.

Primary object of the present invention is therefore to provide protection for the connecting tab of the baffle against mechanical damages during laundry washing operation.

The present invention proposes a laundry washing machine with a drum conventionally having baffles. Each baffle has at least two connection tabs establishing an engaging connection with the drum’s baffle panel. The baffle panel comprises connecting tab enclosures, each one accommodating a connection tab in a peripherally enclosed manner.

Each connecting tab enclosure has a peripheral portion with a substantially rectangular form where a lowered rim portion defining an inner cavity is provided. The lowered rim portion further delimits a connection tab opening neighbouring a flap with a flap planar protrusion. The connection tab opening is an L-shaped opening cut through the connecting tab enclosure. The flap being connected with the lowered rim portion is bent to extend over the L-shaped opening in an inclined manner so as to provide protection for the connecting tab extending into a part of the L-shaped opening.

A distal flap planar protrusion is provided in the manner to be projecting from a flap first portion, the latter being defined between the lowered rim portion and an inclination line of the flap. A claw-like end portion of the connecting tabs engage with a planary engaging surface being adjacent to the connecting tab opening within the connecting tab enclosure such that the connecting tab of the baffle is fitted on the planary engaging surface in retaining engagement.

Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a laundry washing machine drum whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in brief hereinafter.

The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in the claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Fig. 1 demonstrates a schematic view of a laundry washing machine.

Fig. 2a demonstrates a cross-sectional front view of a drum with a plurality of baffles. Fig. 2b demonstrates a partial front perspective view of a baffle mounted in the drum according to the present invention. Fig. 2c demonstrates a front perspective view of baffles mounted in the drum according to the present invention.

Fig. 3a demonstrates a partial general perspective view of a drum with a baffle panel and Fig. 3b demonstrates an upper side view of a baffle panel according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 demonstrates an enlarged partial perspective view of the drum with a baffle panel according to the present invention.

Fig. 5a demonstrates another partial general perspective view of the drum with the baffle panel and Fig 5b demonstrates another upper side view of the baffle panel according to an alternative design of the present invention.

Fig. 6 demonstrates another partial general perspective view of the drum with the baffle panel where flap planar protrusions are not bent along an inclination line according to the present invention.

The following numerals assigned to different parts as demonstrated in the technical drawings are referred to in the detailed description:

1) Laundry washing machine

2) Drum

3) Front lid

4) Rear lid

5) Baffle

6) Connecting tab enclosure

7) Baffle panel

8) Flap

9) Connecting tab opening

10) Flap planar protrusion

11) Planary engaging surface

12) Lowered rim portion

13) Flap first portion

14) Connection slot

15) Tub

16) Connecting tab

The present invention proposes a laundry washing machine (generally designated by the numeral 1) with or without drying function. The laundry washing machine (1) of the invention conventionally comprises a tub (15) and a drum (2) located in the tub (15), in which the laundry to be washed is placed. The drum (2) can conventionally be produced by joining two opposite sides of a longitudinal metal plate so as to obtain a cylindrical shape and by covering the axial ends thereof by means of a front (3) and a rear lid (4). The internal surface of the drum (2) typically comprises a plurality of baffles (5) serving for agitation of the laundry in the drum (2) during the laundry washing operation.

The baffles (5) are installed to the drum (2) at the inner surface thereof by engagement of a plurality of connecting tabs (16) preferably in the manner to establish a snap-fit connection with the drum (2). The connecting tabs (16) extending to the outer surface of the drum (2) ensure a stable mounting of the baffle (5) on the drum (2) surface. The baffle (5) mechanically connects with a baffle panel (7) in the form of a planar plate on which a plurality of connecting tab enclosures (6) is disposed to receive the connecting tabs (16) of the baffle (5).

The connecting tab enclosures (6) comprise a lowered rim portion (12) with a peripheral rim around a central portion, the lowered rim portion (12) defining a connecting tab opening (9) along with a flap (8) having a flap planar protrusion (10). An L-shaped connecting tab opening (9) is cut through the connecting tab enclosure (6) while the flap (8) integrally connected with the lowered rim portion (12) extends in an inclined manner with respect to the connecting tab enclosure (6) as well as the drum’s (2) surface so as to provide protection for the connecting tabs (16) of the baffle (5). The flap planar protrusion (10) constitutes a distal part of the flap (8) projecting from the lowered rim portion (12). The flap planar protrusion (10) extends in an inclined manner with respect to a flap first portion’s (13) planar direction. The flap planar protrusion (10) therefore outwardly extends from the flap first portion (13) while a planary engaging surface (11) adjacent to the connecting tab opening (9) remains to involve an interengaging connection with the connecting tabs (16). On the other hand, the flap first portion (13) defined between the lowered rim portion (12) and an inclination line along which the flap planar protrusion (10) is connected in a relatively inclined manner, provides external coverage to protect the connecting tabs (16) against mechanical damage during rotation of the drum (2).

A given connecting tab of the baffle (5) is fitted on the planary engaging surface (11) while the flap planar protrusion (10) being adjacently positioned relative to the connecting tab (16) provides cover against external impacts. More specifically, due to the fact that the connecting tab opening (9) extends to the lowered rim portion’s (12) longitudinal edge in the open area neighbouring the planary engaging surface (11), the flap planar protrusion (10) is designed to extend over this open area in an inclined manner to provide protection effect to cover the area as well as the respective connecting tab (16) of the baffle (5) being in retaining engagement with the planary engaging surface (11).

The flap planar protrusion (10) may have a planar form on the same plane with the flap first portion (13) or may be bent in the direction of the drum’s (2) surface to enhance the protection effect against external impacts by sharp objects. This additional level of inclination provides an enhanced covering effect.

The lowered rim portion (12) of the connecting tab enclosure (6) shaped as a cavity caging the connecting tabs of the baffle (5) so as to avoid projection of the connecting tabs (16) to the drum (2) surface prevents direct interaction of the connecting tabs (16) with external objects causing possible mechanical impacts.

The snap-fit connecting tabs (16) provide easy installation of the baffle (5) on the drum (2) compared to installation by several connection means and decrease manufacturing costs by providing functionality with a simplified mechanical structure. It is to be noted that a large number of connection elements may significantly contribute to the overall cost in a mass-produced appliance. The connecting tabs (16) additionally provide easier dismantling of the baffle (5) in the case maintenance is required.

Further, a plurality of connection slots (14) can be incorporated to accommodate a limited number of additional connection elements depending on the appliance’s model.

Consequently, the present invention proposes a laundry washing machine (1) comprising a rotary drum (2) in which cloth items are placed and accessible via a front door, a water tub (15) in which the rotary drum (2) is rotated, a motor providing the rotary drum (2) to be driven by means of a belt-pulley mechanism or a direct-drive mechanism disposed outside the tub (15) and a plurality of baffles (5) to agitate the laundry in the drum (2).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the baffles (5) of the drum (2) mechanically connect with at least two connecting tab enclosures (6) positioned on the outer wall of the drum (2), the connecting tab enclosures (6) receiving connecting tabs (16) of the baffles (5) in a peripherally enclosed manner such that projecting ends of the connecting tabs (16) remain within a peripherally enclosed region, the connecting tabs (16) effecting engagement of the baffles (5) with the drum (2). Therefore, the invention ensures that the interspace in which the connecting tabs (16) engage with the connecting tab enclosures (6) to fixate the baffles (5) is under the surface level of the drum’s (2) outer wall, which substantially eliminates the risk of breaking away of the connecting tabs (16) from the baffle (5) due to external impacts.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the interspace in which the connecting tabs (16) engage with the connecting tab enclosures (6) to fixate the baffles (5) is under the surface level of the drum’s (2) outer wall.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the baffles (5) of the drum (2) mechanically connect with a baffle panel (7) in the form of a plate connecting the baffle (5) to the drum (2) and on which the plurality of connecting tab enclosures (6) is disposed. The baffle panels (7) advantageously accommodate a plurality of connecting tab enclosures (6) as a single structural unit.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the connecting tab enclosure (6) comprises a lowered rim portion (12) defining a cavity accommodating the connecting tabs (16) of the baffle (5).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the lowered rim portion (12) defines and delimits a connecting tab opening (9) and a flap (8) having a flap planar protrusion (10).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the connecting tab opening (9) is an L-shaped opening cut through the connecting tab enclosure (6) whereas the flap (8) is integrally connected with the lowered rim portion (12). Therefore, the connecting tab enclosure (6) has a connecting tab opening (9) as well as the flap (8) formed by cutting the inner surface of the cavity. The L-shaped form of the opening advantageously creates a central surface (planary engaging surface (11)), which serves as an engagement portion with the respective connecting tab (16) of the baffle (5).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the flap (8) extends in an inclined manner with respect to the drum’s (2) outer wall surface so as to provide protection for the connecting tab (16) of the baffle (5).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the flap (8) comprises a flap first portion (13) defined between the lowered rim portion (12) and an inclination line along which a flap planar protrusion (10) is connected in a manner inclined relative to the flap first portion’s (13) planar direction.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the flap planar protrusion (10) constituting a distal part of the flap (8) projects from the inclination line.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a planary engaging surface (11) adjacent to the connecting tab opening (9) is provided, involving an interengaging connection with the connecting tab such that the connecting tab (16) of the baffle (5) is fitted on the planary engaging surface (11) in retaining engagement whereby the baffle (5) is fixed on the drum (2) body.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the flap planar protrusion (10) is shaped to extend in an inclined manner over a portion of the connecting tab opening (9) where the latter extends to the lowered rim portion’s (12) longitudinal edge.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the drum (2) is produced by joining two opposite sides of a plate so as to obtain a cylindrical shape and by covering the axial ends thereof by means of a front lid (3) and a rear lid (4).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the connecting tabs (16) of the baffles (5) engage with the respective planary engaging surfaces (11) establishing a snap-fit connection.

The invention therefore ensures that the connection tabs projecting outwardly on the outer surface of the drum (2) are not damaged due to foreign objects left in pockets of clothes as the connecting tab enclosures (6) receive the connecting tabs (16) of the baffles (5) in a peripherally enclosed manner, projecting ends of the connecting tabs (16) thereby remaining within a peripherally enclosed region in a manner substantially less prone to the damage by external objects. Further, the flaps (8) provides additional covering protection with the flap first portions (13) being inclined with respect to the baffle panel (7) and flap planar protrusions (10) being inclined with respect to the flap first portions (13).

Claims

A laundry washing machine (1) comprising a rotary drum (2) in which cloth items are placed and accessible via a front door, a tub (15) in which the drum (2) is rotated, a motor providing the rotary drum (2) to be driven and a plurality of baffles (5) to agitate the laundry in the drum (2) and a plurality of connecting tabs (16) effecting engagement of the baffles (5) with the drum (2), characterized in that the baffles (5) of the drum (2) mechanically connect with at least two connecting tab enclosures (6) positioned on the outer wall of the drum (2), the connecting tab enclosures (6) receiving connecting tabs (16) of the baffles (5) in a peripherally enclosed manner such that projecting ends of the connecting tabs (16) remain within a peripherally enclosed region.
A laundry washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the interspace in which the connecting tabs (16) engage with the connecting tab enclosures (6) to fixate the baffles (5) is under the surface level of the drum’s outer wall.
A laundry washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the baffles (5) of the drum (2) mechanically connect with a baffle panel (7) in the form of a plate connecting the baffle (5) to the drum (2) and on which the plurality of connecting tab enclosures (6) is disposed.
A laundry washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the connecting tab enclosure (6) comprising a lowered rim portion (12) defining a cavity accommodating the connecting tabs (16) of the baffle (5).
A laundry washing machine (1) as in Claim 4, characterized in that the lowered rim portion (12) delimits a connecting tab opening (9) and a flap (8) having a flap planar protrusion (10).
A laundry washing machine (1) as in Claim 5, characterized in that the connecting tab opening (9) is an L-shaped opening cut through the connecting tab enclosure (6) whereas the flap (8) is integrally connected with the lowered rim portion (12).
A laundry washing machine (1) as in Claim 6, characterized in that the flap (8) extends in an inclined manner with respect to the drum’s (2) outer wall surface so as to provide protection for the connecting tab (16) of the baffle (5).
A laundry washing machine (1) as in Claim 7, characterized in that the flap (8) comprising a flap first portion (13) defined between the lowered rim portion (12) and an inclination line along which a flap planar protrusion (10) is connected in a manner inclined relative to the flap first portion’s (13) planar direction.
A laundry washing machine (1) as in Claim 8, characterized in that the flap planar protrusion (10) constituting a distal part of the flap (8) projects from the inclination line.
A laundry washing machine (1) as in Claim 5, 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that a planary engaging surface (11) adjacent to the connecting tab opening (9) is provided, involving an interengaging connection with the connecting tab (16) such that the connecting tab (16) of the baffle (5) is fitted on the planary engaging surface (11) in retaining engagement whereby the baffle (5) is fixed on the drum (2) body.
A laundry washing machine (1) as in Claim 8, characterized in that the flap planar protrusion (10) is shaped to extend in an inclined manner over a portion of the connecting tab opening (9) where the latter extends to the lowered rim portion’s (12) longitudinal edge.
A laundry washing machine (1) as in any preceding Claims, characterized in that the drum (2) is produced by joining two opposite sides of a plate so as to obtain a cylindrical shape and by covering the axial ends thereof by means of a front lid (3) and a rear lid (4).
A laundry washing machine (1) as in Claim 10, characterized in that the connecting tabs (16) of the baffles (5) engage with the respective planary engaging surfaces (11) establishing a snap-fit connection.