Disclosure of Invention
In order to solve the above problems in the prior art, namely, to solve the problems that the opening and closing actions of the upper cover and the outer cylinder cover of the top-opening type drum washing machine are complex in operation, and thus the user operation experience is poor. The invention provides a linkage cover assembly, which comprises a first cover body pivotally connected with a first basic structure and a second cover body pivotally connected with a second basic structure, and further comprises a linkage piece, wherein a first end of the linkage piece is connected with the first cover body, and a second end of the linkage piece can be selectively connected with the second cover body, so that the first cover body and the second cover body can be synchronously opened or closed through the linkage piece.
In a preferred embodiment of the above-described interlocking lid assembly, the interlocking member is an interlocking lever.
In a preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned linkage cover assembly, the first end of the linkage rod is pivotally connected to the first cover body, and the second end of the linkage rod is operatively connected to the second cover body.
In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned linkage cover assembly, a first elastic member is disposed between the linkage rod and the first cover body, and the first elastic member is used for making the second end of the linkage rod pivot towards the second cover body.
In the preferred technical scheme of the linkage cover assembly, the first elastic piece is a torsion spring, one end of the torsion spring is connected with the first end of the linkage rod, and the other end of the torsion spring is connected with the first cover body.
In the preferred technical scheme of the linkage cover assembly, the first end of the linkage rod and/or the first cover body is/are provided with a limiting mechanism, and the limiting mechanism is used for limiting the rotation angle of the linkage rod.
In the preferred technical scheme of the linkage cover assembly, a driving motor is arranged on the first cover body and used for driving the linkage rod to rotate.
In the preferred technical scheme of the linkage cover assembly, the second end of the linkage rod is provided with a roller, and the second end of the linkage rod is in rolling contact with the second cover body through the roller.
In the preferred technical scheme of the linkage cover assembly, a second elastic piece is arranged between the second cover body and the second base structure, and the second elastic piece is used for driving the second cover body to be opened.
In addition, the invention also provides a top-opening type drum washing machine, which comprises the linkage cover assembly according to any one of the preferable technical schemes of the linkage cover assembly, wherein the first cover body is an upper cover of the top-opening type drum washing machine, and the second cover body is an outer drum cover of the top-opening type drum washing machine.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second end of the linkage member is selectively connected to the second cover by providing the linkage member between the first cover and the second cover and connecting the first end of the linkage member to the first cover; so that the first cover and the second cover can be synchronously opened or closed by the linkage. Therefore, the operation steps of opening and closing the first cover body and the second cover body are simplified, and the use experience of a user is optimized.
Specifically, the linkage member is preferably a linkage rod, a first end of the linkage rod is pivotally connected with the first cover body, and a second end of the linkage rod is operatively connected with the second cover body, that is, there is an operational relationship between the second end of the linkage rod and the second cover body. And a torsion spring is arranged between the linkage rod and the first cover body, and the torsion spring can enable the second end of the linkage rod to contact and press the second cover body. Further, a second elastic member is disposed between the second cover and the second base structure, and the second elastic member is used for driving the second cover to open. When the first cover body and the second cover body are closed, a user presses the first cover body to enable the first cover body to rotate towards the closing direction, and the rotating first cover body drives the second cover body through the rigid linkage rod to enable the second cover body to rotate synchronously with the first cover body towards the closing direction. When the first cover body and the second cover body are opened, the second cover body rotates towards the opening direction under the action of the second elastic piece, and the rotating second cover body drives the first cover body through the rigid linkage rod, so that the first cover body rotates synchronously with the second cover body towards the opening direction.
Further, when the linkage cover assembly is applied to the top-opening type drum washing machine, the first cover body is an upper cover of the top-opening type drum washing machine, the second cover body is an outer drum cover of the top-opening type drum washing machine, the first base structure is a box body, and the second base structure is an outer drum. With the above-described structure of the interlocking lid assembly, the upper lid and the outer barrel lid can be closed by the user in synchronization, and the upper lid and the outer barrel lid can be opened by the second elastic member in synchronization automatically. Therefore, the operation steps of the user are simplified, and the use experience of the user is improved.
Detailed Description
It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are merely for explaining the technical principles of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. For example, although the components in the drawings are drawn according to a certain proportion, the proportion is not constant, and a person skilled in the art can adjust the proportion according to the need so as to adapt to a specific application, and the adjusted technical scheme still falls within the protection scope of the invention.
It should be noted that, in the description of the present invention, terms such as "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," and the like indicate directions or positional relationships based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, which are merely for convenience of description, and do not indicate or imply that the apparatus or elements must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus should not be construed as limiting the present invention.
It should also be noted that the terms "first," "second," and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. It should also be noted that, in the description of the present invention, unless explicitly specified and limited otherwise, the terms "disposed", "connected" and "connected" are to be construed broadly, and may be, for example, fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected; can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by those skilled in the art according to the specific circumstances.
The linkage cover assembly mainly comprises a first cover body, a second cover body and a linkage piece. The first cover and the second cover are respectively pivotally connected to the base structure, and the linkage member is arranged between the first cover and the second cover. In particular, the linkage is preferably a rigid linkage rod, a first end of which is connected to the first cover and a second end of which is selectively connected to the second cover. Preferably, the first end of the linkage rod is pivotally connected to the first cover, the second end of the linkage rod is operatively connected to the second cover (i.e., there is an operational and operated relationship between the second end of the linkage rod and the second cover), and a first elastic member is disposed between the first end of the linkage rod and the first cover, and the first elastic member is configured to cause the second end of the linkage rod to abut against and compress against the second cover. And a second elastic piece is arranged between the second cover body and the basic structure and is used for driving the second cover body to rotate towards the opening direction. When the first cover body and the second cover body are closed, a user presses the first cover body to enable the first cover body to rotate towards the closing direction, and the rotating first cover body drives the second cover body through the rigid linkage rod to enable the second cover body to rotate synchronously with the first cover body towards the closing direction. When the first cover body and the second cover body are opened, the second cover body rotates towards the opening direction under the action of the second elastic piece, and the rotating second cover body drives the first cover body through the rigid linkage rod, so that the first cover body rotates synchronously with the second cover body towards the opening direction. The first cover and the second cover of the present invention can be opened or closed simultaneously by the link lever.
In addition, the linkage can be arranged in other structural forms as required by those skilled in the art. For example, in one possible embodiment, a first end of the linkage rod is pivotally connected to the first cover, a second end of the linkage rod is pivotally connected to the second cover, and the first cover, the second cover, the first base, the second base, and the linkage form a rectangle, since the first cover and the second cover are pivotally connected to the first base, the second base, and the linkage. The first cover and the second cover can be opened or closed synchronously by the technical proposal of the embodiment. Further, in another possible embodiment, the linkage member is a flexible wire harness, and two ends of the wire harness are fixedly connected with the first cover body and the second cover body respectively. And the second elastic member is arranged in a form capable of driving the second cover body to rotate towards the closing direction, and a third elastic member is arranged between the first cover body and the first basic structure and is arranged in a form capable of driving the first cover body to rotate towards the opening direction. When the first cover body and the second cover body are closed, the user presses the first cover body to enable the first cover body to rotate towards the closing direction against the elastic force of the third elastic piece. The second cover body rotates towards the closing direction under the action of the elastic force of the second elastic piece. Since the first cover and the second cover have a harness restriction, the speed at which the second cover is closed can be the same as the speed at which the first cover is closed. When the first cover body and the second cover body are opened, the user lifts the first cover body, the first cover body pulls the second cover body through the wire harness to overcome the elastic force of the second elastic piece, and the first cover body and the second cover body are synchronously opened.
It should be noted that the first elastic member, the second elastic member, and the third elastic member may be any type of elastic member, for example, a torsion spring, a spring leaf, an extension spring, a compression spring, or the like.
Hereinafter, a top-opening type drum washing machine having the above-described interlocking cover assembly will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in fig. 1, the top-opening drum washing machine of the present invention includes a cabinet 116, an outer tub 118, and an inner tub (not shown) in this order from the outside to the inside. Wherein the case 116 is the first basic structure described above, and the outer cylinder 118 is the second basic structure described above. The opening of the box 116 is located at the top of the box 116, and the upper cover 102 pivotally connected to the box 116 is provided at the opening of the box 116. Corresponding to the opening of the case 116, the top of the outer cylinder 118 is also provided with an opening, and an outer cylinder cover 104 pivotally connected to the outer cylinder 118 is provided at the opening of the outer cylinder 118. There is a vertical space between the outer cylinder cover 104 and the upper cover 102. In particular, a linkage rod 106 is disposed in the space between the outer barrel cover 104 and the upper cover 102. A first end of the linkage bar 106 (an upper end of the linkage bar 106 in fig. 1) is pivotally connected to the upper cover 102 by a pivot shaft 126, and a second end of the linkage bar 106 (a lower end of the linkage bar 106 in fig. 1) is selectively connected to the outer barrel cover 104.
As shown in fig. 1 to 4, the pivoting end of the link lever 106 (the upper end of the link lever 106 in fig. 1) is fixedly connected to the pivot shaft 126. A driving motor 108 and a first torsion spring 110 as a first elastic member are also provided between the pivoting end of the link lever 106 and the upper cover 102. Specifically, the output shaft of the drive motor 108 is fixedly connected coaxially with the pivot shaft 126, and the housing of the drive motor 108 is fixedly connected with the upper cover 102. The driving motor 108 is used to drive the linkage rod 106 to rotate counterclockwise in fig. 1, so that the free end of the linkage rod 106 (the lower end of the linkage rod 106 in fig. 1) is separated from the outer cylinder cover 104, and the free end of the linkage rod 106 is accommodated in the accommodating cavity 124 provided on the upper cover 102. One end of the first torsion spring 110 is in abutting connection with the pivot shaft 126, and the other end of the first torsion spring 110 is in abutting connection with the upper cover 102. In the event that the drive motor 108 is de-energized, the first torsion spring 110 is used to rotate the linkage rod 106 in a clockwise direction in fig. 1, such that the free end of the linkage rod 106 abuts the outer barrel cover 104 and compresses the outer barrel cover 104.
As shown in fig. 1 and 4, the link lever 106 is provided with a stopper 112 as a stopper mechanism near the pivoting end of the upper cover 102. The limiting block 112 is used for limiting the rotation angle of the linkage rod 106, namely when the driving motor 108 is powered off and the first torsion spring 110 drives the linkage rod 106 to rotate to an original position, the position of the linkage rod 106 can be limited through the limiting block 112, and the situation that the rotation angle of the linkage rod 106 is too large to be propped against the outer cylinder cover 104 is avoided. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the stop block 112 may be provided to the upper cover 102 as desired, or may be provided with a stop mechanism on the upper cover 102 and the linkage rod 106, respectively, as desired, and the two stop mechanisms are aligned so that the two stop mechanisms cooperate to jointly stop the linkage rod 106. In addition, the setting of the limiting block 112 can be omitted by those skilled in the art on the premise of ensuring that the free end of the linkage rod 106 can abut and press the outer cylinder cover 104.
As shown in fig. 4 and 5, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the free end of the linkage rod 106 is further provided with a roller (not shown) capable of rolling contact with the outer cylinder cover 104, thereby reducing frictional resistance with respect to sliding contact of the linkage rod 106 with the outer cylinder cover 104. Further, a chute 122 is provided in the outer cylinder cover 104 corresponding to the roller, for accommodating the roller, and enabling the roller to roll along the length direction of the chute 122. Preferably, the walls of the chute 122 are made of wear-resistant materials so as to reduce wear of the walls of the chute 122 and prolong the service life of the chute 122. In addition to the preferred embodiments described above, the rollers and/or runners 122 may be omitted as desired by those skilled in the art. For example, a wear pad is provided directly on the outer barrel cover 104 at a position corresponding to the linkage rod 106.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the arrangement of the pivot shaft 126, the first torsion spring 110 and the drive motor 108 on the top cover 102 of the top-opening drum washing machine, and the arrangement of the chute 122 on the outer tub cover 104 of the top-opening drum washing machine are just one preferred embodiment of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can also appropriately adjust the above structure and the connection form between the structures according to the need, for example, the pivot shaft 126, the first torsion spring 110 and the driving motor 108 of the present invention are disposed on the outer tub cover 104 of the top-opening drum type washing machine, and the chute 122 is disposed on the upper cover 102 of the top-opening drum type washing machine, that is, the technical solution that the upper cover 102 and the outer tub cover 104 can be connected and separated through the linkage rod 106, which all fall within the protection scope of the present invention, without departing from the principle and scope of the present invention.
As shown in fig. 1 and 5, a second torsion spring 114 as a second elastic member is provided between the outer cylinder cover 104 and the outer cylinder 118. The second torsion spring 114 is used to drive the outer cap 104 to rotate in an opening direction. Further, the outer cylinder 118 is provided with a cover lock 120, and the cover lock 120 is used to lock the outer cylinder cover 104 when the outer cylinder cover 104 is closed. Specifically, when the outer cylinder cover 104 is closed, the locking tongue of the cover lock 120 extends and inserts into a corresponding groove on the outer cylinder cover 104, at which point the cover lock 120 locks the outer cylinder cover 104 in the closed position. When the outer cylinder cover 104 is opened, the lock tongue of the cover lock 120 is retracted to the original position, and the lock of the outer cylinder cover 104 is released. At this time, the outer cylinder cover 104 can be automatically opened by the second torsion spring 114.
The process of opening and closing the upper cover 102 and the outer tub cover 104 of the top-opening type drum washing machine of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 1.
When the upper cover 102 and the outer cylinder cover 104 are closed, the user presses the upper cover 102 to rotate the upper cover 102 in the closing direction, and the rotating upper cover 102 drives the outer cylinder cover 104 through the link lever 106 to rotate the outer cylinder cover 104 in the closing direction in synchronization with the upper cover 102 until the upper cover 102 and the outer cylinder cover 104 are completely closed. The tongue of the lid lock 120 then extends to lock the outer cylinder lid 104. Finally, the drive motor 108 drives the linkage rod 106 to rotate, so that the free end of the linkage rod 106 is separated from contact with the outer cylinder cover 104 and is accommodated in the accommodating cavity 124 on the upper cover 102.
When the upper cover 102 and the outer cylinder cover 104 are opened, first, the driving motor 108 is powered off, and the link lever 106 rotates under the action of the first torsion spring 110, so that the free end of the link lever 106 abuts against the outer cylinder cover 104. Then, the lock tongue of the cover lock 120 is retracted to the original position, and the lock of the outer cylinder cover 104 is released. At this time, the outer cylinder cover 104 is rotated in the opening direction by the second torsion spring 114, and the rotating outer cylinder cover 104 drives the upper cover 102 via the link lever 106, so that the upper cover 102 is rotated in the opening direction in synchronization with the outer cylinder cover 104 until it is completely opened.
The action of opening the upper cover 102 and the outer tub cover 104 may be that the washing machine automatically opens the upper cover 102 and the outer tub cover 104 after the washing process of the washing machine is completed; the user may operate an operation button provided on the operation panel of the washing machine to open the upper cover 102 and the outer tub cover 104.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, by pivotally connecting one end of the link lever 106 to the upper cover 102, and selectively connecting the second end of the link lever 106 to the outer tub cover 104, the driving motor 108 and the first torsion spring 110 are provided between the first end of the link lever 106 and the upper cover 102, the second torsion spring 114 is provided between the outer tub cover 104 and the outer tub 118, and the cover lock 120 for locking the outer tub cover 104 is provided on the outer tub 118, so that the upper cover 102 and the outer tub cover 104 of the top-opening drum washing machine of the present invention can be simultaneously closed manually by a user and can be automatically and synchronously opened. The operation steps of the user are simplified, and the use experience of the user is improved.
Further, when the top-opening drum washing machine works, the upper cover 102 and the outer cylinder cover 104 are disconnected by retracting the free end of the linkage rod 106, so that vibration and noise of the outer cylinder 118 are prevented from being transmitted to the upper cover 102 through the linkage rod 106, and comfort of a user is prevented from being affected.
Thus far, the technical solution of the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings, but it is easily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments. Equivalent modifications and substitutions for related technical features may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principles of the present invention, and such modifications and substitutions will fall within the scope of the present invention.