DK1693500T3

DK1693500T3 - Washing machine with containers for compensation for imbalance

Info

Publication number: DK1693500T3
Application number: DK06011033.5T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Guido Schellenberg; Peter Pfenninger
Original assignee: V Zug Ag
Priority date: 2005-06-24
Filing date: 2006-05-30
Publication date: 2014-11-17
Also published as: EP1693500A2; SI1693500T1; PL1693500T3; EP1693500A3; EP1693500B1

Description

The invention relates to a washing machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a washing machine is e.g. described in DE 43 13 819 and US 3 235 082. It has a plurality of filling rings on a front face of the drum, of which each one is connected to a tank arranged at the periphery of the drum. A stationary injection device serves to inject liquid into the filling rings, such that the tanks can be filled individually and targeted in order to compensate an imbalance in the drum. In this way a smoother centrifugal operation of the machine can be reached.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a washing machine with easily mountable tanks for compensating an imbalance.

This objective is reached by the washing machine according to independent claim 1. According to it the washing machine has a plurality of known rinsing devices for rinsing a plurality of chambers, wherein the chambers serve to receive various washing reagents. Additionally, it has a plurality of supplying devices, wherein liquid can be supplied into one of the tanks with each supplying device. Valves are provided for controlling the supply of the liquid. According to the claim, at least a part of the valves supplies one of the rinsing devices and one of the supplying devices. In this way it is possible to provide water to a total of three tanks and three chambers by only using e.g. a set of three valves. A preferred embodiment of the invention has the objective of providing such a machine having an as large as possible usage space.

This objective is reached by the washing machine according to claim 7. According to it, the filling rings have different diameters, such that they can be arranged in an overlapping way in axial direction, e.g. "into one another". In this way it is possible to save space in axial direction.

Preferably the machine is designed such that the water doesn't fall into the outer filling rings in case of overflow of a filling ring, but can fall radially outwards, e.g. up to the vat wall. In this way it is possible to avoid that overflowing water flows into the wrong tanks and thereby cause a wrong balance compensation.

For this, the filling rings may be designed in such a way that each one of the innermost filling rings protrudes beyond the next outer filling ring in axial direction. In other words the innermost filling ring extends farthest from the drum in axial direction, the subsequent outer ring a little less, etc. A further possibility to avoid that overflowing water flows into the wrong tanks is to design the walls of the filling rings, which are opposed to the drum, in such a way that the inner edge of each wall lies axially closer to the drum than the outer edge of the radially subsequent inner filling ring. For this, e.g. at least a part of each wall can be inclined or bent, such that it is shifted more towards the drum with its radially inner edge than with its radially outer edge.

In order to keep the liquid as good as possible inside the filling rings, particularly equally in case of relatively low rotation speeds, the liquid entering a filling ring should be accelerated as fast as possible in tangential direction. For this, tappets may be arranged inside the filling rings, extending transversally with respect to the tangential direction.

Also in order keep the liquid as good as possible inside the filling rings equally in case of relatively low rotation speeds, the filling ring wall facing the drum may run inclined or bent with respect to the radial direction, in such a way that the liquid is accelerated radially outwards. If the injection device is arranged in such a way that it injects the liquid at least partially against this wall facing the drum, the liquid is redirected radially outward from there, such that it is automatically directed towards the radially outermost area of the filling rings.

Preferably, the filling rings are progressively narrower in the radially outward direction. This accounts for the fact that the inner filling rings would have a considerably smaller filling capacity than the outer filling rings, because of their small radius in view of a constant width of the filling rings.

Preferably, the tanks are arranged in the ribs of the drum. In order to avoid that the liquid sloshes back and forth in longitudinal direction of the tanks, attenuation elements are arranged in the tanks and hinder an axial flow of the liquid.

Further preferred embodiments result from the dependent claims as well as from the now following description by means of the figures. It is shown in:

Fig. 1 a schematic section through a washing machine,

Fig. 2 a first view of the filling rings and tanks as seen obliquely from the front side,

Fig. 3 a first view of the filling rings and tanks as seen obliquely from the back side,

Fig. 4 a section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 a section through the filling rings,

Fig. 6 one of the tanks in a partial section view,

Fig. 7 a detail of Fig. 3,

Fig. 8 a valve arrangement for a washing machine with imbalance compensation and

Fig. 9 a section through a second embodiment of the filling rings.

The washing machine shown in Fig. 1 has a drum 1 with a horizontal rotation axis 2. The drum 1 is arranged inside a vat 3. A motor 4 is attached to the vat 3, rotating the drum via a belt 5 and a belt pulley 6. The vat 3 is oscillatingly supported inside the washing machine by a suspension.

Acceleration sensors 7 are attached to the vat, making it possible to determine an imbalance of the drum during laundry swinging. Instead of or additionally to the acceleration sensors 7 it is possible to use e.g. angular speed sensors and/or distance sensors.

As described e.g. in DE 43 13 819, an imbalance in the drum is compensated by injecting a liquid, here water, in a targeted way into special tanks attached to the drum.

In the shown embodiment three tanks 10 are provided, being arranged in the ribs 11 of the drum 1. Each tank 10 extends e.g. with its longitudinal axis along the entire axial length of the drum 1. Three filling rings 13a, b and c are arranged on the rear end face 12 of the drum 1. The filling rings are coaxial, wherein the filling ring 13a has the smallest diameter, the filling ring 13b has the next larger diameter and the filling ring 13c has the largest diameter.

Each filling ring is connected to one of the tanks 10 via a filling duct 14. A stationary injection device 16 is provided in order to inject water into the filling rings. It comprises a water inlet 17 supplying water to three valves 18. The water travels from the valves 18 to a corresponding duct 20 via a falling section 19, wherein the falling section 19 supresses a backflow of water into the water inlet 17. The ducts 20 end in nozzles 21, from where the water is injected into the respective filling rings 13a, b, c. The nozzles 21 are attached to the vat 3 or to the swinging system of the washing machine respectively.

Constructive details of a preferred embodiment of the washing machine may be seen in Fig. 2 to 7.

Fig. 2 and 3 particularly show the three tanks 10 forming the ribs 11 of the drum 1. As shown, the outer faces of these ribs 11 are not even but have a plurality of protrusions 25 and between them cavities 26 respectively. The protrusions protrude over the average surface e.g. by 1 to 5 mm and have typical widths of e.g. 5 to 20 mm. In the present embodiment the protrusions are round, they may however also be elongate or ridge-shaped, wherein in this case the longitudinal axis should be arranged as much as possible in tangential direction of the drum. The protrusions 25 or the cavities 26 respectively, promote discharge of the liquid exiting the laundry by avoiding accumulations of water between the surface and the rib thanks to the irregularity of the rib surface.

As shown in Fig. 6, attenuation elements 28 are arranged in the tanks 10. They have the shape of walls arranged transversally to the longitudinal direction of the tanks. They hinder a free flow of water in the longitudinal direction of the tanks and attenuate in this way a back and forth slosh of the liquid.

The filling ducts 14, by means of which the tanks 10 are connected to their respective filling ring 13a, 13b or 13c respectively, are particularly visible in Fig. 2 and 3. Vent pipes 28 extending in radial direction inwards from the tanks 10 and ending with openings 29 are arranged parallel to the filling ducts 14. They allow air to exit the tanks 10 when water is being filled in and also help when the tanks 10 are emptied. The openings 29 are arranged at such a distance from the periphery of the drum 1 that they are always located above the washing reagent level during normal washing operation. In this way it is avoided that the tanks 10 are filled with washing reagent.

The construction of the filling rings 13a, 13b, 13c is best seen in Fig. 3-5 and 7. They are formed by an annular body 30 supported on the rear end face of the drum 1. Each filling ring forms a channel 31 (Fig. 5) which is limited on its side opposed to the drum 1 by an edge consisting of a wall 32 extending approximately radially upwards.

As particularly seen in Fig. 5, the innermost filling ring 13a extends farthest from the drum in axial direction, while the outer filling rings 13b, 13c are progressively shifted backwards. If water exits the innermost filling ring 13a via the wall 32, it drips radially outward without falling into one of the outer filling rings. In order to ensure a good dripping, a drip lip 33 is provided on the outer lower edge of the filling ring 13a and in the same way on the two outer filling rings 13b, 13c.

As can also be well seen in Fig. 5, the innermost filling ring 13a is widest in axial direction. In the shown embodiment each one of the innerfilling rings 13a, 13b protrudes beyond the outer filling rings 13b or 13c respectively, in both axial directions. Preferably, the dimensions are chosen such that the radius of the respective filling ring multiplied with the width of the filling channel formed by the filling ring is approximately constant.

Tappets 35 formed as walls arranged substantially radially and transversely to the tangential direction are arranged in the filling rings 13a, 13b, 13c (see Fig. 5 and 7), dividing each filling channel into a plurality of compartment-like channel sections 36, see particularly Fig. 7. The channel sections 36 are connected to one another by connection openings 37. These connection openings 37, which are best seen in Fig. 5, are arranged lowermost, i.e. in the radially outermost section of the filling channels, such that the water can flow back and forth between the channel sections 36 independently of water level.

On the drum side the filling rings are limited each by a wall 40. The injection device 16 or the nozzles 21 respectively, are arranged in such a way that the water is injected against this wall 40. As can be seen in Fig. 5, the wall 40 is bent with respect to the radial direction, in such a way that the water injected onto the wall 40 by the nozzle 21 is accelerated radially outward and therefore enters the radially outermost section of the filling channel. In this way a loss due to water splashing away is minimized.

The wall 40 may also be inclined instead of bent.

As can particularly be seen in Fig. 5, the radially outermost section of both inner filling rings 13a, 13b is limited by the drum side wall 40 of the respective next outer filling ring 13b or 13c respectively. In this way a compact construction is reached despite the large radial depth of the filling rings.

Fig. 8 shows an advantageous embodiment of the water inlets as they can be used e.g. for the washing machine described above, but also for other washing machines with tanks for compensating an imbalance.

In case of the device shown in Fig. 8, the water inlet is attributed to one of the tanks 10 and to one chamber 50. The chamber 50 serves to receive a washing reagent. Normally, washing machines have three such chambers, one for receiving the washing reagent added during the pre-rinsing stage, one for receiving the washing reagent added during the main washing cycle and one for receiving the fabric conditioner added during the conditioning phase. Each of these chambers has to have the possibility of being rinsed independently, such that the respective washing reagent can be supplied to the vat 3 via a duct 51.

As described in the following, in the arrangement according to Fig. 8 one of the chambers 50 and one of the tanks 10 can be supplied with water by only one valve.

The respective valve 18 is arranged in a valve seat 52 and can be operated by a magnet 53. If the valve 18 is pulled back, water can flow from a supply duct 54 into an antechamber 55.

The antechamber 55 has at least a first outlet 56 which opens up in the air gap 19 (see also Fig. 1). The water falling from the outlet 56 through the air gap 19 is caught by a funnel 57 and guided into one of the ducts 20 which bring the water into the filling rings 13a, 13b, 13c.

The antechamber has further at least a second outlet 60, through which the water can flow into the chamber 50. In the embodiment according to Fig. 8 the water exiting the outlet 60 enters a sprinkler 61 via the chamber 50. The sprinkler 61 has openings 62, through which the water flows into the chamber 50.

Preferably, the first outlet 56 is lower than the second outlet 60, such that water entering the antechamber 55 through the valve 18 initially only flows through the first outlet 56. The first outlet 56 should however be dimensioned in such a way that it is not capable of discharging all of the entering water when the valve 18 is opened in case of the pressure conditions normally present in the antechamber 55, such that the water level 65 rises in the antechamber 55 until either the valve 18 has been shut down or the water has reached the second outlet 60.

The washing machine is adapted to open the valve 18 only partially or only intermittently if the water shall be used for imbalance compensation. In this case the water quantity per time unit is adjusted in such a way that the water level 65 in the antechamber 55 does not reach the height of the second outlet 60, such that the entire water flows out through the first opening 56. If the water shall be used for rinsing the chamber 50, the valve 18 is opened fully or permanently respectively. In this case the water level 65 also reaches the second outlet after a short period of time, such that the chamber 50 is rinsed. In fact the water still also flows out through the first outlet, but this doesn't matter during the rinsing phase of the chamber 50.

Preferably, the first outlet 56 has a substantially smaller cross section (e.g. 5 times smaller) than the second outlet 60, such that comparatively little water flows out through the first opening 56 and as much as possible water is available for rinsing the chamber 50 when the valve 18 is fully opened.

Concretely, e.g. the valve may be opened during pulses of 30 to 50 ms for filling one of the tanks 10, this being dimensioned in such a way that per pulse a water quantity of e.g. 70 ml flows into the antechamber 55. The antechamber 55 is formed such that the water level 65 does not reach the upper outlet 60 in presence of this water quantity. The first outlet 56 is dimensioned in such a way that it allows passage of a water quantity of around 0.8 l/min in case of normal pressure, such that the water quantity entering the antechamber 55 during a pulse is discharged in around 100 ms. Thereafter it is possible to trigger the next pulse of the valve 18 if necessary. If the chamber 50 is flooded, the valve 18 is permanently opened, such that in this case e.g. a water quantity of 10 l/min flows into the antechamber 55. This water quantity cannot be discharged from the first outlet 56, such that the water level 65 rises until water can flow out through the substantially larger second outlet 60.

It is also conceivable to arrange both outlets 56, 60 at a substantially same height, in this case the water being distributed, depending on the diameter of the outlets, to the tank 10 and the chamber 50.

Furthermore it is also possible to arrange a controlling flap downstream of the valves 18, which can be operated for all valves at once and which guides the water in a targeted way either into the chambers 50 or into the tanks 10.

In the embodiment particularly shown in Fig. 5 the filling rings extend axially further away from the drum the further inside they are arranged, such that an overflow of water onto a filling ring does not lead to filling the next outer filling ring.

Fig. 9 shows another possibility of reaching the same effect with a more compact construction. In this case the edges or walls 32 respectively, of the filling rings, which are opposed to the drum can be formed in such a way that the inner edge 70 of each wall 32 (i.e. the inner edge of the wall 32 in radial direction) is arranged axially closer to the drum 1 than the outer edge 70 of the radially next inner filling ring. In order to reach this, in Fig. 9 an innermost part 72 of the outer face of each wall 32 is inclined (or bent) towards the drum 1.

Claims

1. shining with a drum (1) rotating about a axis of rotation (2), multiple rinsing means (61) for rinsing multiple chambers for receiving laundry reagents, multiple containers (10) disposed at the drum (1) for picking up liquid to compensate for an imbalance, feeding devices (13a, 13b, 13c, 21), whereby each feeding device can supply liquid to one of the containers (10), and valves (18) for controlling the supply of the liquid, characterized in that at least a portion of the valves feed one of the flushing devices and one of the supply devices.

Washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said valves controls the water supply to in each case a chamber (55), the chamber (55) having a first and a second outlet (56, 60), water flows into one of the vessels (10) through the first outlet (56) and outflowing water enters one of the chambers (50) through the second outlet (60).

Washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the first outlet (56) is arranged deeper than the second outlet (60).

Washing machine according to one of Claims 1 or 2, wherein the first outlet is dimensioned so that it cannot drain all the water flowing into the chambers (55) with fully open valve (18).

Washing machine according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it is arranged to open only the valve (18) partially or shockingly for supplying water to one of the containers and fully or permanently for supplying water to the chamber.

Washing machine according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the first output (56) has a substantially smaller cross-section than the second output (60).

Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, with several concentric filling rings (13a, 13b, 13c) arranged on a front side of the drum (1), wherein each filling (13a, 13b, 13c) forms at least one filling which is connected to one of the vessels (10), and an injection device (16) for injecting the liquid into the filling gutters, the fillings (13a, 13b, 13c) having different diameters.

Washing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the filling rings (13a) are designed in such a way that the liquid does not overflow into the filling ring or the filling rings (13b, 13c) which lie radially further out.

Washing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that each filling ring (13a, 13b) extends in the axial direction over the filling rings (13b, 13c) extending radially further in such a way that liquid flowing over the filling ring (13a, 13b), radially outwardly falls past the filling rings (13b, 13c) which lie radially further out.

Washing machine according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that an inner edge (70) of the wall (32) of each filling ring (13b, 13c) facing away from the drum (1) is closer to the drum (1). than an outer edge (71) of the radially next inner filling (13a, 13b), and in particular that at least a portion of each wall (32) is formed oblique or curved.

Washing machine according to one of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that in the filling rings (13a, 13b, 13c), carriers (35) extending across the tangential direction are arranged for the liquid to tangentially accelerate the liquid which flows into the fill rings (13a, 13b, 13c).

Washing machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the carriers (35) are formed by substantially radially arranged walls in the filling rings (13a, 13b, 13c) which divide the filling gutters into gutter sections (36).

Washing machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the gutter sections (36) are connected to each other via connection openings (37), the connection openings being arranged at a radially outermost region of the filling gutters.

Washing machine according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the injection device (16) is designed to spray the liquid against a wall (40) of said filling (13a, 13b, 13c), the wall (40) extending oblique or curved with respect to the radial direction in such a way that the liquid is accelerated radially outward.

Washing machine according to claim 14, characterized in that a radially outermost region of the filling rings (13a, 13b) is limited by said wall (40) of the next filling (13b, 13c) in each case.

Washing machine according to one of claims 7 to 15, characterized in that the filling gutters of the radially increasing outward filling rings become narrower and narrower.

Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the containers (10) are arranged in ribs of the drum (1) and that damping elements (28) are arranged in the containers (10) which inhibit an axial flow of the liquid. .

Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that ribs (11) are provided in the drum (1), which has an outer surface with several elevations (25) or recesses (27).