EP0534381B1

EP0534381B1 - Discharge device for washing machines and the like

Info

Publication number: EP0534381B1
Application number: EP92116239A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Loris c/o Wirlpool Italia s.r.l. Buccolini
Original assignee: Whirlpool Europe BV
Current assignee: Whirlpool Europe BV
Priority date: 1991-09-27
Filing date: 1992-09-23
Publication date: 1997-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-23
Also published as: ITMI910845V0; ITMI910845U1; DE69221977D1; EP0534381A1; DE69221977T2; IT221916Z2

Description

This invention relates in general to a washing machine and the like and more particularly to the discharge device for the tub of such a machine.
In washing machines and the like, a discharge device is associated with the tub and comprises a discharge port provided in the tub, a bellows connected at one end to said port, a discharge pump (comprising a motor, pump body and impeller) connected to the other end of said bellows, and a filter positioned upstream of said pump.
EP-A-0 267 837 discloses a discharge device for a washing machine comprising a plastic tub having a cup-shaped portion and a front lid. The device described in such document comprises a pump body which is an integral part of the cup-shaped portion of the tub and having an horizontal axis.
The main object of the present invention is to reduce the number of components used in the discharge device, to simplify the assembly of this device and to reduce the pressure drop therethrough.
This and further objects which will be more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter are attained according to the present invention in that both the filter and the pump body form an integral part of the tub, the pump motor together with the impeller being directly connected, preferably removably, to said tub.
The invention will be more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of the discharge part of a washing machine or the like;
Figure 2 is a view thereof in the direction of the arrow A of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a detailed side elevational view of the removable connection between the pump drive motor and the tub.

In the figures the reference numeral 1 indicates a conventional rotating drum of a washing machine or the like. The drum in mounted in a plastics tub 2 and is provided with a door 3 for access to a filter 4 formed integrally with the tub 2. The filter 4 is defined by an annular pocket 5 which surrounds a central part 6 projecting towards the interior of the tub and defining a discharge hole 7 the inlet of which is covered by a filtering mesh structure 8 also integral with the tub.
Towards the outside, beyond the filter, the tub extends in the form of a cylindrical tubular projection 9 which on its outer periphery comprises pin-shaped radial projections, for example four in number, spaced equiangularly apart.
This tubular projection forms the casing 9 of the pump 11, and is to contain the centrifugal impeller 12.
The pump casing 9 also comprises a discharge nozzle 13, which can either be integral with the tub or be in the form of a separate piece welded or otherwise fixed into a hole in the pump casing.
The pump 11 comprises a support means 14 to be connected to the pump casing 9, this means carrying an electric motor 15, its drive shaft 16 and the impeller 12. A raised central part 17 of the means 14 delimits the compartment in which the impeller operates and which is sealed by interposing a conventional gasket 18.
The means 14 comprises a surrounding edge or flange 19 which carries a number, equal to the number of projections 10, of angularly equidistant hook-shaped appendices 20, the cavity 21 of which is intended to engage one of the projections 10 (see Figure 3) to removably connect the unit formed by the motor 15, shaft 10, impeller 12 and means 14 to the tub 2 via the pump casing 9.
A discharge hose, not shown, is connected to the nozzle 13.
To connect said unit to the tub, it is firstly mounted on the pump casing 9 and is then rotated until its hook-shaped appendices 20 engage the projections 10. The reverse procedure is used for disconnection.
The connection between said unit and the tub can also be made by screws, in which case the projections 10 and hook-shaped appendices 20 are not provided, these latter being for example replaced by lugs for receiving the screws, these lugs surrounding parts of the pump casing 9.

Claims

A discharge device for a washing machine having a plastic tub (2), said device comprising a discharge port (7) provided in said tub (2), a filter (4) and a pump (11) comprising a motor (15), a pump casing (9), which is an integral extension of the tub, and an impeller (12), characterised in that:
a) said pump casing (9) forms a tubular projection of the tub (2) comprising at its inlet the filter (4) which is also formed integrally with the tub (2), and

b) the pump motor (15) together with the impeller (12) are removably connected to said tubular projection by support means (14).
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the filter (4) comprises an annular recess (5) surrounding a raised portion (6) defining a passageway (7) the mouth of which is covered by a mesh structure (8).
A device as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that the support means (14) together with the pump casing (9) defines the compartment in which the impeller (12) operates.
A device as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that the casing (9) is provided with a discharge nozzle (13).
A device as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that the support means (14) is connected to the pump casing (9) by an insertion joint (10, 20, 21), or by screwing on, or by means of screws.