EP0629734B1 - Ring zum Verbinden zweier Teile eines Waschmaschinenbehälters - Google Patents

Ring zum Verbinden zweier Teile eines Waschmaschinenbehälters Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0629734B1
EP0629734B1 EP94830282A EP94830282A EP0629734B1 EP 0629734 B1 EP0629734 B1 EP 0629734B1 EP 94830282 A EP94830282 A EP 94830282A EP 94830282 A EP94830282 A EP 94830282A EP 0629734 B1 EP0629734 B1 EP 0629734B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ring
branches
overlapping
coupling
plane
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP94830282A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0629734A1 (de
Inventor
Giorgio Capricorno S.R.L. Piani
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CAPRICORNO Srl
Original Assignee
CAPRICORNO Srl
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from IT000435 external-priority patent/IT1260871B/it
Priority claimed from ITTO930805A external-priority patent/IT1261321B/it
Application filed by CAPRICORNO Srl filed Critical CAPRICORNO Srl
Publication of EP0629734A1 publication Critical patent/EP0629734A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0629734B1 publication Critical patent/EP0629734B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/26—Casings; Tubs
    • D06F37/261—Tubs made by a specially selected manufacturing process or characterised by their assembly from elements
    • D06F37/263—Tubs made by a specially selected manufacturing process or characterised by their assembly from elements assembled from at least two elements connected to each other; Connecting or sealing means therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D45/00—Clamping or other pressure-applying devices for securing or retaining closure members
    • B65D45/32—Clamping or other pressure-applying devices for securing or retaining closure members for applying radial or radial and axial pressure, e.g. contractible bands encircling closure member

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a ring for coupling the peripheral flanges of the two elements forming the tub of a washing machine, said ring defining a plane and an axis perpendicular to this plane and being made of a metal profile having two branches, a central bottom part and an open end which faces the axis of the ring.
  • Rings of the above indicated type have been known and used for some time, which have their adjacent ends bent outwardly, substantially at right angles with respect to the adjacent part of the ring, said ends having a pair of facing holes for engagement of a clamping bolt.
  • the rings of this type do not prove to be fully satisfactory in use, because of the tendency of the two deformed ends of the ring to deform further as a result of the tension of the bolt, preventing at the same time a proper clamping of the connected parts.
  • Rings are also known whose adjacent ends are provided with auxiliary welded elements having passages in line with each other for the engagement of a clamping bolt.
  • the rings of this latter type provide an efficient clamping of the connected parts as requested, but are complicated and costly to manufacture (see for example figure 2 of French patent No. 2.296.048).
  • Solutions are also known in which the two ends of the ring are provided with hooks and, respectively, apertures which are to cooperate together to provide a mutual engagement (see figures 3-12 of the above identified French patent). Also this solution has the drawback to require a ring with a relatively complicated and costly structure.
  • the same applies to the solution known from French patent No. 2.355.943 in which on the ends of the ring there are mounted L-shaped brackets connected to each other by a clamping screw.
  • each end of the coupling ring is permanently deformed so as to be radially outwardly offset with respect to the adjacent portion of the ring, with the part of the bottom wall of the profile element which connects the bottom wall of each offset end portion to that of the immediately adjacent part of the profile element which has a hole defining along with the cavity of the end portion a passage for the engagement of a clamping bolt.
  • the two end portions of the ring are adapted to be placed in an overlapping relationship.
  • the object of the present invention is that of providing a coupling ring of the type indicated at the beginning of the present description which is yet more simple and cheap to manufacture with respect to the known solutions which have been described above.
  • the invention provides a ring as set forth in Claim 1.
  • the coupling ring according to the invention is therefore dramatically simpler and less costly to manufacture with respect to the known rings, since, contrary to the latter, it is not provided with any hole for engagement of connecting screws, or any other type of connecting element (such as those provided in French patent No. 2.296.048).
  • British patent GB-A-361.229 discloses a split ring for coupling a sheet-metal cover to the mouth of a container.
  • the ends of the ring do not have a V-shaped cross section, but are merely formed by two flat portions which are overlapped to each other and connected by a permanent deformation, with the aid of a coupling band.
  • This solution is not adapted to be applied to the coupling of the elements forming the tub of a laundry-washing machine, since it is not able to ensure a fluid sealed connection between the elements at the coupled ends of the ring.
  • the folded seam is provided on one or both branches of the V-shaped cross section of the ring, so that also at the coupling site of the ends of the ring the latter clamp the flanges of the elements to be connected therebetween, ensuring thereby the fluid seal.
  • Other known solutions provide connecting tabs on the coupling ends of the ring, such tabs being bent to provide the connection (see for example French patent No. 1.058.737, US patent No. 1.929.375, German patent application No. 37 14 890). These solutions are not advantageous, since they involve a relatively complicated and costly structure of the ring ends. The same applies to solutions which provide connecting hooks on the coupling ends of the ring (see for example US patent No. 1.912.179 and US patent No. 2.078.009).
  • the present invention also provides a method for coupling the peripheral flanges of the two elements forming the tub of a washing machine as set forth in Claim 2.
  • the seaming operation may be carried out by an engagement of the tool directly on the overlapping branches of the two end portions of the ring, or above an auxiliary element covering as a seal the overlapping branches of the end portions of the ring.
  • the invention also provides a device for locking the ring as set forth in Claim 7.
  • the rigid connection of the outwardly deformed overlapping branches of the two ends of the ring is preferably carried out by a folded seam, particularly by cutting and bending a plurality of tabs from said overlapping branches.
  • tabs Preferably, such tabs have a dovetail profile or a toothed profile or an inverted T-shaped profile, in order to render the connection even safer.
  • reference numeral 1 generally designates a tub of a laundry-washing machine, comprising a substantially cup-shaped element 2 and a disk 3 which covers the mouth of the cup-shaped element 2 and has a central aperture 4 for introduction of the laundry.
  • the elements 2, 3 At their joining edges, the elements 2, 3 have two circumferential flanges 2a, 3a, having a sealing strip interposed therebetween.
  • the two flanges 2a, 3a are connected to each other by a split coupling ring 5 according to the present invention.
  • the ring according to the invention may be used also with a structure of the tub different from that which is illustrated, in which the joining flanges are provided at an intermediate plane spaced apart from both the end faces of the tub or located at the rear face thereof rather than at the front face as in the illustrated case.
  • the coupling ring 5 is comprised of a channel-shaped profile element 6 (see figure 4) of metal material, having two branches 7 and a central bottom wall 8 which define a substantially V-shaped cross-section with a cavity facing the ring axis.
  • the ring 5 is arranged over such flanges, with the branches 7 of the two end portions of the channel 6 overlapping each other (figure 2).
  • the coupling of said end portions of the channel is made by a permanent deforming operation providing a folded seam on the branches 7.
  • Figure 3 shows an embodiment of such folded seam, providing the cutting and simultaneous bending at right angles of a number of overlapping tabs 7a of the branches 7.
  • the folded seam is provided only on one side of the channel 6. However, it might be made also on both sides.
  • the portion of the latter which is adjacent to the ends of the ring is deformed in a plane inclined outwardly, as clearly visible in figure 5.
  • the seam operation may be made in any other way different from what is illustrated in figure 3. Furthermore, it is possible to provide for the seaming tool to engage over an auxiliary element (not illustrated) of sheet metal, covering as a seal, the overlapping portions of branches 7.
  • the coupling ring 5 has an extremely simple and cheap structure. As a matter of fact, it is not provided with any hole or passage for engagement of fixing screws or any other connecting means.
  • a device as illustrated in figures 7-11 is preferably used.
  • the portion 8a of the wall of the ring which connects each end portion of the branches 7 and the adjacent portion of the ring defines a shoulder surface.
  • the device according to the invention for locking the ring in the clamping condition comprises two jaws 50, each having a seat 51 which is to engage over a corresponding part of the clamping ring adjacent to a respective end portion.
  • the two jaws 50 are movable along an axis 51a tangential with respect to the coupling ring, between two relatively spaced apart inoperative positions and two relatively close operative positions (figure 7) in which the facing surfaces 50a of the jaws 50 come in contact with said shoulders 8a causing the two end portions of the ring to superimpose to each other in the proper clamping condition of the ring.
  • a further device 52 carries out the permanent connection of said end portions of the ring.
  • the device 52 comprises a die 53 and a punching element 54 able to cut and bend a plurality of tabs from the overlapping portions of said end branches of the ring, so as to form a folded seam of the branches.
  • the device according to the invention may be provided with means of any known type for driving the movement of the jaws 50 and the punching element 54.
  • the two jaws 50 may be connected to each other by screw means which drive the movement thereof and are mounted on the body of the die 53.
  • the jaws 52 are preferably driven by actuators of any known type (for example fluid actuators) which are on their turn controlled according to an automatic cycle of operations, the same applying to the device 52.
  • actuators of any known type for example fluid actuators
  • Figure 9 shows a preferred solution in which the seaming device is able to form tabs 60 with a dovetail profile, to ensure a safer connection.
  • Figure 10 shows a variant in which tabs 60 have substantially straight sides with a toothed profile. Alternatively, it is possible to provide tabs with an inverted T-shaped profile.
  • figure 11 shows the case in which the overlapping branches of the two end portions of the ring are rigidly connected to each other by a welding operation.
  • the locking device according to the invention is characterised in that it can perform the final locking operation of the two ends of the split coupling ring without requiring the ring to be provided with any hole or seat to allow the clamping operation on the ring.
  • a coupling ring according to the invention By adopting a coupling ring according to the invention, the use of the tensioning bolt which is provided according to the conventional art can be avoided.
  • the device according to the invention is able to hold the ring in the clamping condition as well as to lock the ring in the clamped condition in a simple and fast way.
  • the present invention provides on one hand a coupling ring which is particularly simple and cheap and on the other hand a locking operation which is simple, rapid and safe.
  • the invention may be carried out by two half-rings connected to each other in the above described way, at two diametrically opposed areas on the periphery of the tub.
  • Such solution may be preferable, given the very low cost of the coupling operation, since it is particularly adapted for an automated assembling.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Flanged Joints, Insulating Joints, And Other Joints (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
  • Mutual Connection Of Rods And Tubes (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Ring (5) zum Verbinden der Umfangsflansche (2a, 3a) der beiden Elemente (2, 3), die den Laugenbehälter (1) einer Waschmaschine bilden, wobei der Ring eine Ebene und eine Achse senkrecht zu dieser Ebene bildet und aus einem Metallprofil (6) mit zwei Schenkeln (7), einem mittleren Bodenteil (8) und einem offenen Ende besteht, das der Achse des Rings (5) zugewandt ist, wobei die Enden des Rings (5) in einander überdeckender Beziehung angeordnet werden können,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die beiden Enden des Rings (5) mit keinerlei Loch oder Durchlaß für Verbindungsschrauben oder mit einem weiteren Verbindungselement versehen sind,
    und dadurch, daß wenigstens ein Schenkel (7) jedes Abschnitts des Rings (5), der durch einen umgebogenen Falz mit einem entsprechenden Schenkel des anderen Endabschnitts des Rings verbunden werden soll, in einer Ebene angeordnet ist, die in bezug auf die Ebene des Rings nach außen geneigt ist, so daß zwei Absatzabschnitte entstehen, die den Eingriff eines Falzwerkzeuges ermöglichen.
  2. Verfahren zum Verbinden der Umfangsflansche (2a, 3a) der beiden Elemente (2, 3), die den Laugenbehälter (1) einer Waschmaschine bilden, wobei ein Verbindungsring (5) vorhanden ist, der Ring eine Ebene und eine Achse senkrecht zu dieser Ebene bildet und aus einem Metallprofil (6) mit zwei Schenkeln (7), einem mittleren Bodenteil (8) und einem offenen Ende besteht, das der Achse des Rings (5) zugewandt ist, und wobei der Ring über den Umfangsflanschen (2a, 3a) angebracht wird und seine Endabschnitte in einer einander überdeckenden Beziehung angeordnet sind,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jeder Endabschnitt des Rings wenigstens einen Schenkel (7) hat, der in bezug auf die Ebene des Rings nach außen geneigt ist, so daß ein Absatzteil (8a) entsteht,
    dadurch, daß der Ring an den Umfangsflanschen (2a, 3a) angebracht wird, daran gespannt wird, wobei sich seine Endabschnitte in einander überdeckender Beziehung befinden,
    und dadurch, daß die beiden einander überdeckenden Endabschnitte des Rings (5) in diesem gespannten Zustand aneinander befestigt werden, indem wenigstens ein Teil der einander überdeckenden Abschnitte der nach außen geneigten Schenkel des Rings (5) in der gleichen Richtung plastisch mit einem Biegefalzvorgang verformt wird, der mit einem Falzwerkzeug ausgeführt wird, das mit den Absatzteilen der Endabschnitte des Rings in Eingriff ist.
  3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Falzvorgang lediglich auf einer Seite des Profils ausgeführt wird.
  4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Falzvorgang auf beiden Seiten des Profils ausgeführt wird.
  5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Falzvorgang ausgeführt wird, indem Laschen (7a) aus den einander überdeckenden Abschnitten der Schenkel (7) geschnitten und gebogen werden.
  6. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Falzvorgang mit Hilfe eines zusätzlichen Blechelementes ausgeführt wird, das die einander überdeckenden Abschnitte der Schenkel (7) als eine Dichtung abdeckt.
  7. Vorrichtung zum Klemmen und Schließen des Rings (5) nach Anspruch 1, die zwei Klemmbacken (50) umfaßt, die in einem Abstand zueinander an die zwei Endabschnitte des Rings angrenzend angeordnet sind, eine Einrichtung zum Bewegen der Klemmbacken (50) zwischen zwei relativ auseinanderliegende Ruhestellungen und zwei relativ nahe beieinanderliegenden Funktionsstellungen, so daß der Ring (5) gespannt wird,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die einander zugewandten Flächen (50a) der Klemmbacken (50) mit den Absatzabschnitten (8a) des Rings (5) in Eingriff kommen, wobei die Vorrichtung weiterhin mit einer Einrichtung (53, 54) zum festen Verbinden der beiden nach außen geneigten und einander überdeckenden Schenkel (7) der beiden Endabschnitte des Verbindungsrings (5) miteinander durch wenigstens teilweises Umbiegen der einander überdeckenden Schenkel (7) in der gleichen Richtung versehen ist.
  8. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Einrichtung (53, 54) zum festen Verbinden der Schenkel (7) ein Werkzeug (53) und ein Stanzelement (54) zum Schneiden und Biegen einer Vielzahl von Laschen (60) aus den einander überdeckenden Schenkeln (7) umfaßt.
  9. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Laschen (60) ein Schwalbenschwanzprofil haben.
  10. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Laschen (60) gezahnte Seiten haben.
  11. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Laschen ein umgekehrtes T-Profil haben.
EP94830282A 1993-06-17 1994-06-10 Ring zum Verbinden zweier Teile eines Waschmaschinenbehälters Expired - Lifetime EP0629734B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000435 IT1260871B (it) 1993-06-17 1993-06-17 Anello aperto di giunzione, particolarmente per il collegamento delle flange periferiche dei due elementi costituenti la vasca di una macchina lavabiancheria, procedimento di giunzione utilizzante tale anello e giunzione ottenuta mediante tale procedimento
ITTO930435 1993-06-17
ITTO930805A IT1261321B (it) 1993-10-28 1993-10-28 Dispositivo per il serraggio di un anello aperto di giunzione, particolarmente per il collegamento delle flange periferiche dei due elementi costituenti la vasca di una macchina lavabiancheria
ITTO930805 1993-10-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0629734A1 EP0629734A1 (de) 1994-12-21
EP0629734B1 true EP0629734B1 (de) 1997-09-03

Family

ID=26332227

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94830282A Expired - Lifetime EP0629734B1 (de) 1993-06-17 1994-06-10 Ring zum Verbinden zweier Teile eines Waschmaschinenbehälters

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0629734B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE157715T1 (de)
DE (1) DE69405306T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2107784T3 (de)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1286709B1 (it) * 1996-04-09 1998-07-17 Lemp Srl Procedimento per il montaggio di un anello aperto di giunzione su due flange periferiche giustapposte di due elementi costituenti la vasca
DE102021205433A1 (de) 2021-05-28 2022-12-01 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Laugenbehälter mit spezifischem Verbindungsbereich zwischen einem Hohlzylinder und einer Rückwand, sowie Haushaltsgerät

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1912179A (en) * 1930-08-26 1933-05-30 Cornell Securities Corp Metallic receptacle and closure therefor
GB361229A (en) * 1931-03-05 1931-11-19 Frederick William Williams Improvements in or relating to means for securing lids on drums or the like
US1929375A (en) * 1931-07-13 1933-10-03 Petroleum Iron Works Company Means for sealing open head drums
US2078009A (en) * 1935-03-28 1937-04-20 Mauser Maschinenbau Gmbh Tension ring closure for packing containers
FR1058737A (fr) * 1952-06-26 1954-03-18 Dispositif de serrage et de verrouillage de l'organe de fermeture des fûts, boîteset autres emballages
FR2296048A1 (fr) * 1974-12-24 1976-07-23 Thomson Brandt Machine a laver le linge a tambour
FR2355943A1 (fr) * 1975-11-18 1978-01-20 Thomson Brandt Machine a laver le linge, a tambour
IT8553609V0 (it) * 1985-07-19 1985-07-19 Lemp S N C Di Piani G E Sasso Anello aperto di giunzione partico larmente per il collegamento delle flange periferiche dei due elementi costituenti la vasca di una macchina lavabiancheria
DE3714890A1 (de) * 1987-05-05 1988-12-01 Muhr & Soehne Behaelter mit nicht abnehmbarem deckel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0629734A1 (de) 1994-12-21
ATE157715T1 (de) 1997-09-15
DE69405306T2 (de) 1998-03-05
DE69405306D1 (de) 1997-10-09
ES2107784T3 (es) 1997-12-01

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