EP2273909B1 - Stationary household appliance, in particular a dishwasher - Google Patents

Abstract

A stationary household appliance having a housing wall, components, and a force transmitting element to transmit a force that acts upon the housing wall from the outside of the stationary household appliance into the components. The force transmitting element has at least two force application regions to transmit the force into at least two different ones of the components.

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a dishwasher, according to the preamble of claim 1.

The transport or stacking of household appliances, especially dishwashers, can be done in the factory with a stapler, press in the clip elements with a holding force from the outside on the opposite side walls of the household appliance housing.

In order to avoid transport damage, such as deformations, on the side walls, a power transmission element or force transducer is provided in a generic household appliance between a functional element located inside the housing and the housing wall, which can absorb a force acting on the outside of the housing wall force. A holding force exerted externally on the housing side wall can thus be introduced into the housing-internal functional part via the load cell, without the housing side wall being deformed. The power transmission element can transmit the force to at least two force introduction areas in components of the household appliance.

From the DE 196 34 452 A1 is a generic washing machine with a kit for transport safety known. This has a Traverse, which is screwed by means of high-strength screws on the tub system and on the housing rear wall.

The object of the invention is to provide a household appliance that can reliably absorb holding forces with reduced dead weight and increased functionality.

The object is solved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

The invention is based on a household appliance, in particular a dishwasher, at least comprising a housing wall and with at least one Power transmission element which transmits an outside on the force acting in components of the household appliance.

According to the characterizing part of claim 1, the power transmission element has at least two force introduction regions for transmitting power into at least two different components of the household appliance. In this way, at least two mutually parallel force paths to the two different components are provided. The introduced clamping forces are thus distributed to the at least two components, so that overall the risk of damage to the components is reduced. The invention is applicable to all household appliances, such as a dishwasher, a stove / oven, a washing machine or a dryer.

According to the invention, a first force introduction region is provided in a hinge carrier on which a pivotable hinge lever of a device door of the household appliance is articulated. In contrast, the second force introduction region can be provided in a front frame delimiting a feed opening of the household appliance.

Preferably, the clamping forces can be introduced in other power paths in the household appliance. Thus, a third force introduction area may be provided in the hinge lever of the appliance door. A fourth force introduction area may be provided in a floor of the household appliance.

The power transmission element may have one or more, projecting therefrom support elements which are supported against the components of the household appliance. For a uniform introduction of force into the at least two different components, each of the force introduction regions can be assigned in each case at least one support element. In this case, in a production-technically simple embodiment, the support elements assigned to the force application areas can all be supported on the hinge support.

The household appliance may have two opposite lateral hinge support, between which the appliance door is provided. The two spaced apart hinge carrier can via a force-transmitting traverse, such as a - further on the original page 3 -

Base rail, be connected to each other, which supports the two hinge carrier against the clamping forces.

The power transmission element may comprise a plate-shaped base member having at least one support member projecting therefrom, which may be supported on the household stand device component. According to the invention, therefore, the power transmission element is not a compact, consisting of solid material component. Rather, the power transmission element with its plate-shaped base element, on the housing wall from, to avoid marks on the housing wall. On the side facing the functional part, however, the force transmission element is not the entire surface, but by lightweight construction only with the at least one projecting from the plate-shaped base element supporting element in plant. As a result, total weight can be saved without - with appropriate dimensioning of the support element - to affect the functioning of the power transmission element.

For further weight reduction and to increase the strength, the plate-shaped base element of the force transmission element can have truss-like reinforcement walls, which are arranged by way of example in the manner of a honeycomb structure. In this case, the stiffening walls and the support element may be arranged on a common side surface of the base element, which is preferably remote from the housing wall.

Montagetechnisch preferably, the power transmission element can be formed of the same material and in one piece and be made as a plastic or metal injection molded part. To reduce the component can be integrally formed on the power transmission element locking elements, with which the power transmission element can be prefixed captive on the functional part. For a compact design, it is advantageous if the latching element is formed directly on the front-side support surface of the support element of the force transducer.

As already mentioned above, are suitable as housing internal functional parts for introducing force and / or for attachment of the power transmission elements according to the invention in particular lateral hinge carrier, between which a door is pivotally hinged. In the case of a dishwasher, the appliance door is pivotable about a horizontal axis of rotation in order to open or close the rinsing container which is open at the front. The two lateral hinge supports are usually rigid, plate-shaped sheet metal parts, which are held in a bottom group of the dishwasher. The lateral hinge support form together with the intermediate, hinged thereto door a device in the device side direction extremely rigid structure in which the lateral, externally acting holding forces can be introduced without damage.

Usually, the door is hinged via lateral hinge lever on bearing journals which are mounted in the hinge supports. In addition, the two hinge levers of the appliance door can each have a lever arm, which is laterally swiveled along the hinge carrier. The lever arm may be connected to a compensating device, which exerts a compensating torque on the appliance door, for example via a spring, which counteracts the weight moment of the appliance door. By appropriate dimensioning of the compensation device acting on the door torque is always independent of the pivot position of the door in equilibrium.

The lever arm of the hinge lever of the appliance door can be arranged in a device side direction between the respective hinge carrier and the force transmission element. In this case, the power transmission element may overlap the lever arm of the hinge lever like a hood. The support element of the force transmission element is here to be arranged outside the pivoting path of the lever arm. In particular, between the force transmission element and the hinge support, a free space may be provided, in which the lever arm of the hinge lever can be pivoted without impairment.

Preferably, in the region of the hinge lever, the base plate of the force transmission element have a raised contact contour. This can be spaced apart from the hinge lever in the normal state and be deflected elastically resiliently into engagement with the hinge lever only with an external application of force to the force transmission element. In this case, the lateral holding forces can be introduced directly into the rigid hinge structure via the hinge lever.

In the assembled state of the household appliance, the lever arm of the door-side hinge lever projects through a hinge opening of the front frame part delimiting the washing container opening into the free space of the hinge carrier and the free space delimited by the load cell. This space is thus designed to be open via the hinge opening to the outside. Operating noise inside the housing can thus through the free space and the front hinge opening to the outside. To prevent this, the power transmission element may have sound insulation walls, which may preferably extend between the power transmission element and the hinge carrier. In this way, the said space for the lever arm of the hinge lever to the housing interior is separated. In addition, the sound insulation walls can at least partially cover the front hinge opening, whereby the sound leakage is further prevented from the device.

To further increase its rigidity, the plate-shaped base element of the force transducer may have a peripheral side wall. The base element is thus formed approximately cup-shaped. In the installed state of the power transmission element of the flat tray bottom can be in contact with the housing side wall and the peripheral side wall protrude in the direction of the functional part.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying figures will be described.

• Fig. 1 in einer perspektivischen Teilansicht eine Geschirrspülmaschine;
• Fig. 2 in einer weiteren perspektivischen Ansicht einen seitlichen Scharnierbereich der Geschirrspülmaschine, an dem eine Gerätetür angelenkt ist; und
• Fig. 3 einen erfindungsgemäßen Kraftaufnehmer in Alleinstellung.

Show it:

• Fig. 1 in a perspective partial view of a dishwasher;
• Fig. 2 in a further perspective view of a lateral hinge region of the dishwasher, on which a door is hinged; and
• Fig. 3 a force transducer according to the invention in isolation.

In the Fig. 1 is shown in a perspective partial view of a dishwasher with a front open rinsing container 1. The washing container 1 is usually arranged in an outer housing 3 of the dishwasher. From the outer housing 3 are in the Fig. 1 only a housing side wall 5 and front frame elements 7, 9 can be seen, which limit a front-side charging opening of the washing compartment 1. The front loading opening of the washing compartment 1 is closed by means of a, about a horizontal axis of rotation 11 pivotally hinged door 13, which in the Fig. 1 only indicated by dashed lines.

The appliance door 13 is supported in the usual way on both sides by means of hinge levers 15. The hinge levers 15 are in turn hinged via bearing pins 25 on lateral plate-shaped hinge support 17, of which in the Fig. 2 only one is shown. The hinge carrier 17 is according to the Fig. 2 an approximately angularly formed sheet metal part, the vertical leg is laterally supported in a bottom group 19 of the dishwasher.

The hinge lever 15 of the appliance door 13 has a lever arm 21 which projects laterally below the washing container 1 through a hinge opening 23 of the vertical front frame part 7 into the housing interior. The lever arm 21 is operatively connected to a balancing device, not shown, which exerts a compensating moment M ₁ on the appliance door 13 in a clockwise direction, which counteracts the counterclockwise acting weight moment of the appliance door 13. In both Fig. 1 and 2 in each case only the right hinge region of the dishwasher is shown. The corresponding, not shown left hinge area is identical in construction.

Like from the Fig. 2 further shows, the hinge lever 15 is laterally mounted outside of the hinge support 17 on the bearing pin 25 in the lateral direction y. The lever arm 21 of the hinge lever 15 thereby moves along an outer side face of the hinge carrier 17. The two hinge carriers 17 arranged in each case in the lateral area of the dishwasher form, together with the intermediate appliance door 13, an overall very stiff hinge structure in the lateral direction y. This can absorb laterally acting on the opposite side walls 5 holding forces F _H during a transport situation without damage.

According to the Fig. 2 the front-side charging opening of the washing compartment 1 is limited by a front frame 22. This is in the usual way at its in the Fig. 2 shown lateral frame strip supported on the hinge support 17. For a firm connection with the hinge support 17 of the front frame 22 is screwed via an indicated screw 24 with the hinge plate 17.

The two lateral hinge supports 17 are also below the Spülbehälterbodens via a traverse, ie the indicated base rail 26, with each other. The flat designed base rail 26 includes a mounting opening to the engine compartment from the front. In addition, the base rail 26 serves for noise damping and may be provided with a corresponding damping layer, such as a Bitumenlage.

For a force introduction of the holding force F _H of the respective housing side wall 5 in the dishwasher is according to the Fig. 2 a force transmission element 27 is provided, which receives a force acting from the outside on the side wall 5 holding force F _H and passes into the interior of the dishwasher.

The power transmission element 27 is according to the Fig. 2 supported by support members 30 on the outside of the hinge support 17 shown. The support elements 30 are distributed over the entire hinge support 17 such that the associated force application areas I, II, III, IV are assigned to different components, ie the hinge support 17, the front frame 22 of the washing container 1, the bottom group 19 and the hinge lever 15th

In this case, the first force introduction region I is assigned to the hinge carrier 17, while the second force introduction region II is assigned to the front frame 22. In contrast, the third force introduction region III dm hinge lever 15 of the door 13 and the fourth force introduction region IV of the bottom group 19 assigned. In this way, not only a single component with the clamping force F _{H is} charged. Rather, the force application areas I, II, III, IV mutually parallel force paths provide, with the help of the clamping forces F _H on the hinge plate 17, the bottom group 19, the front frame 26 and the hinge lever 15 are distributed.

The force transducer or the force transmission element 27 is in the Fig. 3 shown in isolation. The force transducer 27 is here a one-piece and integrally formed plastic molded part. Overall, the power take-off 27 is designed in its geometric design in lightweight construction. For this purpose, the force transducer 27 has a plate-shaped base element 29 and supporting elements 30 protruding therefrom. The plate-shaped base member 29 has a side facing the side wall 5 closed smooth surface to avoid during transport impressions or dents in the side wall 5. The closed smooth surface of the force transducer 27 is of a Limposed edge side circumferential side wall 31 which projects in the direction of the hinge carrier 17. The peripherally encircling side wall 31 forms, together with the closed, smooth outer surface of the force transducer 27, an overall shell-shaped structure in which truss-like reinforcing walls 33 run.

The projecting from the base member 29 support members 30 of the power transmission element 27 are according to the Fig. 3 designed differently. Thus, a first support member 30 is designed as a cylindrical latching dome, on whose, the hinge support 17 facing end side centric a latching element 35 is formed. The locking element 35 is surrounded by an annular surface 37, which is supported on the hinge carrier 17. The second support member 30 has two spaced apart support webs, between which a further latching element 35 is arranged, which projects beyond the two webs in the device side direction y. Both latching elements 35 can engage behind corresponding latching openings in the hinge carrier 17. The third support element 30 is formed without an additional latching element 35 and is supported only on the side surface of the hinge support 17.

In the Fig. 2 the force transducer 27 is shown laterally locked to the hinge support 17. The plate-shaped base member 29 is spaced by means of the support members 30 via a clearance 39 from the hinge carrier 17. In the, between the hinge support 17 and the force transmission element 27 formed free space 39 protrudes according to the Fig. 2 the lever arm 21 of the hinge lever 15. The support members 30 are positioned so that they do not affect the pivoting S of the hinge lever 21.

Like from the Fig. 3 is further apparent, in addition to the support members 30 in addition a raised by the stiffening walls 33 contact contour 41 is formed. The contact contour 41 is spaced apart in the normal state from the lever arm 21 of the hinge lever 15 in order not to impair the door pivoting movement. When a force is applied by means of the lateral holding force F _H , the force transducer bends elastically in the region of the contact contour 41 until it comes into contact with the lever arm 21. In this way, the holding force F _H can also be introduced via the hinge lever 15 in the hinge support 17.

The clearance 39 provided between the force transducer 27 and the hinge carrier 17 is open to the outside via the hinge opening 23 in the front frame part 7. By the hinge opening 23 operating noise from the inside of the housing are passed undamped to the outside. To achieve a noise reduction here, the load cell 27 has sound insulation walls 43. Of the sound insulation walls 43, a first in the depth direction x is arranged on the rear side of the force transducer 27 and separates the free space 39 from the rear of the housing. In addition, according to the Fig. 1 to 3 a vertical section of the side wall 31 lying in the depth direction x also as a sound insulation wall 43. The front sound insulation wall 43 of the force transducer 27 covers according to the Fig. 1 partially the hinge opening 23 of the front frame part 7, whereby the noise leakage is also reduced.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

rinse tank

3

outer casing

5

housing wall

7.9

Front frame parts

11

axis of rotation

13

door

15

hinge lever

17

hinge support

19

underbody

21

Lever arm of the hinge lever 15th

22

front frame

23

hinge opening

24

screw

25

pivot

26

socket rail

27

Force transducer or force transmission element

29

plate-shaped base element

30

support elements

31

edge side wall

33

stiffening walls

35

locking elements

37

ring surface

39

free space

41

contact contour

43

sound insulation walls

y

lateral direction

x

depth direction

S

pivoting

M ₁

compensation torque

F _H

holding force

I, II, III, IV

Force application areas

Claims (24)

1. Standing domestic appliance, particularly dishwasher, at least comprising at least a housing wall (5) and with at least one force transmission element (27) which transmits a force (F_H), which acts externally on the housing wall (5), to components (15, 17, 19, 22) of the standing domestic appliance, wherein the force transmission element (27) has at least two force introduction regions (I, II, III, IV) for force transmission to at least two different components (15, 17, 19, 22) of the standing domestic appliance, characterised in that a first force introduction region (I) is provided in a hinge support {17) at which a pivotable hinge lever (15) of an appliance door (13) of the standing domestic appliance is articulated.
2. Standing domestic appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that a second force introduction region (II) is provided in a front frame (22) bounding a loading opening of the standing domestic appliance.
3. Standing domestic appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a third force introduction region (III) is provided in a hinge lever (15) of the appliance door (13).
4. Standing domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a fourth force introducing region (IV) is provided in a base (19) of the standing domestic appliance.
5. Standing domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the force transmission element (27) comprises at least one support element (30) which projects away therefrom and which is associated with the respective force introduction region (I, II, II, IV).
6. Standing domestic appliance according to claim 5, characterised in that the support elements (30), which are associated with the force introduction region (I, II, III, IV), of the force transmission element (27) are supported at the hinge support (17).
7. Standing domestic appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that two opposite hinge supports (17) with an intermediately arranged appliance door (17) are provided and are connected by way of a base rail (26).
8. Standing domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the force transmission element (27) comprises a plate-shaped base element (29).
9. Standing domestic appliance according to claim 8, characterised in that the plate-shaped base element (29) has framework-like stiffening walls (33).
10. Standing domestic appliance according to claim 9, characterised in that the stiffening walls (33) and the support element (30) are arranged on a common side surface of the base element (29).
11. Standing domestic appliance according to claim 10, characterised in that the side, which is remote from the support element (30), of the base element (29) of the force transmission element (27) is opposite the housing outer wall (5).
12. Standing domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the force transmission element (27) is a plastics material or metal injection-moulded part.
13. Standing domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the force transmission element (27) comprises detent elements (35) for detent connection with a component (17) of the standing domestic appliance.
14. Standing domestic appliance according to claim 13, characterised in that the detent element (35) is formed to be unitary with respect to material and/or integral with the support element (30) of the force transmission element (27).
15. Standing domestic appliance according to claim 14, characterised in that the support element (30) of the force transmission element (27) has an end support surface (37) at which a detent element (35) is formed.
16. Standing domestic appliance according to any one of claims 8 to 15, characterised in that the plate-shaped base element (29) of the force transmission element (27) has a side wall (31) encircling at the edge side.
17. Standing domestic appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the hinge lever (15) has a lever arm (21) connected with a compensating device which exerts on the appliance door (13) a compensating moment (M₁) counteracting the weight moment of the appliance door (13).
18. Standing domestic appliance according to claim 17, characterised in that the lever arm (21) of the hinge lever (15) is arranged between the hinge support (17) and the force transmission element (27).
19. Standing domestic appliance according to any one of claims 5 to 18, characterised in that the support element (30) of the force transmission element (27) is arranged outside a pivot path (S) of the lever arm (21) of the hinge lever (15).
20. Standing domestic appliance according to any one of claims 8 to 19, characterised in that the base element (29) of the force transmission element (27) has in the region of the hinge lever (15) an elevated support profile (41) which in the normal state is spaced from the lever arm (21) and in the case of the action of force is resiliently bent by the retaining force (F_H) until in contact with the hinge lever (15).
21. Standing domestic appliance according to any one of claims 8 to 20, characterised in that force transmission element (27) comprises at least one sound-damping insulating wall (43).
22. Standing domestic appliance according to claim 21, characterised in that the sound-damping insulating wall (43) extends from a base element (29) of the force transmission element (27) up to a hinge support (17).
23. Standing domestic appliance according to claim 21 or 22, characterised in that the sound-damping insulating wall (43) of the force transmission element (27) at least partly covers, in a sound output direction, a hinge lever opening (23) at a housing front side.
24. Force transmission element (27) for a standing domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims.

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