EP2407586B1 - Household device with a drum - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a domestic appliance with a drum with a jacket for receiving laundry, in particular for a washing process, wherein liquid, such as wash liquor or rinsing liquid can be introduced into the interior of the drum, and that the drum in a first speed range enclosing the speed zero, the is provided in particular for the washing process and in a second speed range, which is provided in particular for the spin of the laundry between the washing process and a rinsing, operable, wherein the drum is such that in the first speed range, the drum, the liquid introduced relatively dense receives and in the second speed range liquid from the interior of the drum can be discharged.

Such a household appliance is apparent from the CH 327 248 A ,

A similar domestic appliance of the prior art, as shown in the published patent application DE 199 62 252 A1 and according to the predominantly currently in use practical domestic appliances, such as washing machines, usually has a drum with substantially horizontally oriented drum, which has a storage with respect to their operating side of the household appliance opposite wall, said storage is supported against the housing of the household appliance swinging , The entire drum is surrounded by a tub, which is stored in the same way and the same as the storage of the drum relative to the housing of the domestic appliance. The laundry to be treated is introduced inside the drum. By rotary movements, including reversing rotational movements of the drum, the introduced laundry is raised by means of ribs on the inside of the drum and then falls due to gravity back down to the starting position. In this way, during a washing process, the laundry introduced into the drum can be wetted and flowed through by the washing liquor present in the tub, wherein dirt is released from the laundry. The liquor acts on the introduced laundry via holes in the jacket of the drum. So there is a constant exchange of liquor of the tub to the interior of the drum and the interior of the drum back to the tub instead. For the actual Washing process, however, only the inside of the drum fleet is effective. In addition, at the bottom of the tub leading to the discharge device of the domestic appliance a liquor bottoms or a sump of dilute liquor, which forms during a rinsing process which excludes a washing process, is formed. The fleet outside the drum is also referred to as a dead fleet.

In this prior art, it is considered disadvantageous that for the washing process more liquor or water must be introduced with detergent in the arrangement of tub and drum, as required for the actual washing process. Furthermore, more water for a flushing process and remove, to dilute the wash liquor suitable and can dissipate.

The prior art also includes so-called single-drum washing machines, as described in the publications CH 327 248 A and AT 259 494 B , In each of these single-drum washing machines in particular only a single rotatable drum is provided which receives not only the laundry to be treated, but also the wash liquor; a surrounding the drum Laugenbehalter is not provided in each case. As far as the CH 327 248 A is considered, although already created a way to drain the introduced laundry by a held by spring force on an outer surface of the drum cover ring lifts at sufficiently high speed from the outer surface and releases openings through which wash or flushing liquid can escape, but this is Dewatering can not be regarded as sufficiently effective, since only a few openings are opened to a narrow edge of the drum during dewatering or spinning throughout. In addition, the spatial relationship between the bezel and the drum is undefined as the bezel lifts away from the outer surface of the drum; In particular, it can not be ruled out that the cover ring then rotates or shifts against the drum. Therefore, the configuration according to CH 327 248 A not to be regarded as the basis of a real washing machine.

Further disclosed US 20070028654 A1 a washing machine with the drum, which has on its jacket holes for the drainage of the drum and on which an elastic band is arranged as a closure element for the holes. The holes may be due to a force acting on the closure element centrifugal force by Rotation of the drum is caused to be closed, opened. Such a washing machine is gemaß CN 101 982 598 A further developed in that the closure element is a ring of ferromagnetic material arranged around the jacket of the drum. Further, outside the drum, an electromagnet is arranged, which acts upon appropriate control of the ring, so as to open or close the holes.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a domestic appliance, in particular for a washing process, which allows to maintain a small volume of liquor for a washing process, thereby enabling effective dewatering of the laundry. It should be a drum in the order of magnitude, as with currently common front-loader household appliances in the present case, can be used. The effort for the discharge of liquid when spinning the laundry should be kept low.

This object is achieved by means of a domestic appliance according to the independent claim. Preferred embodiments are specified in the dependent claims, wherein a plurality of preferred developments can also be combined with one another within the scope of the invention, if this is not explicitly stated here.

Accordingly, the domestic appliance according to the invention with a drum with a jacket for receiving laundry, especially for a washing process, wherein liquid, such as wash liquor or rinsing liquid can be introduced into the interior of the drum, and that the drum in a first speed range enclosing the speed zero, the is provided in particular for the washing process and in a second speed range, which is provided in particular for the spin of the laundry between the washing process and a rinsing, operable, wherein the drum is such that in the first speed range, the drum, the liquid introduced relatively dense In the second rotational speed range, fluid can be discharged from the interior of the drum, in particular characterized in that the drum has holes distributed over its entire jacket, each of which has a closure element assigned to it, which closure element drives the hole when operating d he drum closes in the first speed range and releases when operating the drum in the second speed range.

Compared to the prior art after the CH 327248 A There is a significantly larger number of holes in the drum to be able to dissipate introduced into the laundry liquid in a spin process can. The distribution of the holes in the shell of the drum takes place with a certain structure, quasi pattern-like, substantially over the entire available outer surface of the drum. An optimal structure is usually determined by practical experiments.

It is within the scope of the invention to assign each hole a separate closure element or respective pluralities of holes common closure elements. To if, for example, the respective functional advantages are to be weighed against the respective design effort,

For closing the holes of the drum for a washing operation, it has been found to be particularly favorable that at least the shell of the drum is made of ferromagnetic stainless steel, stainless steel being generally known material for making drums for domestic appliances. This is a favorable condition that on the outside of the shell of the drum closure elements made of a hard magnetic material can be attached, which during operation of the drum in the first speed range stuck to this and dissolve in operation in the second speed range of this. In this way, the drum is largely liquid-tight in the first speed range, but liquid-permeable in the second speed range. Thus, a magnetic force is effective between the shutter members corresponding to the circular arc of the respective peripheral portion of the drum and the drum itself, so that the shutter members can securely close the holes in the drum shell in the first speed range.

Then it is advantageous if the closure elements made of plastic moldings or plastic films, wherein the plastic parts contain embedded hard magnetic particles. Such moldings and films are generally commercially available and are used in particular as characteristics that are attached to moldings made of sheet steel such as motor vehicle bodies. These moldings and films are more or less readily deformable, in particular easily bendable, and thus can well adapt to surfaces that can be unwound in a plane. They also adhere very well to such surfaces due to the surface contact. These plastic parts or plastic films can be formed very easily thermally, in particular by injection molding. In such a production process, the hard magnetic particles can be introduced and aligned fairly accurately in a suitable manufacturing step so that a component with quasi-installed permanent magnetism is produced.

Since it is part of the teaching of the invention that not only one of the holes of the shell of the drum closing position should be taken with the closure elements, but also reach the holes of the shell of the drum releasing position is to be, it is necessary that the segments are hinged to the drum. It has proven to be advantageous that the closure elements are each supported on a linear attachment to the jacket of the drum, in particular, the fasteners are aligned substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the drum.

In the case of flexible closure elements, as may be the case with closure elements made of said hard magnetic plastic moldings or plastic films, immovable fastenings such as adhesive and rivet joints can be sufficient. The fasteners are advantageously associated with a space at the back of Mitnehmerrippen, since this area is not actively used anyway for the discharge of liquid in a spin process. Thus, one also comes to the preferred dimensioning rule that the number of closure elements should correspond to the number of selected driving ribs of the drum. Since the driver ribs are usually evenly distributed over the circumference of the drum, this also means that the closure elements each have an equal circumferential length relative to the shell of the drum. However, deviating dimensions are also possible within the scope of the invention.

It has proven to be favorable and preferred that the position of the holes of the shell of the drum releasing the closure elements can be fixed by respective stops or tension elements.

In the case of flexible closure elements, which bear flat and adhering to the outside of the shell of the drum in the first speed range, the detachment of the closure elements from the jacket is not complete when turning the drum outside the first speed range, as far as the fasteners allow the fasteners, but gradually and starting at a free end far from the respective attachment. In this case, a closure element gradually wraps itself off the jacket and thus gives, corresponding to the rotational speed of the drum and the resulting centrifugal force, the surface of the jacket which is still completely covered in the first speed range, more or less freely. This effect can be achieved by suitable choice of the shapes of the closure elements or the distribution of the hard magnetic material in the closure elements, optionally also by the provision of Thickening, ballast weights or the like on the closure elements, varies and adapted to the requirements of each case.

In a preferred embodiment of the household appliance according to the invention, the drum is surrounded by a tub, which receives liquid emerging from the drum.

Since a tub in the invention, at least not permanently actively involved in the washing process, it can be provided that the tub is firmly connected to the housing of the household appliance and is decoupled relative to the oscillating mounting of the drum with respect to the housing. Thus, there are constructive simplifications regarding the attachment of the tub in relation to the housing of the household appliance.

Within the scope of a particularly preferred embodiment of the domestic appliance according to the invention, this is a washing machine or a washer-dryer.

Since a domestic appliance in the form of a washer-dryer represents a variant sought after in the market for household appliances, it should also be pointed out that the illustrated drum according to the invention with the closure elements can also be used for this purpose. It is only necessary to ensure that the closure elements are not only in the position of the second speed range in position, but also at a lower speed range, as the first speed range accordingly. It is therefore an example automatically triggering, latching position of the holes of the drum releasing position of the closure elements provided.

• Fig. 1 zeigt als Schnittdarstellung in Querschnittsansicht eine Trommel mit eingebrachter Wäsche, wobei die Trommel von einem Laugenbehälter umgeben ist;
• Fig. 2 zeigt auch eine Schnittdarstellung der Trommel, wobei Verschlusselemente auf Außenseite der Trommel in deren halbgeöffnetem Zustand dargestellt sind;
• Fig. 3 zeigt wie Fig. 1 eine Querschnittsansicht der Trommel ohne die eingebrachte Wäsche, wobei die Verschlusselemente sich in einem Übergangszustand für die erneute Anlage an die Außenseite der Trommel befinden; und
• Fig. 4 zeigt eine Einzelheit aus Fig. 3 in Querschnittsansicht bezüglich eines Zugelementes zwischen der Trommel und einem Verschlusselement.

In the following figures, the invention will be described schematically with reference to an embodiment schematically. The figures are first briefly explained:

• Fig. 1 shows a sectional view in cross-sectional view of a drum with introduced laundry, wherein the drum is surrounded by a tub;
• Fig. 2 also shows a sectional view of the drum, wherein closure elements are shown on the outside of the drum in its half-opened state;
• Fig. 3 shows how Fig. 1 a cross-sectional view of the drum without the introduced laundry, wherein the closure elements are in a transition state for re-engagement with the outside of the drum; and
• Fig. 4 shows a detail Fig. 3 in cross-sectional view with respect to a tension element between the drum and a closure element.

A home appliance shown here only with the present essential details has initially according to Fig. 1 a substantially horizontally oriented drum 1, which is on one of the operating side of the household appliance opposite side, so with a closed drum side wall with centrally attached thereto axis (not shown), preferably mounted swinging relative to the housing of the domestic appliance and is driven. The drum side wall (not shown), which is directed to the operating side of the domestic appliance, has a substantially circular opening (not shown), which is adapted to the frame of the opening door of the domestic appliance. Further, a conventional sleeve is inserted to the drum 1, then to this opening, leading to the frame of the opening door. A shell 2 of the drum has perforations or holes 3, which are distributed uniformly over the drum shell 2, as a certain structure, distributed. On the inside of the drum 1, driving ribs 4, here preferably three driver ribs 4, which are angularly distributed approximately equal to the axis center, are mounted. These ribs 4 have in the simplest case a smooth, closed surface. There are also special modifications possible, leading to training, such as scoop ribs 4, which are known per se. In the present case, the cross-sectional profile of the driver ribs 4 is approximately triangular, wherein the projecting towards the center of the axis center may be rounded. The ribs 4 may consist of a plastic and are with its back insoluble with the inside of the shell 2 of the drum 1, z. B. by welding or bonding, connected. In the present case, it may be advantageous that not the entire back of a driving rib 4 is connected to the shell 2, but a space 5 remains free, which will be described below with respect to its meaning. On the outside of the shell 2 closure elements 6 are mounted, which may correspond to the number of driver ribs 4 used. As the material for the shell 2 is presently ferromagnetic stainless steel, commonly referred to as "stainless steel" selected. Thus, it is possible that the mentioned closure elements 6 are adapted to the most circular cross-sectional shape of the drum 1, in particular then able to deliver an adhesive closure of the outside of the shell 2, if they are formed from a flexible material having a hard magnetic property. The holes 3 of the shell 2 can be closed in a liquid-tight manner by means of the closure elements 6. It has proven to be particularly suitable that the closure elements 6 are formed from a plastic material into which hard magnetic particles are incorporated and aligned by taking into account a corresponding production step and then a plastic molded part is created with these hard magnetic particles enclosed. It can also be appropriate plastic films, possibly also multi-layered, are used, which are then connected by gluing or networking with each other. In this case, the mentioned hard magnetic particles are introduced. The assignment of the ferromagnetic material to the drum 1 and the assignment of the hard magnetic material to the flap-like segments 6 is not binding for the disclosed teaching; It is also a reverse assignment possible, although the assignment described here for practical reasons is preferred.

In the case of flexible closure elements 6, which create a flat and adhering to the outside of the shell 2 of the drum 1 in the first speed range, the detachment of the closure elements 6 from the shell 2 is not complete when turning the drum 1 outside the first speed range, so far as that Attachment 5 'of the closure elements 6 allowed, but gradually and starting at one of the attachment 5' farthest free end. In this case, a closure element 6 gradually wraps itself off from the jacket 2 and thus gives, in accordance with the rotational speed of the drum 1 and the centrifugal force resulting therefrom, the surface of the jacket 2 which is still completely covered in the first speed range, more or less freely. This effect can be achieved by suitable choice of the shapes of the closure elements 6 or the distribution of the hard magnetic material in the closure elements 6, possibly also by the provision of thickenings, ballast weights or the like on the Closure elements 6, varies and adapted to the requirements of each case.

As shown in advance, the closure elements 6 can close the jacket 2 in a liquid-tight manner. However, it is also envisaged that the holes 3 of the shell 2 are opened. In the area of the described space 5 is therefore provided that fasteners 5 'are both stationary in relation to the drum 1 aligned and on the other hand at each one end of the closure elements 6 attach them to the jacket 2. The fasteners 5 'are in the preferred case that the closure elements 6 are flexible films or molded parts, linear solid compounds such as bonds or rows of rivets; they may also be hinges and allow, to a certain extent, a pivoting of the closure elements 6 against the shell 2 at the respective location of a fastening 5 '. The closure elements 6 can thus open in any case with respect to their closing the holes 3 of the shell 2 position. The holes 3 are then released. For limiting the position of the holes 3 releasing stop or tension elements 10, starting from the drum shell 3, this connecting to the other end of a closure element 6 may be provided, see. Fig. 4 , The transition from the position closing the holes 3 to the position releasing the holes 3 is effected by the centrifugal force counteracting the magnetic forces between the closure elements 6 and the jacket 2 during rotation of the drum 1. With reference to a washing process in the domestic appliance, it is provided that a first speed range including the zero speed is provided for the actual washing process. For this purpose, the closure elements 6 take their the holes 3 of the shell 2 occlusive position. In a second speed range, which is provided in particular for the spin of laundry between the washing process and a rinsing or completion of the washing process, the closure elements 6 each take their holes 3 releasing position. In this case, it is considered that in the presence of the second speed range, the centrifugal force acting on the closure elements 6 is greater than the magnetic force acting between the closure elements 6 and the shell 2.

The described construction of the drum 1 with its closure elements 6, which can close the holes 3 of the drum shell 2 is in the FIGS. 1 to 4 shown. The drum 1 is still surrounded by a housing 7, which as Lye container 7 is called, but no lye or wash liquor receives in the actual washing process, but only takes over the function, in a spin process in which the holes 3 are released by opening the closure elements 6, absorb the leaking liquor or liquid and for a To collect discharge by a pump (not shown).

The operation of the household appliance with the described drum 1 will now be with respect to the FIGS. 1 to 4 which describe schematically different operating states during a washing process.

In Fig. 1 is the drum 1 in the closed holes 3 by means of the closure elements 6 position. Laundry items 8 are introduced, which are surrounded by a wash liquor 9. During the washing process, the drum 1 back and forth, so reversing, moves, however, while the first speed range of up to 200 U / min is not exceeded. This speed range can also be referred to as a speed range in which a system speed is not exceeded and in which the closure elements 6 rest clearly on the casing 2 or close the holes 3 thereof. It can be clearly seen that a significantly smaller volume of wash liquor is present in the drum 1 than is the case with conventional washing drums in which the wash liquor extends into the region of the liquor container 7.

In Fig. 2 a spinning process is shown, which is triggered by the program of the domestic appliance after a washing process or after a rinse. Here, the drum 1 rotates in a second speed range, which is 500U / min to 1400U / min, in particular at 800U / min or higher. At such a speed n, the liquid taken up in the washed laundry (not shown) is ejected. It can be seen that the closure elements 6 are partially unfolded to the outside, so have detached from the jacket 2, as in compliance with the second speed range, the centrifugal force exceeds the effective between the closure elements 6 and the drum 1 magnetic force. The drum rotates thereby with a slip speed safely exceeded speed n. The holes 3 of the shell 2 are therefore more or less released and thrown from the laundry liquid can emerge unhindered from the jacket 2 and over the Lye container 7 are discharged. The faster the drum 1 rotates, the more lift the closure elements 6 from the jacket 2, finally to release the holes 3 completely.

In Fig. 3 is a transition state shown, which occurs after the spin. The rotational speed n of the drum 1 decreases, so that the centrifugal force acting on the closing elements 6 decreases and the magnetic force acting between the closing elements 6 and the drum 2 predominates. Thus, the closure elements 6 put on the jacket 2 again. The application speed is fallen below. This tendency is in Fig. 3 each shown with an arrow a for the transition state of the closure elements 6.

In Fig. 4 With respect to this transitional state, it can be seen, in particular, that the tension element, which is illustrated by way of example, is no longer taut.

Since the liquor 9 introduced into the drum 1 is no longer capable of thermal connection to a heating rod possibly located in the tub 7, it is necessary to heat up the liquid or liquor added to the drum 1 beforehand and then directly into the drum 1 to contribute. For reheating, a water heater can be used. However, other heating systems, such as inductive heating or heat waves capable of acting into the interior of the drum 1, may also be used. However, if the heating process is carried out outside of the drum 1, the liquid can be flushed in, for example, via the sleeve which is indirectly located between the opening door and the drum 1 and formed from an elastomer. However, it is also possible, as in the DE 199 62 252 A1 disclosed, via an inlet line coaxial with the axis of the drum 1, the liquid, heated as needed and mixed with detergent, to introduce into the interior of the drum 1. This type of introduction of liquid can also take place if liquid or liquor 9 should emerge from the drum 1 during the washing process due to leakage and is collected and pumped off in the tub 7. Thus, this proportion of liquor 9 can be returned to the washing process.

Further, since the tub 7 does not participate in the washing operation, it is possible to separate the tub 7 from the swinging support of the drum 1 with respect to to store on the housing of the household appliance. It is also important to note that the tub 7, which just does not participate in the washing process, is relatively free in the dimensioning and so for other purposes, eg. B. for buffering rinse water or liquor 9, can be used. Also special procedures, such as a particularly intensive washing process, can be suitably realized.

If the household appliance equipped with the previously described drum 1 is to be used also as a washer-dryer, then the closing elements 6 are to be brought into a position releasing the holes 3 of the drum 1 even at low speeds, as in the first speed range. In this case, the stops which fix the closure elements 6 in the open position are suitable for further development.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

drum

2

drum shell

3

holes

4

agitator

5

Room (for fixings 5 ')

5 '

attachment

6

closure element

7

tub

8th

laundry

9

fleet

10

tension element

N

Speed for drum rotation

A

Tendency arrow for transition from 6 to re-attachment to 2

e

Detail Fig. 3 represented in Fig. 4

Claims (9)

1. Household appliance having a drum (1) with a shell (2) for accommodating laundry, in particular for a washing operation, wherein liquid, such as washing liquor (8) or rinsing liquid, can be introduced into the interior of the drum, and that the drum (1) can be operated in a first speed range including the zero speed range, which is provided in particular for the washing operation, and in a second speed range, which is provided in particular for spinning the laundry between the washing operation and a rinsing operation, wherein the drum (1) has holes (3) distributed over its entire shell (2), and associated with each of the holes (3) is a closure element (6), which closes the hole (3) during operation of the drum (1) in the first speed range, meaning that the introduced liquid can be accommodated in a relatively leakproof manner by the drum (1), and releases said hole (3) in the second speed range during operation of the drum (1) in the second speed range, meaning that liquid can be discharged from the interior of the drum (1), and wherein the closure elements (6) are attached to the exterior of the shell (2) of the drum (1), characterised in that at least the shell (2) of the drum consists of ferromagnetic stainless steel and in that the closure elements (6) consist of a hard magnetic material which thanks to the centrifugal force countering the magnetic forces between closure elements (6) and the shell (2) during rotation of the drum (1) adhere to said drum (1) during operation of the drum (1) in the first speed range and detach therefrom during operation in the second speed range.
2. Household appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that a separate closure element (6) is associated with each hole (3) or shared closure elements (6) are associated with respective pluralities of holes.
3. Household appliance according to claim 2, characterised in that the closure elements (6) consist of plastic mouldings or plastic films, wherein the closure elements (6) contain embedded hard magnetic particles.
4. Household appliance according to claim 3, characterised in that the closure elements (6) are held on the shell (2) of the drum (1) by means of respective fasteners (5') which are aligned essentially parallel to an axis of rotation of the drum (1).
5. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the position of the holes (3) of the shell (2) causing release by the closure elements (6) can be fixed by respective stops or ties (10).
6. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drum (1) is surrounded by an outer tub (7) which receives liquid exiting from the drum (1).
7. Household appliance according to claim 6, characterised in that the outer tub (7) is decoupled from a mounting retaining the drum (1) and oscillating relative to a housing of the household appliance, thus in particular the outer tub (7) can be connected relatively firmly to the housing of the household appliance.
8. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, which is a washing machine or a washer dryer.
9. Household appliance according to claim 8, which when embodied as a washer dryer is characterised in that the closure elements (6) can be fixed in position not only in the case of the second speed range but also in the case of a lower speed range, wherein an automatically triggering, latching position of the position of the closure elements (6) releasing the holes (3) of the drum (2) is provided.

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