EP2418312A2

EP2418312A2 - A washing and/or drying device

Info

Publication number: EP2418312A2
Application number: EP11173987A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bedir Inci; Orkun Balik
Original assignee: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2010-08-12
Filing date: 2011-07-14
Publication date: 2012-02-15
Also published as: TR201006684A2

Abstract

A washing and/or drying device of the invention comprises at least one tub (K), which is mounted from its at least one wall (K1) by means of clamping elements (3, 4, 5); at least one sealing element (2), which prevents clamping elements (3, 4, 5) from contacting with water and/or air in the tub (K) and which is positioned, on said wall (K1), between clamping elements (3, 4, 5) and inner portion (K2) of the tub (K); at least one retaining part (1a), at least one end of which extends outwardly, which remains at side of the sealing element (2) facing inner portion (K2) of the tub (K) when said element (2) is placed on the wall (K1) of the tub (K), which fixes the sealing element (2) where the sealing element (2) it is provided on the wall (K1); at least one retaining element (1) comprising at least one housing (1 b), into which said retaining part (1 a) is placed.

Description

Technical Field

Present invention relates to fixation of sealing element placed in the tub, which is provided in washing and/or drying devices.

Prior Art

A tub provided in washing and/or drying devices is mounted to the device by various clamping elements (for example, bearing housing, bearing etc.). A sealing element is used in order to prevent said clamping elements from contacting with water and/or air in the tub during the operation of the device. Thus, water and/or air in the tub are prevented from harming said elements. However, when said sealing element is not fixed on the tub, it may be displaced due to the movement of the tub and the clamping elements may contact with water and/or air during operation of device. Then, these elements may get harmed (for example, they get corroded) and lifetime of the device decreases. In addition, it will be costly for the user to get these elements repaired.
For the solution of said problem, in the patent document No. EP2088232A1 of the prior art, on the tub, there are provided clips positioned in portion, in which the clamping elements are communicates to the tub. The sealing element is positioned between the clamping elements and the clips, and then the clips exert pressure on the sealing element. Thus, fixation of the sealing element is ensured.

Brief Disclosure of the Invention

The washing and/or drying device developed by present invention comprises at least one tub, which is connected into the device from its at least one wall by means of clamping elements; at least one sealing element positioned, on said wall, between the clamping elements and inner portion of the tub and which prevents clamping elements from contacting with water and/or air in tub; at least one retaining part, which remains at side of the sealing element facing inner portion of the tub when the sealing element is placed on the wall of the tub, which fixes the element on the wall where the element rests, at least one end of which extends outwardly; and at least one retaining element comprising at least one housing, into which said retaining part is placed.
While clamping elements and sealing element are being placed onto the wall, they move the retaining part towards the retaining element. When the sealing element is placed onto the wall, the retaining part takes its previous position by means of at least one resilient element provided in the housing, into which said element is placed. Therefore, the sealing element is fixed where it is provided and is prevented from being displaced due to movement of the tub during operation of the device.

Objective of Invention

An aim of the invention is to develop a washing and/or drying device, which comprises one retaining element fixing the sealing element on the mounting wall of the sealing element.
Another aim of the invention is to develop a washing and/or drying device, which prevents the sealing element from being displaced due to movement of the tub during operation of the device.
Still another aim of the invention is to develop an easy to produce, mount and use, cheap and safe retaining element.

Description of Figures

One exemplary tub provided in the washing and/or drying device of the invention and one exemplary retaining element used here are illustrated in annexed figures, wherein;

Figure 1 is perspective view of the tub.
Figure 2 is side sectional view of the wall, which is mounted to the device, of the tub.
Figure 3 is perspective view of the retaining element.
Figure 4 is side sectional view of the retaining element.
Figure 5 is view of A detail of the retaining element illustrated in figure 4.

All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed below.

Tub	(K)
Wall	(K1)
Inner portion	(K2)
Retaining element	(1)
Retaining part	(1a)
Housing	(1b)
Inner surface	(1c)
Sealing element	(2)
Bearing housing	(3)
Bearing	(4,5)
Resilient element	(6)
End of retaining part	(7)

Disclosure of Invention

Figure 1 illustrates perspective view of at least one tub (K) provided in the washing and/or drying device (not shown in figures) of the invention. There are provided at least one sealing element (2) on the tub's wall (K1), which is mounted to the device, and at least one retaining element (1), which fixes said element (2) on the place it is provided on the wall.
The tub (K), the side sectional view of the wall (K1) of which is illustrated in Figure 2, is mounted to the device by means of the clamping elements (for example, bearing housing (3), bearing (4, 5)) provided on said wall (K1) of the tub (K). The sealing element (2), which is provided on said wall (K1) of the tub (K), is positioned between said clamping elements (3, 4 ,5) and inner portion (K2) of the tub (K) and ensures that these clamping elements (3, 4, 5) are sealed. Therefore, the clamping elements (3, 4, 5) are prevented from being in contact with water and/or air in the tub (K) by means of said sealing element (2).
The preferably annular retaining element (1), whose perspective view is illustrated in Figure 3, comprises at least one retaining part (1). Said retaining part (1a) is preferably positioned in inner surface (1c) of the retaining element (1) and extends outwardly from said element (1). When the sealing element (2) is placed on the wall (K1) of the tub (K), said retaining part (1 a) remains at side of said element (2), which faces the inner portion (K2) of the tub (K) and said element (2) is fixed on the place it is provided on the wall (K1). Therefore, the sealing element (2) is prevented from being displaced due to the movement of tub (K) during operation of the device.
Said retaining element (1), whose side sectional view is illustrated in Figure 4 and "A" detail shown in Figure 4 is illustrated in Figure 5, comprises at least one housing (1b), in which said retaining part (1a) is placed. There is preferably provided at least one resilient element (6) (for example spring) in said housing (1b). Therefore, while clamping elements required for mounting of the tub (K) and sealing element (2) are being placed onto the wall (K1), the retaining part (1a) is moved into the housing (1b) (into the retaining element (1)) and thus ensuring force accumulation on the resilient element (6). After clamping elements and sealing element (2) are placed, the resilient element (6), on which force is accumulated, moves the retaining part (1a) out of the housing (1b) (out of the retaining element (1)) and ensures that the retaining part (1a) takes its previous position. The sealing element (2) is fixed since the retaining part (1a) remains at side of the sealing element (2) facing inner portion (K1) of the tub (K).
The retaining part (1a), which is shown in figure 5 in detail, has an end (7) extending out of the retaining element (1) and having a preferably inclined and curved form. Therefore, when the clamping elements contact with said end (7), the retaining part (1a) easily moves into the housing (1b). The housing (1b) where the retaining part (1a) is placed preferably widens into retaining element (1). Cross sectional area of the retaining part (1a) preferably widens from the side extending out of the retaining element (1) to its other side. Thus, the retaining part (1a) is prevented from being displaced from the housing (1b).
Said retaining element (1) can be produced in a single piece with the tub (K) during production process of the tub (K) or as a separate part, which is mounted to the tub (K) afterwards. If the clamping elements (3, 4, 5) are not placed properly during mounting process, the retaining part (1 a) remains at side of the sealing element (2) not facing inner portion (K2) of the tub (K) and the sealing element (2) cannot be placed on the wall (K1). Therefore, mounting problems can be detected easily and production, mounting flaws can be detected in advance and corrected.

Claims

A washing and/or drying device comprising at least one tub (K), which is mounted from its at least one wall (K1) by means of clamping elements (3, 4, 5); at least one sealing element (2), which prevents clamping elements (3, 4, 5) from contacting with water and/or air in the tub (K) and which is positioned, on said wall, (K1) between clamping elements (3, 4, 5) and inner portion (K2) of the tub (K) characterized in that it comprises
at least one retaining part (1a), at least one end of which extends outwardly, which remains at side of the sealing element (2) facing inner portion (K2) of the tub (K) when said element (2) is placed on the wall (K1) of the tub (K), which fixes the sealing element (2) where the sealing element (2) is provided on the wall (K1); at least one retaining element (1) comprising at least one housing (1b), into which said retaining part (1a) is placed.
A washing and/or drying device according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one resilient element (6), which is provided in said housing (1b), on which force is accumulated due to movement of retaining part (1a) into the housing (1 b) while the clamping elements (3, 4, 5) used for mounting of the tub (K) and sealing element (2) are placed on the wall (K1); which moves the retaining part (1a) out of the housing (1b) by using force accumulated on it when the clamping elements (3, 4, 5) are placed on the wall (K1).
A washing and/or drying device according to Claim 2, characterized in that said resilient element (6) is a spring.
A washing and/or drying device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said housing (1 b) has such a structure that it widens into the retaining element (1).
A washing and/or drying device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said retaining part (1a) is positioned in inner surface (1c) of the retaining element (1).
A washing and/or drying device according to Claim 1, characterized in that cross sectional area of the retaining part (1 a) widens from the side of the retaining part (1a), which extends out of the retaining element, (1) to the other side.
A washing and/or drying device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the end of retaining part (7) extending out of the retaining element (1) has inclined and curved form.
A washing and/or drying device according to any of preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining element (1) is single piece with the tub (K).