EP2631350B1

EP2631350B1 - Draining device for a washing machine and washing machine

Info

Publication number: EP2631350B1
Application number: EP12157038.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mauro Cinello
Original assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Current assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Priority date: 2012-02-27
Filing date: 2012-02-27
Publication date: 2016-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-27
Also published as: EP2631350A1; CN104169487A; WO2013127796A1; CN104169487B

Description

The invention relates to a draining device for a washing machine and a washing machine.
Washing machines in households, also called domestic washing machines, are well-known and usually are used for washing laundry.
Washing machines usually comprise washing tubs in which a rotatable drum is housed for receiving goods to be washed, usually laundry. Washing liquid is introduced into the washing tub, which washing liquid consists only of water or mainly of water and detergents or washing or cleaning agents added to or dissolved in the water for improving the washing quality.
Usually at the bottom of the washing tub a draining device is arranged for draining the washing liquid from the tub in order to either feed back the washing liquid into the washing tub again, often being heated by a heating element arranged in or near the tub bottom, in a closed circuit or circulation mode or to drain the washing liquid out of the washing machine into a sewage conduit, in an open circuit, when it is not needed any more. Usually the washing tub has a sump at the tub bottom which is in fluid connection to the draining device.
EP 0 110 482 A1 discloses a washing machine having a washing tub with a draining sump integral with a first shell-like tub part of the washing tub and a basically flat or planar second tub part for closing the sump from one side thereof. The second tub part and the first tub part are connected with each other at a seam. The sump is fluidly connected to a parallel compartment through a rectangular slit in one of its side walls. Below this compartment a draining conduit is arranged for draining liquid from the compartment, which conduit is made integral with the first tub part at three sides and closed at the front by the second tub part. The draining pump will be connected to this conduit but is not described. Because of the shape of the rectangular opening bigger obstacles cannot pass through and the water escaping from the sump through the opening into the parallel compartment will be filtered from such larger obstacles and be drained downwards into the draining conduit.
EP 2 316 999 A1 discloses a filter unit for a household appliance, in particular for a washing machine, comprising a filter receiving body, a filter opening in the filter receiving body, a cap for closing the filter opening, a drain passage passing through the cap and a closing means for closing the drain passage. A swivel-mounted lever element in connection or in operative connection with the closing means for opening and closing the closing means. The filter received in the filter receiving body is for instance a sieve and/or diaphragm, adapted for allowing the free passage of a liquid and for draping lint, fluff and other small object, i. e. buttons, coins etc. which may be contained in the liquid. The filter unit is interposed between the washing tub and the drain pump. The filter is shaped in a basically cylindrical shape and has a grid- or sieve-like lower wall and a cylindrical wall and two semicircular intermediate walls being arranged axially displaced at a distance and with their circular edges facing away from each other. The lever element forms a handle element for the cap in order to remove the filter manually for cleaning purposes.
EP 1 593 768 A2 discloses a washing machine comprising a washing tub, a drain case to discharge the wash-water and a drain filter, positioned in the drain casing comprising a filter member having a plurality of filter holes protrusions. The protrusions perpendicularly protrude upward from the surface of the filter member with the filter protrusions having a length larger than the depths of the filter holes. In front the filter has a hand lever with a knob for rotating and taking out the filter manually for emptying or cleaning. Perpendicular to a longitudinal axis which is the insertion axis of the filter the pump is arranged which is in fluid connection to the draining conduit.
US 2007/0240457 A1 discloses a washing machine comprising a drain pump draining water comprising a drain casing provided with an inlet and an outlet to supply and discharge the water in the plurality of filtering pins to filter impurities contained in the water and a drain filter provided with through holes defined therein into which the plurality of filtering pins are respectively connected. The drain filter is inserted into a drain casing and provided with a knob in the front to be removed from the drain casing for cleaning purposes. The pump with a pump wheel is attached to a pump wheel housing formed integral with the drain casing.
In all these known draining devices the filter can be taken out by the user from the front of the washing machine in order to remove objects caught in the filter and allow for an adequate operation of the draining device.
It is a purpose of the invention to propose a new draining device with a filter for a washing machine which can be easily manufactured.
This purpose is achieved by a draining device having the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments and improvements according to the invention are claimed in the dependent claims.
The draining device according to claim 1 is designed and provided for draining washing liquid from a tub interior of a washing tub of a washing machine. The draining device comprises a draining conduit and a draining pump and a filter element having a filtering section for filtering out objects of certain dimensions and/or size from the drained washing liquid. The draining pump has at least one pump wheel arranged within a pump wheel housing and a pump drive for driving the pump wheel in a rotational movement about a central axis as rotational axis. The filter element is arranged within the draining conduit. The pump wheel housing is, according to the invention, formed integral with the filter element or the filtering section.
Due to the pump wheel housing being integral with the filter an efficient protection for the pump wheel being arranged in the pump wheel housing from potentially harmful or hazardous objects is achieved by the filter and an effcient cost saving manufacture and assembly are achieved. The integration of the pump wheel housing with the filter element makes it possible to significantly simplify the mounting and fixing of the filter element in the draining conduit and, furthermore, to enable a tight seal for the pump wheel housing to a pump flange for instance.
According to a preferred embodiment the filtering section and the pump wheel housing are formed from the same thermoplastic material and/or formed in the same injection-moulding process.
In another embodiment the pump wheel housing has a housing circumferential wall, which is shaped preferably at least partially cylindrical, and a front housing wall closing the circumferential wall on one side and separating the inner space of the pump wheel housing from the filtering section, which front housing wall (94) is preferably circular shaped.
"Circumferential wall" means a wall that is arranged, in particular in a closed manner, around something like an axis for instance and is not limited to a cylindrical or circular shape.
The pump wheel housing has, in particular, a housing outlet which is formed as at least one opening in the housing circumferential wall, and a filter outlet is formed as an opening in the front housing wall which opening is preferably arranged in a central position and/or around a central axis of the conduit or the pump wheel and has in one embodiment a circular shape. The filtering section and the inner space of the pump wheel housing are in fluid connection by the filter outlet.
In a preferred embodiment the draining conduit has a pump receiving part at a first end for receiving the draining pump and is preferably closed by a cover wall at a second end of the conduit opposite to the first end, wherein the draining pump is releasably mounted to the pump receiving part at the first end of the conduit, and wherein the filter element is insertable into or removeable from the conduit through an opening at the first end of the conduit after demounting of the draining pump.
In particular, the pump wheel housing with the pump wheel of the draining pump is arranged within the interior of the pump receiving part of the conduit which is surrounded by a circumferential wall. The pump drive is preferably mounted onto an end side of the pump receiving part. The conduit or its inner chamber preferably extends along the central axis which is the rotational axis of the pump wheel and is preferably horizontal. In one embodiment a flange of the pump closes the opening and the conduit at the first end, the flange in particular separating the pump wheel and the pump drive which is arranged outside the conduit. Preferably a sealing gasket is arranged between the flange and the conduit.
In another embodiment the draining device further comprises a manifold for fluidly connecting in a removable manner the draining device to a tub portion of the washing tub, wherein the manifold has a first end adapted to be connected to an opening formed in said tub or to the sump and a second end in fluid communication with the draining conduit.
In an advantageous embodiment the washing tub is composed of a pre-formed, preferably injection-moulded, front tub part and a pre-formed, preferably injection-moulded, rear tub part being connected (or: joined), preferably by hot welding, with the front tub part in a connecting area (or: joining area). Preferably the conduit is formed (or: made) integral with a first tub part being a first one of the front tub part and the rear tub part and The cover wall for the conduit is formed (or: made) integral with a second tub part being the second one of the front tub part and the rear tub part and is connected with the conduit in the connecting area.
In a preferred embodiment the sump is formed integral with the same tub part the conduit is formed integral with and is preferably closed by the cover wall. According to claim 13, a washing machine is claimed comprising a washing tub and a draining device according to the invention.
Further exemplary embodiments are described and explained in the following with reference to the drawings, which show in

FIG 1: a washing tub unit in a three-dimensional perspective from the front under a viewing angle from the side,
FIG 2: the washing tub unit of FIG 1 in a perspective view from the rear under a viewing angle from the side,
FIG 3: a rear tub part of the washing tub unit according to FIG 1 and FIG 2 in a perspective view from the front under a viewing angle from above,
FIG 4: the sump of the rear tub part of FIG 3 in greater detail in a perspective view from the front under a viewing angle from above,
FIG 5: a draining device of the washing tub unit according to FIG 1 to 4 in a perspective view from the front under a side viewing angle,
FIG 6: the draining device of FIG 5 in a perspective and, for illustrative purposes, partially sectioned view mainly from the side,
FIG 7: the draining device of FIG 5 and FIG 6 in a perspective and, for illustrative purposes, partially sectioned view from the rear under a viewing angle from above,
FIG 8: the lower parts of the front tub part and the rear tub part and the draining device according to FIG 1 to 7 in an explosive, partially sectioned view from the side before mounting or assembly,
FIG 9: the lower parts of the front tub part and the rear tub part and the draining device according to FIG 8 in a three-dimensional explosive view from the rear under a side viewing angle,
FIG 10: the lower section of the washing tub unit with the front tub part and the rear tub part and the draining device as shown in FIG 8 or FIG 9 in an explosive, partially sectioned view from the side in the assembled or mounted state,
FIG 11: shows a preferred embodiment of a filter element in a perspective view,
FIG 12: shows the draining conduit with the inserted filter element in a cross sectional view,
FIG 13: shows the draining conduit with the draining pump wheel inserted into the pump wheel housing of the filter element according to FIG 11 or FIG 12 in a longitudinal section view with objects to be filtered out,
FIG 14: shows the filter element inserted into the conduit in a cross sectional view with objects to be filtered out,
FIG 15: shows a partly sectioned and opened three-dimensional side view from the front of the draining device with the filter element inserted into the conduit and the pump mounted onto the draining conduit and
FIG 16: the draining device according to FIG 15 in a perspective partially side view from the rear.

Identical or at least corresponding parts and quantities in FIG 1 to 10 are designated with the same reference numerals.
FIG 1 and FIG 2 show a washing tub unit for a washing machine comprising a washing tub 2 and a draining device 7. The washing tub 2 is basically assembled from two parts, in this case a front tub part 21 and a rear tub part 22, which are connected (or: joined) in a connecting (or: joining) area 20 in order to form the washing tub 2 that it is closed in a liquid-tight manner, at its rear and at its circumference.
In the connecting area 20 at least one front connecting (or: joining) part 23 of the front tub part 21 and at least one rear connecting (or: joining) part 24 of the rear tub part 22 are connected with each other, in particular by hot welding in order to form a sort of liquid-tight welding seam in the connecting area 20. The front connecting part 23 and the rear connecting part 24 are in particular formed at least partially like connecting flanges which are pressed against each other and then connected, in particular welded by hot welding, to form a permanent connection between the two connecting parts 23 and 24 and thus between the two tub parts 21 and 22.
The connecting area 20 is preferably arranged in or forms a connecting or joining plane. In particular the connecting parts 23 and 24 have planar surfaces that are joined, in particular welded, in the connecting plane.
The front tub part 21 and the rear tub part 22 are, therefore, at least in their connecting parts 23 and 24, formed or made of a material that can be hot welded, preferably a suitable thermoplast or thermoplastic material, as are well known in the art
Preferably the complete rear front tub part 21 and the complete rear tub part 22 are formed from such a thermoplast or thermoplastic material and are produced by moulding between or in at least two complementary moulding forms, in particular injection-moulding in the moulding forms.
The hot welded connection also ensures a water tight connection so that no water or washing liquid can escape from the washing tub 2 through or in the connecting area 20 and no further seals or sealing rings are required.
At the front of the washing tub unit there is an opening 4 for loading of goods to be washed, such as laundry, into the tub interior 9 inside the washing tub 2 which opening 4 is formed in a front tub part 21. The opening 4 is at least partially surrounded by a counterweight structure 5 associated to the front tub part 21 for balancing the washing tub unit during operative conditions. The opening 4 allows access from the exterior or outside of the washing tub 2 to a carrier, in this case a rotatable or rotating drum 3, arranged in the tub interior 9 of the washing tub 2. Adapted to the rotating drum 3 the washing tub 2 is preferably mainly formed in a cylindrical shape. The drum 3 is rotatable or can be rotated by a rotation drive or drum drive 6 a part of which is shown in FIG 1 below the washing tub 2 but is not explained any further as the rotation and the drive of the rotating drum are well-known in the art.
The drum drive 6 is fastened at fastening section 61 arranged at the lower section of the rear tub part 21. The rear tub part 21 has a central through-hole 60 for a drive axle (not shown) connecting the drum drive 6 with the drum 3 for rotation of the drum 3 and bearing the forces and momenta exerted by the rotating drum 3 and the load of the laundry or the washing goods within the drum 3. For this purpose, as can be seen in FIG 2, the rear side of the rear tub part 22 is reinforced with reinforcing ribs 62 around the through-hole 60.
As can be seen best in FIG 3 and FIG 4 in the tub bottom 12 a sump 10 is formed, which has an advantageous construction according to the invention.
The sump 10 has a mainly horizontal sump bottom 13 and a side wall structure 11 rising upwards from the sump bottom 13 up to the tub bottom 12, so that the sump bottom 13 is the lowest wall of the sump 10 and arranged below the tub bottom 12. An opening in the tub bottom 12 surrounded by the side wall structure 11 forms a sump inlet 18 for the washing liquid in the uppermost part of the sump 10. The sump bottom 13 and the side wall structure 11 are arranged lower than the tub bottom 12 so that washing liquid in the washing tub 2 can be collected and drained in the sump 10 under the influence of gravity and/or, in addition, low pressure exerted by a draining pump 70 of the draining device 7.
A carrier bridge 14 extends within the sump inlet 18 over the sump 10 as a protrusion or extension of the tub bottom 12 inwards from a side wall part 11B and serves as a resting surface or element for coupling a holding element for a heating element (not shown) for heating the washing liquid within the tub 2 which heating element is connected electrically outside the tub 2 through a through-hole 63 in the back of the rear tub part 22.
A rear tub bottom part 12A and adjacent side wall parts 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D of the side wall structure 11 of the sump 10 and the sump bottom 13, that is to say all limiting walls of the sump 10 except for a front sump wall 11E, are integral with or part of the rear tub part 22, preferably formed from the same thermoplastic material and in the same injection-moulding process in the same moulding form.
The side wall parts 11A, 11B and 11C follow each other around the sump 10, preferably arranged rectangularly to each other, and are at least approximately vertical walls with sloped upper entry sections at the sump inlet 18 and preferably horizontally curved intermediate transition sections in between the side wall parts 11A, 11B and 11C. The side wall part 11D is arranged above the vertical side wall part 11C and slopes upwardly from the vertical side wall part 11C forming a bottom wall of an air channel 16 of the sump 10 for releasing air bubbles caught in the liquid in the sump 10.
A sump front wall 11E which closes the side wall structure 11 of the sump 10 at the front is formed integral with the front tub part 21 and connected with the adjacent side wall parts 11A and 11C and 11D and with the sump bottom 13 at the connecting parts 23 and 24 in the connecting area 20 to close and also seal the sump 10.
Preferably the front wall 11E lies in the connecting plane of the two tub parts 21 and 22 and is surrounded by the connecting parts 23 and 24 which are connected, in particular welded, together in the connecting area 20.
A front tub bottom part 12B of the tub bottom 12 is integral with the front tub part 21 and partly connected by the hot welding in a sealed manner with the rear tub bottom part 12A in or at the connecting area 20 and partly separated from the rear tub bottom part 12A by the sump 10 and by the air outlet 16 of the sump 10.
The draining device 7 is shown in greater detail in FIG 5 to 10. Adjacent to the sump 10 and arranged at least partly lower than the sump 10 and its sump bottom 13 there is a draining conduit 75 of the draining device 7.
The draining conduit 75 has, next to the sump 10, a mainly cylindrical circumferential wall 17 in which a rectangular opening is formed as a sump outlet 15 through which the sump 10 is in fluid connection with the draining conduit 75. The sump outlet 15 is arranged above the sump bottom 13, the sump bottom 13 slightly sloping downward towards the section of the circumferential wall 17 which is below the sump outlet 15, and/or arranged in an upper region of the circumferential wall 17 to allow for smooth draining flow from the sump 10 into the draining conduit 75.
The draining conduit 75 also comprises, at a first end, here a rear end 75A, a pump receiving part 37 which has a mainly cylindrical circumferential wall 87 in which a draining outlet 74 is formed. A central (geometrical) axis A of the draining conduit 75 runs through the central region of the circumferential wall 17 and the pump receiving part 37 being their respective central or cylinder axis.
The pump receiving part 37 or its circumferential wall 87 is arranged coaxially and subsequent to the circumferential wall 17 with respect to the central axis A at an opposite end of the circumferential wall 17 than the front tub part 21. The circumferential wall 87 of the pump receiving part 37 has a greater diameter or radius from the axis A than the circumferential wall 17. The circumferential walls 17 and 87 of the draining conduit 75 together enclose an inner space or inner chamber 85 of the draining conduit 75.
Now, the circumferential wall structure of the conduit 75, in particular the circumferential wall 17 in the front of the conduit 75 and also a part of the circumferential wall 87 of the pump receiving part 37 in the rear of the conduit 75, protrudes or extends into the sump 10 and connects the sump bottom 13 with the side wall parts 11B and 11C of the side wall structure 11 of the sump 10, thus forming a rigid structure, as can be seen best in FIG 3 and 4. Therefore, the circumferential walls 17 and 87 of the draining conduit 75 form themselves curved side wall parts of the side wall structure 11 of the sump 10 and, at the same time, separation wall(s) between the sump 10 and the conduit inner chamber 85.
The curved circumferential wall 17 and 87 of the conduit 75 within the sump 10, i.e the parts defining side wall parts of the side wall structure 11 or separation walls between the sump 10 and the conduit 75, describe or cover an angle range β of usually at least 90°, preferably between 100° and 120°, measured around the central axis A. The corresponding opening angle α of the sump outlet 15, i.e. the opening in the circumferential wall 17 through which the sump 10 is in fluid communication with the inner chamber 85 of the conduit 75, is smaller than the angle range β and typically 80° or less.
This design and arrangement of the sump outlet 15 as an, preferably rectangular, opening in a curved, preferably cylindrical, and concave as seen from the sump 10 (or convex as seen from the conduit inner chamber 85) separation wall between the sump 10 and the inner chamber 85 of the conduit 75 leads to very good flow results within the sump 10 and at the same time to a very solid and rigid construction. In particular, due to the sump outlet 15 being oriented towards the sump inlet 18 there is a direct and short flow path for the drained liquid through the sump 10 resulting in less turbulences.
The conduit 75 is, thus, rigidly connected with the sump side wall structure 11 and the tub bottom 12 over a pre-determined length and with at least two sump side wall parts 11B and 11C and the sump bottom 13 so that forces exerted on the conduit 75 are distributed and born in a larger section into three dimensions
In addition to the draining conduit 75 having the sump outlet 15 as the draining conduit inlet the draining device 7 comprises a draining pump 70 with a pump wheel 72 (only shown in FIG 8 and FIG 10) as well as a pump drive 71, usually an electric motor with or without a gear and preferably with, usually electronic, control of the rotational speed, for rotating the pump wheel 72 about a rotational axis which is the central axis A of the draining conduit 75 in the mounted state.
A rear side 87 of the pump receiving part 37 at the rear end 75A of the conduit 75 pointing away from the circumferential wall 17 is formed like a ring-shaped flange or flange ring surrounding a rear opening 88 of the pump receiving part 37. The pump drive 71 is fixed at this rear side 87 of the pump receiving part 37 of the draining conduit 75 at the rear end 75A, preferably by means of a circular planar drive flange 82 and screws 83 to be guided through guidings 84 in the drive flange 82 and to be screwed into corresponding screw holes 89 at the rear side 87. Therefore, the pump receiving part 37 and thus the whole conduit 75 has to bear the weight of the pump 70 which is accomplished by the rigid tube-like construction and the rigid connection with the sump 10 as already described. Preferably, a gasket or sealing ring (not shown) is arranged between the pump receiving part 37 of the draining conduit 75 and the drive flange 82 for sealing.
The pump wheel 72 together with a mainly cylindrical pump wheel housing 73 is introduced through the rear opening 88 into the inner conduit chamber 85 and arranged within the pump receiving part 37 or, more specifically, inside the part of the inner conduit chamber 85 of the draining conduit 75 that is surrounded by the circumferential wall 87 of the pump receiving part 37.
The whole circumferential wall structure 17 and 87 and the pump receiving part 37 of the conduit 75 are formed integral with the rear tub part 12, i.e. formed in the same material and/or injection-moulding process.
The front tub part 21 has a cover wall 25. The cover wall 25 covers or closes the draining conduit 75 and its inner chamber 85 at a second end, here a front end, 75B which is, as seen axially along the central axis A, opposite to the rear end 75A and, further upwardly, forms the sump front wall 11E of the sump 10 and continues into a front tub bottom part 12B of the tub bottom 12 which is more or less directed at a right angle to the cover wall 25. So the front cover of the conduit 75 and the sump 10 are formed integrally by the same cover wall 25 which in turn is formed integrally with the front tub part 21.
The cover wall 25 is at least at the side towards the conduit 75 or sump 10 mainly flat or planar and is at least at the front end 75B of the conduit 75 oriented orthogonal to the central axis A of the conduit 75. Furthermore, the cover wall 25 is connected with the circumferential wall 17 of the conduit 75, usually in the connecting area 20 and/or in the connecting plane, which connection is made at the same time the two tub parts 21 and 22 are connected by hot welding.
Due to the front wall of the conduit 75 formed by the cover wall 25 and the front wall 11E of the sump 10 also formed by the cover wall 25 being planar, preferably lying in the same connecting plane, the cavity or volume or the conduit 75 as well as of the sump 10 is in each case formed entirely in the rear tub part 22 and only closed by the front tub part 21. This allows for simple moulding forms and manufacture.
In the sump front wall 11E, which is preferably constituted or formed by the cover wall 25, there is a hole or an opening 80 for mounting a pipe or level detection tube 28 of a level detection device 8. The level detection tube 28 is arranged at least slightly upwardly and is closed at a distal end or upper end 28A opposite to the connecting end 28B which is connected in the opening 80.
A different level of washing liquid in the sump 10 and the tub bottom 12 will result in a different filling level in the level detection tube 28 and cause a variation of the air pressure above the liquid level which can be detected or sensed by an air pressure sensor 81 at the upper end 28A.
This opening 80 is arranged above the draining conduit 75 and on the other side of the sump 10 than the sump outlet 15, basically opposite to the sump outlet 15, which results in the level detection tube 28 being emptied efficiently by the pump pressure being exerted in the sump 10 through the sump outlet 15. A central axis of the, preferably circular, opening 80 and/or an inserting direction for inserting the connecting end 28B of the level detection tube 28 is oriented parallel to the central axis A of the conduit 75.
Within or in the interior or inner chamber 85 of the draining conduit 75 a filter element 76 is arranged, having a filtering section 77 for filtering out objects of specific size and/or dimensions, in particular larger and/or longer objects, from the draining liquid to prevent them from reaching the pump wheel 72. The filtering section 77 is arranged essentially within the circumferential wall 17 of the conduit 75 when the filter element 76 is mounted.
The filter element 76 is shown in particular in FIG 8 to FIG 16 in different views.
The filter element 76 has further a, preferably mainly cylindrical, pump wheel housing 73 formed integral with the filter element 76 or the filtering section 77 and being arranged within the pump receiving part 37 of the conduit 75 in the mounted state.
The central axis A of the conduit 75 extends, in the mounted state, preferably in a horizontal direction or in a horizontal plane orthogonal to the direction of gravity which results in a horizontal axial flow of draining liquid through the draining conduit 75 and improves the filtering effect of the filter 76.
The main draining flow direction of the liquid in the direction from the sump outlet 15 to the rear end 75A to the pump wheel 72 is, thus, horizontal and orientated from the front to the rear or away from the front tub part 21 and its front cover 25. Also there is an axial inflow along the horizontal axis A towards the pump wheel 72 which in turn has a radial outflow like a centrifugal pump.
The draining outlet 74 of the pump receiving part 37 of the draining conduit 75 consists of a short pipe or tube extending from the circumferential wall 87 outwardly, essentially in radial direction from the axis A, and is inclined upwardly with respect to the axis A or a horizontal plane.
In the preferred embodiment shown, a filter element 76 is mounted into the inner chamber 85 of the draining conduit 75 by inserting the filter element 76 through the rear opening 88 in an axial direction along the central axis A. A correct angular position of the filter element 76 within the conduit 75 is ensured by a positioning element 91 at the filter element 76 which is to be inserted into a positioning slot 92 at the circumferential wall 17 of the conduit 75 which positioning means 91 and 92 also support an angular fixation between filter element 76 and conduit 75.
Furthermore, for a correct positioning in axial and angular direction, a further positioning element 90 is provided at the second end 75B of the filter element 76 having a kind of leaf-like shape with a fitting contour 100 which, when the filter 76 is inserted correctly into the conduit 75, is inserted into and fits into a corresponding fitting contour 200 of a positioning receiving element 190 in the cover wall 25. In such a manner the filter element 76 is fixed and safely held within the conduit 75 in its predetermined position without any additional fixing means.
The pump wheel housing 73 has a sort of bowl or pot shape and is provided with a, preferably mainly cylindrical, housing circumferential wall 93 surrounding or enclosing the central axis A when mounted and with a, preferably circular ring-shaped, housing front wall 94 being perpendicular to the central axis A and separating as a separation wall the interior of the housing circumferential wall 93 from the filtering section 77.
The housing circumferential wall 93 is provided with an opening over a certain angle about the axis A as a housing outlet 78. The separation wall or housing front wall 94 has a central opening through which the central axis A runs in the mounted state and which serves as a filter outlet 79 or a housing inlet and brings the filtering section 77 and the pump wheel housing 73 in fluid connection. The opening of the filter outlet 79 is preferably circular with a diameter D the central axis A preferably being its middle axis in the mounted state, so that the filter outlet 79 is arranged in a central position of the filter element 76 and around the central axis A of the conduit 75 which is the central axis and the rotational axis of the pump wheel 72 .
When the filter element 76 is mounted the pump wheel housing 73 is received in the pump receiving part 37 of the conduit 75 and its housing outlet 78 overlaps in the angular range and is, thus, in fluid connection with the draining outlet 74 at the circumferential wall 87, which angular positioning is assisted and ensured by the positioning elements 90 and 91 being inserted into the positioning receiving element 190 or the positioning slot 92. The pump wheel housing 73 has a slightly smaller diameter than the circumferential wall 87 of the conduit 75.
Once the filter element 76 is correctly inserted into the conduit 75 the pump wheel 72 of the pump 70 can be introduced into the pump wheel housing 73 of the filter element 76. In the mounted state the central axis A is the central axis of the pump wheel housing 73 and the pump wheel 72 as its rotational axis and preferably axis of inertia for balanced rotation. When the pump wheel 72 is introduced into the pump wheel housing 73, the blades or wings of the pump wheel 72 have a radial distance to the inner wall of the pump wheel housing 73 and can be rotated about the axis A within the pump wheel housing 73 in order to suck or draw in washing liquid from the sump 10 through the sump outlet 15 into the inner conduit chamber 85 and through the filtering section 77 and thereafter through the filer outlet 79 into the pump wheel housing 73 and to dispense or pump the liquid out of the pump wheel housing 73 through the housing outlet 78 and the draining outlet 74 in a mainly radial direction. So, the draining pump 70 and its pump wheel 72 have an axial inflow and a radial outflow for the washing liquid with respect to the central axis A.
In other words, the pump wheel 72 is separated from the sump 10 by means of the draining conduit 75 and the filter element 76 and the flow path and thus flow resistance are reduced, thereby reducing energy losses. The pump wheel 72 generates a low pressure in the conduit 75 and thus in the sump 10 and a steady flow of the drained liquid through the horizontal conduit 75.
The filtering section 77 of the filter element 76 according to the preferred embodiment shown has a first filter chamber 86 and a second filter chamber 96 arranged axially one behind the other, in the mounted state axially along the central axis A, and are separated by an obstructing wall 64. The filter element 76 has in its front region behind the positioning element 90 a shell-shaped or semi-shell wall 103 in its lower region at which the positioning element 90 is arranged. The semi-shell wall 103, as well as the obstructing wall 64, are in their radially outermost region fixed to two side bars 101 and 102 extending axially, when mounted parallel to the central axis A and being at their ends connected with the housing front wall 94.
The axial length a of the first chamber 86 corresponds in particular to the axial distance between the front wall of the semi-shell wall 103 and the obstructing wall 64 and is preferably larger than, in particular at least by a factor 2, than the axial length b of the second chamber 96 which corresponds in particular to the axial distance between the obstructing wall 64 and the housing front wall 94.
Now, as shown in FIG 13 and 14 in particular, the washing liquid which is drained from the sump 10 through the sump outlet 15 can have larger and more or less solid or strong objects 110 of certain size or dimensions contained in it which could damage the rotating pump wheel 72, in particular longish, but thin objects 110 having a minimal length L' greater than a pre-specified length L and a diameter or thickness much smaller than the length L', such as pieces of tooth picks for instance which sometimes are left on table-cloths or in pockets of trousers or shirts to be washed.
In order to filter out such objects 110, the design of the filtering section 77 is adapted to the pre-specified length L of objects 111 so that those objects 110 having a length L'>L should not pass the filtering section 77, but rather be obstructed from passing the obstructing wall 64 and stay in the first chamber 86 where they can be collected once in a while during cleaning of the filter element 76. In particular the diameter D of the opening or filter outlet 79 as well as the length a of the first chamber 86 and the length b of the second chamber 96 and the shape of the contour of the obstructing wall 64 are all adapted to the length L of the objects 111. i.e. objects that, having L as their maximum length, are admitted to pass the obstructing wall 64 and to be expelled from the machine by the pump wheel 72. Objects 111 are considered not dangerous even when they access the pump wheel 72 because their maximum size L can be pumped out through the draining outlet 74.
In particular, the length b of the second filter chamber 96 is chosen to be at most 1/2 L (b < L/2) and the diameter D of the filter outlet 79 is chosen to be D < L and D > b. The contour of the obstructing walls 64 at its circumference opposing the inner wall of the conduit 75 defines intermediate spaces for the passage of water or other washing liquid and for obstructing the passage of objects 110 having a size L' greater than the pre-defined size or dimension L through these intermediate spaces.
In the preferred embodiment shown, the obstructing wall 64 has a straight first contour section 65 being inclined under an inclination angle γ with respect to a horizontal plane H and a convexly curved, in particular circular, second contour 68 and a third contour 69 being convexly curved as well. The intermediate space forming a liquid passing passage between the first contour 65 and the wall 17 of the conduit 75 is designated 95, the liquid passage between the second contour 68 and its circumferential wall 17 is designated with 98 and a third liquid passing passage between the third contour 69 and the circumferential wall is designated with 99. In other circumferential regions the obstructing wall 64 is fixed to the side bars 101 and 102.
The obstructing wall 64 is arranged axially displaced to the sump outlet 15 to the rear so that the sump outlet 15 is arranged completely in front of the obstructing wall 64 and only the first filter chamber 86 is connected directly to the sump 10 through the sump outlet 15 and the second filter chamber 96 is not directly connected to the sump outlet 15. In this way, the washing liquid exiting from the sump 10 and having objects 110 contained therein will first flow into the first filter chamber 86 and be filtered by the shape and design of the filtering section 77 and leave the filter 76 through the filter outlet 79 without the objects 110. The objects 110 will stay or be stuck in the first chamber 86 of the filter element 76 and be partially supported by the semi-shell wall 103 or can also get stuck in the intermediate space 99 under the obstructing wall 64, but it is practically excluded that the objects 110 reach the filter outlet 79.
In FIG 13 and 14 the situation of objects 111 having a length L and potentially harmful objects 110 having a length L'> L within the filter element 76 is shown It is clear that the objects 110 can under normal circumstances not pass through the filtering section 77 into the pump wheel housing 73 with the pump wheel 72, while objects 111 can pass forward and be expelled from the machine.
The pump wheel housing 73 being integral with the filter element 76 has in particular a shape that increases in diameter in two steps starting from the housing front wall 94. This results in particular in a higher flow velocity through the filter outlet 79. The central body 72A of the pump wheel 72 is arranged at a distance in front of the filter outlet 79 and the wheel blade 72B arranged at the central body 72A extend radially outwards from the central body 72A into the radially extending parts of the pump wheel housing 73 and its circumferential walls 67.
The so designed pump wheel housing allows the pump to work with high efficiency. The pump is in particular a centrifugal pump that needs to receive fluid axially to pump it out of the pump wheel housing through a radially oriented outlet channel. The shape of the pump wheel housing ensures such required fluid path, avoiding any fluid deviation/disturbance from a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the pump. Such deviation would cause the pump to require more power to drain fluid, because of high fluid energy losses.
In order to facilitate and improve the connection between the front tub part 21 and the rear tub part 22 at the connecting area 20 connecting elements 26 and 27 can be provided wherein, as shown, the connecting element 26 arranged at the front tub part 21 is a protruding part and is received by a receiving recess as a second connecting element 27 which design improves the connecting properties of hot welding and constitutes a welded water tight sealing. Also the connecting parts 26 and 27 allow for a pre-positioning of the two tub parts 21 and 22 before welding.
The front tub part 21 and the rear tub part 22 are, in the preferred embodiment shown, both formed in such a way that they can be injection-moulded from a thermoplastic material between two moulding forms in a moulding process reducing the use of runners or moveable form parts in further moulding steps. At least one, preferably both, of the two moulding forms, usually an inner moulding form, forms cavities and concave spaces in the tub parts 21 and 22 such as the sump 10 or the tub interior 9 or the draining conduit 75 which cavities or concave spaces start at the connecting line between the two moulding parts and are open towards the connecting part line of the moulding parts, wherein the sump 10 and the conduit 75 are preferably basically formed in the rear tub part 22. In particular, the front tub part 21 and preferably also the most part of the rear tub part 22 have a shape that allows for direct linear retraction of the moulding forms along a common retraction direction which is parallel to an axis running through the tub part 21 or 22 in case of tub part 22 the central axis A of the draining conduit 75. In order to be able to withdraw or retract each of the moulding forms after the moulding process it is necessary that no moulded part of the freshly moulded tub part is in the way of a moulding form section along the retraction direction. The moulding process will be anyway greatly simplified if the number of moulded parts in the way of a moulding form section along the retraction direction is very little, for example just one.
This is achieved in the construction of the tub parts 21 and 22 by not allowing or by limiting in number, in a direction opposite to the retraction direction, any broadening or increase in the diameter or inner dimension of each of the cavities or concave spaces in the tub parts 21 and 22 in any lateral direction which is orthogonal to the retraction direction of each of the two moulding forms. In other words, the inner dimensions or diameters of each cavity and concave space, as seen in a linear projection along the retraction axis, in particular along or parallel to the central axis A, in the front tub part 21 and in the most part of the rear tub part 22, in particular the sump 10, the tub interior 9 and the draining conduit 75, stay the same or decrease, i.e. do not increase, in a direction which is opposite to each moulding form retraction direction. This allows linear retraction of an inner moulding form which has the complementary shape to these cavities or concave spaces out of these cavities and spaces of a freshly moulded front tub part 21 and the most part of rear tub part 22 in a retraction direction parallel to the retraction axis, in particular central axis A.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, not shown in the drawings, the above described draining device 7 may be provided as a part which is independent, i.e separated, from the tub body and mountable to the latter by means of a manifold, such as a rubber conduit, preferably in a removable manner. In this alternative arrangement of the invention, the manifold that puts in fluid communication the washing tub 2 with the draining device 7 has a first end connectable to the sump outlet 15 or to an opening 18 formed in the tub bottom 12, in case the sump 10 is not formed in the tub 2, and a second end, opposite to the first end, connectable to the draining device 7 via an opening formed in the circumferential wall 17.
Since in this alternative configuration the draining device 7 is a separate piece, it is usually arranged within the inner chamber of a washing machine cabinet containing the tub 2 and all the operational devices for carrying out a washing process on laundry articles, through an appropriate fixing device. Such fixing device may be provided with one or more brackets attaching, preferably in a removable manner, the draining device 7 to a bottom and/or side inner wall of the cabinet.
Furthermore, the draining conduit 75 is closed at a first end 75A by the pump drive 71 of the draining pump 70 which is fixed at this rear side 87 of the pump receiving part 37 of the draining conduit 75 at the rear end 75A, preferably by means of a circular planar drive flange 82 and screws 83 to be guided through guidings 84 in the drive flange 82 and to be screwed into corresponding screw holes 89 at the rear side 87. A second end 75B of the draining conduit 75, opposite to the first end 75A is closed by a cover wall 25 which is separated by the tub body. The cover wall 25 may be formed integral with the circumferential wall 17, or it may be attached to the latter by welding or any removable fastening device known in the art, like screws for example.
The alternative arrangement here disclosed allows to form the washing tub by a moulding process that is greatly simplified because there are no moulded parts in the way of a moulding form section along the mould retraction direction. In this way a sensible cost saving may be obtained.

List of reference numerals

2: washing tub
3: drum
4: opening
5: counterweight structure
6: drum drive
7: draining device
8: level detection device
9: tub interior
10: draining sump
11: side wall structure
11A: side wall part
11B: side wall part
11C: side wall part
11D: side wall part
11E: front side wall part
12: tub bottom
12A: front tub bottom part
12B: rear tub bottom part
13: sump bottom
14: carrier bridge
15: sump outlet
16: air channel
17: circumferential wall
18: sump inlet
19: reinforcing rib
20: connecting area/seam
21: front tub part
22: rear tub part
23: front connecting part
24: rear connecting part
25: front cover
26,27: connecting element
28: level detection tube
28A: distal end
28B: connecting end
30: deflector element
37: pump receiving part
38: flange
39: sealing ring
60: through-hole
61: fastening element
62: reinforcing ribs
63: through-hole
64: obstructing wall
65: first contour
66: separating wall
67: housing wall
68: second contour
69: third contour
70: draining pump
71: pump drive
71A: pump drive axle
72: pump wheel
72A: wheel base body
72B: wheel blades
73: pump wheel housing
74: draining outlet
75: draining conduit
75A: first end
75B: second end
76: filter element
77: filtering section
78: housing outlet
79: filter outlet
80: connecting hole
81: air pressure sensor
82: drive flange
83: screws
84: screw guidings
85: inner conduit chamber
86: first filter chamber
87: circumferential wall
88: rear opening
89: screw holes
90: positioning protruding element
91: positioning element
92: positioning slot
93: housing circumferential wall
94: housing front wall
95: liquid passing passage
96: second filter chamber
97: rear side
98: liquid passing passage
99: liquid passing passage
100: fitting contour
101: side bar
102: side bar
103: semi-shell wall
104: upper edge
110: objects
111: objects
165: recess
190: Positioning receiving element
200: fitting contour

A: central axis
H: horizontal plane
α, β: angle range
γ: inclination angle
a: length
b: length
c: inner diameter
L: length
D: diameter

Claims

Draining device (7) for draining washing liquid from a tub interior (9) of a washing tub (2) of a washing machine,
a) the draining device (7) comprising a draining conduit (75) and a draining pump (70) and a filter element (76) having a filtering section(77) for filtering out objects (110) of certain size from the drained washing liquid,

b) the draining pump (70) having at least one pump wheel (72) arranged within a pump wheel housing (73) and a pump drive (71) for driving the pump wheel (72) in a rotational movement about a central axis (A) as rotational axis,

c) wherein the filter element (76) is arranged within the draining conduit (75)
characterised in that the pump wheel housing (73) is formed integral with the filter element (76) or the filtering section (77).
Draining device according to claim 1, wherein the filter element (76), the filtering section (77) and the pump wheel housing (73) are formed from the same thermoplastic material and/or formed in the same injection-moulding process.
Draining device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pump wheel housing (73) has a housing circumferential wall (93), which is shaped preferably at least partially cylindrical, and a front housing wall (94) partially closing the circumferential wall (93) on one side and partially separating the inner space of the pump wheel housing (73) from the filtering section (77), which front housing wall (94) is preferably circular shaped.
Draining device according to claim 3, wherein the pump wheel housing (73) has a housing outlet (78) which is formed as at least one opening in the housing circumferential wall (93), and a filter outlet (79) is formed as an opening in the front housing wall (94), preferably in a central position and/or around a central axis (A) of the draining conduit (75) or the pump wheel (72) and/or having a circular shape, wherein by the filter outlet (79) the filtering section (77) and the inner space of the pump wheel housing (73) are in fluid connection.
Draining device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the draining conduit (75) has a pump receiving part (37) at a first end (75A) for receiving the draining pump (70) and is preferably closed by a cover wall (25) at a second end (75B) of the draining conduit (75) opposite to the first end (75A), wherein the draining pump (70) is releasably mounted to the pump receiving part (37) at the first end (75A) of the draining conduit (75), and wherein the filter element (76) is insertable into or removable from the draining conduit (75) through an opening at the first end (75A) of the draining conduit (75) after demounting of the draining pump (70).
Draining device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pump wheel housing (73) with the pump wheel (72) of the draining pump is arranged within the interior of a pump receiving part (37) of the draining conduit (75) surrounded by a circumferential wall (87) and the pump drive (71) is mounted onto an end side (97) of the pump receiving part (37) and/or wherein the draining conduit (75) or its inner chamber (85) extends along the central axis (A) which is the rotational axis of the pump wheel and is preferably horizontal.
Draining device according to claim 6, wherein a flange (82) of the pump (70) closes an opening (88) of the pump receiving part (37) and the conduit at the first end (75A), the flange (82) in particular separating the pump wheel and the pump drive which is arranged outside the draining conduit (75) and/or wherein preferably a sealing gasket is arranged between the flange (82) and the draining conduit (75).
Draining device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the draining conduit (75) has an inner chamber (85) wherein the filter element (76) is mounted, said draining conduit (75) having an opening, in particular at the first end (75A) of the conduit, suitable for being passed through by the filter element (76) in an axial direction along the central axis (A).
Draining device according to any claim 1 to 8 further comprising a manifold for fluidly connecting in a removable manner the draining device to a tub portion of the washing tub, wherein the manifold has a first end adapted to be connected to an opening formed in said tub or to the sump and a second end in fluid communication with the draining conduit.
Washing tub (2) composed of a pre-formed front tub part (21) and a pre-formed rear tub part (22) which is connected with the front tub part (21) in a connecting area (20) said washing tub (2) comprising a draining device according to any claim 1 to 8 wherein the draining conduit (75) is formed integral with a first tub part being one between the front tub part (21) and the rear tub part (22).
Washing tub according to claim 10 wherein the draining conduit (75) further has a pump receiving part (37) at a first end (75A) for receiving the draining pump (70) and is preferably closed by a cover wall (25) at a second end (75B) of the draining conduit (75) opposite to the first end (75A), wherein the draining pump (70) is releasably mounted to the pump receiving part (37) at the first end (75A) of the draining conduit (75), and wherein the filter element (76) is insertable into or removable from the draining conduit (75) through an opening at the first end (75A) of the draining conduit (75) after demounting of the draining pump (70), the cover wall (25) being formed integral with a second tub part being the other one of the front tub part (21) and the rear tub part (22), the cover wall (25) being connected with the draining conduit (75) in the connecting area (20).
Washing tub according to claim 10, wherein the sump (10) is formed integral with the first tub part.
Washing machine comprising a washing tub (2) according to any claim 10 to 12.
Washing machine comprising a washing tub (2) wherein the machine comprises a draining device according to any claim 1 to 9.