EP2746447B1

EP2746447B1 - Laundry machine with discharge manifold comprising a pump assembly

Info

Publication number: EP2746447B1
Application number: EP12198902.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mauro Cinello; Vittorio Perosa; Stefano De Paoli; Giovanni Colombera; Marco Monacchi; Marco Clara; Marco Pessot; Davide Morosi
Original assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Current assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Priority date: 2012-12-21
Filing date: 2012-12-21
Publication date: 2020-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2032-12-21
Also published as: EP2746447A1

Description

The present invention relates to laundry machines, such as laundry washing machines and laundry washing/drying machines, both for domestic and professional use. More particularly, the present invention relates to a laundry machine having a compact discharge manifold comprising a pump assembly.
A household and/or professional laundry machine - such as a laundry washing machine and a laundry washing/drying machine - typically comprises a washing tub, enclosed in a casing, that houses a rotatable drum in which the laundry can be loaded/unloaded, and accessible by a user for loading/unloading the laundry through a loading/unloading aperture selectively closable by a door.
During operation, washing liquid (e.g., water or water mixed with washing/rinsing products) is introduced in the tub of the laundry machine by means of an inlet hydraulic system fluidly connected to the tub. Subsequently, a washing phase starts in which the laundry previously loaded into the rotatable drum is washed thanks to the chemical reactions exerted by the washing liquid, supported by the tumbling action caused by the rotation of the drum.
At the end of the washing phase, waste liquid (i.e., the washing liquid mixed with dirt particles removed from the laundry and possibly fluff lost therefrom) is drained from the washing tub before starting a rinsing phase of the washed laundry typically followed by a spin-drying phase. Furthermore, also additional waste liquid expelled from the washed laundry during the spin-drying or rinsing phase is discharged at the end of the laundry machine operation in order to avoid waste liquid stagnation, correlated unpleasant smells and dirt deposits within the drum and/or the tub.
Therefore, the laundry machine is provided with a draining system adapted to drain waste liquid during the operation of the laundry machine. Particularly, such draining system is selectively fluidly connected to the tub of the laundry machine in order to receive the waste liquid.
The draining system usually comprises a discharge duct that, at one of its ends, is connected to a discharge hole at the bottom of the washing tub for discharging the waste liquid. At the other end, the discharge duct is connected to a pump assembly adapted to drain the waste liquid from the washing tub. Such a pump assembly usually comprises a filter (for blocking small objects and/or fluff) and a drain pump (that pumps liquid out from the washing tub). A valve member is usually provided in the discharge duct in order to fluidly separate during a washing procedure the draining system from the tub. Finally, a discharge hose connects a pump assembly outlet to a house draining pipe system for disposing the waste liquid.
In some appliances, the discharge duct comprises a flexible hose that is fastened to a drain collar surrounding the discharge hole of the tub by means of a hose clamp. The flexibility of the flexible hose poses reliability issues and makes discharge system assembling complex. Indeed, the flexible hose connection with rigid (e.g., the tub) components releases by time because of mechanical stress affecting the laundry appliance during its operation, caused by drum rotation and by the drain pump suction.
In other laundry machines, instead of a flexible hose, the discharge duct comprises a discharge manifold made of hard material, such as a plastic polymer, connected to the tub at the drain collar. Discharge manifold rigidity provides the discharge system with improved mechanical stability against stresses occurring during machine operation, since it is connected (e.g., the manifold may be screwed to the tub) in a more stable way to the tub than the flexible hose.
EP 0 736 626 A2 discloses an integral flow directing and filter unit formed from a unitary body integrally formed by moulding plastics material, having two axially aligned rotor housings of centrifugal pump impellers formed therein which are open at their outer axial ends, a suction chamber positioned between the housings and in communication with them, two delivery outlets in communication with the said housings, a filter housing in communication with the suction chamber and an inlet in communication with the filter housing. The structure is completed by a filter lodged in the filter housing and by two independent motor units with an associated impeller coupled with the unitary body, each closing the open axial end of the rotor housing in such a way that the flow is directed into one or other of the outlets by activating one or other of the two motors.
The Applicant has perceived that the known discharge manifolds do not allow a faster assembly phase of the draining system to the tub than the flexible hoses nor a simpler interconnection between components of the draining system (i.e., manifold, filter, pump, discharge hose). Therefore, the Applicant has tackled the problem of devising a satisfactory solution able to provide a discharge manifold suited for fast assembly to the tub and at the same time improving the robustness of the draining system.
The Applicant has found that by providing a discharge manifold preferably made in a single piece construction and of a hard material designed in such a way to be adapted to house a filter element and to connect with a drain pump, forming with the latter a watertight chamber for operatively housing an impeller of the pump, provides a, at least partial, solution to the drawbacks mentioned above. Indeed, the discharge manifold, the filter element housed in the manifold and the drain pump connected to the same provide a drain arrangement that may be mounted as a whole in a simple and fast way to the laundry machine, since it substantially requires only two watertight connections (i.e., with the washing tub and with the discharge hose). Thus, the draining arrangement allows achieving a draining system very robust and reliable in a cost-effective manner, thanks to the low number of connections required.
One aspect of the present invention proposes a laundry machine for treating laundry. The laundry machine comprises a tub. The tub comprises a discharge hole for draining liquid out of the tub, a discharge manifold adapted to be fluidly connected to the discharge hole for collecting liquid drained from the tub, a filter element adapted to at least partly block fluff and or foreign bodies reaching the discharge manifold from the tub, a drain pump adapted to drain liquid from the discharge manifold, the drain pump comprising an impeller member adapted to impel a liquid. In the solution according to an embodiment of the present invention, the discharge manifold houses the filter element and is connect with the drain pump by forming an impeller chamber operatively housing the impeller member of the drain pump.
Preferred features of the present invention are set in the dependent claims.
In an embodiment of the invention, the discharge manifold comprises a first hollow portion adapted to house the filter element, and a second hollow portion adapted to collect liquid from the tub, the first hollow portion being fluidly connected to the second hollow portion.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first hollow portion comprises a pump aperture adapted to connect the first hollow portion with the drain pump and to receive the impeller member inside the first hollow portion, and an exhaust port adapted to allow outflow of liquid from the discharge manifold.
In another embodiment of the invention, the filter element is adapted to be inserted into the first hollow portion through the pump aperture and fit said first hollow portion.
In another embodiment of the invention, the filter element comprises a first filter part adapted to block foreign bodies carried by liquid drained from the tub, and a second filter part adapted to fit the pump aperture of the discharge manifold, the first filter part being fluidly connected with the second filter part.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first filter part of the filter element comprises a blocking member adapted to prevent foreign bodies from reaching the second filter part of the filter element.
In another embodiment of the invention, the second filter part of the filter element comprises an impeller aperture adapted to match the pump aperture of the first hollow portion when the filter element is inserted in the first hollow portion and an exhaust slot adapted to match the exhaust port of the first hollow portion when the filter element is inserted in the first hollow portion.
In another embodiment of the invention, the drain pump further comprises an actuator adapted to impart rotation to the impeller member, and a wall interposed between said impeller member and said actuator, the impeller member being rotatably connected to the actuator through said wall in a watertight manner.
In another embodiment of the invention, the wall is adapted to seal the impeller aperture and the pump aperture of the first hollow portion in a watertight manner, the second filter part of the filter element and the wall defining the impeller chamber adapted to house the impeller member.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first hollow portion further comprises at least one receptacle member along a periphery of the pump aperture adapted to engage with fastening members.
In another embodiment of the invention, the wall of the drain pump comprises at least one matching element adapted to match the at least one receptacle member while allowing the latter being engaged with the corresponding fastening element.
In another embodiment of the invention, the wall of the drain pump further comprises a sealing gasket adapted to seal the filter aperture.
In another embodiment of the invention, the exhaust port of the first hollow portion is adapted to be connected to a drain duct fluidly coupled to a house draining pipe system for disposing the liquid.
In another embodiment of the invention, the second hollow portion comprises a tub aperture adapted to be fluidly connected to a discharge hole provided on the tub.
In another embodiment of the invention, the discharge manifold and the filter element are made of a hard polymer.
These and others features and advantages of the solution according to the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, provided merely by way of exemplary and non-limitative examples, to be read in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a laundry machine in which the present invention may be implemented;
Figure 2A is an isometric view of a tub of the laundry machine of Figure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2B is an enlarged view of a lower part of the tub of Figure 2A according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3A and 3B are two isometric views of a discharge manifold made of hard material according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 4A shows the discharge manifold of Figure 3A and 3B while being mounted to the tub of Figure 2A ;
Figures 4B shows the discharge manifold of Figure 3 A and 3B mounted to the tub of Figure 2A ;
Figure 5 is an exploded view of the discharge manifold of Figure 3 A and 3B comprising a filter and a pump according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 6 is a close up of the filter of Figure 5 ;
Figure 7A is a partial cross-sectional and enlarged view of the discharge manifold of Figure 5 associated with the tub of Figure 2A ;
Figure 7B is a cross-sectional and enlarged view of the discharge manifold of Figure 5 associated with the tub of Figure 2A ;

With reference to the drawings, Figure 1 is an isometric view of a laundry machine 100 in which the present invention may be implemented.
The laundry machine 100 is a machine for treating laundry (such has a laundry washing machine, a laundry washing/drying machine, etc.) of the front-loading type. Anyway, it should be apparent from the following description that laundry machines of the top-loading type may also benefit from the solution according to the present invention.
In the example at issue, the laundry machine 100 comprises a casing or cabinet 105 preferably substantially parallelepiped-shaped, that encloses a washing tub, or simply tub 200 preferably substantially cylindrically-shaped (which is visible in Figures 2A and 2B ), wherein the laundry is treated, along with any other component of the laundry machine 100 necessary for its operation (e.g., hydraulic, electronic and electromechanical apparatuses known in the art and, therefore not herein described for sake of conciseness).
Particularly, the tub 200 houses a rotatable drum 110 preferably substantially cylindrical-shaped, which, in operation, rotates about an axis A in order to tumble the laundry to be washed.
In the example of Figure 1 , in order to allow a user to access the tub 200 and the inside of the drum 110 (for loading/unloading the laundry), a loading/unloading opening 115 is advantageously provided on a front side of the laundry machine 100. The loading/unloading opening 115 is closable by a door 120, which is, preferably, hinged to the casing 105 by means of a hinge (not shown in the figure). The door 120 is adapted to pivot from a closed position - wherein the door 120 closes the loading/unloading opening 115, impeding access to the drum 110 - to an open position - wherein the door 120 is pivoted to an angle, preferably, equal to, or greater than, 90° with respect to the closed position, allowing access to the drum 110.
In addition, preferably, although not limitatively, on a top portion of the casing 105 a user interface 125 is provided. Preferably, although not limitatively, the user interface 125 may comprise a control panel 125a for selecting laundry treatment parameters (e.g., type of washing, drying cycle washing liquid temperature, rotation speed for the drum 110, etc.) and a drawer 125b for loading laundry-treating products (e.g., detergents, softeners, bleachers, etc.).
Turning now to Figures 2A and 2B , there is shown an isometric view of the tub 200 of the laundry machine 100 and an enlarged view of a lower part of the tub 200, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The tub 200 has preferably a substantially cylindrical shape and is made of waterproof material which is also able to withstand operating temperatures and chemicals reactions promoted by washing liquid during the laundry machine operation. For example, the tub 200 may be made of a suitable plastic polymer, such as calcium carbonate-filled polypropylene.
Advantageously, although not limitatively, the tub 200 comprises a front half-shell 205a and a rear half-shell 205b, each having substantially the shape of a hollow cylinder.
In the example at issue, the front half-shell 205a comprises a foreside 210a, which substantially has a discoid shape. Advantageously, the foreside 210a is provided with a front opening 215, which is adapted to be aligned with the loading/unloading opening 115 provided in the casing 105, and with a corresponding opening of the drum 130 (once the tub 200 is positioned inside the casing 105). Moreover, in order to achieve a watertight connection between the loading/unloading opening 115 and the front opening 215 (in order to avoid leakages of washing liquid into the casing 105), a bellows 220, preferably made of an elastomeric and waterproof material, is mounted in a watertight manner (such as by glueing, by welding, by interference fitting etc.) to both a border of the tub front opening 215 and a border of the loading/unloading opening 115.
The front half-shell 205a comprises a front cylindrical sidewall 225a, which extends substantially transversal from an outer periphery of the foreside 210a. Advantageously, the front sidewall 225a ends with a front half-shell border or flange 230a, which is adapted to match a corresponding, rear half-shell border or flange 230b of the rear half-shell 205b.
The rear half-shell 205b comprises a backside or backwall 210b, which also substantially has a discoid shape. Advantageously, the backside 210b is provided with a shaft opening (not shown). Such shaft opening advantageously rotatably houses a rotor shaft (not shown) attached to the drum 110 and rotatably connected (directly or by means of transmission elements such as a transmission belt) to an electric motor (also not shown) comprised in the laundry machine 100 in order to rotate the drum 130 during operation.
The rear half-shell 205b comprises a rear cylindrical sidewall 225b that extends substantially transversal from an outer periphery of the backside 210b. The rear sidewall 225b ends with the rear half-shell border 230b, which matches with the front half-shell border 230a of the front half-shell 205b.
The foreside 210a, the backside 210b, and the two cylindrical sidewalls 225a and 225b may advantageously be provided with ribs 232 adapted to increase structural strength to the half- shells 205a and 205b. The foreside 210a, the backside 210b, and the two sidewalls 225a and 225b are preferably provided with fastening elements 235 protruding externally therefrom. For example, the fastening elements 235 may comprise treaded slots for screws or bolts and/or anchoring protrusions typically adapted to connect the tub 200 with a number of coil springs and/or shock-absorbers (not shown in the figures) through which the tub 200 is suspended in floating manner inside the casing 105.
A washing liquid inlet port 237 is advantageously provided in a top portion of the bellows 220 (alternatively a different inlet port may be provided in tub 200) and is fluidly connected to an inlet hydraulic system (not shown in the figures) in order to supply washing liquid in the tub 200 during the laundry machine 100 operation.
In the example at issue, a discharge hole 240 is advantageously provided at the bottom of the tub 200, for example in a lower portion of the front sidewall 225a; the discharge hole 240 serves as outlet for waste liquid. Anyway, it should be noted that the discharge hole 240 could be provided in the rear half-shell 205b as well, or even the discharge hole 240 could be split between the two half- shells 205a and 205b (thus being provided partly along each one of the borders 230a and 230b); in general, the discharge hole 240 may be provided where it results to be more useful (i.e., according to the position of other component parts inside the casing 105).
According to the invention, the discharge hole 240 is surrounded by a cylindrical wall, forming a discharge hole collar or drain collar 245, which protrudes, outwards from the tub 200 at a periphery of the discharge hole 240, and has a free end that delimits a collar bottom aperture 245t (i.e., opposite to the discharge hole 240 in the front sidewall 225a).
The drain collar 245 is provided with a plurality of drain-connection elements adapted to the connection to the tub 200 of a discharge duct such as the discharge manifold 300 (shown in Figures 3A - 7B ) in a variety of manners. The plurality of drain-connection elements comprises different connection elements adapted to connect together the drain collar 245 and the discharge manifold 300 for collecting the waste liquid; different types of connections may be supported, each of which may depend on a type of the discharge duct 300 used. For example, the drain collar 245 may be provided at once with any combination of sets of receptacles for screws and/or bolts, bayonet mounting elements, threaded portions, snap-fitting members, sacrificial portions (e.g., for welding of the discharge manifold 300), etc.
According to the invention, as best shown in Figures 2A and 2B , drain-connection elements comprise a number of hollow appendages preferably internally threaded or self-threading, such as three hollow appendages 250a, 250b and 250c that protrude from the tub 200 around the drain collar 245, and a fourth hollow appendage 250d, preferably internally threaded or self threading, that is provided in the proximity of the drain collar 245, and is formed with an axis that is transversal, preferably orthogonal, with respect to the axis of the hollow appendages 250a, 250b and 250c. As shown in the figures, the hollow appendages 250a, 250b, 250c and 250d have substantially the shape of a hollow cylinder, but other shapes, such as hollow prisms or a hollow frustoconical shapes, are not excluded.
At least one hollow appendage 250a, 250b, 250c and 250d is advantageously designed for engaging with a threaded fastening element. For example, at least one hollow appendage 250a, 250b, 250c and 250d may serve as female receptacle for screws or bolts; alternatively or in addition, at least one hollow appendage 250a, 250b, 250c and 250d may be provided with hooking elements (such as properly shaped slots) adapted to engage corresponding snap-fitting members (such as lugs) provided on the discharge manifold 300. As an alternative, the hollow appendages 250a, 250b, 250c and 250d may be adapted to engage different fastening elements; for example, the hollow appendages 250a and 250d may be adapted to serve as female receptacle for screws while the hollow appendages 250b and 250d may be adapted to engage corresponding snap-fitting members.
Advantageously, although not limitatively, the three hollow appendages 250a, 250b and 250c are spaced apart from the drain collar 245, being connected thereto through a respective reinforcement and connection element, such a connection rib 255. In this way, a collar band 245a of the drain collar 245 ranging from its free end (i.e., in correspondence of the collar bottom aperture 245t) to the connection ribs 255 remains advantageously clear and easily reachable; thus, such collar band 245a may be used as(for) further drain-connection element for achieving a coupling between the drain collar 245 and the discharge manifold 300 (as will be discussed in detail later on). Alternatively, one or more (up to all) of the hollow appendages 250a, 250b and 250c may be formed adjacent (i.e., in contact with) the drain collar 245 (and possibly formed integral therewith) or completely separated therefrom.
Advantageously, although not limitatively, one or more hollow appendage 250a, 250b, 250c and 250d may be provided formed in the half- shell 205b or 205a opposite to the half- shell 205a or 205b in which the drain collar 245 is provided. In the example at issue, the fourth hollow appendage 250d may be provided on the rear half-shell 205b at the rear border 230b thereof in a position proximal to the drain collar 245 once the two half- shells 205a and 205b are associated together. In the case the drain collar 245 is formed partly in the front half-shell 205a and partly in the rear half-shell 205b, hollow appendages 250a, 250b, 250c and 250d may be formed in both the half- shells 205a and 205b.
During a manufacturing phase of the laundry machine 100, the two half- shells 205a and 205b are joined together, with the drum 130 enclosed therein, by matching and coupling the corresponding borders 230a and 230b in any suitable manner (e.g., by welding); in this way, the tub 200 rotatably houses the drum 130.
Considering now Figure 3A and 3B , they are exploded views of a drain discharge duct or discharge manifold 300 made of hard material according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The discharge manifold 300 is made of hard material such as a suitable plastic polymer (e.g., again calcium carbonate-filled polypropylene) and comprises a first hollow portion 305a preferably formed with a substantially cylindrical shape, and a second hollow portion 305b preferably having a substantially frustoconical shape (although further portions or alternative portions featuring other shapes are not excluded). The second hollow portion 305b is fluidly connected, through its smallest base, substantially transversal to the first hollow portion 305a at an end thereof. Both the first hollow portion 305a and the second hollow portion 305b may be formed in a single piece (e.g., may be produced in a single mould) or the discharge manifold 300 may be formed by an interconnection of separated first hollow portion 305a and second hollow portion 305b.
At an opposite free end of the first hollow portion 305a a preferably circular pump-side aperture 310 is provided, which is adapted to engage a pump assembly (described in the following) for draining waste liquid from the discharge manifold 300 and, possibly, the tub 200 of the laundry machine 100. One or more receptacle members 312 are advantageously provided along the border of pump-side aperture 310 in order to allow the connection (as will be discussed in the following) with a drain pump 505 (shown in Figure 5 ). The receptacle members 312 may also be preferably internally threaded or self-threading for engaging with threaded fastening elements. In addition, substantially at the pump-side aperture 310, an exhaust port 314 is provided, preferably, protruding laterally on the discharge manifold 300 (i.e., the exhaust port 314 is substantially transversal with respect to the pump-side aperture 310).
At a free end of the second hollow portion 305b, a preferably circular tub-side aperture 315 is provided. Advantageously, the tub-side aperture 315 may be associated to a valve member 320 that may be provided for separating the cool waste liquid collected in the discharge manifold 300 from the warm washing liquid contained in the tub 200 during the laundry machine 100 operation. For example, the tub-side aperture 315 may comprise a tub-side wall 315a and a holding rib 315b, which may be adapted to encompass and hold, respectively, valve member 320.
The valve member 320 may comprise a substantially ring-shaped sealing gasket 325 and a buoyant element such as a cap or other closing element 330.
Preferably, the cap or other closing element is hinged to the gasket 325.
Advantageously, although not limitatively, such sealing gasket 325 is made of a resilient material; advantageously the sealing gasket 325 is designed to fit, in a watertight manner, the space defined by the tub-side wall 315a and the tub-side holding rib 315b (to which the sealing gasket 325 may possibly be glued or attached in any other suitable way). The sealing gasket 325 preferably comprises a tab or appendage or wing 325a protruding downwards (i.e., towards the inside of the second hollow portion 305b when the valve member 320 is mounted in the discharge manifold 300) from a lower portion of the sealing gasket 325. The sealing gasket 325 advantageously comprises a substantially circular gasket aperture 325b adapted to be watertight closed by the cap or other closing element 330.
In the example at issue, the cap 330 is preferably, although not limitatively, made of hard material (such as a plastic polymer). The cap 330 is preferably substantially cylindrically shaped with a substantially hemispherical top 330a, which is encircled by a flat abutment border 330b. The abutment border 330b is adapted to abut a lower rim of the gasket aperture 325b achieving the watertight closure of the tub-side aperture 315.
The cap 330 preferably comprises an eyelet 330c protruding laterally from the cap 330, for example at mid-height of a side of the cap 330. The tab 325a of the sealing gasket 325 is adapted to be inserted into the eyelet 330c, thus allowing the cap 330 to pivot about the tab 325a, during operation, from a closed position, in which the abutment border 330b abuts the gasket aperture 325b, to an open position, in which the cap 330 is substantially transversal to the gasket aperture 325b.
Anyway, it should be noted that embodiments according to the present invention might be implemented in laundry machines exploiting types of valve member other than the one herein described or, ultimately, implementing a discharge duct 300 lacking of such valve member.
According to the invention, the discharge manifold 300 further comprises a plurality of matching portions or wings formed along the tub-side wall 315a and protruding therefrom, each advantageously having a trough-hole; in the example at issue, three matching portions or wings 335a, 335b and 335c are provided. In addition, along the periphery of the pump-side aperture 310 a further matching portion or wing 335d is provided. It should be noted that, since the pump-side aperture 310 is transversal to the tub-side aperture 315, the wing 335d has an axis that is transversal, preferably orthogonal, with respect to the ones of the wings 335a, 335b and 335c.
In alternative embodiments the matching portion may be formed on a border of the tub-side aperture, instead protruding from its wall.
Turning jointly to Figures 4A and 4B , which show the discharge manifold 300 while being mounted to the tub 200 and the discharge manifold 300 mounted to the tub 200, respectively, the mounting of the discharge manifold 300 to the tub 200 is now described.
In the example at issue, the drain collar 245 is inserted into the tub-side aperture 315, since the former has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the latter (although other embodiments in which the drain collar 245 has a diameter larger than, or substantially equal to, the tub-side aperture 315 are not excluded). Advantageously, the drain collar 245 is inserted into the tub-side aperture 315 until the free end of the drain collar 245 abuts an upper portion of the sealing gasket 325.
According to the invention, each matching portion or wing 335a, 335b, 335c and 335d of the discharge manifold 300 is designed to match a corresponding drain-connection element provided on the tub 200, such as the corresponding hollow appendage 250a, 250b, 250c and 250d, as the drain collar 245 is inserted into the tub-side aperture 315. Alternatively, the wings 335a, 335b, 335c and 335d on the discharge manifold 300 may be in a different number with respect to the hollow appendages 250a, 250b, 250c and 250d provided on the tub 200 - in order to be adapted to the connection with other tubs (not shown) having a different number or disposition of hollow appendages -, in which case only part of the wings 335a, 335b, 335c and 335d matches corresponding hollow appendages 250a, 250b, 250c and 250d.
According to the invention, suitable fastening elements, such as screws 405, are inserted, each one into the through hole of the corresponding wings 335a, 335b, 335c and 335d and engaged with the corresponding hollow appendage 250a, 250b, 250c and 250d, once the discharge manifold 300 is coupled to the drain collar 245. In some embodiments according to the present invention, only a part of the hollow appendages 250a, 250b, 250c and 250d may be engaged with screws 405 while the remaining part of the hollow appendages 250a, 250b, 250c and 250d may be left unengaged. For example, the tub 200 may be connected to a tub (not shown) having a lower number of matching portions than the hollow appendages 250a, 250b, 250c and 250d provided on the tub 200.
The matching pair of wing 335d - hollow appendage 260d, which is transversal, preferably orthogonal, with respect to the other pairs of wings 335a, 335b and 335c - hollow appendages 250a, 250b and 250c ensures a greater robustness in the coupling between the discharge manifold 300 and the drain collar 245 than having all the pairs parallel one to another, since the fastening elements provided (e.g., the screws 405) act in two distinct fastening directions.
Once the screws 405 have been fastened, the discharge manifold 300 results firmly connected to the drain collar 245 and thus to the whole tub 200. Thanks to the tightening strength provided by the fastened screws 405, the free end of the drain collar 245 advantageously abuts an upper portion of the sealing gasket 325 in a watertight manner, thus ensuring a leakage-less fluid communication between the discharge manifold 300 and the tub 200. Preferably, the pump-side aperture 310 may be fluidly connected to a pump assembly (not shown in the figures) an outlet of which is fluidly connected to a discharge hose for disposing the waste liquid in a house draining pipe system.
The laundry machine 100 may advantageously comprise a recirculation system (not shown in the figures) adapted to reuse part of drained waste liquid, during the laundry machine 100 operation in order to reduce liquid consumption (particularly, water consumption). In this case, a recirculation duct may be selectively connected to the filter-pump assembly outlet (for example, in parallel with the draining hose) for receiving part of the waste liquid to be fed to the recirculation system.
Turning now jointly to Figures 5 and 6 , they show the discharge manifold 300 and a pump assembly 500 according to the present invention comprising the drain pump 505 and a filter 510 of such pump assembly 500, respectively.
Advantageously, according to an embodiment of the present invention the filter 510 is adapted to be housed within the first hollow portion 305a of the discharge manifold 300.
The filter 510 is adapted to prevent fluff and/or small foreign bodies incoming from the tub 200 (not shown, for example buttons detached from laundry being washed, small coins etc.) reaching the drain pump 505 positioned downstream (which may experience malfunctions due to such fluff and/or foreign bodies) and/or remaining inside the draining system (which may lead to a clogging of the draining system). The filter 510 comprises a (first) filter front part 510a and (second) rear filter part 510b.
The filter front part 510a actively blocks said fluff and/or foreign bodies while allowing the passage of waste liquid. The filter front part 510a is advantageously shaped in such a way to be inserted according to a predetermined position inside the first hollow portion 305a. In the example at issue (as best shown in Figure 6 ), the filter front part 510a comprises a head portion 515 having a shape preferably adapted to reach and fit the end of the first hollow portion 305a that is fluidly connected to the second hollow portion 305b. The head portion 515 is interconnected to the rear filter part 510b by means of two side arms 520. Between the two side arms 520, substantially transversal to the same, a blocking member such as a baffle 525 is provided. The baffle 525 may be substantially a plate positioned transversal to the flow of liquid, during operation; thus, any foreign body drained from the tub 200 will impact the baffle 525 and become trapped between the head portion 515 and the baffle 525 (without any harm for the drain pump 505 positioned downstream).
The rear filter part 510b is fluidly connected with the filter front part 510a and preferably, although not necessarily, formed integral with the same. Such rear filter part 510b is preferably substantially a hollow half-cylinder having a wall 530 provided with a passage 530a allowing fluid communication between the front filter part 510a and the rear filter part 510b. It should be noted that advantageously the passage 530b may be provided with a net or a membrane (not shown in the drawings) adapted to prevent fluff or lint from passing into the rear filter part 510b. Opposite to the wall 530, the rear filter part 510b comprises an impeller aperture 535, while substantially transversal to both the wall 530 and the impeller aperture 535, an exhaust slot 540 is provided in such a way to match with the exhaust port 314 once the filter 510 is inserted into the first hollow portion 305a of the discharge manifold 300 (as can be seen in Figure 7A ). Advantageously, a filter gasket 545 may be provided at the intersection between the front filter part 510a and the rear filter part 510b thus preventing liquid from leaking into the rear filter part 510b through a periphery of the wall 530.
The drain pump 505 preferably comprises an impeller 550 rotatably connected to an actuator 555 (e.g., an electric motor), the latter being adapted to rotate the former. Between the impeller 550 and the actuator 555, a closure wall 560 is interposed. On such closure wall 560 may be preferably, although not limitatively, provided a circular pump-sealing gasket 565. The closure wall 560 comprises one or more through-holes 570 each of which adapted to be aligned with a corresponding of the one or more receptacle members 312 provided on the discharge manifold 300.
Turning jointly to Figure 7A and 7B , they are a partial cross-sectional and across-sectional enlarged views of the discharge manifold of Figure 5 associated with the tub of Figure 2A .
According to embodiments of the present invention, during a manufacturing phase, the discharge manifold 300, the filter 510, and the pump assembly 500 are connected together in a single arrangement and then are simply mounted to the tub 200, optionally with the valve member 320 and sealing gasket 325 placed between the manifold 300 and the tub 200.
The filter 510 is inserted in the first hollow portion 305a with the filter front part 510a that substantially tightly fits the same, while the filter rear part 510b tightly fits the tub-side aperture 515, while the exhaust slot 540 results aligned with the exhaust port 314 (thanks to the filter 510 shape as above described).
Subsequently, the closure wall 560 is coupled with the pump-side aperture 510 and then fastened thereto. In the example at issues, each through hole 570 on the closure wall 560 matches a corresponding receptacle member 312, and the drain pump 505 is fastened to the first hollow portion 305a by means of pump fastening elements, such as pump screws 705, each of which is inserted into the respective through hole 570 and screwed to the corresponding receptacle member 312.
Therefore, the closure wall 560 of the drain pump 505 closes the pump-side aperture 310 of the discharge manifold 300. The closure wall 560 and the filter rear part 510b result connected, and thanks to the pump-sealing gasket 565 the impeller aperture 535 of the filter 510 define with the closure wall 560 a watertight impeller chamber 710 housing the impeller 550 of the drain pump 505.
Finally, a drain hose (not shown in the figures) is connected to the exhaust port 314 (in any known manner) for the connection with the rest of the draining system.
In operation, waste liquid drained from the tub 200 is collected in the second hollow portion 305b of the discharge manifold 300, passes into the first hollow portion 305a where it is filtered by the filter 510 and passed in the impeller chamber 710. Hence, the waste liquid is propelled by the rotation of the impeller 550 into the exhaust port 314 and therefrom into the drain hose for being discharged or recirculated.
Thanks to the solution according to an embodiment of the present invention, the mounting of the draining system results easier since the arrangement comprising the discharge manifold 300 and the pump assembly 500 (comprising the filter 510) is compact thus reduce the number of connection to be performed, thus improving the manufacturing yield while lowering the manufacturing costs. Nonetheless, the arrangement comprising the discharge manifold 300 and the pump assembly 500 provide for a more robust and wear resistant draining system.

Claims

A laundry machine (100) for treating laundry comprising a tub (200), said tub comprising:
a discharge hole (240) for draining liquid out of the tub (200),

a discharge manifold (300) adapted to be fluidly connected to the discharge hole (240) for collecting liquid drained from the tub (200),

a filter element (510) adapted to at least partly block fluff and or foreign bodies reaching the discharge manifold (300) from the tub (200),

a drain pump (505) adapted to drain liquid from the discharge manifold (300), the drain pump (505) comprising an impeller member (550) adapted to impel a liquid,

wherein the discharge manifold (300) houses the filter element (540) and is connect with the drain pump (505) by forming an impeller chamber (710) operatively housing the impeller member (550) of the drain pump (505),

characterized in that the discharge hole (240) is surrounded by a cylindrical wall forming a discharge hole collar (245), which protrudes outwards from the tub (200) at a periphery of the discharge hole (245) and is provided with hollow appendages (250a, 250b, 250c, 250d) that protrude from the tub (200) around the drain collar (245) and are adapted to the connection of the discharge manifold (300) to the tub (200), the discharge manifold (300) comprises a plurality of matching portions (335a, 335b, 335c, 335d), at least part of which is designed to match the hollow appendages (250a, 250b, 250c, 250d), and fastening elements (405) are inserted into through holes of corresponding matching portions (335a,335b,335c,335d) and are engaged with the corresponding hollow appendages (250a,250b,250c,250d), once the discharge manifold (300) is coupled to the drain collar (245).
The laundry machine (100) according claim 1, wherein the discharge manifold comprises a first hollow portion (305a) adapted to house the filter element (510), and a second hollow portion (305b) adapted to collect liquid from the tub (200), the first hollow portion (305a) being fluidly connected to the second hollow portion (305b).
The laundry machine (100) according to claim 2, wherein the first hollow portion (305a) comprises:
a pump aperture (310) adapted to connect the first hollow portion (305a) with the drain pump (505) and to receive the impeller member (550) inside the first hollow portion (305a),

an exhaust port (314, 310) adapted to allow outflow of liquid from the discharge manifold (300).
The laundry machine (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the filter element (510) is adapted to be inserted into the first hollow portion (305a) through the pump aperture (310) and fit said first hollow portion (305a).
The laundry machine (100) according to claim 4, wherein the filter element (510) comprises a first filter part (510a) adapted to block foreign bodies carried by liquid drained from the tub (200), and a second filter part (510b) adapted to fit the pump aperture (310) of the discharge manifold (300), the first filter part (510a) being fluidly connected with the second filter part (510b).
The laundry machine (100) according to claim 5, wherein the first filter part (510a) of the filter element (510) comprises a blocking member (525) adapted to prevent foreign bodies from reaching the second filter part (510b) of the filter element (510).
The laundry machine (100) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the second filter part (510b) of the filter element (510) comprises an impeller aperture (535) adapted to match the pump aperture (310) of the first hollow portion (305a) when the filter element (510) is inserted in the first hollow portion (305a) and an exhaust slot (540) adapted to match the exhaust port (314) of the first hollow portion (305a) when the filter element (510) is inserted in the first hollow portion (305a).
The laundry machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, wherein the drain pump (505) further comprises an actuator (555) adapted to impart rotation to the impeller member (550), and a wall (560) interposed between said impeller member (550) and said actuator (555), the impeller member (550) being rotatably connected to the actuator (555) through said wall (560) in a watertight manner.
The laundry machine (100) according to claim 8, wherein the wall (560) is adapted to seal the impeller aperture (535) and the pump aperture (310) of the first hollow portion (305a) in a watertight manner, the second filter part (510a) of the filter element (510) and the wall (560) defining the impeller chamber (710) adapted to house the impeller member (550).
The laundry machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 9, wherein the first hollow portion (305a) further comprises at least one receptacle member (312) along a periphery of the pump aperture (310) adapted to engage with fastening members (705).
The laundry machine (100) according to claim 10, wherein the wall (560) of the drain pump (505) comprises at least one matching element (570) adapted to match the at least one receptacle member (312) while allowing the latter being engaged with the corresponding fastening element (705).
The laundry machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 8 to 11, wherein the wall (560) of the drain pump (505) further comprises a sealing gasket (565) adapted to seal the filter aperture (535).
The laundry machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 3 to 12, wherein the exhaust port (314) of the first hollow portion (305a) is adapted to be connected to a drain duct fluidly coupled to a house draining pipe system for disposing the liquid.
The laundry machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 13, wherein the second hollow portion (305b) comprises a tub aperture (315) adapted to be fluidly connected to a discharge hole (240) provided on the tub (200).
The laundry machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 14, wherein the discharge manifold (300) and the filter element (510) are made of a hard polymer.