EP2812475B1

EP2812475B1 - A drum assembly for a washing machine and method for fabricating the same

Info

Publication number: EP2812475B1
Application number: EP12720479.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Patrice NOCUS
Original assignee: Electrolux Laundry Systems France SNC
Current assignee: Electrolux Laundry Systems France SNC
Priority date: 2012-02-09
Filing date: 2012-05-07
Publication date: 2021-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 2032-05-07
Also published as: EP2812475A1; WO2013117245A1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to washing machines, especially laundry washing machines. The invention relates more particularly to a drum assembly for a washing machine and a method for fabricating the same.

BACKGROUND ART

A laundry washing machine is an appliance for removing dirt from laundry by using action of detergent and water.
It is to be noted that in the present application the expression "washing machine" may as well indicate a "simple" washing machine (i.e. a washing machine which can only wash and rinse the laundry) and a washing-drying machine (i.e. a washing machine which can also dry the laundry), both of the front-loading type and of the top-loading type.
Preferably, the expression "washing machine" refers to a barrier washing machine. Barrier washing machines are generally used where total separation between the soiled laundry and the clean laundry is a requirement. This may be because of dust in a clean factory environment such as the electronics industry, or where radioactive dust particles may be the soiling, or in the health care world for surgical garments and dressings. The main use is in the health industry where garments and bedding are to be kept sealed and separate from the incoming soiled laundry.
A barrier washing machine typically comprises two doors, one front door for loading the machine with the dirty items to be washed and one back door for unloading the clean items once the wash cycle is completed. The dirty zone cannot be in contact with the clean zone, therefore there must be a wall or panel to separate the dirty side and the clean side, thus allowing no contamination between the two sides.
With regard to barrier washing machines, there is a common way to manufacture the outer drum assembly. Figures 1a and 1b show, respectively in an exploded view and an assembled view, an example of a drum assembly for a barrier washing machine according to the prior art.
Document DE 100 03 474 A1 discloses a barrier washing machine with a locking system for an inner drum arranged in an outer drum assembly.
Document EP 0 869 213 A2 discloses a washing machine with a spin drum assembly arranged in an outer drum asembly.
Document WO00/28127 A1 discloses a washing mashine with an inner drum arranged in a water tight enclosure.
The drum assembly 1' comprises a set of six basic parts which are welded together. In particular, the drum assembly 1' comprises a basic drum part 2'a for receiving items to be washed on which three openings are made, i.e. a front opening 6'a, a back opening 6'b and a bottom opening 6'c. An operating member 5' is intended to be placed inside the bottom opening 6'c, said operating member 5' comprising for example heating elements and a drain valve. The drum assembly 1' also comprises two frameworks 3'a and 3'b for drum access, in particular for access inside the drum part 2'a, said two frameworks 3'a and 3'b respectively having an opening O'₁ and O'₂ defining the two drum openings O'₁ and O'₂ of the drum assembly 1' for loading and unloading the washing machine. The opening O'₁ of the framework 3'a is intended to face the front opening 6'a of the drum part 2'a and the opening O'₂ of the framework 3'b is intended to face the back opening 6'b of the drum part 2'a. Besides, two lateral fully circular retaining flanges 4'a and 4'b are provided with the drum assembly 1', intended to be placed on the periphery of the drum part 2'a. All parts of the drum assembly 1' are welded together to form the assembled drum assembly 1' as shown on figure 1b.
This known structure for manufacturing a drum assembly for a washing machine according to the prior art exhibits several drawbacks. Complex tooling has to be used to weld all these parts of the drum assembly together, especially to maintain the parts in contact during welding operation. The storage of the different parts of the drum assembly takes a lot of space. Moreover, the obtained drum assembly does generally not provide enough satisfactory features, especially in term of stiffness. This known drum assembly and its fabricating method are also money-consuming.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, there exists a need for providing an improved drum assembly for a washing machine, especially a barrier washing machine, which has in particular enhanced stiffness, a very low risk of failure and a high reliability. There also exists a need for providing an improved method for fabricating such a drum assembly.
The invention aims to substantially satisfy these needs and to obviate the drawbacks mentioned above related to embodiments of the prior art.
In one aspect, the invention relates to an outer drum assembly for a washing machine, especially a laundry washing machine, and in particular a barrier washing machine, comprising :

at least one piece of a basic drum part for receiving items to be washed, comprising or defining at least one opening,
at least one framework comprising one drum opening intended to face said at least one opening of said at least one piece of a basic drum part for access inside said basic drum part,
at least one piece of a flange intended to be located at least partly at a lateral periphery of said at least one piece of a basic drum part, characterized by the fact that at least one of said at least one piece of a basic drum part and said at least one piece of a flange extends only partly circumferentially.

By "extends only partly circumferentially", it is meant that the circumferential, more specifically circular, periphery of at least one of said at least one piece of a basic drum part and said at least one piece of a flange is discontinuous. In other words, at least one of said at least one piece of a basic drum part and said at least one piece of a flange does not extend 360 degrees about the rotational axis X of the drum assembly.
The present invention may show several advantages in terms of customer and financial benefits. It may be advantageous for the manufacturing of the drum assembly because of a less expensive and easier tooling for welding and less space for the storage of components. Moreover, the invention may be environmental-saving because less rough material, mainly stainless steel, is scrapped, and also timesaving because less manual finishing, such as grinding, is needed.
The drum assembly of the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, considered singly or in any technically feasible combination.
The at least one piece of a basic drum part may comprise a single piece defining a basic drum part or several pieces defining together said basic drum part.
The at least one piece of a flange may comprise a single piece defining a flange, in particular a lateral flange of a basic drum part, or several pieces defining together said flange.
The at least one piece of a basic drum part and/or the at least one piece of a flange may not extend 360 degrees about the rotational axis of the drum assembly.
The at least one framework may be arranged to cooperate with said at least one piece of a basic drum part to extend circumferentially said at least one piece of a basic drum part. The at least one framework may be arranged to define with said at least one piece of a basic drum part at least one part of a multipart basic drum part extending 360 degrees about the rotational axis of the drum assembly. The at least one framework may thus be arranged to define with said at least one piece of a basic drum part a seeming basic drum part extending 360 degrees about the rotational axis of the drum assembly.
The at least one framework may comprise at least one outer flange portion arranged to cooperate with said at least one piece of a flange to extend circumferentially said at least one piece of a flange. The at least one outer flange portion may be arranged to define with said at least one piece of a flange at least one part of a multipart lateral flange extending 360 degrees about the rotational axis of the drum assembly. The at least one outer flange portion may thus be arranged to define with said at least one piece of a flange a seeming lateral flange extending 360 degrees about the rotational axis of the drum assembly.
The at least one outer flange portion may comprise a straight portion.
The at least one framework may comprise two outer flange portions arranged to cooperate with said at least one piece of a flange to extend circumferentially said at least one piece of a flange. The two outer flange portions may each comprise a straight portion and may define together an angle strictly comprised between 0 and 180 degrees.
The drum assembly may comprise two pieces of a flange located on either side of said at least one piece of a basic drum part.
The drum assembly may comprise a front framework comprising a front drum opening and a back framework comprising a back drum opening. The at least one piece of a basic drum part may define or may comprise a front opening and a back opening respectively intended to face said front opening and said back opening.
The drum assembly may comprise two separate pieces of a basic drum part, in particular an upper piece of a basic drum part and a lower piece of a basic drum part. Each may have a substantially arched form.
The drum assembly may comprise four pieces of a flange, i.e. a first upper piece of a flange and a first lower piece of a flange being located on one side of the at least one piece of a basic drum part, and a second upper piece of a flange and a second lower piece of a flange being located on the other side of said at least one piece of a basic drum part. The four pieces of a retaining flange may each have a substantially arched form.
The drum assembly may comprise an operating member, including in particular heating elements and a drain valve. The at least one piece of a basic drum part may comprise an opening, in particular a bottom opening, in which the operating member is located.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a washing machine, especially a laundry washing machine, characterized by the fact that it comprises a drum assembly as previously defined.
The washing machine may be a simple washing machine or a washing-drying machine. The washing machine may be of the front-loading type or of the top-loading type.
Preferably, the washing machine is a barrier washing machine.
In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method for fabricating a drum assembly as previously defined characterized by the fact that it comprises the step of welding at least one piece of a flange to at least one framework.
The method of the invention may comprise one or several features mentioned above.
In particular, the method of the invention may comprise the step of welding at least one bended, or substantially arched, piece of a flange to at least one bended, or substantially arched, outer flange portion of a framework.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of exemplary non-limiting embodiments thereof, as well on examining the figures, schematic and partial, of the accompanying drawing, on which :

figure 1a is an exploded view of a drum assembly for a washing machine of the prior art,
figure 1b shows the drum assembly of figure 1a in an assembled configuration,
figure 2a is an exploded view of an example of a drum assembly according to the invention,
figure 2b shows the drum assembly of figure 2a in an assembled configuration, and
figure 3 is an exploded view of another example of a drum assembly according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the figures to refer to the same or like parts.
Figures 2a and 2b show a first embodiment of a drum assembly 1 according to the invention. Figure 2a shows an exploded view of the drum assembly 1 while figure 2b shows the drum assembly 1 in an assembled state.
As previously mentioned, the drum assembly 1 is intended to be used in a washing machine, and preferably a laundry barrier washing machine.
The drum assembly 1 comprises two separate pieces of a basic drum part 2a and 2b, in particular an upper piece of a basic drum part 2a and a lower piece of a basic drum part 2b, in which the items, e.g. the laundry, are to be washed.
The drum assembly 1 also comprises two frameworks 3a and 3b, in particular a front framework 3a and a back framework 3b for respectively access inside the two pieces of a basic drum part 2a and 2b.
The drum assembled 1 further comprises four pieces of a flange 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d intended to be located at either the left periphery or the right periphery of the two pieces of a basic drum part 2a and 2b.
More precisely, a first upper piece of a flange 4a faces the left periphery of the upper piece of a basic drum part 2a and a second upper piece of a flange 4b faces the right periphery of the upper piece of a basic drum part 2a. Moreover, a first lower piece of a flange 4c faces the left periphery of the lower piece of a basic drum part 2b and a second lower piece of a flange 4d faces the right periphery of the lower piece of a basic drum part 2b.
The lower piece of a basic drum part 2b also comprises a bottom opening 6c in order to place an operating member 5. The operating member 5 may for example comprise heating elements and a drain valve.
According to the invention, the two pieces of a basic drum part 2a and 2b extend only partly circumferentially and each piece of a flange 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d also extends only partly circumferentially.
In other words, none of the two pieces of a basic drum part 2a, 2b and the four pieces of a flange 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d extends 360 degrees about the rotational axis X of the drum assembly 1.
Each piece of a flange 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d has a substantially arched form and so have the upper piece of a basic drum part 2a and the lower piece of a basic drum part 2b.
The upper piece of a basic drum part 2a and the lower piece of a basic drum part 2b define a front opening 6a and a back opening 6b, respectively facing a front drum opening O₁ of the front framework 3a and a back drum opening O₂ of the back framework 3b.
The front framework 3a and the back framework 3b are arranged to define with the upper piece of a basic drum part 2a and the lower piece of a basic drum part 2b all parts of a multipart basic drum part extending 360 degrees about the rotational axis X of the drum assembly 1.
Each framework 3a and 3b comprises an upper outer flange portion 7 and a lower outer flange portion 8.
The outer flange portions 7 and 8 are arranged to define with the four pieces of a flange 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d all parts of a left lateral flange and a right lateral flange extending 360 degrees about the rotational axis X of the drum assembly 1.
Contrary to the arched segments of the four pieces of a flange 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d, the outer flange portions 7 and 8 are straight portions defining together an angle α strictly comprised between 0 and 180 degrees, and preferably comprised between 90 and 180 degrees.
In the method for fabricating the drum assembly 1 to obtain the assembled drum assembly 1 as shown on figure 2b, the method comprises the step of welding each piece of a flange 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d to the corresponding outer flange portions 7 and 8.
Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a drum assembly 1 according to the invention.
In this embodiment, the basic drum part 2a comprises only one piece and extends circumferentially discontinuously so as to define a front opening 6a which faces a front opening O₁ of a single front framework 3a.
Two pieces of a flange 4a and 4b are located on either side of the basic drum part 2a.
Each piece of a flange 4a and 4b extends over less than 360 degrees around the rotational axis X of the drum assembly 1.
The framework 3a comprises outer flange portions 7 and 8 intended to be welded to the two pieces of a flange 4a and 4b.
One set of two outer flange portions 7 and 8 of the framework 3a is arranged so as to extend circumferentially one piece of a flange 4a or 4b. Thus, a seeming lateral flange, in particular a multipart lateral flange, is formed which extends 360 degrees about the rotational axis X of the drum assembly 1.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by appended claims.
Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims.
Throughout the present disclosure, the term "comprising a" is intended to be synonymous with "comprising at least one", unless specified otherwise.

Claims

An outer drum assembly (1) for a washing machine comprising :
- at least one piece of a basic drum part (2a, 2b) for receiving items to be washed, comprising or defining at least one opening (6a, 6b),

- at least one framework (3a, 3b) comprising one drum opening (O₁, O₂) intended to face said at least one opening (6a, 6b) for access inside said basic drum part (2a, 2b),

- at least one piece of a flange (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) intended to be located at least partly at a lateral periphery of said at least one piece of a basic drum part (2a, 2b),
characterized by the fact that at least one of said at least one piece of a basic drum part (2a, 2b) and said at least one piece of a flange (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) extends only partly circumferentially.
An outer drum assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said at least one piece of a basic drum part (2a, 2b) extends only partly circumferentially and by the fact that said at least one framework (3a, 3b) is arranged to cooperate with said at least one piece of a basic drum part (2a, 2b) to extend circumferentially said at least one piece of a basic drum part (2a, 2b), in particular to define with said at least one piece of a basic drum part (2a, 2b) at least one part of a multipart basic drum part extending 360 degrees about the rotational axis (X) of the drum assembly (1).
An outer drum assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that said at least one piece of a flange (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) extends only partly circumferentially and by the fact that said at least one framework (3a, 3b) comprises at least one outer flange portion (7, 8) arranged to cooperate with said at least one piece of a flange (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) to extend circumferentially said at least one piece of a flange (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), in particular to define with said at least one piece of a flange (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) at least one part of a multipart lateral flange extending 360 degrees about the rotational axis (X) of the drum assembly (1).
An outer drum assembly (1) according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that said at least one outer flange portion (7, 8) comprises a straight portion.
An outer drum assembly (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by the fact that said at least one framework (3a, 3b) comprises two outer flange portions (7, 8) arranged to cooperate with said at least one piece of a flange (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) to extend circumferentially said at least one piece of a flange (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d).
An outer drum assembly (1) according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that said two outer flange portions (7, 8) each comprise a straight portion.
An outer drum assembly (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by the fact that said two outer flange portions (7, 8) define together an angle (α) strictly comprised between 0 and 180 degrees.
An outer drum assembly (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that it comprises two pieces of flange (4a, 4b) located on either side of said at least one piece of a basic drum part (2a, 2b).
An outer drum assembly (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that it comprises a front framework (3a) comprising a front drum opening (O₁) and a back framework (3b) comprising a back drum opening (O₂), and by the fact that said at least one piece of a basic drum part (2a, 2b) defines or comprises a front opening (6a) and a back opening (6b) respectively intended to face said front opening (O₁) and said back opening (O₂).
An outer drum assembly (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that it comprises two separate pieces of a basic drum part (2a, 2b), in particular an upper piece of a basic drum part (2a) and a lower piece of a basic drum part (2b), each having a substantially arched form.
An outer drum assembly (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that it comprises four pieces of a flange, a first upper piece of a flange (4a) and a first lower piece of a flange (4c) being located on one side of said at least one piece of a basic drum part (2a, 2b), and a second upper piece of a flange (4b) and a second lower piece of a flange (4d) being located on the other side of said at least one piece of a basic drum part (2a, 2b), said four pieces of a flange (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) each having a substantially arched form.
An outer drum assembly (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that it comprises an operating member (5), including in particular heating elements and a drain valve, and by the fact that said at least one piece of a basic drum part (2a, 2b) comprises an opening (6c), in particular a bottom opening (6c), in which said operating member (6c) is located.
A washing machine characterized by the fact that it comprises an outer drum assembly (1) according to any preceding claim.
The washing machine according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that it is a barrier washing machine.
A method for fabricating an outer drum assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by the fact that it comprises the step of welding at least one piece of a flange (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) to at least one framework (3a, 3b).