EP2998426B1 - Washing machiine having an improved valve/filter assembly - Google Patents
Washing machiine having an improved valve/filter assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2998426B1 EP2998426B1 EP14184886.1A EP14184886A EP2998426B1 EP 2998426 B1 EP2998426 B1 EP 2998426B1 EP 14184886 A EP14184886 A EP 14184886A EP 2998426 B1 EP2998426 B1 EP 2998426B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- valve
- seat
- washing machine
- valve seat
- receptacle
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/10—Filtering arrangements
Definitions
- the invention relates to a washing machine (the expression "washing machine” including both “simple” washing machines, i.e. washing machines which can only wash and rinse laundry, and washing-drying machines, i.e. washing machines which can also dry laundry, both of the front-loading or top-loading type) with a draining circuit comprising a valve element adapted to selectively open and close the passage of liquid from a tub to the draining circuit, and a filter element for impeding that foreign bodies such as coins or buttons escaping the laundry could reach the draining pump.
- a washing machine including both “simple” washing machines, i.e. washing machines which can only wash and rinse laundry, and washing-drying machines, i.e. washing machines which can also dry laundry, both of the front-loading or top-loading type
- a draining circuit comprising a valve element adapted to selectively open and close the passage of liquid from a tub to the draining circuit, and a filter element for impeding that foreign bodies such as coins or buttons
- EP1204792 discloses a washing machine, wherein an inlet of a draining circuit is fluidly connected to a sump.
- a valve element is arranged between the sump and the inlet of the draining circuit. The valve element shuts off the sump from the draining circuit during a washing cycle by using a valve seat and a ball as closing element.
- the ball is freely movable within a draining section of the draining circuit.
- valve element of the above kind water within the draining circuit needs not be heated during a heating phase of a washing cycle of the washing machine, whereby the energy consumption of the washing machine is reduced.
- Assembling of the draining circuit in a way that guarantees proper operation of the valve and long-term functionality of the closing state of the valve element may be a problem, as such a valve element however is a component in danger of failure, e.g. because of clogging. As such it needs servicing. Servicing however may be complicated by valve element design and mounting location and in the consequence cost intensive.
- EP2503050 tries to solve above problem by providing a washing machine comprising a tub with a sump and a draining circuit, wherein the sump is fluidly connected to the draining circuit.
- a filter element is provided, which is removably positionable in the sump, e.g. which can be removed from the sump by a user, e.g. for cleaning or replacement, and can be (re)inserted into the sump thereafter.
- the sump is preferably formed integrally with the tub, such that no additional mounting or assembly step is necessary for mounting the sump at the tub.
- the washing machine may preferably comprise a chamber for at least a portion of a draining pump, wherein the chamber is preferably integrally formed with the sump and the tub, such that fewer assembling steps and less assembly time for assembling the washing machine are required.
- the washing machine disclosed in EP2503050 also comprises a valve element for selectively obstructing (or closing) a passage of liquid from the tub to the draining circuit. As such, the valve element is preferably arranged downstream the tub and upstream the draining circuit.
- the valve element is adapted to seal or close the tub from the draining circuit, preferably in particular during a heating phase of a washing cycle of the washing machine.
- the filter element comprises the valve element.
- the valve element can for example be removed from the sump or be (re)inserted together with the filter element such that easy handling of the valve element is provided. As a consequence, serviceability of the washing machine is improved.
- EP2746448 discloses a laundry treatment appliance.
- the laundry treatment appliance comprises a rigid tub for containing laundry treatment liquids, the tub comprising a tub outlet for draining the treatment liquids therefrom, a manifold comprising a manifold inlet coupled with the tub outlet for receiving said treatment liquids, and a gasket arranged between said manifold inlet and said tub outlet for sealingly coupling thereof.
- the laundry treatment appliance further comprises a floating valve, pivotally hinged to said gasket, adapted to swing between a closed position wherein the floating valve abuts a valve seat associated with the gasket thereby impeding the passage of the treatment liquids from said tub to said manifold, and an opened position wherein the floating valve is at least partially spaced from said valve seat thereby allowing the treatment liquids to pass from said tub to said manifold.
- Said floating valve and said valve seat have different rigidity.
- Valve element movement capabilities issues may also cause more serious drawbacks, especially in solutions, such as that disclosed in EP2503050 , wherein the valve element is operated within a meshed filter element. Indeed, being substantially freely movable within the filter element, the valve element, especially during its ascending movement, may experience friction with, until getting jammed into, the filter element mesh, so that the valve element may be not allowed to complete its ascending movement.
- An aspect of the solution according to one or more embodiments of the invention relates to a laundry washing machine.
- the laundry washing machine comprises a tub for containing treatment liquids, the tub comprising a sump fluidly connected or connectable to a draining circuit of the washing machine, and a valve/filter assembly adapted to be removably positioned in a filter seat provided in the sump for intercepting and filtering the treatment liquids while passing from said tub to said draining circuit.
- Said valve/filter assembly comprises:
- the valve/filter assembly comprises a gasket element arranged in such a way to provide a watertight connection between said valve element and said valve seat in said closed position of said valve element.
- said valve element comprises a rigid core on which said gasket element is over-injected.
- said valve seat comprises a rigid frame on which said gasket element is over-injected.
- said valve element is pivotally hinged to said valve seat by a resilient connection comprising said gasket element, a layer of resilient material at least partially over injected on a rigid core of said valve element, and at least one flexible connecting element made in a single piece construction with said gasket element and said layer of resilient material.
- said valve element is made of a resilient material and is pivotally hinged to said valve seat by a resilient connection comprising said valve element, said gasket element, and at least one flexible connecting element made in a single piece construction with said gasket element and said valve element.
- the valve seat further comprises at least one protruding member adapted to be removably associated with at least one corresponding housing of said valve element for pivotally hinging said valve element to said valve seat in a removable manner.
- the at least one protruding member is made in a single piece construction with the gasket element.
- said valve/filter assembly comprises at least one fixing element adapted to removably fix both said receptacle to said valve seat and said valve/filter assembly to said filter seat.
- the at least one fixing element is mechanically coupled to said receptacle and is elastically deformable, elastic deformation of the at least one fixing element allowing insertion and snap-fit fixation of said receptacle in said filter seat.
- the valve seat further comprises at least one slot for allowing passage of the at least one fixing element therethrough during fixation of said valve seat to said receptacle.
- At least part of the valve seat is adapted to rest, upon positioning said valve/filter assembly in said filter seat, on an inner flange provided in the sump and delimiting the inlet of said filter seat.
- Said valve/filter assembly is positioned in said filter seat, and said at least one fixing element engages said inner flange for fixing the valve/filter assembly in said filter seat.
- said valve/filter assembly comprises a locking element adapted to take a locking position wherein it prevents removal of the fixation of said receptacle to said a valve seat and of the fixation of said valve/filter assembly to said filter seat.
- the locking element comprises at least one cap member removably fixable to said valve seat.
- the at least one cap member in said locking position, covers said at least one slot and the at least one fixing element therethrough.
- said valve element is provided with at least one wall that extends from a side of said valve element facing, in operation, the bottom of said receptacle, said at least one wall delimiting at least one air capturing chamber adapted to capture air thereby enhancing floating of said valve element.
- another aspect of the invention relates to a washing machine comprising:
- Figure 1 shows a sectional side view of a washing machine 100, for example for domestic use, according to an embodiment of the invention.
- the washing machine may be a "simple" washing machine, i.e. a washing machine that can only wash and rinse laundry, or a washing-drying machine, i.e. a washing machine that can also dry laundry.
- the washing machine 100 is of the front-loading type (anyway, it should be apparent from the following description that washing machines of the top-loading type may also benefit from the invention).
- the washing machine 100 preferably comprises a substantially parallepiped-shaped cabinet 105, which is apt to contain (e.g., hydraulic, electronic and/or electromechanical) components for allowing washing machine operation - only the relevant ones for understanding the invention being discussed in the following.
- a substantially parallepiped-shaped cabinet 105 which is apt to contain (e.g., hydraulic, electronic and/or electromechanical) components for allowing washing machine operation - only the relevant ones for understanding the invention being discussed in the following.
- the washing machine 100 comprises, within the cabinet 105, a rotating, preferably perforated, drum 110 (e.g., substantially cylindrical-shaped) configured to rotate for tumbling laundry loaded therein.
- a rotating, preferably perforated, drum 110 e.g., substantially cylindrical-shaped
- the drum 110 is enclosed within a washing tub 115, preferably hollow-cylinder shaped, which is adapted to enclose the drum 110 and to contain treatment liquids (e.g., washing water, detergent-water solutions, or rinsing water) for laundry treatment.
- the tub 115 comprises, e .g. at a bottom thereof, a sump 120 for canalizing the treating liquids thereinto (and allowing them to be drained, as discussed herebelow).
- the sump 120 is fluidly connected or connectable to a draining circuit 125 of the washing machine 100, which is adapted to drain the treatment liquids (coming from the tub 115, through the sump 120) to the sewer network (not shown) - or to a treatment liquids re-circulating circuit of the washing machine 100 (not shown).
- the draining circuit 125 preferably comprises a motor driven pump 130, preferably arranged downstream the sump 120, for promoting the draining of the treatment liquids, and a draining hose 135, preferably provided downstream the pump 130, for draining the treatment liquids into the sewer network (and/or to the treatment liquids re-circulating circuit, when provided).
- the drain hose 135 advantageously comprises at least a substantially vertical part 135a extending at least partially at a height higher than the pump 130.
- an appliance door 140 is provided ( e.g., at a front panel of the cabinet 105, in the illustrated example) for accessing the drum 110.
- a valve/filter assembly 145 adapted to be removably positioned/fitted in the sump 120 is provided for intercepting and filtering the treatment liquids while passing from the tub 115 to the draining circuit 125.
- the valve/filter assembly 145 is adapted to be removably positioned/fitted in a filter seat 150 of the sump 120.
- the filter seat 150 comprises a sump inner flange 150 F , e.g. horizontally extending from vertical side walls of the sump 120, and a seat opening (delimited by said sump inner flange 150 F ) astride which the valve/filter assembly 145 is positioned.
- the proposed valve/filter assembly 145 is configured to efficiently control (i.e., prevent or allow) passage of the treatment liquids (through an inlet thereof) from the tub 115 to the draining circuit 125 during washing machine 100 operation, while filtering the treatment liquids, when passage thereof is allowed, from possible foreign bodies and/or lint.
- the washing machine 100 further comprises one or more lifters arranged within the drum 110 for turning laundry, such as the lifters 155,160.
- the lifter 160 is advantageously additionally adapted for easy removal and insertion of the valve/filter assembly 145 ( e.g. for maintenance, replacement and/or other servicing operations).
- the lifter 160 is preferably provided with a fixed, hollow lifter base 160 B arranged on ( i.e., whose hollow matches) a drum opening 110 OP , and with an openable (as illustrated), or removable, lifter lid 160 L for selectively covering/uncovering the lifter base 160 B (and, hence, the hollow thereof and the drum opening 110 OP ).
- valve/filter assembly 145 access to the valve/filter assembly 145 is easily allowed by opening the appliance door 140, aligning the lifter 160 (and, hence, the drum opening 110 OP ) to the sump 120, and lifting (or removing) the lifter lid 160 L .
- FIG 2A shows an exploded perspective side view of the valve/filter assembly 145 according to an embodiment of the invention. For the sake of description ease, such figure will be discussed together with Figures 2B-2G .
- the valve/filter assembly 145 comprises a valve element (e.g., a floating valve) 205 for allowing/preventing passage of the treatment liquids from the tub 115 to the draining circuit 125 during washing machine 100 operation, and a filter element 210 for filtering foreign bodies and/or lint from the treatment liquids.
- a valve element e.g., a floating valve
- the pump 130 is activated for a short time interval long enough to allow some water to go up in the substantially vertical part 135a of the draining hose 135, but not long enough for allowing the spillage of this water from the draining hose 135, and then the pump 130 is deactivated; in this way the water column present in the substantially vertical part 135a of the draining hose 135 applies a pressure on the floating valve 205 in its closure direction, ensuring its closure.
- the filter element 210 is preferably a basket, or meshed, filter element, namely it comprises a receptacle 210 R having an inlet 210 I for the access of the treatment liquids coming from the tub 115, and a filtering surface 210 FS through which said treatment liquids coming from the tub 115 can pass to said draining circuit 125, with such a filtering surface 210 FS that is adapted to retain within said receptacle 210 R foreign bodies entering the inlet 210 I .
- the receptacle 210 R is preferably made of a material exhibiting both resilient deformation capabilities (by resilient deformation meaning that when forces causing deformation are no longer exerted, natural return to original shape takes place) and rigidity properties (hereinafter referred to as semi-rigid material for differentiating it from a rigid material having no, or negligible, resilient deformation capabilities, and from a resilient material having no, or negligible, rigidity properties), and preferably features a top open end being larger, along a longitudinal direction X, than the seat opening.
- resilient deformation capabilities by resilient deformation meaning that when forces causing deformation are no longer exerted, natural return to original shape takes place
- rigidity properties hereinafter referred to as semi-rigid material for differentiating it from a rigid material having no, or negligible, resilient deformation capabilities, and from a resilient material having no, or negligible, rigidity properties
- the receptacle 210 R preferably made of low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate and/or other similar plastics, preferably features, from the open end thereof to a bottom end thereof, a ( e.g., rounded) progressively narrowing shaping, exception made for one ore more ( e.g. , two) projecting portions 210 P1 ,210 P2 (projecting along the longitudinal direction X).
- the projecting portions 210 P1 ,210 P2 are made of a semi-rigid material, more preferably they are made of the same material as the receptacle 210 R , and even more preferably they are made in a single piece construction with it.
- the projecting portions 210 P1 ,210 P2 that, thanks to resiliency thereof, deform to a certain extent upon passage through the seat opening, abut against the sump inner flange 150 F after such a passage has taken place, thus providing a clamping action and effectively preventing involuntary valve/filter assembly 145 unfitting from the filter seat 150 ( e.g., due to water column push action).
- the valve/filter assembly 145 also comprises a valve seat 215, preferably comprising a rigid (e.g., plastics such as high-density polyethylene, or metal) or semi-rigid frame 215 F , and fixed or fixable to the open end of the receptacle 210 R .
- a rigid e.g., plastics such as high-density polyethylene, or metal
- semi-rigid frame 215 F e.g., plastics such as high-density polyethylene, or metal
- the valve seat 215 is preferably elongated ring-shaped (whose central hole advantageously defines the inlet of the valve/filter assembly 145 selectively obstructed by the floating valve 205, as discussed below), and is preferably adapted to be hingedly arranged/mounted on the open end of the receptacle 210 R .
- the valve seat 215 is, in use, operatively associated with (preferably, mechanically coupled to) the floating valve 205, and floatably contained within the receptacle 210 R .
- the floating valve 205 which may either comprise a rigid or semi-rigid core 205 C onto which a layer of resilient material (not shown) is at least partially over injected, or which may be substantially ( i.e., approximately) completely made of a rigid, semi-rigid or resilient material, is pivotally hinged to the valve seat 215 so as to swing relative thereto between closed and opened positions.
- Hinging of the floating valve 205 makes floating valve 205 movement capabilities substantially unaffected, or at least much less affected than prior art solutions, by both presence of foreign bodies unavoidably accumulating in the receptacle 210 R and mechanical vibrations unavoidably produced by washing machine operation.
- hinging of the floating valve 205 avoids that the floating valve 205 experiences friction with, until getting jammed into, the receptacle 210 R mesh.
- absence (or at least strong reduction) of vibrations and/or frictions affecting the floating valve 205 provides noise reduction.
- a gasket element 220 is arranged in such a way to provide a watertight connection between the floating valve 205 and the valve seat 215 in the closed position.
- the gasket element 220 is preferably provided between (at least part of) a lower surface of the valve seat 215 facing (in use) the floating valve 205 and the receptacle 210 R , so that in the closed position the floating valve 205 abuts the valve seat 215 with at least partial interposition of the gasket element 220.
- the gasket element 220 is preferably made of a resilient material, being for example made of rubber, silicone or another resilient polymer.
- the gasket element 220 is over-injected (at least partially) on the valve seat frame 215 F .
- the gasket element 220 and the layer of resilient material at least partially over injected on the floating valve core 205 C may be advantageously formed in a single piece construction.
- a portion of the gasket element 220 is over-injected on the floating valve core 205 C and another portion of the gasket element 220 is over-injected on the valve seat frame 215 F (so as to have a distributed gasket element partially over-injected over and connecting the valve core 205 C and the valve seat frame 215 F ).
- the floating valve 205 In the opened position of the floating valve 205 (illustrated in the left drawing of Figure 2D ), the floating valve 205, upon failing the push action thereon (e.g., due to water column discharge caused by pump 130 activation) is at least partially spaced from the valve seat 215, thereby allowing passage of the treatment liquids from the tub 115 to the draining circuit 125 through the filtering surface 210 FS of the receptacle 210 R .
- the treatment liquids allowed to pass when the floating valve 205 is in the opened position are then intercepted by filtering surface 210 FS of the receptacle 210 R , and hence filtered from foreign bodies and/or lint, before being drained into the draining circuit 125.
- the floating valve 205 in order to achieve hinging of the floating valve 205 to the valve seat 215, the floating valve 205 preferably comprises one or more, e.g. two housings 205 H1 ,205 H2 , whereas the valve seat 215 preferably comprises corresponding protruding members (preferably, two pegs) 220 P1 ,220 P1 each one adapted to be fitted into a corresponding housing 205 H1 ,205 H2 .
- the pegs 220 P1 ,220 P1 are made of a resilient material, more preferably they are made of the same material as the gasket element 220, and even more preferably they are made in a single piece construction with it.
- the pegs 220 1 ,220 P2 can be advantageously made in a single piece construction with both the gasket element 220 and a layer of resilient material at least partially over injected on the valve rigid core 205 C , so that the gasket element 220, the layer of resilient material, and the pegs 220 P1 ,220 P2 form a resilient connection for pivotally hinging the floating valve 205 to the valve seat 215.
- the floating valve 205 can be advantageously made of a resilient material
- the floating valve 205, the gasket element 220, and the pegs 220 P1 ,220 P2 may be made in a single piece construction, so as to form, as a whole, a resilient connection pivotally hinging the floating valve 205 to the valve seat 215.
- each peg 220 P1 ,220 P1 preferably features an ( e.g ., enlarged) interference portion 220 PE1 ,220 PE2 adapted to elastically deform while passing through the housings 205 H1 ,205 H2 , and to avoid, after its passage, that the floating valve 205 slides down along the pegs 220 P1 ,220 P1 .
- said fitting is with mechanical play, which compensates unavoidable mechanical tolerances and facilitates opening of the floating valve 205 - indeed, thanks to their resiliency, pegs 220 P1 ,220 P1 inflect due to floating valve 205 weight. Pegs 220 P1 ,220 P1 inflection, apart from further facilitating opening of the floating valve 205, also provides a dumping effect against damages and noise that contact between floating valve 205 and the receptacle 210 R could cause.
- the pegs 220 P1 ,220 P1 also feature a noise-suppression capability.
- Elongated pegs such as the illustrated pegs 220 P1 ,220 P1 , are in fact adapted, in use, to be interposed between the floating valve 205 and the a receptacle 210 R , so as to soften (thereby suppressing noise caused by, and preserving integrity of) the floating valve 205 banging against the receptacle 210 R when switching from closed to opened positions and during highly stressing operations of the washing machine 100.
- N 8 in the example at issue
- Cavities 205 C i are delimited by one or more walls extending from a rear side of the floating valve 205 ( i.e., the side intended to intercept the water column and the air from the discharge system) opposite to a front, abutment side thereof ( i.e., the side intended to abut, at least partly, against the valve seat 215 in the closed position).
- a substantially circular outer wall 205 OW and four rectilinear inner walls (globally denoted by the number reference 205 IW ) crosspiece arranged within the outer wall 205 OW are advantageously provided, which define eight cavities 205 C1 -205 C8 - however, a lower number of rectilinear inner walls, as well as different shaping and arrangement thereof, can be provided in alternative advantageous embodiments, not shown.
- valve seat 215 (together with the associated floating valve 205) is advantageously mounted, preferably hinged, on the open end of the receptacle 210 R , preferably by means of hinge elements 210 H and 215 H1 provided, respectively, on the open end of the receptacle 210 R (preferably, made in a single piece construction with it) and on the lower surface of the valve seat 215 (preferably, made in a single piece with it).
- Provision of the hinge elements 210 H ,215 H1 allows the floating valve 205 /valve seat 215 group to be pivotally rotated (about a corresponding hinge axis, not shown) onto the open end of the receptacle 210 R (as illustrated in the top drawing of Figure 2F ), and away from it (as illustrated in the bottom drawing of Figure 2F ), so that opening and servicing of the valve/filter assembly 145 is allowed without having to completely detach the valve seat 215 therefrom.
- the valve/filter assembly 145 further advantageously comprises one or more removable fixing elements adapted for removably fixing both said receptacle 210 R to the valve seat 215 and the valve/filter assembly 145 to the filter seat 150 (as discussed herebelow).
- said one or more removable fixing elements comprise at least one lip 210 L1 ,210 L2 provided at said receptacle 210 R and advantageously elastically deformable in such a way to allow, by elastic deformation thereof, the insertion and the snap-fixing fixation of said receptacle 210 R in said filter seat 150.
- two lips 210 L1 ,210 L2 extend upwards from opposite sides of the open end of the receptacle 210 R (thus resulting substantially, i . e . approximately, parallel to each other), preferably (as illustrated) at the projecting portions 210 P1 ,210 P2 , respectively.
- the lips 210 L1 ,210 L2 are made of a semi-rigid material, more preferably they are made of the same material as the receptacle 210 R , and even more preferably they are made in a single piece construction with it.
- valve seat 215 is preferably intended to contact the sump inner flange 150 F thus preventing further fitting of the valve/filter assembly 145 into the seat opening.
- the valve seat 215 (or at least part thereof) is advantageously adapted to rest, upon positioning said valve/filter assembly 145 in said filter seat 150, on the sump inner flange 150 F , while the removable fixing elements ( i.e., the lips 210 L1 ,210 L2 ) engage the sump inner flange 150 F for fixing of the valve/filter assembly 145 in the filter seat 150.
- the gasket element 220 extends over the whole lower surface of the valve seat 215, so that the valve seat 215 (i.e., the peripheral region thereof) advantageously contacts the sump inner flange 150 F by interposition of the gasket element 220, which greatly improves sealing properties.
- the valve seat 215 preferably comprises one or more ( e.g. , two) slots 215 S1 ,215 S2 adapted to allow passage of the lips 210 L1 ,210 L2 therethrough when the valve seat 215 is fixed to the receptacle 210 R ( e.g., in the advantageous embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, when the floating valve 205 /valve seat 215 group is pivotally rotated onto the open end of receptacle 210 R ).
- one or more e.g. , two) slots 215 S1 ,215 S2 adapted to allow passage of the lips 210 L1 ,210 L2 therethrough when the valve seat 215 is fixed to the receptacle 210 R ( e.g., in the advantageous embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, when the floating valve 205 /valve seat 215 group is pivotally rotated onto the open end of receptacle 210 R ).
- the lips 210 L1 ,210 L2 are allowed to pass through the slots 215 S1 ,215 S2 and to engage the valve seat 215 (by abutting against slots 215 S1 ,215 S2 wall) when said force is released (dually, as discussed above, the valve/filter assembly 145, i.e., the receptacle 210 R thereof, is allowed to pass, when a force is applied to the lips 210 L1 ,210 L2 , into the seat opening and to engage said filter seat 150 when said force is released).
- slots 215 S1 ,215 S2 arrangement, shape and size correspond respectively to lips 210 L1 ,210 L2 arrangement, shape and size, and implicitly provide also a first indication about alignment and orientation of the valve seat 215 on the receptacle 210 R ).
- the slots 215 S1 ,215 S2 preferably rectangular-shaped, are arranged at opposite sides of the valve seat 215.
- alignment of the valve seat 215 on the receptacle 210 R is also assisted by a number of ( e.g., four) flaps 210 F1 -210 F4 (preferably made in a single piece construction with the receptacle 210 R , and arranged along, and preferably extending upwards from, the open end thereof) and by a number of ( e.g., four) corresponding wall portions 215 W1 ,215 W4 (preferably made in a single piece with the valve seat 215, and preferably arranged along, and extending downwards from, the lower surface of the valve seat 215), adapted to cooperate ( e.g ., by slide contact) with each other.
- a number of ( e.g., four) flaps 210 F1 -210 F4 preferably made in a single piece construction with the receptacle 210 R , and arranged along, and preferably extending upwards from, the open end thereof
- the valve/filter assembly 145 further preferably comprises a locking element 225 adapted to be interlocked with the valve seat 215.
- the locking element 225 is preferably adapted to be locked on the valve seat 215 ( i.e., on an upper surface thereof opposite the lower surface) so as to press/push the valve seat 215 on the sump inner flange 150 F (and, especially, the gasket element portion therebetween), thus providing effective retaining and sealing actions.
- the locking element 225 is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, so as to provide effective pressing/pushing action and, hence, ensuring mechanical stability to the valve/filter assembly 145.
- the locking element 225 is further adapted to prevent, in the locking position (shown in the top drawing of Figure 2F and in the bottom drawing of Figure 2G ), removal of the fixation of the receptacle 210 R to said a valve seat 215 and of the fixation of said valve/filter assembly 145 to said filter seat 150.
- one or more (e.g ., two) cap members 225 C1 ,225 C2 removably fixable to said valve seat 215 are preferably provided for covering at least a part of the valve seat 215, and even more preferably (as illustrated in Figures 2A , 2B , 2C , 2D and 2F ) the cap members 225 C1 ,225 C2 are shaped and sized for covering the slots 215 S1 ,215 S2 and the lips 210 L1 ,210 L2 therethrough.
- cap members 225 C1 ,225 C2 Thanks to the cap members 225 C1 ,225 C2 , accidental access to the lips 210 L1 ,210 L2 is prevented, so that fixation of the receptacle 210 R to the valve seat 215 and fixation of the valve/filter assembly 145 to the filter seat 150 is ensured.
- each cap member 225 C1 ,225 C2 is adapted to be fitted into a corresponding peripheral recess 215 SR1 ,215 SR2 of the slot 215 S1 ,215 S2 exposing a corresponding region of the gasket element 220 underneath it.
- the cap members 225 C1 ,225 C2 are made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, high friction is experienced upon contact with the gasket element 220, so that increased sealing action is achieved, and treatment liquid leakages are prevented through the slots 215 S1 ,215 S2 .
- the cap members 225 C1 ,225 C2 are made in a single piece with the locking element 225, so that easy covering is automatically achieved upon interlocking between the locking element 225 and the valve seat 215.
- the locking element 225 is shaped and sized so as not to obstruct or make it difficult the passage of the treatment liquids through the valve/filter assembly 145 ( i.e., through the inlet thereof).
- the locking element 225 is preferably in the form of a shaft extending, along a longitudinal direction Y substantially orthogonal to the transversal direction X, across opposite side ends of the valve seat 215, and preferably having, along the transversal direction X, a size lower than valve/filter assembly inlet size.
- the locking element 225 is hingedly mounted on the upper surface of the valve seat 215, which allows unfitting, opening and servicing of the valve/filter assembly 145 without having to completely detach the locking element 225 from the valve seat 215 (as also visible in the bottom drawing of Figure 2F ).
- hinge elements 215 H2 and 225 H are preferably provided on the upper surface of the valve seat 215 (preferably, made in a single piece with it) and as an end portion of the locking element 225, respectively.
- the snap-fit mechanism preferably comprises, at valve seat 215 side, a guiding element 215 G provided with a housing ( e.g ., a slot) 215 GS , and, at locking element 225 side ( e.g. , opposite the hinge element 225 H ), a hand-grip element 225 HG provided with a cantilevered portion 225 HGc .
- the hand-grip element 225 HG is preferably adapted to slide within the guiding element 215 G until the cantilevered portion 225 HGc snap-fit engages the guiding element slot 215 GS .
- sizing and/or shaping of the snap-fit mechanism directly affect the pressing/pushing action the locking element 225 is able to impart on the valve seat 215 when interlocked to each other, thus directly affecting compression of the gasket portion between the valve seat 215 and the sump inner flange 150 F , and hence sealing action thereof against treatment liquids leakages.
- the guiding element 215 G is made in a single piece construction with the valve seat 215, and the hand-grip element 225 HG is made in a single piece construction with the locking element 225.
- at least one between the valve seat 215 and the locking element 225 is conveniently made of a semi-rigid material, so that (even slight) resiliency allows imparting a deformation causing the cantilevered portion 225 HGc to snap-fit engage the guiding frame slot 215 GS easily.
- the valve seat 215 and the locking element 225 may instead be made both of a rigid material, as the elbow-shaped portion may advantageously give, alone, the hand-grip element 225 HG with a sufficient degree of deformation capabilities.
Description
- The invention relates to a washing machine (the expression "washing machine" including both "simple" washing machines, i.e. washing machines which can only wash and rinse laundry, and washing-drying machines, i.e. washing machines which can also dry laundry, both of the front-loading or top-loading type) with a draining circuit comprising a valve element adapted to selectively open and close the passage of liquid from a tub to the draining circuit, and a filter element for impeding that foreign bodies such as coins or buttons escaping the laundry could reach the draining pump.
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EP1204792 discloses a washing machine, wherein an inlet of a draining circuit is fluidly connected to a sump. A valve element is arranged between the sump and the inlet of the draining circuit. The valve element shuts off the sump from the draining circuit during a washing cycle by using a valve seat and a ball as closing element. The ball is freely movable within a draining section of the draining circuit. - By using a valve element of the above kind, water within the draining circuit needs not be heated during a heating phase of a washing cycle of the washing machine, whereby the energy consumption of the washing machine is reduced. Assembling of the draining circuit in a way that guarantees proper operation of the valve and long-term functionality of the closing state of the valve element may be a problem, as such a valve element however is a component in danger of failure, e.g. because of clogging. As such it needs servicing. Servicing however may be complicated by valve element design and mounting location and in the consequence cost intensive.
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EP2503050 tries to solve above problem by providing a washing machine comprising a tub with a sump and a draining circuit, wherein the sump is fluidly connected to the draining circuit. A filter element is provided, which is removably positionable in the sump, e.g. which can be removed from the sump by a user, e.g. for cleaning or replacement, and can be (re)inserted into the sump thereafter. By inserting the filter element in the sump, preferably upstream the draining circuit, foreign objects and fluff are effectively filtered out of the liquid drained from the tub. In consequence, no or a reduced amount of foreign objects enter the draining circuit of the washing machine. The sump is preferably formed integrally with the tub, such that no additional mounting or assembly step is necessary for mounting the sump at the tub. The washing machine may preferably comprise a chamber for at least a portion of a draining pump, wherein the chamber is preferably integrally formed with the sump and the tub, such that fewer assembling steps and less assembly time for assembling the washing machine are required. The washing machine disclosed inEP2503050 also comprises a valve element for selectively obstructing (or closing) a passage of liquid from the tub to the draining circuit. As such, the valve element is preferably arranged downstream the tub and upstream the draining circuit. The valve element is adapted to seal or close the tub from the draining circuit, preferably in particular during a heating phase of a washing cycle of the washing machine. By blocking the fluid connection to the draining circuit when the valve element is in its closed position, water within the draining circuit is not heated and the energy consumption of the washing machine is reduced. For enhancing the serviceability of the washing machine with respect to the valve element, e.g. for easy handling thereof, the filter element comprises the valve element. By providing a filter element comprising the valve element, the valve element can for example be removed from the sump or be (re)inserted together with the filter element such that easy handling of the valve element is provided. As a consequence, serviceability of the washing machine is improved. -
EP2746448 discloses a laundry treatment appliance. The laundry treatment appliance comprises a rigid tub for containing laundry treatment liquids, the tub comprising a tub outlet for draining the treatment liquids therefrom, a manifold comprising a manifold inlet coupled with the tub outlet for receiving said treatment liquids, and a gasket arranged between said manifold inlet and said tub outlet for sealingly coupling thereof. The laundry treatment appliance further comprises a floating valve, pivotally hinged to said gasket, adapted to swing between a closed position wherein the floating valve abuts a valve seat associated with the gasket thereby impeding the passage of the treatment liquids from said tub to said manifold, and an opened position wherein the floating valve is at least partially spaced from said valve seat thereby allowing the treatment liquids to pass from said tub to said manifold. Said floating valve and said valve seat have different rigidity. - Applicant has found that the above-described solutions are noisy. Indeed, in the solutions disclosed in
EP1204792 and inEP2503050 the valve element is allowed to move within a rigid body, i.e. the sump and the filter element, respectively. Thus, with respect to previous solutions providing a valve element freely movable within a non-rigid sleeve connecting the sump and the draining circuit to each other, the solutions disclosed inEP1204792 and inEP2503050 represent a worsening in terms of noise perceived by the user. - Applicant has found that the above-described solutions also cause limited floating valve movement capabilities. Indeed, foreign bodies accumulating in the filter element may interfere with, and impair, valve element movement, thus negatively affecting both valve element ascending movement (and hence mechanical and thermal insulation between the tub and the draining circuit) as well as valve element descending movement (and hence quick draining of the treatment liquids from the tub). Moreover, noise and valve element movement capabilities issues are exacerbated by relatively large and/or frequent mechanical vibrations produced by the washing machine during operation thereof.
- Valve element movement capabilities issues may also cause more serious drawbacks, especially in solutions, such as that disclosed in
EP2503050 , wherein the valve element is operated within a meshed filter element. Indeed, being substantially freely movable within the filter element, the valve element, especially during its ascending movement, may experience friction with, until getting jammed into, the filter element mesh, so that the valve element may be not allowed to complete its ascending movement. - Applicant has faced the problem of devising a satisfactory solution able to overcome the above-discussed, as well as other, drawbacks.
- In particular, one or more aspects of the solution according to specific embodiments of the invention are set out in the independent claims, with advantageous features of the same solution that are indicated in the dependent claims (with any advantageous feature provided with reference to a specific aspect of the solution according to an embodiment of the invention that applies mutatis mutandis to any other aspect thereof).
- An aspect of the solution according to one or more embodiments of the invention relates to a laundry washing machine. The laundry washing machine comprises a tub for containing treatment liquids, the tub comprising a sump fluidly connected or connectable to a draining circuit of the washing machine, and a valve/filter assembly adapted to be removably positioned in a filter seat provided in the sump for intercepting and filtering the treatment liquids while passing from said tub to said draining circuit. Said valve/filter assembly comprises:
- a receptacle having an inlet for the access of the treatment liquids coming from the tub, and a filtering surface through which said treatment liquids coming from the tub can pass to said draining circuit, said filtering surface being adapted to retain within said receptacle foreign bodies entering said inlet,
- a valve seat fixed or fixable to an open end of said receptacle, and
- a valve element pivotally hinged to said valve seat so as to swing within the receptacle, when said valve seat is fixed to said receptacle, between a closed position in which the valve element abuts the valve seat, thereby preventing passage of liquid from said tub to said draining circuit, and an opened position in which the valve element is at least partially spaced from said valve seat, thereby allowing liquid to pass from said tub to said draining circuit trough said filtering surface of said receptacle.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the valve/filter assembly comprises a gasket element arranged in such a way to provide a watertight connection between said valve element and said valve seat in said closed position of said valve element.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said valve element comprises a rigid core on which said gasket element is over-injected.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said valve seat comprises a rigid frame on which said gasket element is over-injected.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said valve element is pivotally hinged to said valve seat by a resilient connection comprising said gasket element, a layer of resilient material at least partially over injected on a rigid core of said valve element, and at least one flexible connecting element made in a single piece construction with said gasket element and said layer of resilient material.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said valve element is made of a resilient material and is pivotally hinged to said valve seat by a resilient connection comprising said valve element, said gasket element, and at least one flexible connecting element made in a single piece construction with said gasket element and said valve element.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the valve seat further comprises at least one protruding member adapted to be removably associated with at least one corresponding housing of said valve element for pivotally hinging said valve element to said valve seat in a removable manner.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one protruding member is made in a single piece construction with the gasket element.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said valve/filter assembly comprises at least one fixing element adapted to removably fix both said receptacle to said valve seat and said valve/filter assembly to said filter seat.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one fixing element is mechanically coupled to said receptacle and is elastically deformable, elastic deformation of the at least one fixing element allowing insertion and snap-fit fixation of said receptacle in said filter seat.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the valve seat further comprises at least one slot for allowing passage of the at least one fixing element therethrough during fixation of said valve seat to said receptacle.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least part of the valve seat is adapted to rest, upon positioning said valve/filter assembly in said filter seat, on an inner flange provided in the sump and delimiting the inlet of said filter seat. Said valve/filter assembly is positioned in said filter seat, and said at least one fixing element engages said inner flange for fixing the valve/filter assembly in said filter seat.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said valve/filter assembly comprises a locking element adapted to take a locking position wherein it prevents removal of the fixation of said receptacle to said a valve seat and of the fixation of said valve/filter assembly to said filter seat.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the locking element comprises at least one cap member removably fixable to said valve seat.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one cap member, in said locking position, covers said at least one slot and the at least one fixing element therethrough.
- According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said valve element is provided with at least one wall that extends from a side of said valve element facing, in operation, the bottom of said receptacle, said at least one wall delimiting at least one air capturing chamber adapted to capture air thereby enhancing floating of said valve element.
- Applicant has also found that the known solutions (featuring both valve and filter elements) are difficult to mount, especially as far as mounting of the valve element on the filter element and mounting of the filter element into the respective seat are concerned, and that known mounting solutions are unreliable (thus requiring frequent servicing) and inconvenient to practice (thus making servicing difficult).
- Thus, in order to overcome these, as well as other drawbacks, another aspect of the invention relates to a washing machine comprising:
- a tub for containing treatment liquids, the tub comprising a sump fluidly connected or connectable to a draining circuit of the washing machine, and
- a valve/filter assembly adapted to be removably positioned in a filter seat provided in the sump for intercepting and filtering the treatment liquids while passing from said tub to said draining circuit, said valve/filter assembly comprising:
- a filter element,
- a valve seat fixed or fixable to an open end of said filter element,
- a valve element pivotally hinged to said valve seat so as to swing within the filter element between closed and opened positions preventing and allowing, respectively, passage of the treatment liquids from said tub to said draining circuit, and
- at least one elastically deformable fixing element mechanically coupled to said filter element, said at least one fixing element being allowed to pass, when a deforming force is applied thereto, through at least one slot of the valve seat and to engage said valve seat when said deforming force is released, and said valve/filter assembly being allowed to pass, when a deforming force is applied to said at least one fixing element, into said filter seat and to engage said filter seat when said deforming force is released.
- These and other features and advantages of the solution according to one or more embodiments of the invention will be best understood with reference to the following detailed description, given purely by way of a non-restrictive indication, to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings (wherein corresponding elements are denoted with equal or similar references, and their explanation is not repeated for the sake of exposition brevity). In this respect, it is expressly understood that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale (with some details that may be exaggerated and/or simplified) and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are simply used to conceptually illustrate the described structures and procedures. In particular:
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Figure 1 shows a sectional side view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the invention; -
Figure 2A shows an exploded perspective side view of a valve/filter assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; -
Figures 2B and2C show front and sectional side views, respectively, of the valve/filter assembly in a fitted condition, according to an embodiment of the invention; -
Figure 2D shows sectional views of a floating valve of the valve/filter assembly in opened and closed positions, according to an embodiment of the invention; -
Figure 2E shows perspective assembled and exploded bottom views of a floating valve/valve seat group of the valve/filter assembly, according an embodiment of the invention; -
Figure 2F shows perspective side views of the valve/filter assembly in full-closed and full-opened conditions, according to an embodiment of the invention, and -
Figure 2G shows side and perspective side views of a valve seat/locking element of the valve/filter assembly in engaged and disengaged conditions, according to an embodiment of the invention. - With reference to the drawings,
Figure 1 shows a sectional side view of awashing machine 100, for example for domestic use, according to an embodiment of the invention. The washing machine may be a "simple" washing machine, i.e. a washing machine that can only wash and rinse laundry, or a washing-drying machine, i.e. a washing machine that can also dry laundry. As exemplary illustrated, thewashing machine 100 is of the front-loading type (anyway, it should be apparent from the following description that washing machines of the top-loading type may also benefit from the invention). - The
washing machine 100 preferably comprises a substantially parallepiped-shapedcabinet 105, which is apt to contain (e.g., hydraulic, electronic and/or electromechanical) components for allowing washing machine operation - only the relevant ones for understanding the invention being discussed in the following. - In this respect, the
washing machine 100 comprises, within thecabinet 105, a rotating, preferably perforated, drum 110 (e.g., substantially cylindrical-shaped) configured to rotate for tumbling laundry loaded therein. - The
drum 110 is enclosed within awashing tub 115, preferably hollow-cylinder shaped, which is adapted to enclose thedrum 110 and to contain treatment liquids (e.g., washing water, detergent-water solutions, or rinsing water) for laundry treatment. Thetub 115 comprises, e.g. at a bottom thereof, asump 120 for canalizing the treating liquids thereinto (and allowing them to be drained, as discussed herebelow). - The
sump 120 is fluidly connected or connectable to adraining circuit 125 of thewashing machine 100, which is adapted to drain the treatment liquids (coming from thetub 115, through the sump 120) to the sewer network (not shown) - or to a treatment liquids re-circulating circuit of the washing machine 100 (not shown). - The draining
circuit 125 preferably comprises a motor drivenpump 130, preferably arranged downstream thesump 120, for promoting the draining of the treatment liquids, and a draininghose 135, preferably provided downstream thepump 130, for draining the treatment liquids into the sewer network (and/or to the treatment liquids re-circulating circuit, when provided). Thedrain hose 135 advantageously comprises at least a substantiallyvertical part 135a extending at least partially at a height higher than thepump 130. - Advantageously, an
appliance door 140 is provided (e.g., at a front panel of thecabinet 105, in the illustrated example) for accessing thedrum 110. - According to the proposed invention, a valve/
filter assembly 145 adapted to be removably positioned/fitted in thesump 120 is provided for intercepting and filtering the treatment liquids while passing from thetub 115 to thedraining circuit 125. - As shown in
Figure 1 (and better detailed in the following), the valve/filter assembly 145 is adapted to be removably positioned/fitted in afilter seat 150 of thesump 120. Preferably, thefilter seat 150 comprises a sumpinner flange 150F, e.g. horizontally extending from vertical side walls of thesump 120, and a seat opening (delimited by said sump inner flange 150F) astride which the valve/filter assembly 145 is positioned. - Broadly speaking, as will be progressively explained in the following while discussing embodiments of the invention, the proposed valve/
filter assembly 145 is configured to efficiently control (i.e., prevent or allow) passage of the treatment liquids (through an inlet thereof) from thetub 115 to thedraining circuit 125 duringwashing machine 100 operation, while filtering the treatment liquids, when passage thereof is allowed, from possible foreign bodies and/or lint. - As illustrated in
Figure 1 , thewashing machine 100 further comprises one or more lifters arranged within thedrum 110 for turning laundry, such as the lifters 155,160. Thelifter 160 is advantageously additionally adapted for easy removal and insertion of the valve/filter assembly 145 (e.g. for maintenance, replacement and/or other servicing operations). In this respect, thelifter 160 is preferably provided with a fixed,hollow lifter base 160B arranged on (i.e., whose hollow matches) adrum opening 110OP, and with an openable (as illustrated), or removable,lifter lid 160L for selectively covering/uncovering the lifter base 160B (and, hence, the hollow thereof and the drum opening 110OP). Thus, in the considered example, access to the valve/filter assembly 145 is easily allowed by opening theappliance door 140, aligning the lifter 160 (and, hence, the drum opening 110OP) to thesump 120, and lifting (or removing) thelifter lid 160L. - Turning now to
Figure 2A , it shows an exploded perspective side view of the valve/filter assembly 145 according to an embodiment of the invention. For the sake of description ease, such figure will be discussed together withFigures 2B-2G . - The valve/
filter assembly 145 comprises a valve element (e.g., a floating valve) 205 for allowing/preventing passage of the treatment liquids from thetub 115 to thedraining circuit 125 duringwashing machine 100 operation, and afilter element 210 for filtering foreign bodies and/or lint from the treatment liquids. - Advantageously, in order to ensure the closure of the floating
valve 205, at the beginning of a washing phase, after filling thewashing tub 115 with water, thepump 130 is activated for a short time interval long enough to allow some water to go up in the substantiallyvertical part 135a of the draininghose 135, but not long enough for allowing the spillage of this water from the draininghose 135, and then thepump 130 is deactivated; in this way the water column present in the substantiallyvertical part 135a of the draininghose 135 applies a pressure on the floatingvalve 205 in its closure direction, ensuring its closure. - The
filter element 210 is preferably a basket, or meshed, filter element, namely it comprises areceptacle 210R having aninlet 210I for the access of the treatment liquids coming from thetub 115, and afiltering surface 210FS through which said treatment liquids coming from thetub 115 can pass to said drainingcircuit 125, with such afiltering surface 210FS that is adapted to retain within saidreceptacle 210R foreign bodies entering theinlet 210I. - The
receptacle 210R is preferably made of a material exhibiting both resilient deformation capabilities (by resilient deformation meaning that when forces causing deformation are no longer exerted, natural return to original shape takes place) and rigidity properties (hereinafter referred to as semi-rigid material for differentiating it from a rigid material having no, or negligible, resilient deformation capabilities, and from a resilient material having no, or negligible, rigidity properties), and preferably features a top open end being larger, along a longitudinal direction X, than the seat opening. Thus, engagement by frictional contact between thereceptacle 210R and the sumpinner flange 150F can be established (as discussed below). - The
receptacle 210R, preferably made of low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate and/or other similar plastics, preferably features, from the open end thereof to a bottom end thereof, a (e.g., rounded) progressively narrowing shaping, exception made for one ore more (e.g., two) projectingportions 210P1,210P2 (projecting along the longitudinal direction X). Preferably, the projectingportions receptacle 210R, and even more preferably they are made in a single piece construction with it. As visible inFigures 2B and2C , the projectingportions inner flange 150F after such a passage has taken place, thus providing a clamping action and effectively preventing involuntary valve/filter assembly 145 unfitting from the filter seat 150 (e.g., due to water column push action). - The valve/
filter assembly 145 also comprises avalve seat 215, preferably comprising a rigid (e.g., plastics such as high-density polyethylene, or metal) orsemi-rigid frame 215F, and fixed or fixable to the open end of thereceptacle 210R. - The
valve seat 215 is preferably elongated ring-shaped (whose central hole advantageously defines the inlet of the valve/filter assembly 145 selectively obstructed by the floatingvalve 205, as discussed below), and is preferably adapted to be hingedly arranged/mounted on the open end of thereceptacle 210R. - The
valve seat 215 is, in use, operatively associated with (preferably, mechanically coupled to) the floatingvalve 205, and floatably contained within thereceptacle 210R. - In this respect, the floating
valve 205, which may either comprise a rigid orsemi-rigid core 205C onto which a layer of resilient material (not shown) is at least partially over injected, or which may be substantially (i.e., approximately) completely made of a rigid, semi-rigid or resilient material, is pivotally hinged to thevalve seat 215 so as to swing relative thereto between closed and opened positions. - Hinging of the floating
valve 205, as guiding it into a limited, guided rotational movement with respect to thevalve seat 215, makes floatingvalve 205 movement capabilities substantially unaffected, or at least much less affected than prior art solutions, by both presence of foreign bodies unavoidably accumulating in thereceptacle 210R and mechanical vibrations unavoidably produced by washing machine operation. Moreover, hinging of the floatingvalve 205 avoids that the floatingvalve 205 experiences friction with, until getting jammed into, thereceptacle 210R mesh. Furthermore, absence (or at least strong reduction) of vibrations and/or frictions affecting the floatingvalve 205, provides noise reduction. - In the closed position of the floating valve (illustrated in the right drawing of
Figure 2D ), the floatingvalve 205, pushed by the water column present in thedraining circuit 125 downstream the floatingvalve 205, abuts the valve seat 215 (thereby preventing passage of the treatment liquids from thetub 115 to the draining circuit 125). Preferably, agasket element 220 is arranged in such a way to provide a watertight connection between the floatingvalve 205 and thevalve seat 215 in the closed position. Thegasket element 220 is preferably provided between (at least part of) a lower surface of thevalve seat 215 facing (in use) the floatingvalve 205 and thereceptacle 210R, so that in the closed position the floatingvalve 205 abuts thevalve seat 215 with at least partial interposition of thegasket element 220. In order to ensure good and firm adherence upon floatingvalve 205 closure (thus compensating manufacturing tolerances and ensuring hydraulic sealing), thegasket element 220 is preferably made of a resilient material, being for example made of rubber, silicone or another resilient polymer. Indeed, due to different rigidity/resiliency between the rigid/semi-rigid material which the floating valve 205 (e.g., thecore 205C thereof) is made of, and the resilient material which thegasket element 220 is made of, highly effective friction and adherence upon their contact is experienced. - According to an advantageous embodiment, the
gasket element 220 is over-injected (at least partially) on thevalve seat frame 215F. Additionally or alternatively, thegasket element 220 and the layer of resilient material at least partially over injected on the floatingvalve core 205C may be advantageously formed in a single piece construction. In a further advantageous embodiment, although not shown, a portion of thegasket element 220 is over-injected on the floatingvalve core 205C and another portion of thegasket element 220 is over-injected on the valve seat frame 215F (so as to have a distributed gasket element partially over-injected over and connecting thevalve core 205C and the valve seat frame 215F). - Thanks to provision of the
gasket element 220 between the floatingvalve 205 and thevalve seat 215, noise reduction upon contact thereof is achieved, which further reduces overall noise of thewashing machine 100. - In the opened position of the floating valve 205 (illustrated in the left drawing of
Figure 2D ), the floatingvalve 205, upon failing the push action thereon (e.g., due to water column discharge caused bypump 130 activation) is at least partially spaced from thevalve seat 215, thereby allowing passage of the treatment liquids from thetub 115 to thedraining circuit 125 through thefiltering surface 210FS of thereceptacle 210R. Thus, the treatment liquids allowed to pass when the floatingvalve 205 is in the opened position are then intercepted by filteringsurface 210FS of thereceptacle 210R, and hence filtered from foreign bodies and/or lint, before being drained into the drainingcircuit 125. - According to the exemplary considered embodiment, in order to achieve hinging of the floating
valve 205 to thevalve seat 215, the floatingvalve 205 preferably comprises one or more, e.g. twohousings valve seat 215 preferably comprises corresponding protruding members (preferably, two pegs) 220P1,220P1 each one adapted to be fitted into acorresponding housing - Preferably, the
pegs gasket element 220, and even more preferably they are made in a single piece construction with it. - In a different advantageous embodiment, not illustrated, the
pegs 2201,220P2 (or other flexible connecting elements) can be advantageously made in a single piece construction with both thegasket element 220 and a layer of resilient material at least partially over injected on the valverigid core 205C, so that thegasket element 220, the layer of resilient material, and thepegs valve 205 to thevalve seat 215. - In a further different advantageous embodiment, not illustrated, the floating
valve 205 can be advantageously made of a resilient material, the floatingvalve 205, thegasket element 220, and thepegs valve 205 to thevalve seat 215. - In the advantageous embodiment illustrated in attached drawings, thanks to
pegs pegs housings Figures 2D and2E , eachpeg interference portion housings valve 205 slides down along thepegs - Preferably, said fitting is with mechanical play, which compensates unavoidable mechanical tolerances and facilitates opening of the floating valve 205 - indeed, thanks to their resiliency, pegs 220P1,220P1 inflect due to floating
valve 205 weight.Pegs valve 205, also provides a dumping effect against damages and noise that contact between floatingvalve 205 and thereceptacle 210R could cause. - Moreover, by choosing the
pegs valve 205 when in the opened position, thepegs pegs valve 205 and the areceptacle 210R, so as to soften (thereby suppressing noise caused by, and preserving integrity of) the floatingvalve 205 banging against thereceptacle 210R when switching from closed to opened positions and during highly stressing operations of thewashing machine 100. - As can be appreciated in
Figure 2E , the floatingvalve 205 preferably comprises a number N of air capturing chambers or cavities 205Ci (i=1, 2, ... N, with N=8 in the example at issue) adapted to capture air for efficient floating thereof. In fact, during closing of the floatingvalve 205, water column pushes air contained within the discharge system upwards. -
Cavities 205Ci are delimited by one or more walls extending from a rear side of the floating valve 205 (i.e., the side intended to intercept the water column and the air from the discharge system) opposite to a front, abutment side thereof (i.e., the side intended to abut, at least partly, against thevalve seat 215 in the closed position). In the exemplary, not limiting, illustrated embodiment, a substantially circularouter wall 205OW and four rectilinear inner walls (globally denoted by the number reference 205IW) crosspiece arranged within theouter wall 205OW are advantageously provided, which define eight cavities 205C1-205C8 - however, a lower number of rectilinear inner walls, as well as different shaping and arrangement thereof, can be provided in alternative advantageous embodiments, not shown. - As mentioned above, the valve seat 215 (together with the associated floating valve 205) is advantageously mounted, preferably hinged, on the open end of the
receptacle 210R, preferably by means ofhinge elements hinge elements valve 205/valve seat 215 group to be pivotally rotated (about a corresponding hinge axis, not shown) onto the open end of the receptacle 210R (as illustrated in the top drawing ofFigure 2F ), and away from it (as illustrated in the bottom drawing ofFigure 2F ), so that opening and servicing of the valve/filter assembly 145 is allowed without having to completely detach thevalve seat 215 therefrom. - The valve/
filter assembly 145 further advantageously comprises one or more removable fixing elements adapted for removably fixing both saidreceptacle 210R to thevalve seat 215 and the valve/filter assembly 145 to the filter seat 150 (as discussed herebelow). Preferably, said one or more removable fixing elements comprise at least onelip receptacle 210R and advantageously elastically deformable in such a way to allow, by elastic deformation thereof, the insertion and the snap-fixing fixation of saidreceptacle 210R in saidfilter seat 150. - In the advantageous exemplary illustrated embodiment, two
lips portions lips receptacle 210R, and even more preferably they are made in a single piece construction with it. Thus, upon exerting a slight force (e.g. a compression force) along the longitudinal direction X betweenlips receptacle 210R and the projectingportions receptacle 210R and the projectingportions Figures 2B and2C ). - As can be best appreciated in
Figure 2B and in the top drawing ofFigure 2E , at least a peripheral region of thevalve seat 215 is preferably intended to contact the sumpinner flange 150F thus preventing further fitting of the valve/filter assembly 145 into the seat opening. Thus, the valve seat 215 (or at least part thereof) is advantageously adapted to rest, upon positioning said valve/filter assembly 145 in saidfilter seat 150, on the sumpinner flange 150F, while the removable fixing elements (i.e., thelips 210L1,210L2) engage the sumpinner flange 150F for fixing of the valve/filter assembly 145 in thefilter seat 150. - Preferably, the
gasket element 220 extends over the whole lower surface of thevalve seat 215, so that the valve seat 215 (i.e., the peripheral region thereof) advantageously contacts the sumpinner flange 150F by interposition of thegasket element 220, which greatly improves sealing properties. - As visible also in
Figure 2A , thevalve seat 215 preferably comprises one or more (e.g., two)slots lips valve seat 215 is fixed to the receptacle 210R (e.g., in the advantageous embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, when the floatingvalve 205/valve seat 215 group is pivotally rotated onto the open end of receptacle 210R). Specifically, when a force is applied to thelips lips slots slots filter assembly 145, i.e., thereceptacle 210R thereof, is allowed to pass, when a force is applied to thelips filter seat 150 when said force is released). - As should be readily understood,
slots lips valve seat 215 on the receptacle 210R). In the advantageous example herein considered, theslots valve seat 215. - Preferably, as illustrated in the same figures, alignment of the
valve seat 215 on thereceptacle 210R is also assisted by a number of (e.g., four) flaps 210F1-210F4 (preferably made in a single piece construction with thereceptacle 210R, and arranged along, and preferably extending upwards from, the open end thereof) and by a number of (e.g., four) correspondingwall portions 215W1,215W4 (preferably made in a single piece with thevalve seat 215, and preferably arranged along, and extending downwards from, the lower surface of the valve seat 215), adapted to cooperate (e.g., by slide contact) with each other. - The valve/
filter assembly 145 further preferably comprises alocking element 225 adapted to be interlocked with thevalve seat 215. - The locking
element 225 is preferably adapted to be locked on the valve seat 215 (i.e., on an upper surface thereof opposite the lower surface) so as to press/push thevalve seat 215 on the sump inner flange 150F (and, especially, the gasket element portion therebetween), thus providing effective retaining and sealing actions. Preferably, the lockingelement 225 is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, so as to provide effective pressing/pushing action and, hence, ensuring mechanical stability to the valve/filter assembly 145. - Preferably, the locking
element 225 is further adapted to prevent, in the locking position (shown in the top drawing ofFigure 2F and in the bottom drawing ofFigure 2G ), removal of the fixation of thereceptacle 210R to said avalve seat 215 and of the fixation of said valve/filter assembly 145 to saidfilter seat 150. - In order to achieve that, one or more (e.g., two)
cap members valve seat 215 are preferably provided for covering at least a part of thevalve seat 215, and even more preferably (as illustrated inFigures 2A ,2B ,2C ,2D and2F ) thecap members slots lips cap members lips receptacle 210R to thevalve seat 215 and fixation of the valve/filter assembly 145 to thefilter seat 150 is ensured. - Still more preferably, as can be best appreciated in
Figures 2A and2F , eachcap member peripheral recess slot gasket element 220 underneath it. Thus, by advantageously making thecap members gasket element 220, so that increased sealing action is achieved, and treatment liquid leakages are prevented through theslots - Preferably, as illustrated, the
cap members element 225, so that easy covering is automatically achieved upon interlocking between the lockingelement 225 and thevalve seat 215. - Advantageously, the locking
element 225 is shaped and sized so as not to obstruct or make it difficult the passage of the treatment liquids through the valve/filter assembly 145 (i.e., through the inlet thereof). In this respect, as can be better appreciated in the bottom drawing ofFigure 2F , the lockingelement 225 is preferably in the form of a shaft extending, along a longitudinal direction Y substantially orthogonal to the transversal direction X, across opposite side ends of thevalve seat 215, and preferably having, along the transversal direction X, a size lower than valve/filter assembly inlet size. - Preferably, as illustrated, the locking
element 225 is hingedly mounted on the upper surface of thevalve seat 215, which allows unfitting, opening and servicing of the valve/filter assembly 145 without having to completely detach thelocking element 225 from the valve seat 215 (as also visible in the bottom drawing ofFigure 2F ). In order to achieve thathinge elements locking element 225, respectively. - Interlocking between the locking
element 225 and thevalve seat 215 is preferably achieved by means of a snap-fit mechanism. As can be better appreciated inFigures 2A ,2D ,2E ,2F and2G , the snap-fit mechanism preferably comprises, atvalve seat 215 side, a guidingelement 215G provided with a housing (e.g., a slot) 215GS, and, at lockingelement 225 side (e.g., opposite the hinge element 225H), a hand-grip element 225HG provided with a cantileveredportion 225HGc. As can be better appreciated in the close-up views ofFigure 2G , the hand-grip element 225HG is preferably adapted to slide within the guidingelement 215G until the cantileveredportion 225HGc snap-fit engages the guidingelement slot 215GS. As should be readily understood, sizing and/or shaping of the snap-fit mechanism directly affect the pressing/pushing action the lockingelement 225 is able to impart on thevalve seat 215 when interlocked to each other, thus directly affecting compression of the gasket portion between thevalve seat 215 and the sumpinner flange 150F, and hence sealing action thereof against treatment liquids leakages. - Preferably, the guiding
element 215G is made in a single piece construction with thevalve seat 215, and the hand-grip element 225HG is made in a single piece construction with the lockingelement 225. In this case, as should be readily understood, at least one between thevalve seat 215 and thelocking element 225 is conveniently made of a semi-rigid material, so that (even slight) resiliency allows imparting a deformation causing the cantileveredportion 225HGc to snap-fit engage the guidingframe slot 215GS easily. - However, in the particular embodiment herein illustrated wherein the hand-
grip element 225HG advantageously features an elbow-shaped portion, thevalve seat 215 and thelocking element 225 may instead be made both of a rigid material, as the elbow-shaped portion may advantageously give, alone, the hand-grip element 225HG with a sufficient degree of deformation capabilities.
Claims (15)
- Laundry washing machine (100) comprising:a tub (115) for containing treatment liquids, the tub (115) comprising a sump (120) fluidly connected to a draining circuit (125) of the washing machine (100), anda valve/filter assembly (145) adapted to be removably positioned in a filter seat (150) provided in the sump (120) for intercepting and filtering the treatment liquids while passing from said tub (115) to said draining circuit (125),said valve/filter assembly (145) comprising:- a receptacle (210R) having an inlet (210I) for the access of the treatment liquids coming from the tub (115), and a filtering surface (210FS) through which said treatment liquids coming from the tub (115) can pass to said draining circuit (125), said filtering surface (210FS) being adapted to retain within said receptacle (210R) foreign bodies entering said inlet (210I), and- a valve seat (215) fixed to an open end of said receptacle (210R), and- a valve element (205) movable between a closed position in which the valve element (205) abuts the valve seat (215), thereby preventing passage of liquid from said tub (115) to said draining circuit (125), and an opened position in which the valve element (205) is at least partially spaced from said valve seat (215), thereby allowing liquid to pass from said tub (115) to said draining circuit (125) through said filtering surface (210FS) of said receptacle (210R),
characterized in thatthe valve element (205) is pivotally hinged to said valve seat (215) so as to swing within the receptacle (210R), when said valve seat (215) is fixed to said receptacle (210R), between said closed and opened positions. - Laundry washing machine (100) according to Claim 1, wherein the valve/filter assembly (145) comprises a gasket element (220) arranged in such a way to provide a watertight connection between said valve element (205) and said valve seat (215) in said closed position of said valve element (205).
- Laundry washing machine (100) according to Claim 2, wherein said valve element (205) comprises a rigid core (205C) on which said gasket element (220) is over-injected.
- Laundry washing machine (100) according to Claim 2, wherein said valve seat (215) comprises a rigid frame (215F) on which said gasket element (220) is over-injected.
- Laundry washing machine (100) according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein said valve element (205) is pivotally hinged to said valve seat (215) by a resilient connection comprising said gasket element (220), a layer of resilient material at least partially over injected on a rigid core (205C) of said valve element (205), and at least one flexible connecting element (220P1,220P2) made in a single piece construction with said gasket element (220) and said layer of resilient material.
- Laundry washing machine (100) according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein said valve element (205) is made of a resilient material and is pivotally hinged to said valve seat (215) by a resilient connection comprising said valve element (205), said gasket element (220), and at least one flexible connecting element (220P1,220P2) made in a single piece construction with said gasket element (220) and said valve element (205).
- Laundry washing machine (100) according to any Claim from 1 to 4, wherein the valve seat (215) further comprises at least one protruding member (220P1,220P2) adapted to be removably associated with at least one corresponding housing (205H1,205H2) of said valve element (205) for pivotally hinging said valve element (205) to said valve seat (215) in a removable manner.
- Laundry washing machine (100) according to Claim 7 when depending on Claim 2 or 4, wherein the at least one protruding member (220P1,220P2) is made in a single piece construction with the gasket element (220).
- Laundry washing machine (100) according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said valve/filter assembly (145) comprises at least one fixing element (210L1,210L2) adapted to removably fix both said receptacle (210R) to said valve seat (215) and said valve/filter assembly (145) to said filter seat (150).
- Laundry washing machine (100) according to Claim 9, wherein the at least one fixing element (210L1,210L2) is mechanically coupled to said receptacle (210R) and is elastically deformable, elastic deformation of the at least one fixing element (210L1,210L2) allowing insertion and snap-fit fixation of said receptacle (210R) in said filter seat (150).
- Laundry washing machine (100) according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the valve seat (215) further comprises at least one slot (215S1,215S2) for allowing passage of the at least one fixing element (210L1,210L2) therethrough during fixation of said valve seat (215) to said receptacle (210R).
- Laundry washing machine (100) according to any Claim from 9 to 11, wherein at least part of the valve seat (215) is adapted to rest, upon positioning said valve/filter assembly (145) in said filter seat (150), on an inner flange (150F) provided in the sump (120) and delimiting the inlet of said filter seat (150), wherein when said valve/filter assembly (145) is positioned in said filter seat (150), said at least one fixing element (210L1,210L2) engaging said inner flange (150F) for fixing the valve/filter assembly (145) in said filter seat (150).
- Laundry washing machine (100) according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said valve/filter assembly (145) comprises a locking element (225) adapted to take a locking position wherein it prevents removal of the fixation of said receptacle (210R) to said a valve seat (215) and of the fixation of said valve/filter assembly (145) to said filter seat (150).
- Laundry washing machine (100) according to Claim 13, wherein the locking element (225) comprises at least one cap member (225C1,225C2) removably fixable to said valve seat (215).
- Laundry washing machine (100) according to Claim 14 when depending on Claim 11, wherein the at least one cap member (225C1,225C2), in said locking position, covers said at least one slot (215S1,215S2) and the at least one fixing element (210L1,210L2) therethrough.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP14184886.1A EP2998426B1 (en) | 2014-09-16 | 2014-09-16 | Washing machiine having an improved valve/filter assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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EP14184886.1A EP2998426B1 (en) | 2014-09-16 | 2014-09-16 | Washing machiine having an improved valve/filter assembly |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP2998426A1 EP2998426A1 (en) | 2016-03-23 |
EP2998426B1 true EP2998426B1 (en) | 2017-11-15 |
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EP14184886.1A Active EP2998426B1 (en) | 2014-09-16 | 2014-09-16 | Washing machiine having an improved valve/filter assembly |
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EP (1) | EP2998426B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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EP3983599A4 (en) * | 2019-06-14 | 2023-04-05 | Arçelik Anonim Sirketi | A washing machine comprising a filtering member |
SE545374C2 (en) * | 2021-06-30 | 2023-07-25 | Mimbly Ab | Intermediate storage device for laundry systems |
US20230272575A1 (en) * | 2022-02-28 | 2023-08-31 | Whirlpool Corporation | Laundry treating appliance with foreign object barrier |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE19935987A1 (en) | 1999-07-30 | 2001-02-01 | Bsh Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete | Laundry treatment machine |
ES2347114B1 (en) * | 2008-12-12 | 2011-08-18 | Bsh Electrodomesticos España, S.A. | WASHING MACHINE. |
EP2426247A1 (en) * | 2010-09-02 | 2012-03-07 | Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. | Washing machine |
EP2503050B1 (en) | 2011-03-24 | 2013-12-18 | Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. | Washing machine comprising a filter element |
EP2746447B1 (en) * | 2012-12-21 | 2020-04-22 | Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. | Laundry machine with discharge manifold comprising a pump assembly |
EP2746448A1 (en) * | 2012-12-21 | 2014-06-25 | Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. | Improved discharge system for laundry treatment appliance |
-
2014
- 2014-09-16 EP EP14184886.1A patent/EP2998426B1/en active Active
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