EP3168358A1

EP3168358A1 - Washing machine with adjustable supports

Info

Publication number: EP3168358A1
Application number: EP16197452.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matjaz Kuhar; Gregor CEPON; Miha BOLTEZAR; Mitja STIMULAK; Robi POGOREVC; Ales MIHELIC
Original assignee: Gorenje gospodinjski aparati dd
Current assignee: Gorenje gospodinjski aparati dd
Priority date: 2015-11-11
Filing date: 2016-11-07
Publication date: 2017-05-17
Also published as: SI25092A; RU2644322C1

Abstract

The present invention refers to a washing machine for washing laundry, comprising a body with a casing (1) and a front wall (2) having an access opening (3) for loading/unloading laundry to be washed, wherein a plurality of vertically adjustable supports (13) are connected to the lower section of the casing (1) and the front wall (2) which is intended for mounting the washing machine on a surface. It is provided for according to the present invention, that at least a horizontal fold (4,5) of the casing (1) or of the front wall (2) is at least partially and/or at least piecewise continuously formed with a reinforcing elevation (16) extending in the longitudinal direction of the fold (4, 5).

Description

The present invention refers to a washing machine for washing laundry, comprising a body with an access opening for loading/unloading laundry to be washed, and in the lower section thereof which is intended for mounting the washing machine on the surface, a plurality of vertically adjustable supports connected to said body.
Vibrations caused in operation of a washing machine are transmitted to the body and exert negative impact not only to the loaded parts of the body but to the stability of the washing machine as well. In particular, it is important for the body to be formed in a manner that the vibration forces transmitted to the supports of the washing machine and the surface act as less as possible in horizontal direction to prevent the washing machine to be displaced on the surface. In order to avoid said problems, known solutions provide reinforcement of the body in the area of supports by means of additional elements. Moreover, known are solutions that try to increase the stiffness of the body by means of plastic deformation and, respectively, deep drawing, and the folds in the corners of the body of the machine at the places where supports are attached. Due to potentially uneven surface and limited mounting stability, the washing machines are provided as a rule with at least one vertically adjustable support. Said support is formed with a base cooperating with the surface on which the washing machine is mounted. A threaded shank projects from said base being screwed from the bottom side to the body of the washing machine. Drawback of such solutions is relatively thin and flexible material the body is produced of, thus, resulting in a local deflection of said material and in transmission of unwanted vibrations to the surface.
It is the object of the present invention to create a washing machine of the aforementioned kind in which a body in the vicinity of supports is as rigid as possible, thus, preventing transfer of the vibrations to the ground.
According to the present invention, the object as set above is solved in a manner, that an input of a plastic deformation, such as a deep drawing, is provided in the section of the body bottom in the horizontal extension thereof, wherein at the side of said plastic deformation which is averted from the surface on which a washing machine is mounted, there is provided a through hole the centre line thereof lies coaxially with the centre line of a support of the washing machine and, respectively, with the centre line of a threaded shank of said support. Said through hole preferably comprises greater diameter than is the diameter of said threaded shank.
The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description of a non-limiting embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings

Fig. 1: shows a three-dimensional view of a body of a washing machine according to the invention,
Fig. 2: shows a three-dimensional bottom side view of the washing machine of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3: shows a three-dimensional detailed view of the corner area of the washing machine of Fig. 1,
Fig. 4: shows a longitudinal section along a centreline of a support of the washing machine,
Fig. 5: shows a transversal section along a centreline of a support of the washing machine.

A washing machine according to the invention comprises a body consisting of a U shaped casing 1, and a front wall 2 comprising an opening 3 for loading/unloading laundry to be washed. Said front wall 2 is associated with said casing 1, for example by means of a spot welding. Said casing 1 of the body and, respectively, the front wall 2 are formed at the bottom end thereof which, with the normally mounted washing machine, faces the surface the washing machine is mounted on, with a first horizontal fold 4 and with a second horizontal fold 5 both projecting to the interior of the washing machine.
A flat reinforcing element 10 is attached to each corner section 6, 7, 8, 9 of the horizontal fold 4; 5 which cooperates with the surface the washing machine is mounted on. Said reinforcing element 10 is formed with a flange 11 comprising a threaded through hole into which a support 13 of the washing machine is screwed in by means of a threaded shank 12. In order to act on said support 13, the latter is formed at the side which cooperates with said surface with at least one, and preferably with two polygonal sections 14, 15 to be engaged with the tool by means of which a user may act to the support 13. Each horizontal fold 4; 5 is formed in the area of said flange 11 of the reinforcing element 10 with a through hole in order to allow free passage of the threaded shank 12 of the support 13 when the latter is installed and/or vertically adjusted.
In order to increase rigidity of the washing machine and, as a result, decrease vibrations thereof, at least one of horizontal folds 4; 5 of the casing 1 and, respectively, the front wall 2 is formed at least partially and/or at least piecewise continuously with a reinforcing elevation 16 extending in longitudinal direction of the fold 4; 5. Said elevation 16 is made by means of plastic deformation, such as by bending the fold 4; 5 or by input of a deep draw into the fold 4; 5. According to the preferred embodiment, said elevation 16 is formed uninterrupted and essentially over the entire length of thr fold 4; 5, and in direction away from said surface on which the washing machine is mounted on. Said elevation 16 is formed in the area of the arrangement of the support 13 with a through hole 17 to allow passage for the threaded shank 12 of the support 13. It is provided for according to the present invention, that with the assembled body of the washing machine each horizontal fold 4; 5 of the casing 1 and, respectively, of the front wall 2 which is formed with said elevation 16 rests on the horizontal fold 4; 5 which is formed without the elevation 16.
With the present embodiment shown in accompanied drawings, said elevation is formed on the second horizontal fold 5 of the front wall 2. Therefore, with the assembled body the second horizontal fold 5 of the front wall 2 rests on said first horizontal fold 4 of the casing 1.
Furthermore, it is possible according to one of embodiments, that said flange 11 of the reinforcing element 10 extends to the area of said through hole 17 of the elevation 16 and is there tightly connected to said elevation 16.

Claims

A washing machine with adjustable supports, comprising a body with a casing (1) and a front wall (2) with an access opening (3) for loading/unloading the laundry to be washed, wherein the casing (1) of the body and, respectively, the front wall (2) of the body are formed at the bottom end thereof with a first horizontal fold (4) and with a second horizontal fold (5) projecting to the interior of the washing machine, and comprising in the bottom section which is intended to mount the washing machine on the surface a plurality of vertically adjustable supports (13) associated with said body, characterized in that at least one of horizontal folds (4; 5) of a casing (1) and, respectively, of a front wall (2) is at least partially and/or at least piecewise continuously formed with a reinforcing elevation (16) extending in the longitudinal direction of the second fold (5).
A washing machine with vertically adjustable supports according to claim 1, characterized in that said elevation (16) is made by means of plastic deformation of said at least one horizontal fold (4; 5).
A washing machine with vertically adjustable supports according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said plastic deformation of said at least one horizontal fold (4; 5) of the casing (1) and, respectively, the front wall (2) comprises bending or deep drawing.
A washing machine with vertically adjustable supports according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said elevation (16) is formed uninterrupted and essentially over the entire length of said at least one horizontal fold (4; 5).
A washing machine with vertically adjustable supports according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said elevation (16) is formed in the area of arrangement of the support (13) with a through hole (17) for a threaded shank (12) of the support (13) to pass through.