EP3874083A1

EP3874083A1 - A washing machine

Info

Publication number: EP3874083A1
Application number: EP19778936.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet Ozbek; Ibrahim Yildirim; Hakan Amac
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2018-11-02
Filing date: 2019-09-24
Publication date: 2021-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2039-09-24
Also published as: EP3874083B1; WO2020088849A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) comprising a tub (2); a drum (3) which is disposed in the tub (2), which rotates around its own axis and wherein the laundry is loaded; and one or more spiral guiding members (5) with the rotational axis of the drum (3) being the center thereof which is fixed onto the rear wall (4) of the drum (3) so as to move together with the drum (3), which has at least one inlet (6) for taking the fluid in the tub (2) and at least one outlet (7) for transferring the fluid taken through the inlet (6) into the drum (3) and which connects the inlet (6) and the outlet (7) to each other.

Description

A WASHING MACHINE

The present invention relates to a washing machine wherein the water in the tub is transferred back into the drum with the rotation of the drum.
In washing machines, a large number of embodiments and methods are used for improving the washing and rinsing processes. While increasing detergent, temperature or washing movement positively affects the washing performance and speed, it also increases energy costs. Therefore, in order to achieve a better and cheaper washing process in a shorter time, the washing process must be improved without increasing the amount of cleaning agents used or the energy consumption.
In the state of the art, it is a known embodiment to take the water containing undissolved detergent from the lower region of the tub by means of a circulation pump and spray the same onto the laundry in the drum by means of a bellows or by a nozzle from another region. However, additional components such as pump, filter, hose, etc. used in this embodiment significantly increase the product costs.
In another state of the art embodiment, it is disclosed that by means of a ball placed into the filter hose the detergent water can be confined in the tub. Thus, the detergent is prevented from being transferred to regions unused during the washing process such as pump, filter, hose, etc. However, in this embodiment since the water collected at the lower side of the tub cannot be transferred back into the drum, losses in time arise while wetting the laundry in the drum and dissolving the detergent.
In the state of the art, various embodiments are known for transferring the water at the lower region of the tub into the drum by benefiting from the rotational movement of the drum without using a circulation pump. Thus, while savings are provided by using less water and energy consumption is decreased, it becomes possible to better wet the laundry and better dissolve the detergent, thus transferring the detergent onto various areas of the laundry in the drum. Moreover, the washing time can be shortened as well. Since no circulation pump is used in these embodiments, savings in the energy to be consumed by said component and the cost thereof are provided, thus decreasing the product costs. Examples for the state of the art embodiments for transferring the water at the lower region of the tub back onto the laundry with the rotational movement of the drum without using any circulation pump are given below.
The state of the art United States Patent Application No. US2007006618 discloses that the washing water in the tub taken through the inlet at the inner side of the rear wall of the drum is transferred into the drum through the outlet ports on the rear wall of the drum.
Another state of the art document is the United States Patent Application No. US2003061843. In this document, it is disclosed that by mounting a water turbine on the front wall of the drum the washing water in the tub is transferred into the drum through the holes at the front side.
Another state of the art embodiment is disclosed in the German Patent Application No. DE4326496 and the European Patent Application No. EP2270272. In these documents, it is disclosed that the water taken from the tub by means of the structure in the flange is transferred into the drum.
The state of the art European Patent Application No. EP2489773 discloses that the water at the lower rear region of the drum is taken with the formations on the rear wall of the drum to be transferred into the drum over the lifters in the drum.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine wherein the water in the tub is transferred back into the drum with the rotation of the drum.
The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a tub; a drum which is disposed in the tub, which rotates around its own axis and wherein the laundry is loaded; and a spiral guiding member with the rotational axis of the drum being the center thereof which is fixed onto the rear wall of the drum so as to move together with the drum, which has at least one inlet for taking the water in the tub and at least one outlet for transferring the fluid taken through the inlet into the drum and which connects the inlet and the outlet to each other.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the inlet of the spiral guiding member is positioned at the side of the rear wall of the drum and the outlet thereof at the center of the rear wall of the drum.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the inlet of the spiral guiding member is positioned at the center of the rear wall of the drum and the outlet thereof at the side of the rear wall of the drum.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the inlet of the spiral guiding member is positioned at the center of the rear wall of the drum and the outlet thereof at the side of the rear wall of the drum, and the guiding member is connected to at least one lifter and the outlets are the holes on the lifter.
In another embodiment of the present invention, two guiding members are oppositely fixed onto the rear sheet metal of the drum. Thus, the fluid is taken into the guiding member while the drum rotates in both directions.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the guiding member is positioned between the rear sheet metal of the drum and the tub, and mounted onto the rear sheet metal of the drum. Thus, the guiding member cannot be seen from the outside while moving together with the drum and does not occupy space in the drum. In this embodiment of the present invention, the rear wall has openings thereon in alignment with the outlets, which enable the fluid leaving the outlet to pass into the drum.
By means of the present invention, the laundry loaded into the drum is enabled to be better washed and rinsed with less water, less detergent, less cost in a shorter time.
A washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 - is the front view of a tub, a drum and a guiding member in the drum.
Figure 2 - is the front view of the guiding member.
Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the guiding member fixed onto the rear wall of the drum, the drum and the tub.
Figure 5 - is the front view of the tub, the drum and the guiding member in the drum in another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 - is the front view of the guiding member in the drum in another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 - is the perspective view of the guiding member fixed onto the rear wall of the drum, the drum and the tub in another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 - is the front view of the guiding member in the drum in another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 - is the perspective view of the guiding member fixed onto the rear wall of the drum, the drum and the tub in yet another embodiment of the present invention.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Washing machine
Tub
Drum
Rear wall
Guiding member
Inlet
Outlet
Lifter
Opening

The washing machine (1) comprises a tub (2); a drum (3) which is disposed in the tub (2), which rotates around its own axis and wherein the laundry is loaded; and one or more spiral guiding members (5) with the rotational axis of the drum (3) being the center thereof which is fixed onto the rear wall (4) of the drum (3) so as to move together with the drum (3), which has at least one inlet (6) for taking the fluid in the tub (2) and at least one outlet (7) for transferring the fluid taken through the inlet (6) into the drum (3) and which connects the inlet (6) and the outlet (7) to each other.
The fluid, which can be the solution containing water and cleaning agents such as detergent, softener, etc., at the lower region of the tub (2) between the drum (3) and the tub (2) is taken through the inlet (6) with the rotation of the drum (3) and passes into the guiding member (5), and then is transferred into the drum (3) directly or via the lifters (8) from the outlet (7) provided at the other end of the guiding member (5) and opening into the drum (3). The fluid entering, with the rotation of the drum (3), the guiding member (5) through the inlet (6), which extends at least up to the level of the fluid between the tub (2) and the drum (3) or below said level, is moved only with the rotation of the drum (3) without using any pump and then guided into the drum (3) through the outlet (7) provided at the other end of the guiding member (5).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the guiding member (5) is mounted onto the rear wall (4) between the tub (2) and the rear wall (4). Thus, as being positioned behind the rear wall (4) the guiding member (5) cannot be seen from the outside and does not reduce in the inner volume of the drum (3). In this embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises at least one opening (9) which is provided on the rear wall (4), which is aligned with each outlet (7) and which allows the fluid leaving the outlet (7) to pass into the drum (3).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the inlet (6) is wider than the cross-section of the guiding member (5). Moreover, the cross-section of the guiding member (5) narrows down from the inlet (6) towards the outlet (7).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises two inlets (6) arranged at 180 degree intervals.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises three inlets (6) arranged at 120 degree intervals.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises a filter provided on the inlet (6). Thus, clogging due to particles such as fabric fiber, etc. is prevented. The filter is mounted to the inlet (6) by means of fixing means or methods such as welding, screw, etc. so as not to be dislodged with the rotation of the drum.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises an inlet (6) which is positioned in the vicinity of or at the edge of the rear wall (4) of the drum (3), the guiding member (5) which has a spiral form from the edge of the rear wall (4) towards the center, and an outlet (7) which is positioned in the vicinity of or at the center of the rear wall (4) (Figure 1). The spiral guiding member (5) connected to the inlet (6) at the edge of the rear wall (4) rotates in the form of a spiral so as to get close to the center of the drum (3), thus providing the transfer of the fluid into the drum (3) through the outlet (7) which is positioned in the vicinity of the center. In this embodiment, the guiding member (5), thanks to the spiral form thereof, accelerates the fluid taken therein through the inlet (6) with the rotational speed of the drum (3). By means of the spiral form, the fluid stays in the guiding member (5) and hence in the drum (3) for a longer time and accelerates more by gaining more angular speed with the rotation of the drum (3). The fluid, thanks to the speed it gains in the guiding member (5), is sprayed in a pressurized manner into the drum (3) (Figure 2 and Figure 3).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cross-section of the guiding member (5) gets smaller from the inlet (6) towards the outlet (7). Thus, the pressure of the fluid in the guiding member (5) is increased, and the fluid is delivered into the drum (3) in a pressurized manner.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises an inlet (6) which is positioned at the center of the rear wall (4), at least one outlet (7) which is positioned in the vicinity of or at the side of the rear wall (4), and the guiding member (5) which has a spiral form from the center of the rear wall (4) towards the edge thereof (Figure 7). By means of the structure of the guiding member (5) opening from the center of the rear wall (4) towards the side thereof, the time the fluid remains in the guiding member (5) is increased, and the fluid is accelerated more in the guiding member (5). In this embodiment of the present invention, the guiding member (5) has three arms and comprises the outlets (7) on each arm through which the fluid is sprayed into the drum (3) (Figure 8).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises at least one lifter (8) which is provided in the drum (3) and which moves together with the drum (3), an inlet (6) which is positioned at the center of the rear wall (4), at least one outlet (7) which is positioned in the vicinity of or at the side of the rear wall (4) and which opens into the lifter (8), and the guiding member (5) which has a spiral form from the center of the rear wall (4) towards the edge thereof (Figure 4). By passing the fluid taken from the inlet (6) through the guiding member (5) and delivering the same to the lifter (8) via the outlet, the fluid is enabled to be delivered into the drum (3) via the lifter (8). Thus, as the fluid is accelerated by means of the guiding member (5), the fluid is delivered into the drum (3) and onto the laundry in a pressurized manner. Consequently, in addition to the showering effect due to free fall when the lifter (8) reaches the uppermost position, by accelerating the fluid with the rotation of the drum (3) and thanks to the spiral form of the guiding member (5), the fluid is enabled to be sprayed into the drum (3) even when the lifter (8) is at the lowermost position. In this embodiment of the present invention, the lifter (8) contacts the rear wall (4). Thus, the fluid transferred from the outlet (7) on the rear wall (4) into the lifter (8) is delivered into the drum (3) via the holes on the lifter (8) (Figure 5 and Figure 6).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises two guiding members (5) which are positioned oppositely. Thus, independent of the rotational direction of the drum (3), the fluid is taken into the guiding member (5) via the inlet (6).
In any embodiment of the present invention disclosed above, in order to increase the visual quality and effect of the guiding member (5), the drum (3) can be rotated according to different algorithms so as to create variety. For example, in programs wherein a small of amount of laundry is washed, the drum (3) is rotated at different speeds or in the same direction for a longer time so as to improve visual quality. In another example, if the fluid is taken into the guiding member (5) while the drum (3) rotates clockwise, the drum (3) is enabled to be rotated in this direction. Another example can be given for the washing process wherein wetting the laundry is very important. In this embodiment, in the first minutes of the washing process, the drum (3) is rotated at a higher speed in the direction where water can be efficiently taken, more fluid is enabled to be taken into the guiding member (5), thus increasing the effectiveness of wetting. In another embodiment of the present invention, while the fluid is being taken into the guiding member (5) through the lifter (8), the fluid is taken via the inlet (6) on the rear wall (4) counterclockwise.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) provides the intake of water under the level of the heater when the heater is not active. Thus, with the rotation of the drum (3), wetting the laundry continues thanks to the structure of the guiding member (5).
By means of the present invention, the washing effectiveness is increased, the energy consumption is decreased, the rinsing performance is improved and saving in water consumption is provided. Moreover, by means of the present invention, without narrowing down the inner volume of the drum (3), additional components for taking water into the drum (3) can be mounted. Furthermore, without using any pump, the fluid is enabled to be sprayed onto the laundry in a pressurized manner. In addition to improving the washing and rinsing processes, the washing and rinsing times are shortened. Thus, the laundry is wetted more quickly in a shorter time.

Claims

A washing machine (1) comprising a tub (2); a drum (3) which is disposed in the tub (2), which rotates around its own axis and wherein the laundry is loaded; characterized by one or more spiral guiding members (5) with the rotational axis of the drum (3) being the center thereof which is fixed onto the rear wall (4) of the drum (3) so as to move together with the drum (3), which has at least one inlet (6) for taking the fluid in the tub (2) and at least one outlet (7) for transferring the fluid taken through the inlet (6) into the drum (3) and which connects the inlet (6) and the outlet (7) to each other.
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the guiding member (5) which is mounted onto the rear wall (4) between the tub (2) and the rear wall (4).
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 and 2, characterized by at least one opening (9) which is provided on the rear wall (4), which is aligned with each outlet (7) and which allows the fluid leaving the outlet (7) to pass into the drum (3).
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the inlet (6) which is wider than the cross-section of the guiding member (5).
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the guiding member (5) which has a form narrowing down from the inlet (6) towards the outlet (7).
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 and 5, characterized by two inlets (6) which are arranged at 180 degree intervals.
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 and 5, characterized by three inlets (6) which are arranged at 120 degree intervals.
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a filter which is mounted to the inlet (6).
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by comprises an inlet (6) which is positioned in the vicinity of or at the edge of the rear wall (4) of the drum (3), the guiding member (5) which has a spiral form from the edge of the rear wall (4) towards the center, and an outlet (7) which is positioned in the vicinity of or at the center of the rear wall (4).
A washing machine (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 8, characterized by an inlet (6) which is positioned at the center of the rear wall (4), at least one outlet (7) which is positioned in the vicinity of or at the side of the rear wall (4), and the guiding member (5) which has a spiral form from the center of the rear wall (4) towards the edge thereof.
A washing machine (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 8, characterized by at least one lifter (8) which is provided in the drum (3) and which moves together with the drum (3), an inlet (6) which is positioned at the center of the rear wall (4), at least one outlet (7) which is positioned in the vicinity of or at the side of the rear wall (4) and which opens into the lifter (8), and the guiding member (5) which has a spiral form from the center of the rear wall (4) towards the edge thereof.
A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by two guiding members (5) which are disposed oppositely.