ES2667574B1 - SIDE WALL FOR A FRAME OF A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE, FRAME, AND DOMESTIC APPLIANCE - Google Patents

Description

SIDE WALL FOR A FRAME OF AN APPARATUS

DOMESTIC, FRAME, AND DOMESTIC APPLIANCE

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a side wall for a frame of a domestic appliance for the treatment of garments. The side wall has a flange section which extends in the mounting position of the side wall towards an opposite side wall of the frame. The flange section comprises means for fixing a spring element configured to support a tub of the domestic appliance. Furthermore, the invention relates to a frame for a domestic appliance with a side wall of this type, and to a domestic appliance with such a frame.

In household appliances such as washing machines or washing machines, an oscillating system is suspended within the frame. Such an oscillating system comprises a tank for the water containing the detergent in the case of a washing machine, and a drum that rotates inside the tank during the operation of the domestic appliance. Normally, the oscillating system hangs on the frame with at least two springs. Here, a first spring is fixed to a flange section of a first side wall of the frame. A second spring is fixed to the flange section of the opposite side wall. These flange sections are also called frame wings, and protrude from an upper end of each side wall towards the opposite side wall.

In domestic appliances according to the prior art, the springs are fixed directly to the frame wings. An intermediate plastic or lubricant part can be provided to prevent friction between the springs and the frame wings.

However, in particular if the oscillating system hangs only at these two points, the weight of the oscillating system can cause a deformation in the flange section or frame wing. This deformation of the wing of the frame can also cause the deformation of the side wall or lateral side of the frame in a static situation, that is, when the oscillating system does not move. In a dynamic situation, in which the oscillating system moves during the operation of the domestic appliance, such deformation of the side wall can cause annoying vibrations. Also, the deformation of the lateral side or side wall of the frame can cause an aesthetic defect that is visible to the user of the domestic appliance in those cases in which the apparatus is not incorporated in a piece of furniture.

In a case in which the domestic appliance is incorporated or introduced in a lower part, the deformation of the side wall may be responsible for higher intensity noise. Such noises can originate from resonance frequencies that are due to possible collisions of the side wall of the frame with a wall of the furniture in which the domestic appliance is incorporated.

From the prior art, the resolution of these problems is known by reinforcing the frame wings. This can be carried out, for example, by increasing the thickness of the rolled metal forming the flange section and the side wall. As an alternative, it is possible to add a bar or strut extending from the frame wing of the first side wall to the frame wing of the second side wall. Such a cross strut covers access to the oscillating system. In addition, these approaches are quite expensive and increase the weight of the domestic appliance.

Also, these approaches do not solve the problem at the root. The cause of the problem is that the stresses linked to the weight of the oscillating system are concentrated at one point, that is, at the point at which the spring hangs from the flange section or frame wing. Accordingly, approaches in accordance with the prior art reduce the deformation of the frame wing, but undesirable deformation continues to be present.

Therefore, the present invention solves the technical problem of providing a side wall of the type mentioned at the beginning, which makes it possible to minimize the deformation of the side wall in a simple and economical way, as well as to provide a corresponding frame and a domestic appliance correspondent.

This technical problem is solved by means of a side wall, by means of a frame, and by a domestic appliance with the characteristics of the respective independent claims. In the dependent claims, advantageous configurations are specified with other convenient developments of the invention.

The side wall according to the invention for a frame of a domestic appliance for the treatment of garments has a flange section. In the mounting position of the side wall, that is, when the side wall forms part of the frame of the domestic appliance, this flange section extends towards an opposite side wall of the frame. The flange section comprises means for securing a spring element to the flange section. The spring element is configured to hold a tub of the domestic appliance. Means for fixing the spring element they comprise an opening or a recess in the flange section and a strut extending through the opening or the recess. Here, the strut rests on a first support point and on a second support point of the flange section. The first support point and the second support point are spaced apart from each other. A side wall of this type makes it possible for the spring element to be fixed to the strut which extends through the opening or the recess. Accordingly, the stress resulting from the weight of the oscillating system supported by the spring element is no longer located at a single point, but is distributed by the strut between the support points.

Accordingly, the stress produced in the area of the spring element, that is, the force applied to the shoulder section, which is due to the weight of the oscillating system, is divided. Since the support points for the strut are spaced apart from each other, there is a minimum distance between these two points. This has the consequence that the effort is divided or distributed between at least these two points. By means of such an arrangement, it is possible to prevent or at least minimize the deformation of the side wall of the frame. This is achieved in a particularly simple and inexpensive manner, since only a small piece is needed in the form of the strut running through the opening or the emptying of the flange section. The arrangement of the strut extending through the opening or recess reduces the respective force acting on the ridge section at the first support point and at the second support point compared to the force caused by an oscillating system of the same weight , but acting on the flange section at only a single point.

With a side wall of this type, aesthetic defects that would be visible to the user or customer in the case of a domestic appliance that is not incorporated in a piece of furniture can be avoided. Intense noises that may originate in the case of a domestic appliance that is incorporated in a furniture as a result of the impact of the side wall with a furniture wall can also be avoided. Also, vibrations of the side wall or side side of the frame are reduced or minimized. The thickness of the side wall can also be reduced. This reduces the costs of the material and, therefore, makes the domestic appliance, in particular, the washing machine or the washer-dryer, cheaper. Since the strut is simple and can be provided at low costs, cost optimization can also be achieved.

Preferably, the strut forms a curvature disposed within the opening or within the recess. With such a curvature or loop projecting towards the lower side of the flange section, the spring element can be fixed to the strut in a particularly simple manner.

The support points may be located on opposite sides of the opening or emptying to effectively divide the force acting on the support points.

Preferably, at least one of the support points is formed as a protrusion protruding from the upper surface of the flange section. Provided such protrusions or promontories, which can have a distance with respect to the edge of the opening or the emptying, the support points can be particularly well defined. Also, such support points can be spaced apart from one another in a particularly simple manner. This brings about a particularly uniform distribution of the force applied to the flange section by the spring element, where the force results from the weight of the tub (and the drum disposed within the tub), which is supported by the spring element .

Preferably, the flange section comprises at least one fastener configured to hold the strut in place. Thus, the strut can easily be prevented from moving relative to a wall part of the flange section and the strut vibrates. Such a fastening element can be provided in a particularly simple and inexpensive manner if it is formed as a flange that secures the strut.

Preferably, the flange section has at least one hole into which a final section of the strut is inserted. In this way, a secure attachment of the strut to the flange section can be achieved.

A final section of the strut may extend from a hole in the flange section along the bottom side of the flange section. By strutting the strut into the hole and causing the end section of the strut to pass along the underside of the flange section, the attachment of the strut to the flange section is improved.

Preferably, a final section of the strut rests on a leg of an "L" shaped element protruding from the underside of the flange section Such an arrangement is particularly effective and simple in securing the strut to the flange section of the flange. safe way.

The "L" -shaped element can be formed as a cut-out and bent part of the flange section, therefore, the "L" -shaped element can be provided in a particularly simple manner.

The strut may be formed as a wire, for example, a metal wire with a circular cross section. Alternatively, the strut can be formed as rolled metal with a rectangular cross section. As an example, a flat, curved piece of sheet metal can be used as a strut.

The use of the same material for the side wall and the flange section, i.e., a metal, is particularly effective for reinforcing the area of the flange section. In addition, the strut is particularly strong and robust if it is made of metal.

However, the strut can also be formed as a wire made of plastic or as a flat element made of plastic. This provides particularly high flexibility by conferring the desired shape to the strut. Also, this reduces the weight of the strut compared to the strut made, for example, of metal wire or rolled metal.

The frame according to the invention for a domestic appliance for the treatment of garments comprises a first side wall according to the invention and a second side wall according to the invention. The second side wall is disposed in front of the first side wall.

The domestic appliance for the treatment of garments according to the invention has a frame according to the invention. Here, the tub of the domestic appliance is supported by at least one spring element fixed to the strut disposed adjacent the flange section of the first side wall and by at least one other spring element fixed to the strut disposed adjacent to the flange section of the strut. the second side wall. The domestic appliance can be a washing machine and / or a clothes dryer. In other words, the domestic appliance can be, for example, a washing machine, as well as a dryer or a washer-dryer.

The advantages and preferred embodiments described with respect to the side wall according to the invention apply to the same extent to the frame according to the invention and to the household appliance according to the invention.

The characteristics and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the characteristics and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures are usable not only in the combination indicated in each case, but also in other combinations or separately, without leaving the scope of the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that those embodiments that are not explicitly shown in the figures and are not explained, but that can be extracted through combinations of features separated from the exposed embodiments, are also understood and disclosed by the invention. . Accordingly, those embodiments and combinations of characteristics that do not have all the characteristics of an independent claim originally formulated will also be considered disclosed.

Other advantages, features and details of the invention can be derived from the claims, the following description of the preferred embodiments, as well as based on the drawings, in which the elements with analogous functions are accompanied by the same reference symbols. Here, they show:

Fig. 1 schematically, a domestic appliance without cover, where a tank and a drum are suspended from flange sections of opposite side walls of a frame of the domestic appliance by means of two springs;

Fig. 2 in a perspective view, a section of one of the flange sections to which a wire strut is fixed, where the spring hangs from the wire strut;

Fig. 3 a sectional view of the flange section shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 a variant of the flange section, where the wire strut is fixed differently to the flange section; Y

Fig. 5 an enlarged detail of a final section of the wire strut shown in Fig. 4.

The indications "upper", "lower", "upper part", "front part", "lower part", "floor", "horizontal", "vertical", "direction of depth", "direction of width" , "height direction", and the like, refer to the positions and orientations of the home appliance 1 (see Figure 1) in its intended use position with respect to an observer located in front of the home appliance 1 and being observed towards this.

Figure 1 schematically shows a domestic appliance 1 that can be configured as a washing machine, clothes dryer, or as a washer-dryer. The domestic appliance 1 comprises a frame 2 in which a tank 3 is disposed. Inside the tank 3 a drum 4 is arranged, in which the clothes to be washed or dried are placed. The front door of the domestic appliance 1 is not shown. Furthermore, the domestic appliance 1 is shown without the cover that usually closes the frame 2 from its upper part.

During the operation of the domestic appliance 1, the rotational movement of the drum 4 inside the tub 3 causes an oscillating movement of the tub 3 inside the frame 2. In order to allow this movement, the tub 3 is joined to flange sections 5. , 6 or frame wings of a first side wall 7 and a second side wall 8 of the frame 2 by means of at least two springs 9, 10. In the example shown in figure 1, the spring 9 is fixed to the flange section 5. of the first side wall 7, and the spring 10 is fixed to the flange section 6 of the second side wall 8, which is located opposite the first side wall 7. The flange sections 5, 6 or frame wings extend one towards the other. The domestic appliance 1 can further comprise dampers 11 which are arranged between the tank 3 and the lower wall 12 of the frame 2.

In particular if the tank 3 containing the drum 4 is attached to the flange section 5 or frame wing of the first side wall 7 by only a first spring 9 and to the flange section 6 or frame wing of the second side wall 8 by only a second spring 10, the force applied to the flange sections 5, 6 by the weight of the tub 3 and the oscillating movement of the tub 3 is considerable. This force can even cause the deformation of the flange sections 5, 6 and, as a consequence, the deformation of the side walls 7, 8.

If the domestic appliance 1 is incorporated, shocks may occur between the side walls 7, 8 and a wall of the furniture in which the domestic appliance 1 is incorporated. If the domestic appliance 1 is not incorporated, the user of the domestic appliance 1 can observe the deformation of the side wall 7, 8. These problems are avoided by dividing the forces or forces applied by the springs 9, 10 to the flange sections 5, 6 in the manner explained, with reference to the following figures.

In Figure 2, an example is shown that makes the division of force possible. The detailed representation of Figure 2 shows the fixing of the spring 9 to the frame wing or flange section 5. The at least one other spring 10 is preferably fixed to the opposite flange section 6 in the same way. The flange section 5 shown in Figure 2 comprises an opening 13 or through hole. A strut, which shown by way of example as a wire strut 14, it extends through this opening 13. The wire strut 14 further forms a curvature 15 protruding below a wall portion 16 of the flange section 5. The opening 13 it is arranged in this wall part 16. The spring 9 is fixed to the wire strut 14 by hanging a hook-shaped end section 17 of the spring 9 in the curvature 15 or loop formed by the wire strut 14.

The wire strut 14 rests on a first support point 18 and on a second support point 19 adjacent to the opening 13 of the wall part 16. Likewise, the wire strut 14 is held in place by fasteners in place. form of two flanges 20, 21. The flanges 20, 21 imprison the wire strut 14 between the wall part 16 and the lower sides of the flanges 20, 21. The force applied by the spring 9 is divided between the two points of support 18, 19. Therefore, the force is distributed over a large area compared to the flange section 5. This prevents deformation of the first side wall 7 and, analogously, of the second side wall 8.

As can be seen particularly well from FIG. 3, the end sections 22, 23 of the wire strut 14 are inserted into holes 24, 25 provided in the wall portion 16 of the flange section 5. In the example shown in figure 2, the support points 18, 19 extend from the opening 13 of the wall part 16 to these holes 24, 25. In the areas in which the wire strut 14 is curved to make the final sections 22, 23 of the wire strut 14 penetrate into the holes 24, 25, other fixing points are provided for fixing the wire strut 14 to the wall part 16 of the flange section 5.

Figure 4 shows a variant of the first flange section 5, where the other flange section 6 can be designed analogously. The wire strut 14 again forms a curvature 15. However, the curvature 15 does not pass through the opening 13 of the wall part 16 of the flange section 5, but the wire strut 14 tends through a recess 34 formed in the wall part 16.

As shown in Figure 4, the recess 34 may be in the form of an essentially rectangular depression in the wall part 16, where the wire strut 14 rests on opposite boundaries of this depression. The curvature 15 is formed where the spring 9 pulls the wire strut 14 downwardly within this depression or recess 34. In this variant, the support points are formed as projections 26, 27 protruding from the upper surface 28 of the part of wall 16. These projections 26, 27 or promontories are foreseen, support points are foreseen located and well defined for the wire strut 14. Since these projections 26, 27 have a certain distance with respect to the recess 34, the force applied by the spring 9 can be distributed particularly uniformly by the length of the wall part 16.

Figure 5 shows an alternative fixation of the final section 23 of the wire strut 14 to the wall part 16 compared to the variant shown in figures 2 and 3. In the variant shown in figure 5, the final section 23 is extends from a hole 29 in the wall part 16, which is farthest from the recess 34 than the projection 26. From this hole 29, the end section 23 extends first along the bottom side of the wall part 16 and it reaches another hole 30 provided in the wall part 16.

An "L" shaped element 31 is disposed in the area of the other hole 30. The "L" shaped element 31 comprises a wing 32 extending perpendicularly from the underside of the wall part 16. From this wing 32, a leg 33 extends essentially parallel to the underside of the wall part 16. The end section 23 of the wire strut 14 rests on this leg 33. This fastening of the end sections 22, 23 to the wall part 16 of the flange section 5 particularly prevents the wire strut 14 from moving or vibrating. The "L" shaped element 31 can be formed by cutting and bending a piece of the wall part 16 of the flange section 5.

When the wire strut 14 and the promontories or projections 26, 27 or at least two recesses in which the end sections 22, 23 of the wire strut 14 are introduced, the force applied by the spring 9 as a consequence of the weight of the system, are provided. oscillating can be divided. Since the stresses are divided into at least two points that have a minimum distance between them, it is possible to prevent the lateral sides or side walls 7, 8 of the frame 2 from being deformed.

The strut extending through the opening 13 or through the recess 34 can also be formed as rolled metal with a flat rectangular cross section instead of the wire strut 14 (with an essentially circular cross section), which is shown as of example in the figures. The wire strut 14 can be made of metal. Also, a strut made of plastic, which extends between opposite sides of the opening 13 or of the recess 34, can be used.

Reference symbols

Household appliance

Frame

Cuba

Drum

Flange section

Flange section

First side wall

Second side wall

Spring

Spring

Shock absorber

Lower wall

Opening

Wire strut

Curvature

Wall part

Final section

Point of support

Point of support

Eyelash

Eyelash

Final section

Final section

Hole

Hole

Outgoing

Outgoing

Surface

Hole

Hole

Element with "L" shape

To

Paw

Emptying

Claims (11)

1. Side wall for a frame (2) of a domestic appliance (1) for the treatment of garments, with a flange section (5) extending in the mounting position of the side wall (7) towards a opposite side wall (8) of the frame (2), wherein the flange section (5) comprises means for fixing a spring element (9) configured to support a tub (3) of the domestic appliance (1), characterized in that the means they comprise an opening (13) or a recess (34) in the flange section (5) and a strut (14) which runs through the opening (13) or the recess (34), where the strut (14) it rests on a first support point (18) and on a second support point (19) of the flange section (5), which are spaced apart from each other. Side wall according to claim 1, characterized in that the strut (14) forms a curvature (15) disposed within the opening (13) or within the recess (34). Side wall according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the support points is formed as a protrusion (26, 27) protruding from the upper surface (28) of the flange section (5). Side wall according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the flange section (5) comprises at least one fixing element configured to keep the strut (14) in place, formed in particular as a flange (20, 21). ). Side wall according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the flange section (5) has at least one hole (24, 25) in which a final section (22, 23) of the strut (14) is inserted. . Side wall according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the end section (22, 23) of the strut (14) extends from a hole (29) of the flange section (5) along the bottom side of the flange section (5). Side wall according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a final section (23) of the strut (14) rests on a leg (33) of an "L" shaped element (31) protruding from the underside of the flange section (5). Side wall according to claim 7, characterized in that the "L" -shaped element (31) is formed as a cut-out and bent part of the flange section (5). Side wall according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the strut (14) is formed as wire and / or is made of plastic or is formed as rolled metal. 10. Frame for a domestic appliance (1) for the treatment of garments, which comprises a first side wall (7) according to any of claims 1 to 9 and a second side wall (8) according to any of claims 1 9 and disposed in front of the first side wall (7). Household appliance (1) for the treatment of garments with a frame (2) according to claim 10, wherein the tub (3) of the domestic appliance (1) is supported by at least one fixed spring element (9) to the strut (14) disposed adjacent the flange section (5) of the first side wall (7) and at least one further spring element (10) attached to the strut (14) disposed adjacent to the flange section (6) of the second side wall (8).