FR2491966A1 - WASHING MACHINE NARROW AND ENCASTRABLE LINEN - Google Patents

Abstract

NARROW LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE, TOP LOADING. ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION, A WASHING MACHINE WITH TOP LOADING, WHILE BEING NARROW, CAN BE RECESSED UNDER A STANDARD WORKTOP AT 85CM HEIGHT AND 3CM THICK THANKS TO A SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT, IN CARCASE 3, OF THE DIFFERENT ORGANS NECESSARY FOR THE OPERATION OF THE MACHINE AND IN PARTICULAR TANK 20 AND ITS SUSPENSION MEANS 23, 24, THIS ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT THE TOTAL HEIGHT OF THE MACHINE IS SLIGHTLY LESS OR EQUAL TO 82CM WHILE ITS DEPTH IS LESS THAN 60CM AND FOR EXAMPLE ORDER 57CM.

Description

The present invention relates to washing machines

  narrow and recessed, the new meeting of these two

  important ticks being possible thanks to a particular arrangement

  the carcass of the machinery and all the means necessary to

to its operation.

  So far, recessed machines are known, that is,

  the height of which (not including the standardized working plane at 3 cm below which they are embedded) is slightly less than 82 cm and whose depth is less than 60 cm, of the order of 57 cm for example. Thus the machine can be slid under the worktop and is then perfectly equivalent to a standard kitchen element whose height is 85 cm and the depth of the order of 57 cm, the depth of the furniture being less than

  work plans so as to be slightly behind.

  Such flush-mounted machines are always front-loading machines, that is to say machines whose washing drum has its axis of rotation perpendicular to the front wall of the machine, the loading of the laundry being effected by a door frontal giving access to a drum opening practiced in the flange

Circular front of the drum.

  This arrangement of the drum, which rotates parallel to the front wall of the machine, inevitably leads to a fairly large width of the machine since the diameter of the drum,

  on which this width depends, is itself quite important.

  The usual dimensions of these built-in machines are thus, generally, not including the worktop: height H

  = 82 cm, depth P = 57 cm and width L = 60 cm.

  These dimensions make it possible, of course, to obtain perfectly recessed machines and assimilated to the now standardized kitchen elements; however, they have a disadvantage is that the size of the machine is important because its

width is 60 cm.

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  The problem of the clutter of electrical appliances

  is a problem known for a long time by manufacturers who have sought to reduce the width of washing machines by making the machines loading from the top, this technique to obtain narrow machines, order for example 40 or cm. Such a width L = 40 or 45 cm is of course very interesting and facilitates the equipment of small kitchens in particular. In top-loading machines, the drum is positioned at 900 as it is in front-loading machines, that is, its axis of rotation is parallel to the front wall of the machine and that it turns perpendicular to this wall. It is quite clear that this technique makes it possible to reduce the width L of the machine since the thickness e of the drum of which

  depends on this width L, that is to say the thickness of its cylindrical shell

  that, is well below its diameter.

  On the other hand, if these machines loaded from the top (by a door opening in the shell of the drum) solve a problem of size in width interesting for small kitchens for example, they prohibit, so far, the integral recess

kitchens they equip.

  Indeed, in front loading machines, the small thickness e of the drum, compared to the depth P (of the order of 57 cm) of the machine, leaves available a large enough volume to accommodate without problem, between the carcass of the machine and the tank in which the drum rotates, all the means necessary for the operation of the machine (tank support means,

  motor, water circuits, control means such as

  washer, detergent, rinsing, softening boxes

etc ...).

  On the contrary, in narrow machines with top loading, the volume required to accommodate all these means requires a depth P of the machine and / or a height H greater than those of front loading machines. As a result, none of these narrow machines are built-in standard dimensions. This is also evident in the manufacturers' catalogs where only

  built-in machines front-loading machines.

  The present invention relates to a washing machine which, while being narrow, that is to say, retaining the technique of loading machines from the top, and of course, having a drum and therefore a tank dimensions standard, is built-in,

  that is to say at a height H 4 82 cm and a depth P less than

  than 60 cm, and for example of the order of 57 cm.

  A machine according to the invention, which goes against the two current lines, large machines and recessed narrow machines, is characterized in that: - its total height H is less than or equal to 82 cm so as to be built-in under a standardized worktop at 85 cm and 3 cm thick; - its total depth P is less than 60 cm so as not to exceed a standard work surface 60 cm deep and be aligned with the front of the furniture surrounding it; - Its dashboard is located at the top of its front face without exceeding the dimensions of the worktop; - the various means necessary for the washing of the linen, and housed in the carcass of the machine, other than the control organs directly connected to the dashboard and the product boxes, and in particular, the tank, its drum, and the means of support of this tank on the carcass are arranged to leave free, at the upper part of said carcass, the space required for said control members directly connected to the dashboard and

to said product boxes.

  Other objects, features and results of the invention

  will emerge from the following description given as an example

  limiting (and illustrated by the accompanying figures which represent: - Figures 1 and 2, schematic views, respectively sectional and front of a machine according to the invention, embedded in a

249 1966

standardized work plan;

  - Figure 3, an exploded view of the main parts constituting

  killing the frame and the cladding of a machine according to the invention; - Figure 4, a schematic sectional view of a machine according to the invention in a "suspended tank" version;

  FIG. 5, a view showing how can be advantageously

  the front cover of a machine according to the invention.

  Figures 1 and 2 show schematically in side section, and from the front, a narrow washing machine loaded by the

  high and recessed according to the present invention.

  These figures show the worktop 1 under which the machine must be slid. This work plan whose upper surface is, according to the standards currently in force, 85 cm from the floor 2, has a standard thickness of 3 cm. The remaining space between the floor and this work plan is therefore approximately

  82 cm. Moreover, its normalized depth is 60 cm.

  The invention proposes, through arrangements which will be better explained with the aid of the following figures, to produce a narrow machine, that is to say whose width L (see FIG. 2) is very much smaller than the dimensions 60 cm, and is for example of the order of 40 to 45 cm. As has already been said, the invention relates to a machine whose height H is less than 82 cm and whose depth P is significantly less than 60 cm and for example of the order of 57 cm. Thus on the one hand the machine can be easily slid under the worktop 1; on the other hand, the machine does not go deeper than the worktop 1 despite any pipework that may be on the wall

behind the machine.

  We see in Figure 1 in particular the carcass 3 of the machine which will be better explained with the aid of Figure 3, carcass that encloses and supports almost all the organs necessary for the operation of the machine, including the vessel and its drum . This carcass 3 is closed at its upper part by a top 4 on which pivots the cover 40 of the machine which gives access to the tank (not visible in Figure 1). It is closed at its front part on the one hand by a panel 5 and on the other by the dashboard 6 on which are arranged the control buttons of the machine. The lower part of the facade of this carcass is finally closed by a plinth 7 traditionally a little behind the facade of the trim panel 5. Finally, the whole of this carcass is provided with adjustable feet 8 which allow exactly match the height of the machine to the

  available space under the work plan 1. We have very schematic

  9, a product box for receiving one

  or the other of the products necessary for the washing of the linen.

  It is clear that to provide access to the lid 40 of the machine for loading and unloading laundry, the plan of

  Work 1 must have a pivoting or removable plate 10.

  This plate can either be a part directly cut in the work plan, or be a rest-plate or even a board to

  cut out, any utensil that can be useful in a kitchen.

  3 schematically illustrates in an exploded view how is constituted around the carcass 3, the frame of a washing machine according to the invention, while Figure 4

  illustrates an exemplary embodiment suspended tank by springs.

  According to the invention, the carcass 3 of the machine consists of a stamped and folded U-shaped sheet, open towards the front of the machine. This sheet advantageously has on its edges folded parts ensuring its mechanical strength, while it has at its rear part a stamped portion 11 intended to house the most prominent part of the drum and its tank, while the lateral and lower parts less thick allow for example to

  supply pipe and water drain the machine to fit itself.

  This carcass 3 receives at its lower part sleepers 12 and 13 serving in particular to support wheels and adjustable feet, and at its upper part a cross member 14 arranged at the front and gussets 15 arranged at the rear,

  The frame thus formed forms a rigid structure

  for example by welding and capable of supporting all the components necessary for the operation of the machine, and in particular the suspended assembly constituted by the tank, its drum

  and the drive motor as will be seen in Figure 4.

  The front part of this carcass 3 is closed at the front by a trim panel 5 surmounted by the dashboard 6; the bottom of this front face is closed by the plinth 7 slightly recessed

  compared to the entire facade.

  FIG. 4 shows, in a variant with a suspended tank, how a particular arrangement of the tank and its means of attachment to the carcass 3 makes it possible to accommodate in the reduced space of this built-in machine all the components necessary for

its operation.

  In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in this figure, the assembly

  ble "suspended" is constituted by a tank 20 in which a drum 21 driven by a motor 22 rotates. The "suspended" assembly is here effectively suspended from the carcass 3 by springs of which two

  are visible in 23 and 24 in this figure.

  The technique of tanks suspended by springs is well known in itself; damping is also necessary which is achieved by conventional dampers, not shown here for

do not weigh down the figures.

  On the other hand, in the machine example described here, the mode of

  The springs are new and original and help to

  the realization of a built-in machine according to the invention.

  Indeed, while the two springs such as 23 arranged at the rear of the machine are, quite conventionally, mounted between the upper part of the rear face of the carcass 3, here in the holes 25 made in the gussets 15 (FIG. 3), and the upper part of the tank 20, the two front springs are mounted in a

  new way to the lower part of the tank.

  This original arrangement of the two springs before

  between the front edges of the carcass 3 and the bottom of the tank 20 provide effective suspension while freeing space at the

2 4 9 1 9 5 6

  upper frontal part of the machine. This free space is used to accommodate the control members 25 associated with the table of

edge 6.

  In an exemplary embodiment, the two front springs 24 can be hung between fasteners 26 fixed to the bottom of the tank 20 and wings 27 cut in the flanges 28 of the

  front part of the carcass 3 (Figure 3) and folded forward.

  This fixing on wings 27 perpendicular to the front wall of the machine, and in particular to the flange 28, gives a better

rigidity to the whole.

  It appears clearly in FIG. 4 in particular that this arrangement of the tank and its fasteners to the carcass (here the four springs such as 23 and 24) leaves the inside of the carcass 3 available at the top of the frame. front of the machine, a space large enough to accommodate the organs of

  order 25 that must be associated with the dashboard 6.

  A particularly advantageous arrangement is as shown schematically in Figure 4 to have at the front of the machine behind the dashboard 6, all the control elements necessary for its operation and to be associated with its dashboard, while the boxes The products are arranged at the rear of the machine above the tank 20. Such a product box 29 has been schematically shown. It has an access not visible in the figure when the door 5 of the machine is open; it pours the product it contains into the tank 20 at

  moment chosen by the programmers. The symbol box 29

  Figure 4 has a somewhat unusual shape; she corresponds

  in effect to a patented powder box by the Compagnie Demande-

  filed on April 14, 1980 in French patent application No. 80/08275. This form of box particularly advantageous in the context of this narrow and built-in machine is, well

heard, not the only one possible.

  It is clear that the upper rear part of the machine may have one or more product boxes; it is also clear that it is still possible thanks to the low position of the springs 24 to have the product boxes on the upper part

  before the tank 20, since all the space is left available.

  Figure 5 shows schematically how the differences

  The components (dashboard 6, panel 5, baseboard 7) can be easily mounted on the frame 3 of the machine. The front panel 5 comprises for example 30 lights which are positioned on the nipples 31 protruding from the front edges 2ô of

the carcass 3.

  The locking of this panel 5 is achieved by screws 32 penetrating into openings 33 made at the base of the panel 5 and in holes 34 formed at the base of the flanges 28 of the carcass 3 of the machine. These screws 32 serve simultaneously to fix the

  baseboards 7 which cover the bottom of the machine.

  The embodiment with "suspended" tank by four springs such as 23 and 24, whose two front springs are offset towards the bottom of the machine with respect to what they were in the prior art, is not the same. only possible embodiment of a narrow and built-in machine according to the invention. Indeed, the invention consists, in general, to have provided a layout and an interior arrangement to the carcass 3 such that the total dimensions of the machine never exceed a total height of 82 cm and a total depth of the order 57 cm, while maintaining

  a small width, and in particular much less than 60 cm.

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Claims (8)

  1. A narrow, top loading washing machine, characterized in that: - its total height H is less than or equal to 82 cm so as to be recessed under a standard 85 cm work surface (1) and 3 cm thick; - its total depth P is less than 60 cm so as not to exceed a work plane (1) normalized to 60 cm deep and to be aligned with the front of the furniture surrounding it; its dashboard (6) is located at the top of its front face without exceeding the dimensions of the worktop; - the various means necessary for washing the laundry, and housed in the carcass (3) of the machine, other than the control members (25) directly connected to the dashboard (6) and the product boxes (9, 29) , and in particular, the tank (20), its drum (21), and the support means of this tank (20) on the carcass (3) are arranged to leave free, at the upper part of said carcass, the space required for said control members (25) directly connected to the dashboard (6) and said boxes products (9, 29).   2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, the vessel (20) being a vessel suspended from the carcass (3) of the machine by springs mounted between the carcass and the tank at the front and rear of the machine, the rear springs (23) are fixed between the top of the carcass (3) and the top of the tank while the front springs (24) hold the tank (20) by its lower part, releasing   the space at the top of the carcass (3).   3. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the space above the tank at the front of the machine is at least partially occupied by the control means (25) linked to the dashboard (6) while the space above the tank, at the back of the machine, is occupied   by the product boxes (9, 29).   4. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the space above the tank, at the front of the   machine also has at least one product box.   5. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the carcass (3) is a U-shaped carcass open at the front of the machine, in that the door (40) for access to the tank (20) and the drum (21) is fixed on a top (4) closing the top of the carcass (3) and in that the front part of the carcass (3) is closed, from top to bottom, by the dashboard (6). ), by a covering panel (5) and by a plinth (7).   6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the   U-shaped carcass (3) is completed by lower cross members   (12 and 13) and upper (14), and gussets (15) secured to its upper back.   7. Machine according to claims 2 and 6, characterized in that   that the rear springs (23) for suspending the tank (20) are hooked at their upper end in holes (25) made in the gussets (15).   8. Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the front springs (24) for suspending the tank (20) are hung at their upper end in holes in the wings   (27) perpendicular to the front face of the carcass (3).