FR2499600A3 - LAUNDRY TREATMENT MACHINE, ROTATION SPEED REDUCER AND RINSING DEVICE FOR SUCH A MACHINE - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A LAUNDRY TREATMENT MACHINE, A ROTATION SPEED REDUCING ARRANGEMENT AND A RINSING DEVICE FOR SUCH A MACHINE. THIS LAUNDRY TREATMENT MACHINE, SUCH AS A SMALL DOMESTIC WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE, INCLUDES A TANK 1 IN WHICH IS HOUSED DRUM 52 CONTAINING THE LAUNDRY AND DRIVES AROUND ITS HORIZONTAL AXIS, THROUGH A WHEEL TOOTH 122, BY A 114 MOTOR LOCKED IN COVER 2, USING A TOOTH RING 57 PROVIDED ON ONE OF THE SIDE WALLS 55 OF THE DRUM. A FAN 183 PROJECTS HEATED AIR THROUGH THE TANK DURING THE DRYING OPERATION AND IS DRIVEN BY THE MOTOR ALSO DURING THE WASHING OPERATION, THUS ACHIEVING A CONTINUOUS MOTOR COOLING FUNCTION AND AVOIDING DISCONNECTION MEANS BETWEEN THE WASHING OPERATION MOTOR AND FAN. A ROTATION SPEED REDUCER ARRANGEMENT IS USED TO TIMER OPERATIONS. THE MACHINE ALSO PROVIDES A FLUSHING DEVICE BASED ON A SIPHON DRAINING HOSE 99. THE INVENTION APPLIES TO SMALL WASHING AND DRYING MACHINES.

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for treating laundry

  capable of performing a washing operation and a drying operation and comprising a tank, a member stirring the laundry mounted in said tank, a lid housing drive and control means which comprise a fan and a motor driving said stirring member both during the washing operation and the drying operation, and driving said fan at least during said drying operation where it follows that the heated air is blown through said tank. Such a machine for treating laundry is already known from the French patent application No. 78 15754 filed May 26, 1978 by the applicant and entitled: "Small washing machine drum type". In this known machine, means are provided for disconnecting the fan from the motor during a washing operation in order to reduce to a certain extent the relatively high power then consumed by this motor, as well as the heat developed in the lid. Indeed, this power is higher during a washing operation than during that of drying. But notwithstanding

  this measurement, the heat generated in the lid remains consid-

  and adversely affects the condition of the engine and the various other components of the drive and control means

mounted in this lid.

  It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide a laundry treatment machine in which less heat develops in the lid and which does not

  does not require the use of means of connection / disconnection of

  freezer. According to the invention, this is obtained by the fact that said fan is driven by said motor both during the washing operation and during that of drying, in order then to cool said motor. In this way, the motor is continuously cooled and as the fan remains coupled to the motor, no way to

  connection / disconnection is required between the motor and the fan.

freezer.

  Another feature of the present laundry processing machine is that said fan has an exit path and is simultaneously capable of producing two separate air flows, a first one of said air flows passing on said engine and a second one on an organ which can be heated, and that it projects both flows of air into the atmosphere, simultaneously through said channel, either directly during a washing operation, or by said tank during a drying operation. Thus, the engine can not be adversely influenced by the second airflow that is heated during a drying operation. Yet another feature of the present laundry processing machine is that it includes flow rate regulating means for weakening the two air flows through said laundry machine.

  channel during said washing operation relative to that of secbhaCe.

  As the flow of air flow decreases during a washing operation, the motor consumes less power to drive the fan, without the means being required to

  disconnect the motor fan.

  The present invention also relates to a reduction of the speed rotation to reduce the speed of a

  rotary drive member, said arrangement comprising a provision

  reducing gear using a unidirectional clutch mechanism

  Cionnei, a-vc these Tzrgans Q el c.i & e and Poquelan exit zourner, and a return member, said rotary drive member, when it performs a predetermined rotation in a predetermined direction, communicating to said input member a angular displacement from

  of an initial position, on a fraction of the said predetermined rotation

  and in an opposite direction, said output member being thereby angularly displaced in said opposite direction by said input member, and said biasing member then being capable of rotating said input member back into said initial position, said

  leaving member thereby remaining in the previously reached position.

  duwwent. Such an arrangement is already known from the French patent application No. 78 26430 filed on September 14, 1978 by the applicant and entitled: "Timer, step-by-step device, articulation and washing machine including these elements". In the latter, the output member has a rotation speed which is considerably smaller than that of the drive member and is used to time the duration

of a washing operation.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement of the above type but having an output member with a

  even lower operating speed.

  According to the invention, this is obtained by the fact that it comprises a second speed reduction device comprising a second unidirectional clutch mechanism, with second input and output members, and a second return member, said second input member being driven by said output member of said first

speed reducing device.

  Thus, the second output member has a rotation speed considerably smaller than that of the rotary drive member. The present invention also relates to a laundry treatment machine comprising a timing device for an operation

  washing and a timing device of a drying operation.

  Such a machine for treating linen is known from the French patent application No. 78 15754 mentioned initially. In the latter, the two timing devices are constituted by individual units adapted to individually timed the operations

  complete, respectively for washing and drying.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment machine of the above type but in which the timing

  can be accomplished in a more economical way.

  According to the invention, this is achieved by the fact that said timing device of a drying operation is driven by

  via the timing device of the washing operation.

  In this way, the timing device of the washing operation can be used either for timing a washing operation or, in cooperation with the timing device of a washing operation.

  drying, to timed the latter.

  The present invention further relates to a laundry treatment machine with a tank, a cover for said tank, and drive and control means for said machine, said tank having a front washing compartment separated from a rear part by a separating wall and said lid comprising a front cover giving access to said washing compartment and a

  rear housing housing at least a portion of said means.

  Such a laundry treatment machine is well known in the art, for example from U.S. Patent No. 3,046,543. In this known machine, a substantial portion of the lid housing is located above the laundry compartment of the laundry tub. such that the drive and control means in this housing, as well as the housing itself, are subjected to the heat developed in the washing compartment during a washing operation. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry machine of the above type but which avoids a

  such effect, thereby facilitating manufacture and / or reducing wear.

  According to the invention, this is obtained by the fact that the plane of said separating wall divides said washing compartment of said casing. In this way, the casing of the lid, as well as the drive and control means which are housed therein, are mounted behind the wash compartment of the tank and can not be significantly affected by the heat which is developed.

during a washing operation.

  The present invention also relates to a rinsing device for a tank and more particularly to such a device for

  the tank of a laundry machine.

  A feature of the present rinsing device is that said tank is coupled on the one hand with a supply line for a rinsing liquid and on the other hand with a drain tube through

  siphon which has a larger section than said feed pipe.

  In this way, when the tank is filled with a rinsing liquid via the supply line, this liquid rises in the tank until a siphon action starts, after which the tank is emptied by the siphon drain tube more

  quickly that it is not replenished by the

  tation. This operation is repeated as long as we provide

  from the rinsing liquid to the tank through the feed line.

  The invention will be better understood and other features

  will appear with the following description and accompanying drawings

  or: - Figure I shows a top view of a laundry treatment machine according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of this machine in the direction of the arrow II of FIG. 1; - Figure 3 is a rear view of this machine in the direction of the arrow III of Figure 1; - Figure 4 is a top view in perspective of the rear portion of the vessel of this machine; FIG. 5 is a side view in section along the line V-V of FIGS. 1 and 14 on the scale of FIG. 1, with some parts removed, however; Figure 6 is a side view in the direction of arrow VI of a portion of the drum of the machine of Figure 5; FIG. 7 is a detailed sectional view on an enlarged scale of part VII of FIG. 5; Fig. 8 is a side sectional view along the lines VIII-VIII of Figs. 1 and 14 after removal of certain parts and at the scale of Fig. 1; - Figure 9 is a sectional view along the line IX-IX of Figure 8; FIG. 10 is a sectional view along the line X-X of FIG. 9 but on an enlarged scale; FIG. 11 is a side view in section along the line XI-II of FIG. 3 but on an enlarged scale; - Figure 12 is a sectional view along the line XII-XII of Figure li; Figure 13 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale through a portion of the bottom of the vessel and the drum of the machine of Figure 1; FIG. 14 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of part XIV of FIG. 1 after removal of the cover of the machine; FIG. 15 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale along the line XV-XV of FIGS. 1 and 14; FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of parts of FIG. 15 along different scales; and

  FIG. 17 is a schematic representation of an electrical circuit

  control rod for the machine of FIGS. 1 to 16.

  The laundry machine shown has a tank 1

  which has an open top and is closed by a lid 2.

  The tank comprises a front washing compartment 3 (FIG. 5) and a rear part or supporting structure 4. The washing compartment 3 is delimited by a bottom wall 5, a front wall 6, a rear wall 7 and side walls 8 and 9, the upper edge of all these walls being located in the same plane, parallel to the bottom wall 5. The walls 6, 8 and 9 have a rim 10 inclined downwards and the side walls 8 and 9 are provided with handles 11 and 12 (Figure 1). The support structure 4 comprises two hollow columns 13 and 14 which are reduced downwards, a stacked central vertical air duct 15 and a central air duct 16 disposed below the air channel 15. The hollow column 13 (Figure 4) is delimited by portions of the rear wall 7 and the side wall 8 and by two additional walls 17 and 18 which have a smaller

  height than that of these wall parts and which are parallel to it.

  The hollow column 13 is completely separated from the washing compartment 3 by the part 19 of the rear wall 7. Likewise, the hollow column 14 is delimited by parts of the rear wall 7 and the side wall 9 as well as by two walls. additional 20 and 21 which have a lower height than that of these wall portions and which are parallel to it. The hollow column 14 is subdivided by a partition wall 22 into a closed compartment 23 and into a compartment 24 for a float, the partition wall 22 being parallel to the wall

  rear 7 and having the same height as the latter. The

  24 for the float communicates with the front washing compartment 3 because the rear wall 7 is interrupted at a certain distance from the side wall 9 where only a small band 25 remains. The central air channel 15 has an open upper part and comprises a rear wall 26, disposed at a distance from the rear wall of the tank 7 and provided with an opening 27, - side walls 28 and 29 (Figure 3) and a bottom wall 30 (Figure 5). The latter bottom wall 30 forms the upper wall of the adjacent air duct 16 which further comprises side walls (not shown) and a bottom wall provided with two fingers 32 and 33 (FIG. 3).

  directed down. The air duct 16 communicates with the compartment

  washing 3 through opening 34 which has an equal area

  about three times that of opening 27.

  The hollow compartment 24 for the float (FIGS. 8, 9) makes it possible to house the float 35 comprising a block 36 of polystyrene foam adapted in a U-shaped carrier 37 which is integral with a vertical rod 38. upper end, the latter is bent at ninety degrees so as to form a portion 39 which extends through an opening 40 in the side wall 9 of the tank, the latter part 39 is still folded at eighty -dix degrees to form a finger 41 level indicator horizontal (Figure 2) located outside the tank I and parallel to the side wall 9. This finger 41 is visible from the outside through a movable window 42 fixed in an opening 43 of the wall 9 of the tank and in the portion 44 (Figure 2) of the opening 40. The wall of the tank is also provided with an overflow opening 45 (Figure 8) to allow for example

  the evacuation of foam out of the float compartment 24.

  Inside the washing compartment 3, the front wall 6 and the rear wall 7 are provided with vertical ribs 46, 47 (FIG. 5) on which supports 48 and 49 are respectively fixed. These supports 48 and 49 support, so that they can rotate, the cylindrical axis portions 50 and 51 of a member for stirring the laundry and constituted by a washing drum 52. This drum 52 which is only shown schematically, but which is substantially similar to that used by the washing machine mentioned above (French patent application No. 78 26430),

  comprises a cylindrical casing 53 and two circular lateral walls.

  54 and 55, the side wall 55 having a plurality of radial notches 56 of constant width (Figure 6). The drum 52 can be driven because the peripheral portion of the sidewall 55 is provided with a toothed ring 57 as will be explained later. As shown in FIG. 13, the underside 58 of the washing compartment 3 is constituted by a part of a cylinder and the lower part of the

  cylindrical drum 52 is mounted at a distance from this cylindrical floor

  The drum 52 has a smaller radius than this floor 58, the axes of the drum and the floor being parallel and located in the same vertical plane. Thus, there is formed between the drum 52 and the floor 58 a free space 59 whose section increases gradually, starting from

  middle of the floor of the washing compartment 3 towards the side walls

  6 and 7 of it. This has been done to prevent the rotation of the drum 52 from being impeded by objects such as buttons that could be separated from the laundry and brought into space

free 59.

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  The cover 2 mentioned above comprises a front cover 60 covering the washing compartment 3 and a rear housing 61, 62 supported by the rear support structure 4 and more particularly by the columns 13 and 14 and the air channel 15 of them. The housing comprises a mounting plate 61 (FIG. 5) and a cover 62 on which the front cover 60 is articulated from the

  as shown in Figures 9 and 10 and will be described later.

  The mounting plate 61 covers only a central portion of the open top of the air channel 15, and side portions (not shown) thereof.

  above communicate with the atmosphere.

  The front cover 60 is provided with an aperture 63 in which a filter element 64, comprising a grid 65 and a piece of filter paper 66, is attached by clips such as 67 (FIG. 7). It is also provided with a handle 68 (FIG. 1) at its front end and its two relatively elastic lateral walls are articulated on the cover 62. The side wall is provided on its

  inner face with a pivot pin 69 surrounded by a cylindrical portion

  70 and engaged to be able to rotate in a blind hole of a cylindrical button 71 provided at the center of the circular end 72 in

  cutaway shape of a lever arm 73. This arm has a sensing section

  U-shape and is provided with a lateral protuberance 74.

  The button 71 is rotatably engaged in an opening of this other side wall of the last mentioned cover 62, this opening being delimited by a lip 75 preventing the entry of

  humidity and located between the cylindrical knob 71 and the annular portion

  70, on the one hand, and between the annular portion 70 and the outer rim of the cup-shaped end 72 of the lever arm 73, on the other hand. The cup-shaped end 72 of the lever arm 73 is also provided with an additional cylindrical button 76 around which a coil spring 77 is mounted so that its ends make contact respectively with the upper wall of the cover 62 and with the Lateral protrusion 74 on the arm 73. This spring 77 continuously forces the lever arm 73 clockwise (FIG. 8). This last lever arm 73 forms part of a safety device which will be described later. The sections of the pivot pin 69 and the blind hole in the cylindrical button 71 are not fully complementary (FIG. 10), so that the lever arm 73 is only pivoted with the cover 60

2 699600

  after it has rotated a certain angle. Note that in the case where the cover 60 has been raised, the spring 77 pivots the lever arm 73 to bring it into contact with the wall

  adjacent side of the cover 62 (Figure 8).

  The upper wall of the cover 62 is provided with two openings through which the selection buttons 78 and 79 (FIG. 1) emerge. The first is a wash program selection button for selecting the duration of a wash operation and the second is a drying program selection button for selecting the duration of this last operation. The

  hood 62 is furthermore laterally provided with slightly elastic amounts

  80 and 81 (FIG. 1) which cooperate with the peripheral rim 10

  of the tank 1 to fix the cover 62 thereon.

  The mounting plate 61 already mentioned is supported in part by the upper edges of the wall 7, hollow columns 13, 14

  and the air channel 15 and its unsupported portion is provided with a plural

  1), some of which are located above the column 13. At the rear, the mounting plate 61 comprises, on the one hand, the portion 82 narrowing in

  bowing downwards (Figures 3, 5) and which is open at its

  lower portion and, on the other hand, an adjacent portion 83 which has the shape shown in Figure 3 and which is delimited on one side by a substantially vertical wall 230 (Figure 14). This last portion 83 forms, with the adjacent portion of the housing 62, an air inlet space 229

(Figure 5).

  The mounting plate 61 is attached to the tank 1 by means of a rear cover 84 (FIGS. 3, 5) and a closure member 85 is used to seal. This rear closure element 84 has an upper collar 86, a lower central retaining clip 87, two lower lips 88 and 89, two side lugs 90 and 91, a side hood 92, and a substantially U-shaped lateral fastener. with the lips 93 and 94. The element of

  cover 84 carries a bistable flap 95, which can be turned manually-

  (Figure 5), fixed on a pivot axis 96 and resting normally

  with its ridge on an inner lip 97 to close an opening

  222. The upper collar 86 of the closure member 84 fits on the lower portion of a portion 82 of the narrowing mounting plate 61 and forms with the rear wall 26 of the 24: 9t channel. An outlet conduit 98 is provided which can communicate with either the air channel 15 through the opening 27, or with the washing compartment 3 through the opening 222, the air line 16 and the opening 34, depending on the position. The closing element 84 is fixed on the tank I by means of screws screwed into the lips 88 and 89 and into the lugs 90 and 91. The inlet of a discharge pipe 99 by a spring action siphon (Figure 3) is attached to the tank at a location 100 near the bottom and, in operation, the discharge outlet is located below this inlet, as shown in Figure 3. The pipe 99 is engaged between the fingers 32 and 33 on one side and the retaining clip 87 on the other. A water supply pipe 101 is fixed to the tank I at 223 and is engaged between the lips 93 and 94 constituting the fixing element. The diameter of the discharge pipe 99 is wider, for example twice, than that of the feed pipe 101. At a certain distance below the water inlet 101, the tank has an overflow opening. (not shown) Ears 90 and 91 are used for winding the power cord

electrical 102.

  The lateral housing 92 (FIGS. 3, 11) of the closure element

  Ture 84 makes it possible to place a lever 103 in the shape of a U with lateral arms 104 and 105 and a transverse arm 106. An axis 107 and the aforementioned axis 96 are respectively integral with the free ends.

  arms 104 and 105 and are located in the extension of one another.

  The arm 105 is provided with a lateral protuberance 108 engaged in the channel of a guide piece 109, substantially U-shaped, which is integral with the lower end of a control rod 110 passing through an opening 111 in the mounting plate 61. The transverse arm 106 of the U-shaped lever 103 is attached to a wall of the housing 102 by means of a spring 112. At one of its ends, the axis 96 carries the shutter 95 mentioned above. above, mounted in the pipe

  98. At the other end, protruding through an opening

  220 in the side wall 9 of the tank, the axis 96 carries a rotary selection dial drying / washing 113. This button 113 is used to bring the flap 95, against the action of the spring 112, in a horizontal position in a stable vertical position, where the outlet duct 98 communicates with the air duct 15 respectively.

or with the air hose 16.

  A drive and control device for the machine is attached to the mounting plate 61 to drive the washing drum 52 and to control a timing mechanism of the washing operation of the type shown in the French patent application. no. 78 26430

  above, as well as a timing mechanism of a drying operation.

  These mechanisms are intercoupled by a rotation reversing device and are driven by the same motor 114 whose direction of rotation is alternately reversed. This motor 114 has a frame, which is fixed to the plate 61 by screws such as 115, and a horizontal drive shaft 116-117 (FIG. 5) protruding from both sides of the motor. A fan generally indicated by reference 183 is

  directly attached to an end 116 of this drive shaft 116-

  117, the other end 117 is constituted by a screw transmission. In addition, the motor housing is provided with a fixed axis 118 (FIGS. 5, 14) which extends in parallel with the drive screw 117, the latter engaging with a gear wheel 119 mounted so as to be able to turn on fixed axis 118 and having a hub 120. This is united by

  axial pressure at the hub 121 of a drive wheel 122 which is also

  It is mounted rotatably on the shaft 118 and engages with the toothed ring 57 of the drum 52 whose axis is parallel to the drive shaft 116-117. Both the axis and the shaft are substantially located in the same vertical plane. At its end remote from the toothed wheel 119, a cap 123 is fixed to the axis 118. The hub 121 of the drive wheel 122 fits into an opening of a fixed skirt 124

  on the plate 61 by means of screws such as 125. A drive belt

  notched element 126 is arranged around the hub 120 of the wheel

  toothed 119 and in the peripheral groove of a pulley 127 which is solid

  a driving screw 128 rotatable about a horizontal axis 129 fixed in supports 130 and 131 disposed on the mounting plate 61. This driving screw 128 engages with a toothed wheel 132 which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis 133 and which forms part of the timing mechanism of the washing operation mentioned above. This wheel 132, which simultaneously constitutes a drive member and a return member, carries a vertical pin 134 adapted to cooperate with a radial control arm 135 of a lower clutch member or input member 136 of a unidirectional clutch mechanism (FIGS. 14, 15) which furthermore comprises an upper clutch member or an output member 137. Both the clutch members 136 and 137 and the control member 138 for reversing the rotation of the motor are fixed on a frustoconical spigot

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  vertical 139 formed on the mounting plate 61. This vertical pin 139 has a lower portion whose diameter is widened relative to that of its upper part and thus delimits a peripheral shoulder supporting an annular friction washer 140. The control member 138 which rests on the friction washer 140 has a side cam 141 with a variable radius on an angle of about

  sixty degrees which controls the movable pallet 142 of a micro-

  switch 143. The controller 138 also has a larger surface area.

  The upper part of this spring is situated in a similar annular groove in the lower part of the lower clutch member 136. This last is provided with protuberances. (not shown) fitting into recesses (also not shown) of the control member 138. On its upper face, the lower clutch member 136 is provided with teeth (not shown) which cooperate with teeth regularly spaced (also not shown)

  below the annular base of the upper clutch member 137.

  This annular base is also provided with a side cam 145 having a variable radius at an angle of about sixty degrees and controlling the timing of a wash operation via a pallet

  movable 146 of an inverter contact of the microswitch 147 mounted to-

  The cam 145 also carries two control pins 148 and 149. The upper clutch member 137 further has a cap-shaped upper portion on which the hollow cylindrical rod 150 of the program selector button washing 78 is engaged. This cap-shaped part is fixed on the

  vertical pin 139 by means of the washer 151 and the screw 152.

  As described in the aforementioned French Patent Application No. 78 26430, when the rotary drive member 132 which rotates alternately in both directions completes a full counterclockwise rotation (FIG. 14). , he

  communicates to the lower clutch member 136 an angular displacement

  from an initial position or rest, on a fraction-of this complete rotation and in an opposite direction. It follows that the upper clutch member 137 is angularly displaced in an opposite direction by the lower clutch member 136. Then, when the driving member 132 completes a full rotation in the opposite direction, rotates the clutch member

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  lower 136 in its initial position. However, the upper clutch member 137 remains in the position previously reached, following

a friction effect.

  From the foregoing, it follows that the timing mechanism of the washing operation comprises a speed reduction device, mainly comprising the elements 132, 136, 137, which reduces the rotational speed of the rotating member. 132 and whose organ of

  output 137 controls the inverter contact 146.

  The rotation inversion device mentioned above (FIGS. 14, 15, 16) comprises a frustoconical journal 153 formed on the mounting plate 61. The journal 153 has a lower part whose diameter is wider than that of its upper portion and thus delimits a peripheral shoulder which supports a frustoconical rotation reversing member 155 fixed on the trunnion 153 by means of a washer 170 and a screw 171. The member 155 has an upper lateral arm 156 and an arm lower side 157 with a lip 158 extending downwards. On its underside, the rotation reversing member 155 has a lug 159 that can cooperate with a

  stop 160 on the lower part of the pin 153 (Figure 16).

  The timing mechanism of the drying operation already mentioned has a vertical pin 154 formed on the mounting plate 61. It has a lower portion with a larger diameter than its upper portion and thus also defines a peripheral shoulder. This shoulder has an outer annular groove 161 and two arcuate inner recesses 162 and 163 which are concentric with the annular groove 161 and deeper than this. The latter makes it possible to house the lower end of a helical spring 164 whose upper end is located in a similar groove 165 in the lower part of a lower clutch member or input member 166 of a clutch mechanism. clutch which is similar to that described above and which further comprises an upper clutch member or output member 167. The spring 164 tends to prevent rotation of the lower clutch member 166 which is similar to the lower clutch member 136 and likewise provided with a control arm 172 having a longitudinal groove 168. On its underside, the lower clutch member 166 is provided with two opposing protuberances, only one of which, that is 169, is visible in FIG. 16 and which are respectively fitted in the recesses 162 and 163 mentioned above. On its upper side, the lower clutch member 166 is provided with four teeth such as 173 at ninety degree intervals, which cooperate with twenty-four regularly spaced teeth (not shown) below the tooth. base 174 of the upper clutch member 167 which is fixed on the pin 154 by means of a spring washer 175, a washer 176 and the screw 177 tending to prevent rotation of the member 167. The rod 178 of the drying program selection button 79 is slid onto this upper clutch member 167. The teeth of the

  lower clutch 166 are disposed on an annular inner portion

  below the base 174, the periphery of which is formed to form a cam 179 which controls the timing of an operation of

  drying via the working contact 182 of the microcommu-

  An additional tooth 180, which is much wider than the one mentioned above, is provided on an annular outer portion below the base 174. This tooth 180 is normally engaged in the groove 168 of the control arm 172. which is connected to the body of the microswitch 181 by means of a coil spring 221 which

constitutes a recall member.

  The aforementioned fan 183 (FIG. 5), which is

  directly mounted on one end 116 of the drive shaft 116-

  117, is located in a housing 186 which is open on both sides and whose lower end communicates with the portion 82 of the mounting plate 61 narrowing. The fan 183 comprises a cup-shaped wheel 226 provided at its edge with radial vanes 184 and 185 and at its lower part with fins 225. The surface of the vanes 185 is much wider than that of the vanes 184. This wheel subdivides the housing 186 in a first part 227 which encloses a part of the engine 114 and which contains the fins 184 and 225, and in a second part 228 which contains the fins 185 and communicates

  laterally with the air space 229 mentioned above.

  The structure of a small vertical frame 188 (FIG. 14) is fixed on cylindrical studs such as 189 of the mounting plate 61 and close to the air inlet space 229. This structure 188 comprises two plates 190 and 191 which carry a heater constituted by an electrical resistance 192 connected in series with a thermal limiter 193. These plates 190 and 191 extend through the cooling openings 194 and 195 of the structure 188. The plate

  61 which is provided with the air inlets 196 carries a condensa-

  197 and microswitches 198 and 199. The microswitch 198 is provided with a working contact 200 controlled by a rod 110 (Figure 14) whose vertical position is itself dependent on the angular position of the washing / drying selection button 113 as already explained previously. The microswitch 199 (FIGS. 8, 9), together with the lever arm 73, form the safety device mentioned above. This switch 199 is provided with a safety working contact 201 and rests on a raised portion 204 of the

  mounting plate 61. The latter is also provided with a

  vertical pillars 205, 206, 207 and 208 to support pitons

  corresponding such as 209 (Figure 8) on the cover 62.

  The electric motor 114 already mentioned (FIG. 17) has two windings 210 and 211 whose common end is connected to the sector 212 shunted by the capacitor 197, their other ends

  being connected by a capacitor 213. They are also individually

  connected to the fixed contacts 216 and 217 which, together with the displaceable pallet 142 mentioned above, form the reversing contact of the microswitch 143. This movable pallet 142 is connected to the movable pallet 146 which, together with the fixed contacts 218 and 219, constitute the inverter contact of the microswitch 147 controlled by the selection button of the washing program 78. The fixed contact 219 is

  connected to a terminal of sector 212 by the safety work contact

  201 of the microswitch 199 and the fixed contact 218 is connected to the

  same terminal by the serial connection of the working contact 200 of the micro-

  switch 198 controlled by the selection button 113 of the washing / drying program, the working contact 182 of the microswitch 181 controlled by the selection button 79 of the drying program and the same safety working contact 201 of the microswitch 199. The fixed contact 218 is also connected to the other terminal of sector 212 at

  through the heating resistor 192 and the thermal limiter 193.

  Note that the different electrical interconnections

  between the elements are only shown in Figure 17.

  From the foregoing, it follows that the vertical plane of the wall 7 separates the washing compartment 3 from the hood 61, 62 which projects beyond this vertical plane, but only to a sufficient extent to be able to drive the drum 52. Thus, the

  housing and the drive and control means mounted therein

  are not adversely affected by the heat generated in

the washing compartment 3.

  The operation of the washing machine described above takes place as follows. At the beginning of a washing operation, the front cover 60 is opened and a laundry product is introduced into the tank I which is then filled with water, either directly or through the water supply pipe, until the laundry solution reaches a desired level shown by the float level indicator finger 41 which is visible through the window 42. By opening the front cover 60, the safety working contact 201 is opened , thus preventing the electric motor 114 from being activated (FIG. 17). The selection button 78 of the washing program is then rotated to a position corresponding to a predetermined duration of a washing operation, while the selection button 113 of the drying / washing program is brought into the washing position. The selection button 79 of the drying program is preferably rotated to its zero position, but this is not an absolute necessity. After the laundry has been introduced into the tank 1, the front cover 60 is closed again, producing

  thus closing the safety work contact 201.

  When the washing / drying selection button 113 is rotated in the washing position against the action of the spring 112, the shutter 95 is brought into the stable horizontal position shown in FIG. 5 where it closes the opening 222, and , through the opening 27, it brings the flow pipe 98 in communication with the air channel 15 which, at its

  upper end, communicates with the atmosphere as described above.

  ously. The rotation of the button 113 also causes upward movement of the control rod 110 which causes the opening of the working contact 200 of the switch 198 (FIG. 17), thus preventing the

resistance 192 to heat.

  The rotation of the selection button 78 of the wash program

  in a position corresponding to a predetermined duration of an operation

  washing operation causes rotation of the upper clutch member 137. The latter is thus brought into a predetermined angular position where the cam 145 does not actuate the movable pallet 146 of the microswitch 147, so that this pallet makes contact with the fixed contact 219. This angular position is located at an angle

$ 249960

  predetermined position of a final position where the cam 145 will cause the contact

  of the movable pallet 146 with the fixed contact 218.

  The rotation of the selection button 79 of the drying program

  in its position 0 can open the contact of. work of the microcom-

  mutator 181 (Figure 17), but the position of this contact has no

  influence on the washing operation.

  The movable pallet 142 of the microswitch 143 is in contact with one of the fixed contacts 216 or 217 so that when connected to the sector 212, the electric motor 114 is activated in an operation circuit comprising the sector 212, a the windings of the motor 210, 211, one of the resistors 214, 215, the pallets 142 and 146 respectively belonging to the inverter contacts 143 and 147, and the safety working contact 201 of the

  switch 199. It follows that the motor 114 and therefore also

  The drum 52 and the fan 183 are rotated in either direction in accordance with the position of the pallet 142 of the switch 143. This position is controlled by the cam 141 which alternately brings the movable pallet 142 into position. contact with the fixed contacts 216 and 217 and thus changes the direction of rotation of the motor 114 and the drum 52, and the fan 183 which is coupled to it. The cam 145 is moved stepwise in a clockwise direction (FIG. 14) and after a certain number of angular steps, that is to say after a predetermined duration corresponding to the washing program selected by means of FIG. button 78, it brings the movable pallet 146 of the microswitch 147 into a position where this pallet makes contact with the fixed contact 218. Following this, the above operating circuit of the motor 114 is open and it is practically stopped immediately,

  mainly due to the weight of the laundry in the drum.

  During the washing operation, the fan 183 draws air through the air inlet openings 196.

  vanes 184 and fins 225, a first flow of cooling air

  The driver is driven around the motor 114 in the first portion 227 of the housing and is then radially expelled into the flow path 98. Likewise, by the action of the large radial vanes 185, a second air flow is conducted. on the resistor 192 in the air supply space 229 and in the second portion 228 of the housing to then be expelled into the flow path 98. From there, these two air currents flow through the opening 27 and the air channel 15 upwards

24 9 9 60

  and laterally in the atmosphere. Due to the relative smallness of the opening 27, the total flow rate of air is relatively low so that the electrical energy consumed by the fan

  during a washing operation is relatively low.

  Note that, although the motor is alternately rotated in opposite directions, the flow of air is in the same direction because the vanes 184 and 185 are radial. It should also be noted that during the rotation of the cam 145 in a clockwise direction, the pins 148 and 141 impart an angular displacement.

  to the rotational overturning member 155 when they come succes-

  in contact with the lateral arm 156 of the latter organ 155.

  However, this has no influence on the relative position of the lower and upper clutch members 166 and 167, since the tooth 180 of

  the member 167 remains engaged in the groove 168 of the control arm 172.

  After the end of the washing operation, the laundry solution is drained, after which the laundry is rinsed. To do this, it is sufficient to bring the pipe 99 of the siphon arrangement in the position shown and to admit water into the tank I through the feed pipe 101 at a suitable flow rate. Indeed, when this is done, the washing compartment 3 is gradually filled and the water level rises there as well as in the drain pipe 99 of the siphon. When it reaches a sufficiently high level, the action of the siphon is triggered and the water is consequently drained out of the washing compartment 3. By a suitable choice of the ratio of the diameters of the pipe 99 of the siphon and the supply pipe water 101, and a flow rate of suitable water in the latter, the water level in the washing compartment 3 will therefore gradually decrease. At a certain point, the action of the siphon will therefore stop so that the water level will then rise again in the tank. In this way, the washing compartment 3 is rinsed as long as water is admitted into the tank 1. After the rinsing operation and, for example, after having twisted the laundry by hand, it can be dried in the drum. To do this, the selection buttons 79 and 113 are both turned in their drying position, the selection button 78 of the washing program being already

  in its zero position since the end of the washing operation.

  By the rotation of the washing / drying selection button 113 in its drying position, the aforementioned shutter 95 is turned in

  its vertical position where it closes the opening 27 and establishes a

  The working contact 200 (FIG. 17) of the switch 198 is also closed between the flow line 98 and the washing compartment 3 of the tank Ir through the opening 222, the air line 16 and the opening 24. The operating contact 200 (FIG. The clockwise rotation of the drying program selection button 79 to a position corresponding to a predetermined duration of a drying operation causes the upper clutch member 167. to rotate. thus brought into a predetermined angular position where the cam 179 closes the working contact 182 of the switch 181 (FIG. 17). This angular position is located at a predetermined angle of a final position o

  the cam 179 will open the working contact 182.

  The movable pallet 142 of the microswitch 143 is in contact with one of the fixed contact members 216 and 217 and the movable pallet 146 of the microswitch 147 is in contact with the fixed contact 218 so that the motor 114 is again activated in a circuit operating system 212, one of the resistors 214, 215, the pallets 142 and 146 of the respective switches 143 and 147, and the working contacts 200, 182 and 201 respectively belonging to the switches 198, 181 and 199. It is then that the motor 114 and therefore also the drum 52 and the fan 183 are alternately rotated alternately in both directions depending on the position of the pallet 142 of the switch 143, this contact being alternately brought into contact with the fixed contacts 216 and 217 under control of the cam 141. The electrical resistance 192 is also heated since the current flows through the contacts 201, 182, 200 and 193. The air it is sucked by the fan 183 through the air inlet openings 196 and the action of the small fins 184 and

  fins 225, the flow of a first flow of cooling air is forced

  running on the motor 114 in the first part 227 of the casing and is then expelled radially into the flow line 98. Similarly, by the action of the large radial vanes 185, a second air flow is brought to the resistance heated 192 in the air inlet space 229 and the second portion 228 of the housing to be subsequently discharged through the flow line 98. From there, the two flows of air pass through the central air duct 16 and the openings 34 and 56 in the drum 52 and then in the atmosphere through the grid of

249960%

  filtering 64-66 mounted in the opening 63 of the cover 60. Thus, the motor 114 is continuously cooled by the first flow of air

  and is not adversely affected by the second stream of hot air.

  Due to the size of the opening 34 when compared with the opening 27, the flow rate of air during an operation of

  drying is much higher than during the washing operation.

  From the foregoing, it follows that through the openings 27 and 34 and the flap 95, the flow rate of drafts passing through

  through the flow line 98 of the fan is regulated.

  During the first part of a complete rotation of the cam 145 of the upper clutch member 137, that is to say also

  long as it makes contact with the removable pallet 146 of the micro-

  switch 147, the latter remains in contact with the fixed contact 218 so that the motor 114 remains activated in the last mentioned operation circuit. As a result, the laundry is dried by the heated air stream expelled by the fan 1-83. immediately

  the cam 145 leaves the displaceable pallet 146 of the microconmu-

  the paddle 147, this paddle comes into contact with the fixed contact 219 so that the motor 114 is then activated by the paddle 146 and by

  the work contact 201 of the microswitch 199. However, the resistance

  The heating element 192 remains connected to the sector 212 by the working contacts 201, 182, 200 and 193 so that the laundry continues to

be dried by heated air.

  During the subsequent rotation of the cam 145, its peg 149 causes the pivoting member 155 to pivot in the anti-clockwise direction (FIG. 14) when it engages its lateral arm 156. Accordingly, the member 155 is rotated in the same direction and by the engagement of the lip 158 of the lateral arm 157 of this member 155 with the control arm 172, the lower clutch member 166 is rotated in the direction of the needles d 'a watch. By engaging its teeth 170 to 173 with those of the upper clutch member 167, the latter is rotated by a tooth in the same direction, with the selection button 79, against the action of the friction forces. exerted by the washers 175, 176 and the screw 177. When at a certain moment the contact between the cam 145 and the lateral arm 156 is interrupted, the lower clutch member 166 is returned to its rest position - its teeth sliding on those of the member 167 - by the action of the spring 164, while the upper clutch member 167 249960Qu

* and the button 79 remain both in the position reached, particularly

firstly because of friction.

  In a similar manner to that just described, the pin 148 causes a rotation of the upper clutch member 167 and the knob 79 in the counterclockwise direction. This means that during each rotation of the cam 145, the organ

  upper clutch 167 is moved on two teeth.

  After a number of such angular displacements,

  that is, a number of rotations for the training member

  32, the lower clutch member 166 and therefore

  The cam 179 arrives in their initial positions, as shown in FIG. 14, where the working contact 182 is open. Thus, the resistor 192 is no longer heated. At this time, one of the pins 148 and 149 has just moved past the arm 156, so that the cam 145 must still perform a certain angular displacement before it causes the paddle 146 to come into contact. With the fixed contact 218. During this movement and as the heating resistor 192 has been disconnected from the sector 212, the drying operation is accomplished with cold air. At the moment when the pallet 146 comes into contact with the fixed contact 218, the electric motor 114 is no longer activated, since the working contact 182 is open, so that the displacement of the various elements is thus stopped, the operation of

drying being completed.

  Note that it is not absolutely essential to maintain the clutch mechanism 166, 167 and therefore the selection knob 79, substantially in their rest positions (except for a slight angular movement) during a wash operation. In this case, the tooth 180 on the upper clutch member 167 is not required.

  Although the principles of the invention have been described above

  above referring to particular examples, it is of course

  that this description is made only as an example and does not

  does not constitute a limitation of the scope of the invention.

2 'I996

Claims (40)

CLAIMS 22   1. A laundry machine capable of performing a washing operation and a drying operation and comprising a tank, a member stirring the laundry mounted in said tank, a lid housing drive means and control which comprise a fan and a motor driving said stirring member both during   the washing operation than the drying operation and resulting in the aforesaid   at least during said drying operation where it follows that the heated air is blown through said tank, characterized in that said fan (183) is driven by said motor (114) both during the washing than during drying, in order to then cool said engine.   A laundry treatment machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said fan (183) has a flow path and is simultaneously capable of producing two separate air flows, a first of said air flows passing over said motor (114) and a second on a member (192) being heatable, and in that it projects the two air flows into the atmosphere, either directly during a washing operation, or by said tank (1) during a drying operation.   Laundry machine according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises flow rate regulating means (27, 34, 95) for weakening the two air flows through said path during said washing compared to that of drying.   4. Machine for treating laundry according to one of the claims   cations 2 or 3, characterized in that said flow path of said fan (183) communicates with said tank (1) by a discharge pipe (98) in which a flap (95) is mounted and in that said flap allows said first and second air flows to pass directly into the atmosphere, through a first opening (27), during a washing operation, when said flap is in a first position, or through a second opening (34) and said tank, during a drying operation, said first opening having a smaller section than that of the second and said openings and said   flap forming said regulating means of the flow rate.   Laundry machine according to claim 4, characterized in that said flap (95) is a rotatable bistable member. 249960C   6. Machine for treating laundry according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a button (113), being manually rotatable, which is coupled on the one hand to said flap (95) rotatable and secondly to a control rod (110) controlling a working contact (200) disconnecting an electrical resistor (192), constituting said heatable member, from an electrical source (212) when said flap is in said first position and allowing said electrical resistance to be connected to said source   when said flap is in said second position.   7. Laundry machine according to any one of   Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that said cover (2) comprises   a hood (61, 62) for housing said fan (183), said motor (114) and said heating means (192) and having air inlet openings (196), and said fan has a housing (186) for a wheel (226) with a first set of vanes (184) and a second set of vanes (185), said housing having said flow path and being divided by said wheel (226) between a first part of   housing (227) and a second housing portion (228), said ventilation   the lettor being capable of producing by means of said first set of vanes the first air flow, which passes from said air inlet openings on said engine into said first housing part and thence through said lane; flowing out of said housing, and producing by said second set of fins said second air flow, which passes said air inlets on said heater in said second housing portion and thence through said pathway flow of said housing.   A laundry machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the fins of said second set (185) have a plus   large area than those of said first set (184).   9. Machine for treating laundry according to one of the claims   6 or 7, characterized in that said second air flow passes from said air inlet openings (196) into the second housing portion (228) on the heatable member (192) and an air inlet space (229) communicating with said second portion   boot but which is separated from the rest of said lid (2).   10. Laundry machine according to any one of   Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that said vessel (1) has a   front washing compartment (3) separated from a rear part (4) by 249999600   a partition wall (7) and in that said cover (2) comprises a front cover (60) giving access to said washing compartment (3) and said rear cover (61, 62) which has a first portion supported by said portion rear of said tank and a second portion not supported by the latter and provided with said air inlets (196). He. Laundry machine according to any one of   Claims I to 10, characterized in that said brewing member   comprises a drum (52) rotatably mounted on its axis in said tank (1) and in that said fan (183) is directly fixed on one end (116) of a shaft (116, 117) of said motor (114), said shaft being substantially parallel to said axis of said drum and so   the tree that the axis being substantially in the same vertical plane.   12. Laundry machine according to any one of   Claims 4 to 11, characterized in that said rear part (4)   of said tank (1) comprises a vertical air channel (15) in the shape of a box which communicates on the one hand at its top with the atmosphere and on the other hand, by said first opening (27), with said flow of the fan, and an air duct (16) disposed below said air duct and communicating on the one hand with said flow line (98) and on the other hand by said second opening (34), with said vessel.   13. Machine for treating laundry according to claim 12, characterized in that said cover is attached to said rear portion (4) of said vessel (1) by a cover member (84) which, with a part   of said air channel (15) constitute said flow line (98).   14. Machine for treating laundry according to any one of   Claims 10 to 13, characterized in that said rear portion of   said vessel (1) also has two outer columns of reinforcing   cement (13, 14) supporting said first portion of said hood (61, 62)   on some of their upper edges.   Laundry machine according to claim 14, characterized in that at least a portion of said air inlet openings (196) is located above at least one (13) of said columns (13, 14).   16. Speed reducing gear arrangement for decreasing the speed of a rotary drive member, for a laundry machine according to any one of   Claims 1 to 15, said arrangement comprising a device 249960G   speed reducer using a one-way clutch mechanism, with rotatable input and output members, and a return member, said rotary drive member, when it performs a predetermined rotation in a predetermined direction, communicating with said input member angular displacement from an initial position, on a fraction of said predetermined rotation and in an opposite direction, said output member being thereby angularly displaced in said opposite direction by said input member, and said return member being then capable of rotating said input member in said initial position, said output member nevertheless remaining in the position reached previously, characterized in that it comprises a second speed reduction device (137, 166, 167, 221) comprising a second one-way clutch mechanism (166, 167), with second input members ( 166) and output (167), and a second return member (221), said second input member being driven by said output member (137) of said   first speed reducing device (132, 136, 137).   A speed reduction gear arrangement according to claim 16, characterized in that said output member (137) of said first speed reduction device (132, 136, 137) is coupled with said second input member (166) by an inverting device (155) of the direction of rotation in such a manner that, when said output member performs a predetermined rotation in said opposite direction, it communicates with said second input member and through said reversing member of the direction of rotation, at least one angular displacement from an initial position on a fraction of said predetermined rotation and in said predetermined direction, said second output member being thereby angularly displaced in said predetermined direction by said input member , and said second return member (221) being then capable of rotating back said second input member into said initial position, the said second output member remaining however   in the position previously reached.   18. Reducing arrangement of the speed of rotation according to   claim 17, characterized in that said reversing device   rotation direction comprises a rotatable arm (156, 157), having an end (156) in the path followed by said output member (137) of said first reduction device 249960È   speed (132, 136, 137), said second input member (166) being located in the path followed by the other end (157) of said arm can turn.   19. Reducing arrangement of the speed of rotation according to   one of claims 17 or 18, characterized in that said member   outputting (137) of said first speed reducing device (132, 136, 137), when performing said predetermined rotation, communicating two of said successive angular displacements to said second member input (166).   20. Reducing arrangement of the speed of rotation according to   any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that   said rotatable drive member (132) is also rotatable in said opposite direction and then constitutes said return member (132) of said first speed reduction device (132, 136, 137).   21. Reducing arrangement of the speed of rotation according to   any one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that   said second return member is constituted by a spring (221).   22. Speed reducing gear arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that said second input (166) and output (167) members are provided respectively with a first tooth (173) and a second tooth. and are rotatably mounted such that during angular displacement they are subject to frictional forces and that for a displacement   angle of said second input member in said predetermined direction   said first tooth cooperates with said second tooth to move said second output member against the action of said friction force, whilefor an angular displacement of said second input member in said opposite direction by said elastic means (221), said second output member remains stationary following the action of said frictional forces, said first tooth   sliding there on said second tooth.   23. A speed reduction gear arrangement according to claim 22, characterized in that said second input member (166) comprises a substantially annular body whose upper surface is provided with said first tooth (173), said second gear member inlet being mounted around a vertical pin (154), while said second output member (167) has a lower portion 2A9960 O   ring (174), whose lower surface is provided with said second tooth, and a dome-shaped upper portion, said second outlet member also being mounted around said vertical pin and above said second input member, and said second output member is attached to an upper surface of said vertical pin via a second spring (175, 176) exerting a downward pressure on said second output member tending to prevent rotation thereof; a third spring (164) is provided which exerts an upward pressure on said second input member and tends to prevent it from rotating.   24. A speed reduction gear arrangement according to claim 23, characterized in that said second spring comprises a spring washer (175) which is fixed by means of a washer (176) and a screw (177) on said upper surface of said part in   d8me form mounted around said vertical pin (154).   25. Reducing arrangement of the speed of rotation according to one   claims 23 or 24, characterized in that said third   spring comprises a helical spring (164) whose upper end is housed in a first circular groove (165) in the part   lower of said second input member (166) and whose lower portion   is located in a second circular groove (161) provided in   a peripheral shoulder of said vertical pin (154).   26. Machine for treating laundry according to any one of   Claims 1 to 15, which may use a reducing arrangement of the   rotational speed according to one of claims 16 to 25   and having a timing device of a washing operation and a timing device of a drying operation, characterized in that said timing device of a drying operation is driven through the timing device of the dryer. 'surgery washing.   A laundry machine according to claim 26, characterized in that said timing device of the washing operation comprises said first speed reducing device (132, 136, 137) and an inverting contact (146) controlled by its an output member (137) which can be manually brought into a first position, wherein said changeover contact is in a first position (218), and in any one of a number of second selectable positions o said changeover contact is in a second position (219), in that said timing mechanism of the drying operation comprises said second speed reducing device and a second working contact (182) which is controlled by said second output member (167) which can be manually brought into a third position where said second working contact is in a first (open) position and in any one of a number of fourth positions for being selected o said second working contact is in a second position (closed) and in that said driving member is constituted by a motor (114) connected to the poles of an electric source (212) in series with a parallel circuit comprising a first branch comprising said inverter contact (146) in said first position in series with said second working contact and with a second branch comprising   said inverter contact in said second position.   28. Laundry machine according to claim 27, characterized in that said working contact (200) controlled by said control rod (110) is also included in said first branch and connected in series with said second working contact (182). )   and said electrical resistance (192) on said electrical source (212).   29. Machine for treating laundry according to one of the claims   cations 27 or 28, characterized in that said reversing contact (146) and second working contact (182) are respectively fed into said first and second positions at the beginning of a washing operation and in said second and first positions at the beginning of a washing operation. a drying operation and in that said first (132, 136, 137) and second (137, 166, 167, 221) speed reducing devices and said   reversing contact (146) and second working contact (182) are posi-   said second output member (167) returns said second working contact to said first position, said output member (137) of said first   speed reduction device has yet to achieve a certain amount of   angle before returning said changeover contact (146) to said first position (218).   30. Machine for treating laundry according to any one of   claims 1 to 15 or 26 to 29, with a tank, a cover for said   tank and drive and control means for said machine, said tank having a front washing compartment separated from a rear part by a separating wall and said lid comprising a front cover giving access to said washing compartment and a rear housing housing at least a part of said means, characterized   in that the plane of said partition wall (7) divides said compartment   washing (3) of said hood (61, 62).   A laundry machine according to claim 30,   characterized in that said plane is substantially vertical.   32. Laundry machine according to claim 31, characterized in that said cover (61, 62) protrudes beyond said plane.   vertical only in sufficient quantity to allow entry -   a washing drum (52) rotatably mounted in a said washing compartment (3).   33. Laundry machine according to claim 32, characterized in that said rear cover (61, 62) is at least   partially supported by said rear portion (4) of said vessel (1).   34. Laundry machine according to any one of   Claims I to 15 or 26 to 33, comprising a vessel with a compartment   washing machine, a lid comprising a hinged front cover giving access to said compartment and a rear casing for accommodating drive and control means which comprise a drive motor for said machine, characterized in that said means for drive and control includes a safety device which is controlled by said cover (60) such that the operation of said motor (114) is prevented when said cover which is removably connected to said cover (61, 62) is removed from it or is in a position where it allows access to said washing compartment (3) and o operation of said engine is allowed only when said lid is in a position where it closes said compartment.   A laundry machine according to claim 34, characterized in that said safety device comprises a rotatable lever arm (73) which is capable of controlling a machine.   contact (201) connecting said motor (114) to an electrical source   said cover (60) is connected by means of   and detachable to said hood (61, 62), at least one of the hinges comprising a pin acting as a pivot (69) on said lid, said pin being rotatably mounted in the hole of a member (71) provided at a end (72) of said lever arm which is forced by resilient means (77) to rotate in a predetermined direction, said end being rotatably mounted in a side wall of said hood and the sections of said hole and said pivot pin. being such that a rotation of said cover in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction causes a rotation of said lever arm in said opposite direction.   36. A laundry machine according to any one of   Claims I to 15 or 26 to 35, characterized in that the said   The washing unit (3) communicates with a compartment (24) housing a float (35) mounted at one end of a rod (38) provided at its other end with a level indicator finger (39) projecting through   an opening (40) in a wall (9) of said vessel (1).   37. Machine for treating laundry according to claim 36, characterized in that said opening is closed by a window (42)   mounted in openings (43, 44) of said wall (9) of the tank.   38. Laundry machine according to any one of   1 to 15 or 26 to 37, in the tank of which is housed the   rotatable washing drum, characterized in that said drum (52) is cylindrical and is mounted at a distance from the bottom (58) of said tank, said bottom being constituted by a cylinder portion which has a diameter greater than that of said drum and the axes of said drum and said cylinder being parallel and located in the same vertical plane. 39. Rinsing device for the tank of a machine   treatment of laundry according to any one of claims 1 to 15 or   26 to 38, characterized in that said tank (1) is coupled on the one hand with a supply line (101) for a rinsing liquid and on the other hand with a siphon drain pipe (99) which has one more   large section than said supply line.   40. Rinsing device according to claim 39, characterized in that the diameter of said siphon drain pipe (99)   is about twice that of said supply line (101).   41. Rinsing device according to one of claims 39   or 40, characterized in that the inlet of said siphon drain pipe (99) is near the bottom of said tank (1) while the outlet of said siphon drain pipe is located below of said entry.   42. Rinsing device according to any one of the   39 to 41, characterized in that said siphon drain pipe (99) immediately comprises, after its inlet end,   a part fixed to the tank above said inlet.