FR2574824A1 - ENVELOPMENT STRUCTURE, PARTICULARLY INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE THE BODYWORK OF A WASHING MACHINE - Google Patents

Abstract

THIS STRUCTURE FORMING BODYWORK OF A LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE ESSENTIALLY CONSISTS OF THREE COMPONENTS, KNOWING THE FRONT PANEL 1 EQUIPPED WITH TWO ADJACENT SIDE ELEMENTS 2, 3, THE REAR PANEL 4 EQUIPPED WITH A WIDE CENTRAL OPENING 6 AND A COVER FOR THIS OPENING AND HAVING THE SAME SHAPE AND THE SAME DIMENSIONS AS THIS LAST, THESE THREE COMPONENTS BEING JOINED SO AS TO FORM A PARALLELEPIPEDIC BODY PROVIDED WITH OPEN ENDS. APPLICATION IN PARTICULAR TO SELF-SUPPORTING BODIES OF LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINES.

Description

Wrap structure, in particular for constituting the bodywork

a washing machine

  The invention relates to a wrapping structure con-

  designed to form the outer bodywork of a machine

  do not wash clothes and who specifically presents

  improvements over currently known models.

  We know that washing machines, which are

  bricks nowadays, include a chassis on which all mechanical and electrical components,

  are assembled during the final stage of assembly of

  tection and decorative plates that form the bodywork

  visible on which the control and operating

are mounted.

  This conventional arrangement has the disadvantages

  related to the number of components required and the number of workers

  necessary for assembly. This suggests that it is desirable to have a different simplified structure that minimizes the manufacturing process and assembly of these components.

  The goal behind the design of the new structure

  of wrapping for washing machines,

  type indicated above, consists in reducing the number of

  in such a way that the structure itself simultaneously constitutes the support means for the mechanical and electrical components of the machine and forms the outer casing

  or bodywork of the machine. That is to say, it is self-

  bearing for the components and also constitutes the part

  aesthetic visible externally of the machine.

  This problem is solved in accordance with the invention by

  this is because the wrapping structure basically comprises

  only three elements which are respectively the front face and the two adjacent lateral faces, the panel

  back and its bony plate forming a cover. These pieces

  of a suitable gauge are shaped to provide the required stiffness and it is on the edges

  and surfaces of these parts which are fixed

  functional elements and the various other elements

hold the machine.

  Other features and benefits of this

  invention will emerge from the description given below which

  Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the three parts of

  essential elements of the wrapping structure according to the invention, represented in the position in which they

  before their meeting carried out following the

  pointed by the arrows; - Figures 2 and 3 show details to more

  large scale and in partial section of the structure of the en-

  a pile or body according to the invention for machines

  washing, these figures respectively corresponding to a front elevational view and a side elevational view; and FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate two stages during the

  formation of the upper front part of the bodywork

  form to the invention; - Figure 6 illustrates the attachment of the rear panel on the side members;

  - Figure 7 illustrates the formation of the lower part

  the side element; and - Figure 8 shows the shape of the rear part

  of the lateral element, as well as the base of the latter.

  The reference figures used below correspond to

  to the figures marked on the drawings annexed to the

request.

  The face element 1 has lateral extensions

  2 and 3 which form the sides of the machine whose rear edges receive the fastening elements of the rear panel

  4, which is provided with a central opening 5 to which is

  This cover is formed by cutting the central portion of the panel 4, which allows to use as well

the entire material.

  The element before 1 has, at the level of its su-

  upper, a molding 7 extending to an area 8 provided with an edge 9 carrying a flange and which is intended to receive the control panel of the machine.

  Figures 2, 4 and 5 show how the differences

  the various sheet metal elements are connected to each other

  to form the first component of the envelope structure.

  ment. The rectangular panel 10, which is joined by the

  from part 11 to side panel 2, and the lantern

  12, which is connected via part 13, but which is shorter than the latter, provide

  reinforcement zones respectively with respect to

  7 and 8, to which they are fixed by spot welding during manufacture. Similarly, the upper element 14, which is extended by the inner flap 15, is extended by a

  16, which is fixed in Parts 8 and 12, these three elements

  ments joined by another spot weld. The re-

  edge 17-increases the rigidity of the part constituting the edge

superior.

  The recess 18 recesses the upper plate 14.

  In the lower zone shown in FIG.

  the reentrant face 19 and its vertical extension 20 is pro-

  further along a plate 21 and its flange 22 so

  to form the base surface on which the structure rests.

  The tongue 24 is applied by its connection and folding zone.

  25, against the reentrant face 19 and is fixed by means of a

  spot welding. In a similar way we apply the languet-

  26 against Part 20 and welded to it.

  Line 27 represents the lower edge of each

  side and part 28 extends from this trait under

  the form of elevations and recesses, the

  providing rigidity to the component so that it forms

  me the base plate, by means of an end flange 30, and

fixed to the plate 21 by welding.

  The two side panels 2 and 3 are extended by a

  other element 31 at their ends, as shown in FIG.

  6 and 8, and comprise flanges 32 and 33 on the edges of these elements so as to form with the elements 14 and 15 as well as with the elements 28 and 29, the

  said panels so as to give them a resistance

this high mechanics.

  The back panel 4, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, has the shape of a rectangular frame as a result of the formation of a projecting portion 34 extending to

  from the panel 35 and whose edges are joined together

  side of the structure. At the upper part of this panel is disposed a member 36 provided, in its part

  central section of elongated trapezoidal section

  killing portions 37 and flanges 38, located in the plane perpendicular to portions 37 and arranged to be

  juxtaposed against the plate 15, as shown in the figures

  3 and 6, and similarly, the elements 36 and 14.

  At its lower edge, the panel 4 is

  along a portion 39 and a flange 40 which is fixed by

  spot welding to the basic elements 28 and 29.

  The opening 5 preferably has a peripheral flange

  41 the protruding portion 43 corresponds to the position of the components associated with the vessel and the rotary drum of the machine, the circular opening.

  23 being provided to allow access to the drum.

Claims (6)

  A wrapping structure for laundry machines, characterized in that it comprises essentially exclusively three components, namely the front panel (1) provided with two adjacent lateral elements (2, 3), the panel   rear end (4) with a large central opening (5) and a neck   (6) provided for this opening and having the same   same dimensions as the latter, these three   poses are joined together to form a parallel body   pipedic with open ends.   2. Wrap structure for washing machines the   linen according to claim 1, characterized in that the first   first component (1) is constituted by a sheet metal element, shaped by pressing and folding to form three of the vertical sides of the self-supporting parallelepiped body constituting the envelope, in that the front face of this component comprises a molding upper (7) and an elongated flat rectangular plate (8) provided with a flange (9) on its upper edge, and in that each of the elements forming the side panels (2,3) has rectangular tongues (10, 1). , 16) so that the upper molding and said rectangular tongues are juxtaposed, which reinforces the zones corresponding to the   corners and at the top edges of the structure.   Wrapping structure for washing machines according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the part   lower part of the front panel (1) is provided with a section   trante (19) defined by the panel and decomposing into three   successive elongated rectangular faces to which correspond   lay reinforcing tabs (21, 24, 26) extending   from the side panels (2, 3) and a rectangular area   wire (20) for receiving a trim panel, while at the bottom face there is provided an undulated section (28, 29) whose ends form a base and are   integral with the side panels (2, 3).   4. Wrap structure for washing machines se-   according to one of the preceding claims, characterized   in that the lateral members (2, 3), which form part of the first   first component (1) have on their free edges   rectangular lengths of smaller width, constituting   cut flat flanges (14) perpendicular to the panels themselves, and that from the lower edge of each   side panel (2, 3) extends a reinforcing member   characterized by a corrugated section (28, 29) whose ends are respectively juxtaposed with the lower edge of the front panel   (l) andan extension (39) of the rear panel.   5. Wrap structure for washing machines se-   according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized   in that the component constituting the rear panel   (4) is formed by a rectangular frame whose lateral edges   main elements define a coplanar surrounding area arranged to allow the free ends of the lateral members (2, 3) to be fixed, in that the upper edge is in the form of a flat element extending by a pair of tongues ( 38) located in a parallel plane   side elements (2, 3) and coming in juxtaposition con-   these, and that there is also provision for a   recess (37) parallel to the plane of the rear panel, the latter having at its lower edge an elongate rectangular plate (39) provided with a flange (40) for   receive, at its end, the ends of the   corrugation (28, 29) of the first component (1).   6. Wrap structure for washing machines se-   according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized   in that the cover plate (6) which is to be fastened in the opening (5) in the rear panel (4) consists of the material removed from the rear panel   the opening of the opening, the latter   a continuous peripheral rim (41) facilitating the fixing   the cover plate.