GB2081311A

GB2081311A - Clothes Washing Machine

Info

Publication number: GB2081311A
Application number: GB8122889A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Domar SA
Current assignee: Domar SA
Priority date: 1980-07-31
Filing date: 1981-07-24
Publication date: 1982-02-17
Also published as: DE3130201A1; ES252680U; FR2487869A1; IT8148989A0; IT1142599B; GB2081311B; FR2487869B1; ES252680Y

Abstract

A top-loading washing machine comprises a carcase of which the main frame is formed by stamping and bending from sheet steel to provide the rear and the two sides (13, 14) of the casing, the rear side having an aperture (15) closed by a panel (25). The three-sided structure is reinforced by additional members (6, 8, 9, 10) and is closed by one or more removable front panels (16, 3) which provide access to the internal components of the machine, for servicing. The machine is of narrow frontal aspect, since the washing drum is mounted horizontally with access being gained to the drum through its cylindrical wall rather than through an end. The upper end of the machine is closed by atop frame element (27) to which is hinged a top cover (30) providing access to the drum of the machine. Further internal lids may be provided below the cover (30), and a further cover to the rear of the cover (30) may provide access to receptacles for receiving detergent or other additives to the washing water. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clothes Washing Machine This invention relates to a machine for washing clothes.

The invention provides a clothes washing machine, comprising a self supporting frame consisting of a body in the form of an elemental parallelapiped box defined by two lateral sides and a rear side in one single piece produced from one rectangular steel sheet by stamping and bending, the free edges of the three sides having flanges for the attachment of a front panel and, at each extremity, of a pair of reinforcement sections, there being in the rear side an opening closed by means of a removable panel and a reinforcing recess in the lateral sides.

The machine is preferably of the top-loading type, that is to say that the access opening to the inside of the drum which is to contain the clothes to be washed is situated in the upper part, the said drum having a functional opening which can be closed by means of a set of hinged doors located on its lateral cylindrical surface instead of on its front circular extremity.

The aforesaid disposition allows the washing machine to be made so that its frontal aspect corresponds to the least width of the parallelapiped body forming the machine carcase, this being of use in the modern kitchen and service area building where the clothes washing machine is installed in conjunction with kitchen units or other domestic electrical equipment such as clothes dryers. Thus the relatively narrow aspect of the machine front will combine perfectly with the front of other kitchen units or equipment having a front or depth dimension equivalent to that of the machine. Access can be obtained to all the mechanical and electrical machine parts by removing the front cover.

Another preferred characteristic of the washing machine, as described in more detail below, is that the machine frame which carries the electromechanical components has been simplified to the extreme, to the extent that it is self supporting and the outer casing is integral with the components providing strength to the structure and supporting the mechanism. This results, as may be readily appreciated, in a substantial saving in cost and an improvement in the assembly structure.

Another preferred and advantageous characteristic is the device making up the loading aperture, which comprises a set of lids and their associated frames which correspond to the means of access to the interior of the drum in which the clothes to be washed are placed.

Another preferred feature of the machine according to the invention is that the drum rotates horizontally and is supported at only one of its extremities, the axial shaft which causes the rotation of the drum being supported in two ball races and thus having a favourable suspension due to this double support even though this corresponds to only one of the vertical sides of the drum. This permits moreover the balancing of the drum by a heavy mass affixed to the other side and which, because there is no suspending shaft at the centre point of the drum, can have an annular configuration giving it a better moment of inertia with a view to dynamic balancing of the drum.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an external view of a complete machine in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 shows the self supporting frame to which are fitted the mechanical and electrical components of the machine of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an exploded view of the frame of the machine of Figure 1 with the front cover and panel as well as the hinged top cover and its fixed framework.

Figures 4 and 6 are an exploded view showing the internal access cover to the drum of the machine of Figure 1 and its associated framework, the closure device and the device for the addition of products to be incorporated in the washing water as well as a view of the fixed framework of the tub which gives immediate access to the cover and opening of the drum.

Figure 5 is a detail drawing of the closure device of the internal cover across a section indicated by V-V in Figure 4, Figure 7 is an exploded view of the drum of the machine of Figure 1 and the tub in which it is located as well as the drum drive system which is shown in exploded form in Figure 8.

Figure 9 is a detail view of the inertia device of the system, shown in Figure 7, and Figures 10 and 1 1 are front elevations of the drum and tub of Figure 7, showing their respective associated components.

Referring to the drawings, the items carrying reference numbers in the drawings correspond to the following parts.

The plate 1, as shown in figure 1 is the front cover of the machine and to which is attached the control panel 2 for the operation of the machine, also shown is the skirting 3 which say provide, at the base of the machine, access for a filter device for the water or other requirement and can be an independent piece.

The upper part of the machine, comprises, externally a hinged cover 4 and at its rear another hinged panel which allows access to the device for the addition of soap or other products to the washing water. An alternative design of the machine could incorporate in the said rear section, the control means, instead of locating them on the front.

The frame of the machine as shown in figure 2 incorporates in its self supporting configuration the side and rear cover panels of the casing and has in its lower part a component 6 shaped as a rectangular C of laminar structure made in heavy metal plate with great rigidity and strength, located to the rear of the base together with a similar component 7 to the front, as also a right angled piece 8 to which is fitted the said front cover 1 or the skirting 3 should this be in the form of a separate item.

The frame of the machine has a relatively small width (of its front dimension) as compared to its depth or transverse dimension, this being advantageous given the current tendency to incorporate clothes washing machines in kitchen units or service areas adjacent thereto.

It is also an advantage to be able to gain access to the entirety of the mechanisms and the electrical devices by simply removing the front cover of the machine.

The upper rear part of the frame is strengthened by the component 9 also in a C shape of great rigidity, and to the front by the right angled dihedral component 10 onto the face 11 of which fits the panel 1 9 of the shape required to fit the front panel 2 and in which there are provided openings 12 for the machine controls. The said component 10 is fitted transversely as is the lower component 8 as shown in figure 2 between the edges of the casing frame body of which the side panels 13 and 14 are suitably reinforced by pressed recesses 22 of a vertical rectangular shape. The rear aspect of the frame has an ample opening 15 which can be closed by a cover 25 attached by means of screws.

The front cover 1 is defined by the panel 16 whose side extremities are formed into right angle flanges 17 with a recess 1 8 for the panel 19 which carries the aforementioned control means corresponding with openings 12 in the upper cross member 10, and which panel is attached by means of side components 20 with spigots fitting into holes 21 provided in the panel 16.

The front edges of the side panels 13 and 14 form flanges 23 and 24 to which are attached the flanges 17 of the front cover 1 6.

The spring 26 fixed at its head end to an attachment of the reinforcing member 9, in figure 3 maintains, together with others similar, the tub of the machine in floating suspension.

The rim 27 is attached to the upper part of the frame by means of the pieces 28 while the helical springs 29 bias the cover 30 closed. This cover forms the top 4 and has a rim 31 on its upper part to which is attached the surround 32 by its edges.

The articulation of the cover is provided by the hinge elements 33 on the rim 27 and the hinge elements 34 integral with the cover.

The closure of the top cover 30 during the operation of the machine is assured by a latch 35 entering a retention orifice 36 belonging to a device on the fixed rim.

In the lower part of the frame the orifices 105, initially closed off by means of removable parts (106) allow for the arrangement of the drainage tubing. Retractable wheels with an immobilization device, (not shown) facilitate moving the machine.

The tub 37 in figure 6 is provided with, in its upper part a rectangular access opening fitted with a peripheral strip 38, the frame component 40 being held to the said tub by auxiliary parts 39, developing to lateral extensions 41 provided with notches 42 in order to secure the said frame component by means of screws 43 through holes in the strips and the distance pieces 45 on to the bridge shaped parts 44 which are integral with the body of the tub. The upper part of the frame component 40 has a double rim 46 and a division wall 47 which determines laterally the space 48 provided for the mixing device for the additives for the washing water, with 49 indicating the upper ends of vertical pipes on which there are end fittings (50), for the water entry. The external walls of the said frame component 40 protrude to correspond with the position of the said pipes.

The lower part 51 defines a small compartment in which there is an additive mixing device connected flexibly through the elbow 52 to the water circulating system of the machine.

The compartments 53 and 54 situated in the space 48 receive the additives for the water being fitted with vertical tubular components each of which is recipient of another tubular component 55 integral with a mesh 56.

The frame 57 developing to a rectangle 58 in the form of a rim of slightly larger dimensions fits on the top of the machine body and on the lower frame 40 incorporating some parts 59 retained by nuts and damping devices 60 for the articulation of an inner cover defined by the items 66 and attachments. On the other hand the components 61 define an articulation in the opposite direction to the previous for a second inner cover defined by components 72 and attachments. The openings 62 and 63 allow access to the containers 53 and 54 provided for containing the additives for the washing water and have their respective closure lids 64.

The rectangular frame component 67 with its lip edge 68 in the form of a flange defines as has been said the inner cover of the machine extended in a protrusion 66 of which the lower face is rounded such that it matches the curvature of the tub. The sealing joint 65 provides the hermetic closure of the inner cover which constitutes an intermediate lid 69 and an upper lid 70 which will be the one that is visible on raising the outer cover 4 and can with advantage be provided with a recess 71 to assist the hand operation of opening.

The space forming the containers for the additives for the washing water is enclosed as has been said, by a cover which includes the surround 72, an intermediate lid 73 and an upper lid 74 visible from the outside and contiguous with 70 and both corresponding interiorly to the components 4 and 5 shown in figure 1.

The latch 77 integral with the frame -67- is secured by means of a device disposed in the form of an enclosure 78 (figure 5) defining an entry 79 and having therein a roller 80, the retention of the latch being provided by means of a spring 82 which pushes the block 81 which has therein a longitudinal slot through which passes a transverse pin, the said enclosure 78 being contained in a lodging disposed in the frame component 58.

The tub 37 (figure 7) has a lateral means 83 and 84 for its floating suspension, by way of a device not shown in the drawings comprising the previously mentioned springs 26.

One of its extremities is completed by the cover 87 secured by means of the flexible joint 88 and the circular hoop 89 secured by a retention device, the said cover having integrally an inertia mass in the shape of a crown (figure 9), the other face of the tub having fitted thereto and firmly held to it the plate 97 with a central boss 90 designed to house separately two ball bearings 95 and 96 in which are fitted the axial shaft 94 integral with the Y shaped part 93 which is secured to one of the faces 91 of the drum.

The drum 85 which is designed to contain the clothes to be washed is of cylindrical form with its lateral surface having a multiplicity of perforations and being provided on that surface a quadrangular opening, closed by means of a double lid 86 hinged on its edges. Its extremities consist of discs 91 and 92.

The drum 85 has in one part of its lateral surface opposite the double lid 86 an aperture 98 for purposes of servicing.

The pulley 99 is driven by means of a belt from a pulley attached to the axial shaft of an electric motor 100 for the rotation of the drum.

The tub 37 has in its lower part, (figures 10 and 11) orifices 101 for the battery(102) of heating elemesnts for the washing water as well as for the connection to the presostat tube 103 designed to pass a pneumatic signal for the actuation at the appropriate moment of the presostat 104 on the machine's electrical circuit.

Claims

1. A clothes washing machine, comprising a self supporting frame consisting of a body in the form of an elemental parallelapiped box defined by two lateral sides and a rear side in one single piece produced from one rectangular steel sheet by stamping and bending, the free edges of the three sides having flanges for the attachment of a front panel and, at each extremity, of a pair of reinforcement sections, there being in the rear side an opening closed by means of a removable panel and a reinforcing recess in the lateral sides.

2. A clothes washing machine, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the sections fitted to the extremities in order to reinforce the structure consist of C shaped parts, some having a right angled configuration, the sections which are to be fitted to the lower extremity having therein orifices for the attachment of wheels while those ' for the upper extremity have orifices for the attachment of resilient means for the floating suspension of a tub of the machine with the front section having a recess designed to take a panel carrying controls for the operation of mechanical and electrical components of the machine.

3. A clothes washing machine, as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the front face includes a rectangular panel having flanged lateral edges and in its upper part a recess to contain a panel associated with the control elements of the machine, removable by dismantling some accessory securing elements, the lower part of the said face comprising a separate skirting, such that the removal of solely the said frontal components of the machine allows access to all the mechanisms and devices contained in the structure.

4. A clothes washing machine, as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein its upper part contains two hinged external lids associated with the top of the frame for providing respectively access to a drum for containing the clothes to be washed and access to a receptable provided for additives for the washing water, there being also below the said lids which constitute the top visible part of the machine other corresponding lids.

5. A clothes washing machine, as claimed in Claim 4 wherein one external lid is bigger and is hinged to a fixed framework on the top of the machine frame by means including resilient elements biasing the lid into the closed position, and there is provided at the front a latch arranged to co-operate with an automatic retention device with which is associated an electro-magnetic mechanism which locks the said lid during the functioning of the washing machine.

6. A clothes washing machine, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. The features as herein described, or their equivalents, in any novel selection.