GB2178067A

GB2178067A - Top-loading drum for a washing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2178067A
Application number: GB08612312A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giuseppe Faini; Pietro Faini
Original assignee: Faini SpA
Current assignee: Faini SpA
Priority date: 1985-07-05
Filing date: 1986-05-21
Publication date: 1987-02-04
Also published as: IT8507048V0; ES294603Y; DE3615555A1; IT206388Z2; GB2178067B; ES294603U; FR2584431B1; FR2584431A1; GB8612312D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a top-loading drum for a washing machine comprising units of plastics material, specifically a central perforated strip 1 which is pressed flat and then bent into a ring or cylinder and two equal flanges 2 which are snapped onto, then riveted or bolts to the heads of the central strip and fitted with pivots which are designed to support the drum rotatably within the bowl or washing housing of the washing machine. Alternatively the annular walls of 2 half drums may be joined together to form the drum. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Top-loading drum for a washing machine The present invention relates to a top-loading drum for a washing machine.

Atthe presenttime rotatabledrumsforwashing machines including those with a radial doorfortoploading are in the main madeofsheetmetal,e.g.

stainless steel, using well known and tried techniques which do not give rise to particular problems but require assembly atthe point of manufacture.

Because ofthe requirements of packaging,trans port and delivery there is nevertheless a need tore- duct the size and weight of drums to enable them to be assembled easilyandconvenientlyatthetime when they are fitted into washing machines.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a drumfortop-loading washing machineswhichcom- prises units which have been pressed advantageouslyfrom plastics materials and can be packed ortransported separately and/or nested one atop another with minimum demensionsand reduced weight.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a drum forwashing machines made of complementary units which can be assembled easily and rapidly, with advantagealsoattheplacewherethedrum isre- ceived and used.

According to the present invention there is provided a drum foratop-loading washing machine, said drum comprising a central perforated strip pressed from plastics material and two head flanges also pressed from plastics material, wherein said perfo rated strip and the said head flanges are adapted to be snapped together and then secured together by means of rivets or bolts orthreaded ties orthe like securing means; a flap or sliding door being provided in the central strip for access to the interior ofthe drum while the head flanges are provided with sup ports for the pivots of the drum.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying draw ings, in which Figure 1 is a loongitudinal section through a drum foratop-Ioadingwashing machine; Figure 2 is a transverse cross-section of the drum of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional fragmentary detail of the attachment between the central strip and the head flange.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional fragmentary detail illustrating the attachment between the head flange and the central strip using bolts orties; and Figure illustrates a modified embodiment of the central strip with respect to the em bodi ment of Figu re 2.

Adrum is illustrated comprising substantially a perforated central wall or strip 1 pressed (or other wise formed) from plastics material and two end or head flanges 2, 2, also passed (or otherwise formed) from plastics material and attached symmetrically to opposing parts ofthe central strip 1.

Central perforated strip 1 maycompriseasingleflat unit which is bent into a ring or cylinder, see Figure 2, which has V-shaped ribs or projections 1' at regular intervals and directed radially towards the centre of the drum. In an alternative arrangement, central strip 1 may comprise two, three or more consecutive sec- tions 10which are attached together at the appropriate points by means of V-shaped ribs or projections 10' as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

In any event the side edges 11 of central strip 1 or 10 are shaped to snap into corresponding seats 12 formed in the front surface offlanges 2, 2 neartotheir perimeter. Teeth or projections 13 which are designed to snap into corresponding holes (or engagementsurfaces) 14 made in flanges 2, 2 may also be provided on the side edges 11 of central strip 1 or 10 so as to ensure rapid attachment of the flanges with central strip 1 or 10. An attachment of this kind may be secured permanently by means of rivets 15, as illustrated in Figure 1, or by means of nuts and threaded ties 16 as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing.Rivets 15 or bolts or ties 16 respectively are fitted in relation to and in the spaces defined by V-shaped ribs 1' or 10' of central strip 1 or 10 and are thus in a protected position so as not to effect use of the drum when such is fitted inthewashing machine.

An opening 17which is associated with a flap or sliding door 17', which can be opened and closed in a known mannerforaccess to the interior of the drum, and a closure therefor, is provided in the central perforated strip. Adisc orsupport 18 which can be securedto an axle or pivot pin 19 for rotatable mounting of the drum within the housing or bowl of the washing machine in question is secured bycounter- sinking or by other appropriate means to the centre of each head flange 2, 2.

The drum described above therefore comprises units of plastics material which can be assembled simpliy and rapidly at anytimewithoutspecial tools. Finally it should be noted that the drum may instead of being made of a central strip and two head flanges be constructed of only two equal and opposite units or bowls each of which has a bottom wall and an annular wall which is joined frontally to that of the other unit.

1. Adrumforatop-loadingwashing machine, said drum comprising a central perforated strip pressed from plastics material and two head flanges also pressed from plastics material, wherein said perforated strip and the said head flanges are adapted to be snapped together and then secured together by means of rivets or bolts orthreaded ties orthe like securing means; aflaporsliding door being provided in the central stripforaccesstotheinteriorofthe drum while the head flanges are provided with supportsforthe pivots ofthe drum.

2. A drum as claimed in claim 1, in which the central perforated drum comprises a single flat unit bent into a ring orcylinderand having V-shaped ribs or projections directed towards the centre of the drum.

3. A drum as claimed in claim 1, in which the central perforated strip comprises two, three or more consecutive sections which are attached together at the ribs or projections directed towards the centre of the drum.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Top-loading drum for a washing machine The present invention relates to a top-loading drum for a washing machine. Atthe presenttime rotatabledrumsforwashing machines including those with a radial doorfortoploading are in the main madeofsheetmetal,e.g. stainless steel, using well known and tried techniques which do not give rise to particular problems but require assembly atthe point of manufacture. Because ofthe requirements of packaging,trans port and delivery there is nevertheless a need tore- duct the size and weight of drums to enable them to be assembled easilyandconvenientlyatthetime when they are fitted into washing machines. It is an object of the present invention to provide a drumfortop-loading washing machineswhichcom- prises units which have been pressed advantageouslyfrom plastics materials and can be packed ortransported separately and/or nested one atop another with minimum demensionsand reduced weight. Afurther object of the invention is to provide a drum forwashing machines made of complementary units which can be assembled easily and rapidly, with advantagealsoattheplacewherethedrum isre- ceived and used. According to the present invention there is provided a drum foratop-loading washing machine, said drum comprising a central perforated strip pressed from plastics material and two head flanges also pressed from plastics material, wherein said perfo rated strip and the said head flanges are adapted to be snapped together and then secured together by means of rivets or bolts orthreaded ties orthe like securing means; a flap or sliding door being provided in the central strip for access to the interior ofthe drum while the head flanges are provided with sup ports for the pivots of the drum. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying draw ings, in which Figure 1 is a loongitudinal section through a drum foratop-Ioadingwashing machine; Figure 2 is a transverse cross-section of the drum of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional fragmentary detail of the attachment between the central strip and the head flange. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional fragmentary detail illustrating the attachment between the head flange and the central strip using bolts orties; and Figure illustrates a modified embodiment of the central strip with respect to the em bodi ment of Figu re 2. Adrum is illustrated comprising substantially a perforated central wall or strip 1 pressed (or other wise formed) from plastics material and two end or head flanges 2, 2, also passed (or otherwise formed) from plastics material and attached symmetrically to opposing parts ofthe central strip 1. Central perforated strip 1 maycompriseasingleflat unit which is bent into a ring or cylinder, see Figure 2, which has V-shaped ribs or projections 1' at regular intervals and directed radially towards the centre of the drum. In an alternative arrangement, central strip 1 may comprise two, three or more consecutive sec- tions 10which are attached together at the appropriate points by means of V-shaped ribs or projections 10' as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. In any event the side edges 11 of central strip 1 or 10 are shaped to snap into corresponding seats 12 formed in the front surface offlanges 2, 2 neartotheir perimeter. Teeth or projections 13 which are designed to snap into corresponding holes (or engagementsurfaces) 14 made in flanges 2, 2 may also be provided on the side edges 11 of central strip 1 or 10 so as to ensure rapid attachment of the flanges with central strip 1 or 10. An attachment of this kind may be secured permanently by means of rivets 15, as illustrated in Figure 1, or by means of nuts and threaded ties 16 as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing.Rivets 15 or bolts or ties 16 respectively are fitted in relation to and in the spaces defined by V-shaped ribs 1' or 10' of central strip 1 or 10 and are thus in a protected position so as not to effect use of the drum when such is fitted inthewashing machine. An opening 17which is associated with a flap or sliding door 17', which can be opened and closed in a known mannerforaccess to the interior of the drum, and a closure therefor, is provided in the central perforated strip. Adisc orsupport 18 which can be securedto an axle or pivot pin 19 for rotatable mounting of the drum within the housing or bowl of the washing machine in question is secured bycounter- sinking or by other appropriate means to the centre of each head flange 2, 2. The drum described above therefore comprises units of plastics material which can be assembled simpliy and rapidly at anytimewithoutspecial tools. Finally it should be noted that the drum may instead of being made of a central strip and two head flanges be constructed of only two equal and opposite units or bowls each of which has a bottom wall and an annular wall which is joined frontally to that of the other unit. CLAIMS

4. A drum as claimed in claims 1 and 2 or 3, in which the central perforated strip has side edges which fit into corresponding seats made in the head flantges, in which the central strip also has teeth or projections which snap into corresponding portions made in the head flange, and in which the rivets or bolts orthreaded ties attaching the central flange to the head flanges are mounted in association with the V-shaped ribs or projections in the said central strip.

5. A drum for a washing machine substantially as herein described with referenceto Figures 1 to 4 or as modified by Figure 5 ofthe accompanying drawings.