GB2204329A - One-piece washing machine casing - Google Patents

Description

2204329 1M.PPOVEME1',T TO WASHING MACHINE This invention relates to

bodywork for washing machines.

As is well known, washing machine bodyworks are currently built by assembling and welding together sheet metal pieces to form the body lateral walls, and applying reinforcing cross-pieces to the most highly stressed areas.

Another known technique is that of providing a supporting framework to which covering panels or walls are subsequently mounted to form the washing machine body outer shroud.

The above-outLined conventional techniques interlink with traditional assembling methods for washing machines, but show some deficiencies as pointed out herein below.

Currently applied manufacturi.ng procedures involve, for washing machine bodywork making, a number of operations to be performed on different equipment and production Lines. As an example, machines are to be provided for making the reinforcing cross-pieces, as well as draw presses for the washing machine body back wall, and weld assembly lines for the washing machine body sidewalls.

The complexity of the technologies involved by the above-noted manufacturing steps is responsible for the high manufacturing cost of such bodywork.

Further, considerable operational difficulties are encountered where pre-processed, e.g. pre-zinc galvanized, sheet metal or sheets with different thicknesses are to be spot welded; and it has been hitherto impossible to use pre-painted sheet metal.

An additional drawback is that the conventional manufacturing process entails much waste and rejects especially from the 2 reinforcing cross-piece making step.

The technicaL probLem underLying this invention is to provide bodywork for washing machines having such constructionaL characterist-ics as to make for easier assembLing, to be carried out on automated equipment for mass production, and to obviate the deficiencies noted above in connection with the background art.

This probLem is soLved by bodywork as indicated above being characterized in that it comprises a monocoque-construction body.

The features and advantages of bodywork according to this invention wiLL be more cLearLy understood from the foLLowing cletaiLed description of an embodiment thereof, to be taken by way of exampLe and not of Limitation in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of washing machine bodywork according to the invention; Figure 2 is a pLan deveLoped view of the bodywork shown in Figure 1; Figures 3 to 5 show side views of modified embodiments of the bodywork of Figure 1; and Figures 6 to 9 show respective cletaiLs of the bodywork of Figure 1.

With reference to the drawing views, the numeraL 1 designates comprehensiveLy sheet metaL washing machine bodywork formed with a circuLar front access opening 28 and an oppositeLy Located rear opening 3 which is normaLLy cLosed by a cLosure paneL, not shown.

The bodywork 1 comprises a body of monocoque construction 3 formed from a single sheet 2 of metal which has been shaped according to the developed lateral walls of the bodywork, as explained in detail hereinafter. The sheet 2 comprises a portion 4 intended to form the front wall of the bodywork, alike portions 5,6 intended to form the sidewalls of the bodywork, and a portion 7 intended to form the rear wall.

Said portions have peripheral flaps indicated at 8 and 9, respectively, relative to the developed top and bottom of the bodywork. After bending the sheet 2 along fold lines bordering ideally said walls and defining the bodywork edges, the bodywork can be set in its final configuration.

Said flaps 8 and 9 are bent 900 relatively to the planes of the wall portions 4,5,6 and 7 to provide upper and lower cappings and 11, respectively, the former being adapted for laying and securing a cover, not shown, to the bodywork 1, and the latter 1 for resting the bodywork in an upright position.

The above-noted flaps 8 and 9 are formed, in a manner known per se, by means of cutouts 12 and 13 and successive removal of sheet metal portions and definition of tabs 14 and 15 whose function will be expLained hereinafter.

To obtain the bodywork of this invention, the starting sheet 2 is bent on presses operated within a dedicated production line.

Then, by bending the sheet 2 along fold lines, a box-type structure is made wherein the rear wall 7 and sidewall 5 partly overlap rearwardLy in the vicinity of the edge formed therebetween, and are welded in quite a conventional manner.

Thus, the bodywork 1 is made up of a monocoque body formed by the walls 4,5,6 and 7, and by the flaps 8 and 9 bent at right angles to the walls so as to provide the upper and lower cappings, 4 and 11. The fLaps 8 and 9 are further bent over to provide reinforcement for said cappings and the monocoque body forming the bodywork 1.

The corner joints of such cappings are either formed from within the bodywork by means of a continuous bead weLd 17, or aLternativeLy, in a preferred embodiment, by overLapping sheet metaL portions 18 and 19 to be joined and forming therein maLe and femaLe coupLing rough spots 20.

The rough spots 20 wouLd be protuberances effective to improve the paneL strength of the overLapping sheets.

in the front waLL 4 of the bodywork 1 there are formed, at the top and bottom, respective recesses 21 and 22, the former being intended tc accommodate at the top the washing machine controL paneL, and the Latter to provide a bottom base for the bodywork 1.

The waLL 4 comprises an upper portion 25, bordered by the recess 21, wherein openings 26 and 27 are provided for component parts of a controL paneL 23.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, by having the metaL sheet 2 suitabLy patterned and providing appropriate bends therein, it becomes possibLe to optionaLLy form the above-noted recesses 21 and 22, the one indepenclentLy of the presence of the other.

Thus, the bodywork 1 Lends itseLf for some modified embodiments in which a controL paneL 23 may be mounted to jut out of the waLL 4, as shown in Figure 4, or set in the recess 21, as shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, the bodywork 1 may be provided with a covering door 24 mounted on the waLL 4 between the recessed base 22 and the controL paneL 23.

The bodywork of this invention wouLd be manufactured on a fully automated production line wherein the various wall bending steps on the monocoque body comprising this bodywork are carried out on small-size presses whose setting movements would be controlled by an electronic processor. Accordingly, the bodywork shape and dimensions would be changed by operating the control keyboard of that processor.

The bodywork according to this invention affords a radical change to washing machine bodywork assembling methodology, resulting in significant manufacturing cost savings.

Further, the bodywork of this invention allows pre-processed sheet metal, e.g. of the pre-zinc-galvanized or pre-painted types, to be used, since the bodywork assembling step is only carried out by means of bends and welds performed from within.

An additional advantage is that by merely changing the dimensions of the metal sheet, washing machine bodyworks having different dimensions and depths can be produced in a fully automated manner.

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Claims (7)

1. I 1. Washing machine bodywork (1), characterized in that it comprises a monocoque-construction body.
2. 2. Bodywork (1) according to CLaim 1, characterized in that said monocoque-construction body is formed from a singLe piece (2) of sheet metaL.
3. 3. Bodywork (1) according to CLaim 2, characterized in F that said sheet metaL piece (2) is formed to the deveLoped pattern of the LateraL waLLs (4,5,6 and 7) of said bodywork (1).
4. 4. Bodywork (1) according to CLaims 1 and 2, characterized in that bent over portions (8,9) of said sheet metaL piece (2) form stiffening cappings (10,11).
5. 5. Bodywork (1) according to CLaim 4, characterized in i that said cappings (10,11) are intended to provide for pLanar rest of said bodywork (1) and for mounting a cover on said I bodywork.
6. 6. Bodywork (1) according to any of the preceding cLaims, characterized in that sheet metaL portions (18,19) of said monocoque body overLap and are joined to each other by forming maLe and femaLe coupLing protuberances (20) therein.
7. 7. Washing machine bodywork substantially as herein- before described with reference to, and as shovrn in, the accompanying drawings.

   Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WCIR 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mw7 Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mw7 Cray, Kent. Con. 1/87.