GB2268939A - Cellular washing machine drum - Google Patents

Cellular washing machine drum Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2268939A
GB2268939A GB9315082A GB9315082A GB2268939A GB 2268939 A GB2268939 A GB 2268939A GB 9315082 A GB9315082 A GB 9315082A GB 9315082 A GB9315082 A GB 9315082A GB 2268939 A GB2268939 A GB 2268939A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
drum
washing machine
cells
clothes washing
opening
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9315082A
Other versions
GB9315082D0 (en
Inventor
Piero Durazzani
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Original Assignee
Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA filed Critical Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Publication of GB9315082D0 publication Critical patent/GB9315082D0/en
Publication of GB2268939A publication Critical patent/GB2268939A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/02Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums
    • D06F37/04Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis
    • D06F37/06Ribs, lifters, or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle
    • D06F37/065Ribs, lifters, or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle ribs or lifters having means for circulating the washing liquid
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/02Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums
    • D06F37/04Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
  • Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)

Abstract

A front loading clothes washing machine comprises a drum with a cylindrical wall which is at least partially formed by a plurality of cells (3), each of which is provided with at least one opening (4) outwardly and at least one opening (5) inwardly of the drum. The cells (3) may be disposed in orderly manner along adjacent rings on said wall, said cells being substantially adjacent. Said openings admit the liquid into the respective cells during the phase in which they are immersed in the washing bath, and cause it to drop back on to the load of fabrics to be washed when they reach an elevated position on said load. <IMAGE>

Description

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE WITH IMPROVED DRUM The invention concerns an improved drum for containing laundry to be washed, which in particular is used in clothes washing machines for domestic use.
Front loading washing drums made of various materials, used in clothes washing machines, are known, which in substance comprise a rigid structure forming the cylindrical peripheral wall, the circular bottom wall and a front wall which is sometimes separate and which is also of circular shape and which can be joined to the rigid structure by per se known fixing means, in which an opening which is usually circular is provided for introducing and removing the laundry.
The materials of which those drums are made are conventionally stainless steel, enamelled plate or synthetic material of various natures which is moulded in one piece to produce such drums.
Recently such drums have undergone a certain evolution by virtue of the possibility of shaping the internal spokes which conventionally only involve the aim of moving the laundry, in such a way as also to scoop up the washing liquid which is in the bottom of the drum, to lift it and then allow it to drop back from above on to the articles to be moved, with a movement similar to a water mill.
That enhances the mechanical effect of the passage of the liquid through the fabrics and thus improves the washing action.
All that is well known to any man skilled in the art and for that reason will not be discussed further herein.
However also using the internal spokes to lift the water and cause it to drop again on to the fabrics gives rise to two disadvantages: firstly, the spokes must be of such a shape that, during their rotary movement in a vertical plane, they can collect and carry the liquid up to a certain height or inclination of each individual spoke.
That means that the spokes have to be shaped in such a way that their apexes have a fairly acute angle, and the consequence of that is that the spokes, in their rotational movement, rub rather roughly against the fabrics with the possibility of damaging them since they also tend to catch the clothes and draw them upwardly, thus reducing the 'cascade' effect which is due to the falling movement of just the washing liquid.
Drums are also known which produce the cascade effect or the water mill effect in respect of the washing liquid by means of spokes which are external to the drum instead of being internal thereto; it will be appreciated that that eliminates the cause of possible damage to the fabrics but the spokes which are disposed on the outside take up a substantial additional amount of space within the tub, and that requires a reduction in the diameter of the tub, with a corresponding sacrifice in terms of the amount of laundry which can be washed with a single wash.
It would therefore be desirable, and this is the aim of the present invention, to provide a washing drum capable of producing the described movement of lifting the washing liquid in its interior to cause it to fall back again continuously on to the loads of fabrics to be washed, without involving structural complications of the drum, while guaranteeing a good degree of reliability and without significant increases in cost.
According to the present invention, there is provided a clothes washing machine, comprising a tub and containing an apertured drum of cylindrical shape which is rotatable about a horizontal axis and into which the articles to be washed are introduced, wherein at least part of the cylindrical wall of the drum is at least partially formed by a plurality of cells, each of which is provided with at least one opening outwardly of the drum and at least one opening inwardly of the drum.
The invention will be better appreciated from the following description given solely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a section orthogonal to the axis of rotation of an embodiment of the drum in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of an enlargement of the section shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the drum shown in Figure 1.
With reference to the drawings, shown therein is a washing drum 1, preferably of plastics material, which can be applied in per se known manner to clothes washing machines, the drum being in substance constituted by a rigid structure formed by a cylindrical peripheral wall 1 and two walls which are not shown because they are parallel to the plane of the drawings.
The internal spokes 2 will be observed, and it will be noted that the development of the drum is formed at least in part by a plurality of similar adjacent cells 3 which are disposed in an orderly fashion on that periphery.
In substance it can be considered that the cylindrical wall of the drum is formed by two concentric walls, an internal wall and an external wall, said walls being connected by rings which are disposed in a plurality of mutually parallel planes which are transverse to the axis of the drum and disposed in the space created between said walls, and flat separator baffles or walls which are delimited by said space and which are disposed in radial planes passing through said axis of rotation.
Each of said cells 3 thus constitutes a small container which is disposed on the cylindrical wall of the drum and is provided with at least one opening 4 outwardly of the drum and at least one opening 5 inwardly of the drum.
In the initial position the cell is in the lowest position in the washing bath and is thus completely immersed. In that position the external opening is used to cause liquid to pass into and fill up the cell. As the drum rotates and in particular when the cell is at about threequarters of the height of the drum (position A) and is thus normally already above the level of the bath, the liquid escapes from both the above-mentioned openings until its level within the cell is lowered until it is flush with the lower edges of said openings.
As the rotary movement of the drum continues the cell is inclined relative to the horizontal plane until it is completely turned upside down (position B) with respect to the initial position.
In the course of the movement between position A and the final upper position B, the level of the liquid in the cell, which has to be maintained close to the horizontal plane, is inclined with respect to the edge 6 of the internal opening until it overflows and causes emptying of the cell, the liquid showering down in the form of drops 7 on to the load of fabrics to be washed and thus improving the mechanical action of passing through the fabrics on the part of the washing liquid.
In order to prevent the cell emptying excessively quickly, the arrangement will adopt a type of inward opening 5 which is rather small, in such a way that the liquid begins to overflow only when the cell is in a fairly elevated position in the vicinity of the upper point, as shown in Figure 2.
In addition, for the purposes of ensuring that the liquid which is showered from each cell is the same in both directions of rotation of the drum (since during the washing phase the drum rotates alternately in the two directions), the openings are disposed in a central position with respect to the respective cell.
It will thus be readily appreciated that the combined effect of a multiplicity of cells like that described hereinbefore will produce a continuous cascade flow from above, causing the enhancement of the mechanical action on the part of the washing liquid in passing through the fabrics to be washed and thus an overall improvement in the washing action.
Given the complexity of the configuration of the cells described, it is particularly advantageous that the drum with the characteristics described above is produced in one piece form plastics material, preferably using the plastics injection moulding procedure.
It will be appreciated that the cells cannot become locations of permanent deposits of dirt or other undesirable substances since they are continuously filled and emptied, and in addition they are also involved in the rinsing cycles so that dangers of fermentation or decay or the like are avoided as from the outset.
It will be appreciated that the cells may be of the most appropriate shape and positions having regard to the constraints of space and the requirements of volume of the cells, just as each drum may also be produced in shapes different from that illustrated, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.
Production of the entire drum when completed in that way is therefore automatic and is effected in a simple, reliable and economic fashion.

Claims (6)

CLAINS
1. A clothes washing machine, comprising a tub and containing an apertured drum of cylindrical shape which is rotatable about a horizontal axis and into which the articles to be washed are introduced, wherein at least part of the cylindrical wall of the drum is at least partially formed by a plurality of cells, each of which is provided with at least one opening outwardly of the drum and at least one opening inwardly of the drum.
2. A clothes washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said cells are disposed in orderly fashion along adjacent rings on said wall, said cells being substantially adjacent to one another.
3. A clothes washing machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said external and internal openings (4 and 5) are disposed in central positions on the respective surfaces of said cells.
4. A clothes washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the internal opening of the cell is of a sufficiently reduced dimension to permit overflow of the liquid only when the rotary movement of said cell disposes it at an angle of inclination of greater than 450 with respect to the horizontal plane.
5. A clothes washing machine according to claim 4 wherein the construction of said drum is effected using the plastics injection moulding procedure.
6. A clothes washing machine constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB9315082A 1992-07-21 1993-07-21 Cellular washing machine drum Withdrawn GB2268939A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITPN920026 IT229047Y1 (en) 1992-07-21 1992-07-21 WASHING MACHINE WITH PERFECTED BASKET

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9315082D0 GB9315082D0 (en) 1993-09-01
GB2268939A true GB2268939A (en) 1994-01-26

Family

ID=11394654

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9315082A Withdrawn GB2268939A (en) 1992-07-21 1993-07-21 Cellular washing machine drum

Country Status (5)

Country Link
DE (1) DE9310938U1 (en)
ES (1) ES1025271Y (en)
FR (1) FR2694026A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2268939A (en)
IT (1) IT229047Y1 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0866161A2 (en) * 1997-03-22 1998-09-23 AEG Hausgeräte GmbH Washing machine drum
GB2365027A (en) * 2000-07-28 2002-02-13 Notetry Ltd Laundry appliance
EP1321557A1 (en) * 2001-12-20 2003-06-25 CANDY S.p.A. Improved drum for clothes washing machine
US7823421B2 (en) 2006-03-07 2010-11-02 Happy Co., Ltd. Washing apparatus
EP2386677A1 (en) 2010-10-14 2011-11-16 Primus CE s.r.o. Drum of washing machine

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090276966A1 (en) * 2006-07-06 2009-11-12 Bsh Bosch Und Siemens Hausgerate Gmbh Washing machine with hollow agitators
CN106758019B (en) * 2016-11-29 2023-07-14 无锡小天鹅电器有限公司 Drum washing machine, water spraying device for drum washing machine and drum assembly

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB589067A (en) * 1944-12-16 1947-06-10 James Harvie Banks Improvements in laundry washing machines
GB635258A (en) * 1947-10-10 1950-04-05 James Harvie Banks Improvements in laundry washing machines
GB906720A (en) * 1958-02-04 1962-09-26 Thomson Houston Comp Francaise Improvements in clothes washing machines
EP0472840A2 (en) * 1990-08-31 1992-03-04 Zanussi Elettrodomestici S.p.A. Method for making plastic drums for laundry washers and a drum thus made

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB589067A (en) * 1944-12-16 1947-06-10 James Harvie Banks Improvements in laundry washing machines
GB635258A (en) * 1947-10-10 1950-04-05 James Harvie Banks Improvements in laundry washing machines
GB906720A (en) * 1958-02-04 1962-09-26 Thomson Houston Comp Francaise Improvements in clothes washing machines
EP0472840A2 (en) * 1990-08-31 1992-03-04 Zanussi Elettrodomestici S.p.A. Method for making plastic drums for laundry washers and a drum thus made

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0866161A2 (en) * 1997-03-22 1998-09-23 AEG Hausgeräte GmbH Washing machine drum
EP0866161A3 (en) * 1997-03-22 1999-04-14 AEG Hausgeräte GmbH Washing machine drum
GB2365027A (en) * 2000-07-28 2002-02-13 Notetry Ltd Laundry appliance
GB2365027B (en) * 2000-07-28 2003-12-31 Notetry Ltd Laundry Appliance
US7021089B2 (en) 2000-07-28 2006-04-04 Dyson Limited Laundry appliance
EP1305467B1 (en) * 2000-07-28 2006-05-10 Dyson Technology Limited Laundry appliance with double-walled drum
EP1321557A1 (en) * 2001-12-20 2003-06-25 CANDY S.p.A. Improved drum for clothes washing machine
US7823421B2 (en) 2006-03-07 2010-11-02 Happy Co., Ltd. Washing apparatus
US8061163B2 (en) 2006-03-07 2011-11-22 Happy Co., Ltd. Washing apparatus
EP2386677A1 (en) 2010-10-14 2011-11-16 Primus CE s.r.o. Drum of washing machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9315082D0 (en) 1993-09-01
ES1025271U (en) 1993-12-01
FR2694026A1 (en) 1994-01-28
ES1025271Y (en) 1994-07-01
DE9310938U1 (en) 1993-09-09
IT229047Y1 (en) 1998-06-24
ITPN920026V0 (en) 1992-07-21
ITPN920026U1 (en) 1994-01-21

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)