JP2004167263A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a self priming pump which has a short priming time, good pump performance in stationary running, and good electric insulation characteristics by suppressing temperature elevation of a motor for pump drive housed in a motor chamber. <P>SOLUTION: This washing machine is equipped with a washing tub with an agitating blade, a top cover placed above the washing tub, and a bath water suction pump to suck up bath water through a suction hose above the washing tub. The washing machine is constituted so that the bath water sucked through a suction port is delivered through a delivery port via a suction chamber, a runner chamber, and a water separating chamber. The bath water sucked through the suction port is flowed on the circumference of a wall forming a motor chamber. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

  The present invention relates to a water suction pump, and more particularly to a structure of a self-priming water suction pump, and more particularly to a water suction pump built in a washing machine.

  Conventionally, various structures have been adopted for a self-priming water suction pump.

  As a prior art for incorporating a water absorption pump for supplying bath water or the like to a washing machine and supplying the remaining hot water in the bath tub to the washing tub via this pump, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-117894 ( Patent Document 1), JP-A-57-117895 (Patent Document 2), and JP-A-6-23190 (Patent Document 3).

JP-A-57-117894,

JP-A-57-117895, JP-A-6-23190

  When a pump is built in a washing machine, at the start of operation, the inside of a water absorption hose communicating between the pump and the bathtub is filled with air, and a self-priming operation for completely discharging the air is required. The time until the air in the hose completely disappears (self-priming time) and the flow characteristic during steady operation have an inversely proportional relationship.

  In other words, the self-priming time can be shortened by increasing the amount of water to be recirculated from the water / water separation chamber provided on the discharge side of the runner to the suction side of the runner. Therefore, the flow rate characteristics are impaired. Therefore, there is a demand for a compact pump having a good balance between the self-priming time and the flow rate characteristic and having good storage properties.

  Further, in order to incorporate the bath water suction pump into the washing machine, it is necessary to consider the moisture resistance and to make the motor a hermetically sealed structure, so that the temperature rise of the motor becomes a problem. In addition, a structure that does not cause an electric shock to the user even if the insulation of the motor is reduced in a high humidity environment is required.

  A washing machine with a bath water suction pump that does not require a priming tank is proposed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-23190, but there is no specific structure disclosed.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine provided with a water suction pump which is compact and has good storability.

  The present invention provides a washing machine having a washing tub having stirring blades, a top cover disposed above the washing tub, and a bath water suction pump for sucking bath water through a water absorption hose above the washing tub. Wherein the bath water suction pump comprises: a water inlet serving also as a connection port for a bath water suction hose; a runner chamber having a pump runner; a suction chamber provided on a suction side of the runner chamber; A water / water separation chamber provided on the discharge side of the chamber, a discharge port connected to a discharge communication pipe for guiding the suctioned bath water, and a pump driving motor for rotatingly driving the pump runner; The bath water sucked from the water suction port is configured to be discharged from the discharge port through the suction chamber, the runner chamber, and the air / water separation chamber, and the bath water sucked from the water suction port forms the motor chamber. Flow around Characterized by being configured.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can be set as the washing machine provided with the water suction pump which is compact and has good storage properties.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a top cover of a washing machine, and 2 denotes a controller for controlling the operation of the washing machine. The controller 2 is built in the front of the top cover 1 and includes a microcomputer having a timer function.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes a membrane switch that allows the operator to externally specify the operation of the washing machine.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a lid, which is opened upward with the fulcrum 5 as an axis, and throws laundry into the tub.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a laundry inlet, and 7 denotes a cover for preventing the laundry from dropping between a washing and dewatering tub (hereinafter abbreviated as a washing tub) 8 and an outer tub 9. Have been.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a dehydration hole formed in the wall surface of the washing tub 8.

  A balance ring 11 is fixed to the upper end of the washing tub 8 and reduces the vibration of the washing tub 8 during the spin-drying operation, so that the washing tub 8 rotates smoothly.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes a suspension rod, which extends downward from four corners of the outer frame 21 and suspends the outer tub 9 via a spring 13.

  Numeral 14 denotes a stirring blade, which is rotatably installed at the center of the bottom of the washing tub 8, and rotates forward and backward in a short cycle during washing and rinsing.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes a motor for driving the stirring blades 14 and the washing tub 8. The power of the motor 15 is transmitted via the motor pulley 16, the belt 17, the driven pulley 18, and the crater / reduction unit 19, and the washing blades 14 are washed and rinsed. At times, the washing tub 8 and the stirring blade 14 are driven together.

  Reference numeral 20 denotes a leg provided at a lower portion of the outer frame 21, 22 denotes a drain hole provided at the bottom of the outer tank 9, and a drain solenoid valve 23 which opens and closes in response to a command from the controller 2 and a drain valve downstream of the drain hole 22. And a hose 24.

  Reference numeral 25 denotes a back panel, in which a bath water suction pump 26 and a water supply solenoid valve 31, which will be described later, are housed.

  Reference numeral 26 denotes a bath water suction pump whose casing is formed of a synthetic resin containing an antibacterial agent, which is incorporated in the back panel of the top cover 1.

  Reference numeral 27 denotes a bath water absorption hose containing an antibacterial agent, and its connection end is detachably attached to a bath water absorption port 26 a provided on the upper surface of the pump 26 via an O-ring 28.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing the internal structure with the back panel 25 removed. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a common use of a water supply port provided on the top cover 1 for supplying tap water into the washing tub and a water supply port for supplying bath water. The tap water inlet and bath water inlet are also used, and a softener is also supplied from the tap water inlet and bath water inlet 1a.

  26b is a discharge pipe of a pump, 29 is a lid switch, 30 is a hose connected to a tap water faucet, and 31 is a water supply solenoid valve for supplying tap water into the washing tub 8. As shown in FIG. 3, a part of the water discharged from the discharge port 31 a of the water supply electromagnetic valve 31 hits the wall of the priming supply port 33 and is guided to the air / water separation chamber of the pump 26 via the priming hose 34. Has become.

  FIG. 4 shows an internal structure of the bath water suction pump 26. A water inlet 26a is formed integrally with the casing cover 41, and a hose 27 is connected thereto.

  The casing cover 41 is integrally formed with a suction chamber 41d for accommodating the check valve 46 and a partition wall 41c.

  The casing 40 is provided integrally with a cylindrical portion 40m for holding the motor 43, a pump runner chamber, a chamber for accommodating the mechanical seal 48 and the coupling 45, a part of the air / water separation chamber, and a cooling water passage 40e. I have.

  Further, the casing 40 is provided with a drain hole 40f for draining water leaking from the mechanical seal, a coupling 45, and steam drain holes 40g and 40h for discharging steam generated around the motor 43.

  A partition plate 44 having a suction port is sandwiched and fixed between the casing 40 and the casing cover 41.

  A runner shaft 49 is connected to the motor shaft 43a via a coupling 45 made of an insulating material. The coupling 45 has an annular projection substantially at the center thereof, and prevents water leaking from the seal 48 from moving toward the motor along the shaft.

  47 is a packing for sealing the joint surface between the casing 40 and the casing cover 41.

  FIG. 5 is a front view in a state where the casing cover 41 and the partition plate 44 are removed, and a runner chamber is formed by an upper volute 40a1 and a lower volute 40a2 formed integrally with the casing 40, and the runner 42 is provided therein. .

  40b1 and 40b2 are separation walls protruding in the direction of the runner from the middle of the upper volute and the lower volute, respectively, and return water holes 40c1 communicating with the inside and outside of the volute at positions close to the separation walls 40b1 and 40b2 in the rotation direction of the runner. 40c2 is provided.

  The upper end of the lower volute 40a2 extends outward in the horizontal direction to form a bubble prevention rib 40d.

  An annular projection 42a is formed surrounding the suction port of the runner 42 and protruding from the plane portion 42b of the runner. In FIG. 4, the gap m between the projection 42a and the partition plate 44 is set to 1 to 3 mm. The gap with the partition plate 44 is set to 0.6 to 1.2 mm.

  When the runner 42 rotates in the P direction, the water pressurized by the runner 42 is discharged to the discharge chamber 40i along the upper volute and the lower volute, and reaches the water / water separation chamber 40k formed above the discharge chamber.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a discharge port 41a to which the discharge hose 26b is connected and a priming port 41b to which the priming hose 34 is connected communicate with the steam-water separation chamber 40k.

  When the end of the water supply hose 27 is inserted into the bathtub, the power switch of the washing machine is turned on, and the bath water course start button is pressed, the water supply electromagnetic valve 31 is energized for 15 seconds, and tap water is supplied.

  The water discharged from the discharge port 31 a of the solenoid valve 31 hits the wall of the priming supply port 33, and is supplied as priming water from the priming port 41 b of the casing cover 41 through the priming hose 34 into the pump 26. After 15 seconds have elapsed, the power supply to the water supply electromagnetic valve 31 is stopped, and power is supplied to the pump 26. When the motor 43 rotates, the runner 42 rotates in the P direction via the motor shaft 43a, the coupling 45, and the runner shaft 49.

  The rotation of the runner 42 causes the suction chamber 41d to have a negative pressure, open the check valve 46, suck air in the water suction hose 27 connected to the water suction port 26a, and send a mixture of air and water to the discharge chamber 40i. At this time, the air sucked into the runner 42 has a structure in which air and water are separated in a short time by the effects of the separation walls 40b1 and 40b2, the return water holes 40c1 and 40c2, and the bubble prevention rib 40d.

  The water discharged from the runner 42 during the self-priming operation is an air-water mixture containing a large amount of air. And water accumulates below the discharge chamber 40i. Since the pressure on the downstream side of the separation walls 40b1 and 40b2 is reduced by the rotation of the runner, the water in the discharge chamber flows into the inside of the volute through the return water holes 40c1 and 40c2, and the water flowing into the inside of the volute from the return water holes. Passes through the gaps m and n to reach the suction side of the runner, where the air is entrapped together, is pressurized again by the runner, and is discharged to the discharge chamber.

  By repeating such an operation, the air in the hose 27 is moved to the discharge side of the pump, and when the inside of the hose is filled with water, the operation shifts to a steady water supply operation.

  The fluid discharged from the upper volute contains a component in the swirling direction, and there is a possibility that air may be caught below the discharge chamber 40i. Therefore, the upper end of one volute is extended to form the bubble prevention rib 40d, and the air is discharged downward. The involvement is reduced.

  In addition, the self-priming performance is improved as the amount of recirculated water separated during the self-priming operation is increased, but the pump performance at the time of steady operation is reduced. There is an optimal value.

  According to the experimental results of the present inventors, preferable performance was obtained when the gap m was set to 1 to 3 mm and the gap n was set to 0.6 to 1.2 mm.

  Since the cooling water passage 40e is provided in communication with the air / water separation chamber 40k, the absorbed bath water circulates through the cooling water passage 40e to cool the motor and absorb the noise of the motor.

  The rib 44a of the partition plate 44 that separates the suction chamber 41d and the discharge chamber 40i is attached in a labyrinth structure to the wall 41c of the casing cover 41.

  In the steady operation, the bath water absorbed is sent to the discharge chamber 40i via the runner 42, and the bath water sent to the discharge chamber 40i is stored in the washing tub 8 via the air / water separation chamber 40k and the discharge hose 26b. Supplied to

  When the water supply is completed, the washing and rinsing operations are performed, but this is no different from the conventional washing machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the entire internal structure showing one embodiment of the washing machine of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the back panel shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the XX line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the bath water suction pump 26. It is a figure which shows an inner view by removing a casing cover partition plate. It is sectional drawing which follows the YY line of FIG.

Explanation of reference numerals

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Top cover, 8 ... Washing tub (washing and dehydrating tub), 25 ... Back panel, 26 ... Bath water suction pump, 40 ... Casing, 40a1, 40a2 ... Volute, 40b1, 40b2 ... Separation wall, 40c1, 40c2 ... Return Water hole, 40d: bubble prevention rib, 40e: cooling water passage, 40f: water drain hole, 40g: steam drain hole, 40k: steam-water separation chamber, 41 ... casing cover, 42 ... runner, 43 ... motor, 44 ... Partition plate, 45 ... coupling.

Claims (4)

A washing machine comprising: a washing tub having stirring blades; a top cover disposed above the washing tub; and a bath water suction pump for sucking bath water through a water suction hose above the washing tub.
A water inlet serving also as a connection port of a bath water suction hose, a runner chamber having a pump runner, a suction chamber communicating with a suction side of the runner chamber, and a discharge side of the runner chamber. A water / water separation chamber, a discharge port connected to a discharge communication pipe for guiding the suctioned bath water, and a pump driving motor for rotating the pump runner. Water is discharged from the discharge port through the suction chamber, the runner chamber, and the air / water separation chamber, and the bath water sucked from the water suction port flows around the wall forming the motor chamber. A washing machine characterized by comprising. A washing machine comprising: a washing tub having stirring blades; a top cover disposed above the washing tub; and a bath water suction pump for sucking bath water through a water suction hose above the washing tub.
The bath water suction pump includes a water suction port also serving as a connection port for a bath water suction hose, a runner chamber having a pump runner, a suction chamber provided on a suction side of the runner chamber, and a discharge side of the runner chamber. A water / water separation chamber, a discharge port connected to a discharge communication pipe for guiding the sucked bath water, and a pump driving motor for rotating the pump runner.
The casing of the bath water suction pump includes a holding section for holding the pump driving motor, the air / water separation chamber, and a chamber for accommodating the pump driving motor for bath water sucked from the water suction port. A washing machine, wherein a water channel flowing around a wall to be formed is integrally formed. The washing machine according to claim 2,
A washing machine, wherein a cylindrical portion for holding the pump driving motor is formed in a casing of the bath water suction pump. The washing machine according to claim 2 or 3,
A washing machine, wherein a chamber for accommodating a seal is formed integrally with a casing of the bath water suction pump.

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