JP3799785B2 - Washing machine drain hose - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a drainage hose of a washing machine that is connected to a washing machine body and drains.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, the drainage hose 1 of this type of washing machine uses a rubber-based material, and as shown in FIG. 9, the bellows portion 2 and the fitting portion 3 are made of the same material, and the cross-sectional shape is As shown in FIG. 10, the flexibility is used to connect the drainage unit 4 of the washing machine body to the drainage port 5 installed in a general household.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a conventional configuration, in general households, the installation positions of the drainage unit 4 and the drainage port 5 of the washing machine main body are not constant, particularly when the drainage port 5 is too close to the length of the drainage hose 1, As shown in FIG. 11, when the drainage hose 1 bends upward and its height H becomes 10 cm or more, rapid drainage is hindered.
[0004]
In particular, there were many complaints as poor installation due to a decrease in dewatering performance, a decrease in rotation of the dewatering tank due to increased foam generation, and a suspension of the dehydrating combined washing machine due to poor drainage.
[0005]
In this case, the drainage hose 1 may be cut to an appropriate length and used. However, in consideration of a change in the installation location or when the user moves, the drainage hose 1 has a resistance to the cut. A response to complaints was sought.
[0006]
Moreover, although the use of the drainage hose 6 which has an expansion / contraction form as shown in FIG. 12 is considered with respect to the said problem, in order to ensure a moderate expansion / contraction form, the hardness of material is harder than the conventional drainage hose 1. FIG. In order to ensure waterproofness with the connected member 7 provided in the drainage part 4 of the washing machine main body, the outer diameter a of the connected member 7 and the connection part of the drainage hose 6 having the expansion / contraction form When the allowance for the inner diameter b is sufficiently secured, the insertion force for connection with the connected member 7 becomes large, and the insertion becomes impossible.
[0007]
In other words, since the material is hard, the range of dimensions a and b for satisfying both water-stopping and insertability in a well-balanced manner is extremely narrow. In particular, when forming a hose by blow molding, dimensional variation is suppressed within that range. It was very difficult.
[0008]
In particular, it is not appropriate to use a drainage hose with this type of expansion and contraction in equipment that allows users to freely insert and remove the drainage hose, such as a washing machine, and that causes water leakage to expand. In some cases, 100% inspection by fitting was necessary.
[0009]
The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and has an expansion / contraction form to ensure an appropriate expansion / contraction form, and easily realizes a drainage hose for a washing machine having both a reliable water stop and an appropriate insertion force. The purpose is to let you.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
For the present invention to achieve the above object, a hose body which is molded by blow-molding of a material having a hardness capable of ensuring an elastic form with a flexible, drainage of the washing machine body in the hose body and a connecting member for the hose body is molded by insert molding a material rich in flexibility than the hose body provided at an end portion of the fitting side of the connected member provided on the parts, the hose body is connected The portion covered by the member is provided with a substantially semicircular convex portion projecting outward in the circumferential direction, and the connecting member is configured to connect and cover the inner and outer surfaces of the end portion of the hose body. .
[0011]
As a result, it has an expansion / contraction form and appropriately secures the expansion / contraction form, and has a reliable water stop and an appropriate insertion force, and can increase the tensile strength of the hose body and the connecting member joined by insert molding. In a harsh environment such as a drainage hose can be provided with a sufficient holding force to withstand the pulling force when inserting and removing the drainage hose, and the peel strength between the hose body and the connecting member joined by insert molding can be increased. However, it is possible to easily realize the drain hose of the washing machine that can prevent water leakage .
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a washing machine body and the hose body that is molded at the blow molding of a material having a hardness capable of ensuring telescopic form, in the hose body with flexible and a fitting-side connection member of said hose body with a material rich in flexibility than the hose body is provided at an end portion molded by insert molding into the connected member provided on the water discharge section of the The hose body is provided with a substantially semicircular convex portion protruding outward in a portion covered by the connection member in the circumferential direction, and the connection member connects the inner and outer surfaces of the end portion of the hose body. It is configured to cover , and has a stretchable form to ensure a moderately stretchable form, and has a reliable water stop and an appropriate insertion force, and the tensile strength of the hose body and the connecting member joined by insert molding The It can be increased, it can have a holding force that can sufficiently withstand the pulling force when inserting and removing the drainage hose, the peeling strength between the hose body joined by insert molding and the connecting member can be increased, and the drainage hose can be stepped on Even in harsh environments such as this, it is possible to easily realize a drain hose for a washing machine that can prevent water leakage .
[0013]
The invention according to claim 2, in the invention described in the claim 1, the distal end portion of the connecting member, provided with a convex portion in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface, the connecting member, wherein the connected member a groove on the inner peripheral surface of the corresponding position in the I-fit write I state in the circumferential direction is provided, and the convex portion and the groove, which substantially has the same shape, the connection incomplete and drain hose and the connected member In order to prevent water leakage due to, it can be confirmed by a click feeling that the connection has been made securely.
[0014]
The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the convex portion of the connected member has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the outer peripheral surface, and the inclination angle on the tip side is the inclination on the back side. The drainage hose of the washing machine is configured to be smaller than the angle and has a structure that is easy to insert and difficult to remove from the connected member.
[0015]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
Example 1
As shown in FIG. 1, the hose body 8 is formed to have a stretchable shape using a flexible material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, a blend material of polypropylene and polyethylene, and an elastomer. A connecting member 9 is integrally provided at the end of the hose body 8 by insert molding using a material that is more flexible than the hose body 8 such as a blend material of polypropylene and polyethylene or an elastomer.
[0017]
The connecting member 9 provided by insert molding has a hardness of about 40 to 100 degrees, and an inner diameter that is smaller by about 0.5 to 3 mm than the outer diameter a of the connected member 7 provided in the drainage part of the washing machine body. It has c and is fitted by flexibility. Here, since the inner diameter c of the connecting member 9 is smaller than the outer diameter a of the connected member 7, the tip end portion 10 of the connecting member 9 is formed in a trumpet shape in order to improve the insertability. Further, a convex portion 11 is provided on the circumference at the tip of the connected member 7 for fine adjustment of the insertion force and the detachment force.
[0018]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. Even in the case where the material hardness of the hose body 8 is increased in order to ensure a moderate expansion / contraction form, the flexible connecting member 9 is integrally provided by insert molding, so that It is possible to widen a range of tightening allowances for achieving both insertability with the connection member 7 and water stoppage.
[0019]
That is, the range of the tightening allowance between the outer diameter a of the connected member 7 and the inner diameter c of the connecting member 9 necessary to satisfy both the water-stopping property and the insertion property is widened by the flexibility of the connecting member 9, Even when the member 7 to be connected is molded by molding, the dimensional variation can be suppressed within a satisfactory range.
[0020]
FIG. 2 shows that the connecting member 9 is made of a blend material of polypropylene and polyethylene and is fitted with flexibility so as to realize operability such as insertion force and removal force, and securing water-stopping property. As a condition, the relationship between the tightening allowance for the connected member 7 and the insertion force is shown.
[0021]
As a precondition, if the tightening allowance dimension is 0.5 mm or more in order to ensure water-stopping, the range of variation as a dimensional error in molding should be accepted up to an allowance allowance dimension of 3 mm. Considering Japan's weather conditions, it is assumed that it is guaranteed in the range of -5 ° C to 30 ° C, and the insertion force that allows a person to easily connect the drainage hose is up to 200N. In FIG. 2, a curve a indicates that the material hardness is 100 degrees and the ambient temperature is −5 ° C., a curve b indicates that the material hardness is 100 degrees and the ambient temperature is 30 degrees C., and a curve c indicates that the material hardness is 40 degrees and the ambient temperature. In the case of −5 ° C., the curve d indicates the characteristics when the material hardness is 40 degrees and the ambient temperature is 30 ° C.
[0022]
As apparent from FIG. 2, when the hardness of the connection member 9 provided by insert molding is 100 degrees or more, the insertion force at a low temperature becomes extremely large with respect to the change in the tightening dimension. The hardness is preferably 100 degrees or less.
[0023]
In addition, when the detachment force is 30 N or less, there is a possibility that the user may come off due to the pressure of water during drainage or the water head pressure when standing up the drainage hose, even if the user does not intend to remove the drainage hose. The hardness of the connecting member is preferably 40 degrees or more (however, the insertion force and the detachment force are substantially equal).
[0024]
From the above results, the connecting member 9 has a hardness of about 40 degrees to 100 degrees, and further has an inner diameter that is smaller by about 0.5 to 3 mm than the outer diameter of the connected member 7 and is flexible due to the flexibility. By fitting in, an appropriate drainage hose with good operability and water stoppage can be realized.
[0025]
Especially for drainage hoses such as washing machines where users can freely connect and disconnect drainage hoses, and water leaks can cause extensive damage. It becomes possible to do.
[0026]
(Example 2)
As shown in FIG. 3, the hose body 8 is provided with a substantially semicircular convex portion 12 protruding outward in the circumferential direction at a portion covered by the connection member 9. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0027]
To explain the operation in the above configuration, the hose body 8 and the connection member 9 are provided by providing a substantially semicircular projection 12 protruding outward in the circumferential direction at a portion covered by the connection member 9 of the hose body 8. Therefore, a drainage hose having a holding force sufficient to withstand the tensile force in inserting and removing the drainage hose can be realized.
[0028]
Further, by projecting the convex portion 12 in a substantially semicircular shape, the hose body 8 is held by the inner mold 13 and the outer mold 14 as shown in FIG. Can be prevented from being flattened along the inner mold 13 by the injection pressure P of the resin.
[0029]
Example 3
As shown in FIG. 5, the connection member 16 is insert-molded so as to be connected to and covered with both sides of the inner and outer surfaces of the end portion of the hose body 8. Other configurations are the same as those in the first or second embodiment.
[0030]
Explaining the operation in the above configuration, the connection member 16 is insert-molded by connecting to both sides of the inner and outer surfaces of the end portion of the hose body 8, thereby increasing the peel strength between the hose body 8 and the connection member 16 joined by insert molding. The drainage hose that can be increased and does not leak even in a severe environment such as when the hose is stepped on can be realized.
[0031]
In order to realize this drainage hose, as shown in FIG. 6, the material of the connecting member 16 must be filled in the gap 18 between the tip of the hose body 8 and the inner mold 17 at the time of insert molding. It is important to determine the position of the gate 20 provided in the outer mold 19 so that the material of the connection member 16 fills the inner surface of the end portion of the hose body 8 at the time of insert molding.
[0032]
(Example 4)
As shown in FIG. 7, the connecting member 21 is provided with a groove 22 in the circumferential direction on the inner circumferential surface at a predetermined distance from the tip, and is substantially the same as the groove 22 at the tip of the connected member 23 into which the connecting member 21 is fitted. The convex part 24 of the same shape is provided. Other configurations are the same as those in the first to third embodiments.
[0033]
The operation in the above configuration will be described. When the connecting member 21 is fitted into the connected member 23, the connecting member 21 is inserted until the convex portion 24 of the connected member 23 is fitted into the groove portion 22 of the connecting member 21. The connected member 23 can be securely connected, water leakage due to incomplete connection can be prevented, and the convex portion 24 of the connected member 23 is fitted into the groove portion 22 of the connecting member 21. With the click feeling, it can be confirmed that the connecting member 21 and the connected member 23 are securely connected.
[0034]
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, by changing the left and right inclination angles α and β of the groove portion 22 of the connecting member 21 or the convex portion 24 of the connected member 23 and satisfying α <β, a structure that is easy to insert and difficult to remove is obtained. Can be easily obtained.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
According to the invention described in the claim 1 of the present invention as described above, the hose body which is molded by blow-molding of a material having a hardness capable of ensuring telescopic form with flexible, the In the hose body , a connection formed by insert molding the hose body with a material more flexible than the hose body provided at the end of the hose body fitted to the connected member provided in the drainage part of the washing machine body and a member, the hose body, the portion covered by the connecting member, provided with a substantially semicircular protrusion protruding outward in a circumferential direction, said connecting member, the end portion of the hose body Since the inner and outer surfaces are connected and covered , even when the material hardness of the hose body is hardened in order to ensure a moderately stretchable form, the insertion property for connecting the hose to the connected member, and the water-stopping property To secure It is possible to take a wide range of interference. In other words, the range of the tightening allowance between the outer diameter of the connected member and the inner diameter of the connecting member for satisfying both waterstop and insertability in a balanced manner is expanded by the flexibility of the connecting member, and even when molded by blow molding In this range, dimensional variations can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to use a water hose having an expansion / contraction form without the need for 100% inspection by fitting. In addition, the surface area where the hose body and the connecting member come in contact can be increased by the approximately semicircular convex part, so that the joining force can be increased, the tensile strength is increased, and the holding force sufficiently withstands the tensile force when inserting and removing the drainage hose. A drainage hose with can be realized. Furthermore, the peel strength between the hose body and the connecting member joined by insert molding can be increased, and water leakage can be prevented even in a severe environment such as when the drainage hose is stepped on.
[0036]
Further, according to the invention described in claim 2, the distal end portion of the connecting member, provided with a convex portion in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface, the connecting member, in the state it write fitted to the connected member the grooves on the inner peripheral surface in the circumferential direction of the corresponding position is provided, wherein the groove and the convex portion, substantially treasure and the same shape, in order to prevent water leakage by connecting incomplete the drain hose and the connected member, It can be confirmed by clicking feeling that the connection has been made securely.
[0037]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the convex portion of the connected member has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the outer peripheral surface, and the inclination angle on the tip side is smaller than the inclination angle on the back side. A drainage hose of a washing machine that has a structure that is easy to insert and difficult to remove from the connected member can be easily obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part of a drainage hose and a connected member of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a tightening dimension between a drainage hose and a connected member of the washing machine. Force characteristic diagram [FIG. 3] Cross-sectional view of the main part of the drainage hose of the washing machine of the second embodiment of the present invention [FIG. 5] Cross-sectional view of the main part of the drainage hose of the washing machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention [FIG. 6] Cross-sectional view of the main part of the drainage hose of the washing machine during insert molding [FIG. 7] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of an example of the drainage hose and the connected member of the washing machine according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of another example of the drainage hose and the connected member of the washing machine. FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway sectional view of the drainage hose of the washing machine. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the washing machine equipped with the drainage hose of the washing machine. Fig. 12 is a front view of the main part of the washing machine equipped with the drainage hose of the washing machine. Fig. 12 is a sectional view of another example of the drainage hose of the conventional washing machine and a part of the connected member.
8 Hose body 9 Connection member

Claims (3)

A hose body which is molded by blow-molding of a material having a hardness capable of ensuring an elastic form with a flexible, to the connected member provided in the drain portion of the washing machine body in the hose body A connection member formed by insert molding the hose body with a material more flexible than the hose body provided at the end of the fitting side , and the hose body is in a portion covered by the connection member The drainage hose of the washing machine is configured to provide a substantially semicircular convex portion protruding outward in the circumferential direction, and the connecting member is configured to connect and cover the inner and outer surfaces of the end portion of the hose body . The distal end portion of the connecting member provided with a convex portion in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface, the connecting member, the groove in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the corresponding position in the state I write fitted to the connected member provided, wherein the groove and the convex portion, the drain hose of claim 1 Symbol placement of the washing machine substantially has the same shape. The drainage hose for a washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the convex portion of the connected member has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the outer peripheral surface, and the inclination angle on the tip side is smaller than the inclination angle on the back side.

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