US20200399812A1

US20200399812A1 - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: US20200399812A1
Application number: US16/976,019
Authority: US
Inventors: Di Wu; Xinghui HAO; Chunfeng Lao
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd; Qingdao Haier Smart Technology R&D Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd; Qingdao Haier Smart Technology R&D Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-02-27
Filing date: 2019-02-15
Publication date: 2020-12-24
Also published as: JP2021527453A; WO2019165897A1; CN110195324A

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a washing machine, including a washing drum, wherein the washing drum is a water accommodating drum during washing; a balance ring, arranged above the washing drum; and a sealing structure, configured to prevent water from overflowing from a space between the washing drum and the balance ring. The washing drum disclosed by the present disclosure achieves an expansion effect; at the same time, the sealing structure is arranged between the washing drum and the balance ring to prevent that the water overflows out of the washing drum from the space between the washing drum and the balance ring, and after a long time, the water may splash to corrode a washing machine case body or other components, or cause a short circuit.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure belongs to the field of washing machines, and specifically relates to a washing machine.

BACKGROUND

A washing machine is designed as an apparatus driven by electricity to wash clothes. Generally, the washing machine includes: a drum, used for accommodating washing water; a rotating drum, rotatably mounted inside the drum; and a pulsator, rotatably mounted at the bottom of the rotating drum; a motor and a clutch, configured to rotate the rotating drum and the pulsator; and a balance ring, arranged on the top of the rotating drum and configured to supplement the weight and to keep a balance when the rotating drum rotates. When the rotating drum and the pulsator are rotated in a state that clothes and a detergent are introduced into the rotating drum, the pulsator agitates the washing water together with the clothes introduced into the rotating drum, thereby removing stains from the clothes.
In order to increase the washing capacity of the washing machine, a larger rotating drum is needed. In other words, the height or diameter of the rotating drum needs to be increased. If the rotary drum has a larger size, the drum that accommodates the rotating drum and a housing that accommodates the drum also need to be enlarged as the size of the rotating drum increases. The increase of a housing corresponding to the appearance of the washing machine is limited by a space of a region in which the washing machine is placed. The space for placing the washing machine in a general user house is limited, and the purpose of increasing the capacity of the washing drum through increasing the size of the housing of the washing machine is not realistic. Therefore, how to increase the capacity of the rotating drum without enlarging the size of the housing of the washing machine becomes a major problem for designers. The invention of a holeless washing drum solves the problem of capacity expansion. The drum is eliminated or decreased. The rotating drum is used as a washing drum accommodating washing water and is configured as the holeless washing drum.
When the washing drum rotates at a high speed, water in the washing drum climbs up along the wall of the washing drum under the centrifugal force and is discharged until it reaches a drainage port disposed at an upper end. A part of the water will continue climbing up to the balance ring connection part and overflow out of the washing drum from the balance ring connection part. After long-time of usage, the overflowing washing water may corrode a case body housing and other structures, and cause a short circuit.
In view of this, the present disclosure is provided.

SUMMARY

The technical problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to overcome the shortcomings in the prior art, and provides a washing machine.
To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the basic idea of the technical solution of the present disclosure is that:
The present disclosure aims to provide a washing machine, including:
a washing drum, wherein the washing drum is a water accommodating drum during washing;
a balance ring, arranged on the top of the washing drum; and
a sealing structure, configured to prevent water from overflowing between the washing drum and the balance ring.
In a further solution, the sealing structure is arranged between the washing drum and the balance ring.
In a further solution, the balance ring is provided with a mounting part; an upper end of the washing drum is provided with a fitting part fitted with the mounting part; and the sealing structure is arranged between the mounting part and the fitting part.
In a further solution, the mounting part includes an annular bulge radially protruding from the side wall of the balance ring; the fitting part includes an annular groove matched with the annular bulge; and the sealing structure is arranged between the annular bulge and the annular groove.
In a further solution, the washing drum further includes a water retaining part arranged below the annular groove and configured to narrow a gap between the washing drum and the balance ring to retain water; a water collection cavity is formed by the washing drum, the water retaining part and the balance ring; and the water collection cavity is configured to collect rising water.
In a further solution, the washing machine further includes a drainage structure; the drainage structure includes a dewatering passage which is arranged on an outer wall of the washing drum, communicates with the washing drum and is configured to drain water thrown out by the washing drum; and a water inlet end of the dewatering passage is arranged at the top of the washing drum.
In a further solution, the water inlet end is arranged on the water collection cavity below the water retaining part.
In a further solution, the water retaining part is a necking part formed by retraction from an outer side to an inner side of the washing drum.
In a further solution, an upper end of the necking part extends to a periphery to form a supporting part for supporting the mounting part of the balance ring; the supporting part extends upwards to form an accommodating part surrounding the mounting part of the balance ring; and an upper end of the accommodating part is inwards flanged to form a fixing part for fixing the mounting part of the balance ring.
In a further solution, the supporting part, the accommodating part and the fixing part together form an annular groove with an inward opening. Preferably, all corners formed by the necking part and the annular groove are rounded corners.
In a further solution, the sealing structure is arranged between the fixing part and the annular bulge.
In a further solution, the sealing structure is of a flat sheet structure. Preferably, a friction coefficient of a fitting surface between the sealing structure and the annular bulge is larger than friction coefficients of other surfaces.
In a further solution, the sealing structure is an annular sealing ring which is squeezed between the washing drum and the balance ring and has certain deformation, or the sealing structure is an annular sealant.
Through application of the above technical solutions, the present disclosure has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art:
1. According to the present disclosure, the sealing structure is arranged between the washing drum and the balance ring to prevent water from overflowing out of the washing drum between the washing drum and the balance ring, and, a washing machine case body or other components corroded by the splashing water after a long time usage, or a short circuit is avoided.
2. The washing machine of the present disclosure further includes the water retaining part and the water collection cavities which are configured to stop part of the washing water from overflowing from the space between the washing drum and the balance ring, and collect the water and facilitate discharging the water out of the washing drum from the water inlet end.
3. The washing drum is a holeless washing drum, which provides a space for expansion of the washing machine.
The specific implementations of the present disclosure are further described below in detail in combination with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute as a part of the present disclosure, and are used to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure. Illustrative embodiments and descriptions thereof of the present disclosure are used to explain the present disclosure, and do not constitute an improper limitation to the present disclosure. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings according to these drawings without paying any creative work. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a washing machine of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagram of part A of FIG. 1.

In the drawings: 1, washing drum; 101, fitting part; 102, water retaining part; 103, water collection cavity; 104, water inlet end; 2, balance ring; 201, mounting part; and 3, sealing structure
It should be noted that these drawings and text descriptions are not intended to limit the conceptual scope of the present disclosure in any form, but are to describe the concept of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art with reference to the specific embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The following embodiments are used to describe the present disclosure, but not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that orientations or positional relationships indicated by the terms “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “inner”, “outer”, etc. are based on orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only used for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that a designated apparatus or element must have a specific orientation or must be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, so that they cannot be understood as limitations to the present disclosure.
In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that unless otherwise explicitly stipulated and defined, the terms “mounted”, “connected”, and “coupled” shall be understood broadly, and may be, for example, fixedly connected, or detachably connected, or integrally connected, or mechanically connected, or electrically connected, or directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure according to specific situations.

Embodiment I

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the present embodiment provides a washing machine, including:
a washing drum 1, wherein the washing drum 1 is a water accommodating drum during washing;
a balance ring 2, arranged at the top part the washing drum 1; and
a sealing structure 3, configured to prevent water from overflowing between the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2.
In the above solution, the washing machine of the present embodiment is not provided with an outer drum. The washing drum 1 is used as a water accommodating drum, and the washing drum 1 is an inner drum which is provided with dewatering holes only in an upper part and provided with no holes in a middle part and a lower part. During dewatering, washing water climbs up to the dewatering holes along a drum wall under the action of a centrifugal force, and is then discharged out of the washing drum 1. Generally, the balance ring 2 is arranged on the top part of the washing drum 1 of the washing machine. The balance ring 2 and the washing drum 1 are mounted together in the later stage instead of being integrated, so that a water flow climbing up along the drum wall under the action of the centrifugal force may overflow from a mounting gap between the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2 and splash all over under the action of high-speed rotation, and after a long time, the water flow may splash to corrode a washing machine case body or other components or cause a short circuit.
The sealing structure 3 is provided in the present disclosure to prevent water from overflowing from the space between the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2.
Further, the sealing structure 3 is arranged between the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2.
In the above solution, the sealing structure 3 is arranged between the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2 to achieve a better sealing effect, and is fixed more easily. Compared with a sealing structure arranged on an outer side of the washing drum 1 or the balance ring 2, the sealing structure 3 of the present disclosure has a better sealing effect.
Further, the balance ring 2 is provided with a mounting part 201. An upper end of the washing drum 1 is provided with a fitting part 101 fitted with the mounting part 201. The sealing structure 3 is arranged between the mounting part 201 and the fitting part 101.
In the above solution, the balance ring 2 is mounted on the top part of the washing drum 1 through mutual fitting of the mounting part 201 and the fitting part 101. The sealing structure 3 is arranged between the mounting part and the fitting part to achieve the better sealing effect, and the sealing structure 3 is easily fixed. Therefore, the phenomenon that the sealing structure cannot continue to achieve the sealing effect because of easy breakage or separation from an original position under external force or after long-time use is avoided.
Further, the mounting part 201 includes an annular bulge radially protruding from the side wall of the balance ring 2; the fitting part 101 includes an annular groove matched with the annular bulge; and the sealing structure 3 is arranged between the annular bulge and the annular groove.
In the above solution, the annular bulge is provided to facilitate the installation of the balance ring 2. Of course, an inwards sunken recess may also be selectively arranged on the side wall of the balance ring 2 and used as the mounting part 201. However, arrangement of the recess may affect the size and the intensity of the balance ring 2 and reduce the balance effect, so that in the present application, it is preferred that the mounting part 201 includes the annular bulge protruding from the side wall of the balance ring 2.
Further, the washing drum 1 further includes a water retaining part 102 arranged below the annular groove and configured to narrow a gap between the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2 to retain water; a water collection cavity 103 is formed by the washing drum 1, the water retaining part 102 and the balance ring 2; and the water collection cavity 103 is configured to collect rising water.
In the above solution, the washing drum 1 further includes the water retaining part 102. The water retaining part 102 narrows the gap between the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2, and when the water flow rises to the water retaining part 102, a part of the water is blocked from reaching the annular groove and overflowing, via the inside of the annular groove, out of the washing drum 1. Thus, a sealing pressure of the sealing structure 3 is reduced. The water collection cavity 103 narrows the gap between the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2 due to the existence of the water retaining part 102, so that a higher pressure is required when the water passes through the water retaining part 102, and most of the water is collected.
Further, the washing machine further includes a drainage structure. The drainage structure includes a dewatering passage which is arranged on an outer wall of the washing drum 1, communicates with the washing drum 1 and is configured to drain water thrown out by the washing drum 1; and a water inlet end 104 of the dewatering passage is arranged on the top part of the washing drum 1.
Further, the water inlet end 104 is arranged on the water collection cavity 103 below the water retaining part 102.
In the above solution, the water inlet end 104 is arranged on the water collection cavity 103, so that boosted water in the water collection cavity 103 can more easily enter the dewatering passage from the water inlet end 104 and is then discharged.
Further, the water retaining part 102 is a necking part formed by retraction from an outer side to an inner side of the washing drum 1.
Further, an upper end of the necking part extends to a periphery to form a supporting part for supporting the mounting part 201 of the balance ring 2; the supporting part extends upwards to form an accommodating part surrounding the mounting part 201 of the balance ring 2; and an upper end of the accommodating part is inwards flanged to form a fixing part for fixing the mounting part 201 of the balance ring 2.
Further, the supporting part, the accommodating part and the fixing part together form an annular groove with an inward opening. Preferably, all corners formed by the necking part and the annular groove are rounded corners.
In the above solution, the supporting part is a bottom surface of the annular groove. The accommodating part is a side surface of the annular groove. The fixing part is a top surface of the annular groove. The accommodating part can accommodate the mounting part 201 and limit a radial movement of the balance ring 2. All the corners formed by the necking part and the annular groove are rounded corners. The rounded corners can prevent operators from being cut in a mounting or carrying process and also prevent damage caused by sharp corners to the balance ring, and can further avoid damage, in a rotating process, to other pipelines and elements in the washing machine at the same time.
Further, the sealing structure 3 is arranged between the fixing part and the annular bulge.
In the above solution, the sealing structure 3 can be arranged between the supporting part and the annular bulge, or can be arranged between the accommodating part and the annular bulge, or can be arranged between the fixing part and the annular bulge as mentioned in the present embodiment. The sealing structure 3 arranged between the supporting part and the annular bulge is subjected to an extra pressure from the balance ring 2, so that the sealing structure 3 is easy to break, and is inconvenient to install below the annular bulge. The sealing structure 3 arranged between the accommodating part and the annular bulge is subjected to radial squeezing force provided by the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2 during rotation of the washing drum, so that the sealing structure 3 is easy to break. The sealing structure 3 arranged between the fixing part and the annular bulge is subjected to a minimum pressure and thus unlikely to break, and is convenient to install and effective in sealing.
Further, the sealing structure 3 is of a flat sheet structure. Preferably, a friction coefficient of a fitting surface between the sealing structure 3 and the annular bulge is larger than friction coefficients of other surfaces.
In the above solution, the sealing structure 3 is of the flat sheet structure because the flat sheet structure is not prone to curl, displace or deform during rolling and flanging of the fixing part. Generally, the sealing structure 3 is of the flat sheet structure. The friction coefficient of the fitting surface between the sealing structure 3 and the annular bulge is larger than friction coefficients of other surfaces, so that the sealing structure 3 is not prone to motion or curling during rolling and flanging of the fixing part.
Further, the sealing structure 3 is an annular sealing ring which is squeezed between the washing drum and the balance ring and has certain deformation.

Embodiment II

In the present embodiment, the difference from Embodiment I is that the sealing structure 3 is an annular sealant which is squeezed between the washing drum and the balance ring and has certain deformation.

Embodiment III

In the present embodiment, the difference from Embodiment I is that the water retaining part 102 is an annular convex part arranged on the inner side of the washing drum 1. The upper surface of the annular convex part and the top of the washing drum 1 flanged inwards to form an annular groove with an inward opening of the fitting part 101 of the balance ring 2.

Embodiment IV

In the present embodiment, the difference from Embodiment I is that the annular groove is an annular groove outwards sunken from the inner side of the washing drum 1, and does not include the water retaining part 102.
A lower surface of the annular groove is a supporting part for supporting the mounting part 201 of the balance ring 2; the supporting part extends upwards to form an accommodating part surrounding the mounting part 201 of the balance ring 2; and an upper end of the accommodating part is inwards flanged and rolled to form a fixing part for fixing the mounting part 201 of the balance ring 2.
The sealing structure 3 is arranged between the fixing part and the annular bulge.
The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, but are not aimed at limiting the present disclosure in any forms. Although the present disclosure is disclosed above by the preferred embodiments, the preferred embodiments are not aimed at limiting the present disclosure. Any person skilled in the art can make some changes by using the above-mentioned technical contents or modify the technical contents as equivalent embodiments of equivalent changes without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present disclosure. Any simple alterations, equivalent changes and modifications that are made to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present disclosure without departing from the contents of the technical solution of the present disclosure should all fall within the scope of the solution of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A washing machine, comprising

a washing drum, being a water accommodating drum during washing;

a balance ring, being arranged on an upper end of the washing drum; and

a sealing structure, being arranged between the washing drum and the balance ring, and configured to prevent water from overflowing from a space between the washing drum and the balance ring.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the balance ring is provided with a mounting part; the upper end of the washing drum is provided with a fitting part fitted with the mounting part; and the sealing structure is arranged between the mounting part and the fitting part.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the mounting part comprises an annular bulge protruding radially from a side wall of the balance ring; the fitting part comprises an annular groove matched with the annular bulge; and the sealing structure is arranged between the annular bulge and the annular groove.

4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the washing drum comprises a water retaining part arranged below the annular groove and the water retaining part is configured to narrow a gap between the washing drum and the balance ring to retain water;

a water collection cavity is formed by the washing drum, the water retaining part and the balance ring; and the water collection cavity is configured to collect rising water.

5. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine further comprises a drainage structure; the drainage structure comprises a dewatering passage which is arranged on an outer wall of the washing drum, communicated with an inside of the washing drum and is configured to drain water thrown out by the washing drum; and a water inlet end of the dewatering passage is arranged on the upper end of the washing drum.

6. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the water inlet end is arranged on the water collection cavity below the water retaining part.

7. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the water retaining part is a necking part formed by recessed from an outer side to an inner side of the washing drum.

8. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein an upper end of the necking part extends towards a periphery to form a supporting part for supporting the mounting part of the balance ring; the supporting part extends upwards to form an accommodating part surrounding the mounting part of the balance ring; an upper end of the accommodating part is inwards flanged to form a fixing part for fixing the mounting part of the balance ring.

9. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the supporting part, the accommodating part and the fixing part together form the annular groove with an inward opening.

10. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the sealing structure is an annular sealing ring which is squeezed between the washing drum and the balance ring and has a deformation.

11. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the washing machine further comprises a drainage structure; the drainage structure comprises a dewatering passage which is arranged on an outer wall of the washing drum, communicated with an inside of the washing drum and is configured to drain water thrown out by the washing drum; and a water inlet end of the dewatering passage is arranged on the upper end of the washing drum.

12. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the washing machine further comprises a drainage structure; the drainage structure comprises a dewatering passage which is arranged on an outer wall of the washing drum, communicated with an inside of the washing drum and is configured to drain water thrown out by the washing drum; and a water inlet end of the dewatering passage is arranged on the upper end of the washing drum.

13. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the sealing structure is arranged between the fixing part and the annular bulge.

14. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the sealing structure is of a flat structure; a friction coefficient of fitting surfaces between the sealing structure and the annular bulge is larger than friction coefficients of between other surfaces of the sealing structure and the annular bulge.

15. The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein all corners formed by the necking part and the annular groove are rounded corners.