WO2007057833A1

WO2007057833A1 - A washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2007057833A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/054221
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hakan Amac; Erman Cevikkalp
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2005-11-17
Filing date: 2006-11-13
Publication date: 2007-05-24
Also published as: DE602006011367D1; EP1969170A1; ATE453006T1; EP1969170B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) comprising a filter (11). A better leak-proofing is provided between the filter (11) and the filter housing (6).

Description

Description A WASHING MACHINE

[1] The present invention relates to a washing machine comprising a filter.

[2] In washing machines, the water used in washing is discharged by means of a pump.

There is the possibility of the particles such as fibers, lint etc. that come off from the laundry and mix in the water to get caught in the rotor of the pump or the shaft of the pump motor. In the course of time, these particles cause the discharge process not to be carried out as required, the generation of noise or malfunctioning of the pump. In order to prevent this, the washing water is passed through a filter before reaching the pump. The filter is situated within a filter housing. However, when the filter is not mounted in the filter housing as required, a reduction in the aspiration capacity of the pump is observed. Furthermore, if the user does not mount the filter as tight as required after cleaning, water leaks out of the filter housing.

[3] In the state-of-the-art Japanese patent document no. JP2001321596, two mechanisms are described for providing leak-proofing between the filter and the filter case wherein the filter is mounted. In the first one, there is a spiral spring that is tightened as filter is mounted in the case by turning. In the second embodiment, a base is cited that stretches by bearing on the opposite wall while the filter is mounted in the case.

[4] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine which comprises a filter that can be fitted more tightly in its housing and provides a better leak-proofing.

[5] The washing machine realized in order to fulfill the object of the present invention is explicated in the attached claims. The parts forming a bridge that join the cover and the base of the filter utilized in the said washing machine have a resilient structure, thus are constricted between the cover and the base when the filter is mounted in place, providing both the base and the cover to be fitted more tightly in the filter housing. In the present invention, the bridges can exert more force since they can bend more due to their thin and long (slender) structures. Accordingly, as the user mounts the filter in the housing after cleaning, even though the cover is not tightened much, the desired leak- proofing is provided. Hence using gaskets in the cover may not be required.

[6] The washing machined designed to fulfill the object of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[7] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a washing machine.

[8] Figure 2 - is the side view of a filter in an embodiment of the present invention.

[9] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of a filter in another embodiment of the present invention. [10] Figure 4 - is the side view of a filter in a different embodiment of the present invention. [11] Figure 5 - is the sectional view of a filter and the filter housing in another embodiment of the present invention. [12] Figure 6 - is the perspective view of a filter in yet another embodiment of the present invention. [13] Figure 7 - is the side view of a filter in another embodiment of the present invention. [14] Figure 8 - is the sectional view of the filter and the filter housing in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[15] The parts illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows :

[16] 1. Washing machine

[17] 2. Drum

[18] 3. Tub

[19] 4. Pump

[20] 5. Discharge conduit

[21] 6. Filter housing

[22] 7. Separator

[23] 8. Water inlet

[24] 9. Water outlet

[25] 10. Recess

[26] 11. Filter

[27] 12. Cover

[28] 13. Base

[29] 14. Bridge

[30] The washing machine (1) of the present invention comprises:

[31] - a discharge conduit (5) for draining the waste water,

[32] - a pump (4) providing the waste water to be delivered to the discharge conduit (5),

[33] - a filter (11) for catching the particles in the waste water and

[34] - a filter housing (6) to which the discharge conduit (5) and the pump (4) are mounted, wherein the filter (11) is emplaced (Figure 1). [35] The filter (11) comprises a cover (12), a base (13) opposite the cover (12) having a hole that allows the water to flow towards the pump (4) and at least one bridge (14) that joins the cover (12) with the base (13), having a structure that does not obstruct the water inflow from the water inlet (8). [36] The filter housing (6) has the shape of a hollow shell through which water flows by passing over the filter (11). The filter housing (6) comprises: [37] - a separator (7) that extends from its wall to its center, separating its inner volume into two parts, a pump cubicle (P) wherein the rotor of the pump (4) rotates and a filter cubicle (F) wherein the filter (11) is situated, having a hole in the center through which the water flowing from the filter cubicle (F) can pass into the pump cubicle (P), with the base (13) bearing on its surface facing the filter cubicle (F),

[38] - a water inlet (8) that extends into the filter cubicle (F), through which the waste water flows in,

[39] - a water outlet (9) that extends into the pump cubicle (P), through which the water aspirated by the pump (4) passes into the discharge conduit (5) and

[40] - a recess (10) into which the cover (12) is fitted (Figure 1).

[41] The bridge (14) that stretches between the cover (12) and the base (13) resting on the separator (7), being compressed as the cover (12) is fitted in the recess (10) due to its resilient structure, provides the seating of the base (13) on the separator (7), and the cover (12) in the recess (10) more tightly.

[42] In this embodiment, the washing machine (1) comprises a tub (3) wherein the washing water is collected and a drum (2) situated inside the tub (3) wherein the laundry to be washed is emplaced. The water that gets dirty while the laundry is washed, is discharged by being passed through the filter housing (6) and the filter (11) by the suction of the pump (4). The filter housing (6) can be accessed preferably from an opening situated in the lower front portion of the machine (1). The recess (10) is on the side of the filter housing (6) that is close to the opening. The filter (11) is inserted into the filter cubicle (F) in the filter housing (6) by first inserting the base (13) through the recess (10). When the cover (12) is seated in the recess (10), the base (13) bears on the separator (7). Meanwhile the holes on the base (13) and the separator (7) overlap. The hole on the separator (7) is wider than the hole on the base (13) such that when the filter (11) is taken out of the filter housing (6), the pump (4) in the pump cubicle (P) can be accessed from outside the machine (1). The hole on the base (13) is of a size that won't allow the passage of particles that may harm the pump (4). The cover (12) is preferably fitted in the recess (10) by being screwed on. As the cover (12) is turned to move along the grooves on the inner surface of the recess (10), this causes the constricting of the bridge (14) and also the base (13) bearing on the separator (7). The bridge (14) constricted by way of its resilient structure, presses the base (13) more on the separator (7) and the cover (12) towards the recess (10). Consequently the base (13) is fully seated on the separator (7). The dirty water leaving the tub (3) after completion of the washing process, entering the filter cubicle (F) from the water inlet (8), flows between the bridges (14) into the filter (11). As the water is directed towards the hole in the center of the base (13) by the aspiration power of the pump (4), the heavier and larger particles are left in the filter cubicle (F). Since a better leak-proofing is provided by means of the bridge (14) along the contact surfaces between the base (13) and the separator (7) and between the cover (12) and the recess (10), water can only flow through the holes on the base (13) and the separator (7), without any reduction in the aspiration performance of the pump (4). Furthermore water does not leak out from the cover (12). The water entering the pump cubicle (P) after passing through the hole on the separator (7), is delivered to the water outlet (9) from here by the pump (4). The water passing to the discharge conduit (5) from the water outlet (9) is drained out of the machine (1).

[43] In another embodiment of the present invention, the bridge (14) is helical, zigzag or bellows shaped (Figure 2). The helical or zigzag part can extend along all or some part of the bridge (14).

[44] In another embodiment of the present invention, the bridge (14) is shaped like a convex band, bulging towards the exterior of the filter (11) (Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5). The production of this embodiment is quite easy. Furthermore the bridge (14) which can stretch as much as the dimensions of the filter cubicle (F) allows, stops after a point by bearing on the wall of the filter housing (6) from the inside. Consequently, the tightening of the filter (11) more than required or breaking of the bridge (14) by accident is prevented.

[45] In another embodiment of the present invention, the bridge (14) is shaped like a concave band, curved towards the center of the filter (11) (Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8). The production of this embodiment is also quite easy, furthermore it does not take up much space in the filter housing (6) due to its concave structure.

[46] The filter (11) utilized in the washing machine (1) is preferably made of plastics and produced as a single piece.

[47] A better leak-proofing is provided between the base (13) and the separator (7) since a filter (11) having resilient bridges (14) is utilized in the washing machine (1) of the present invention. Also, even if the user does not tighten the cover (12) as much as required, the resilient bridges (14) help the cover (12) to be completely seated in the recess (10). Furthermore, the filter (11), the length of which can be changed owing to resiliency of the bridges (14), has a higher tolerance for production errors in the housing-separator distance.

Claims

[1] A washing machine (1) comprising a discharge conduit (5) for draining the waste water, a pump (4) providing the waste water to be delivered to the discharge conduit (5), a filter (11) for capturing the particles in the waste water having a cover (12), a base (13) opposite the cover (12), incorporating a hole on it allowing the flow of water towards the pump (4), and at least one bridge (14) that joins the cover (12) with the base (13), having a structure that does not obstruct the water inflow, and a filter housing (6) through which water flows, having a separator (7) that extends from its wall towards its center, separating the inner volume into two parts, a pump cubicle (P) wherein the rotor of the pump (4) rotates and a filter cubicle (F) wherein the filter (11) is situated, having a hole in the center through which the water flowing from the filter cubicle (F) can pass into the pump cubicle (P), with the base (13) leaning on its surface facing the filter cubicle (F), a water inlet (8) that extends into the filter cubicle (F), through which the waste water flows in, a water outlet (9) that extends into the pump cubicle (P), through which the water aspirated by the pump (4) passes into the discharge conduit (5) and a recess (10) in which the cover (12) is fitted and characterized in that the bridge (14) has a resilient structure, that is constricted by flexing between the cover (12) mounted in the recess (10) and the base (13) bearing on the separator (7), that provides the seating of the base (13) on the separator (7), and the cover (12) in the recess (10) more tightly.

[2] A washing machine (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by a bridge (14) in shape of a convex band that is bulging towards the exterior of the filter (11).

[3] A washing machine (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by a bridge (14) in shape of a concave band that is curved towards the center of the filter (11).

[4] A washing machine (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by a helical bridge

(14).

[5] A washing machine (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by a zigzag shaped bridge (14).

[6] A washing machine (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by a bellows shaped bridge (14).