Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
  • D06F37/26—Casings; Tubs
  • D06F37/261—Tubs made by a specially selected manufacturing process or characterised by their assembly from elements
  • D06F37/263—Tubs made by a specially selected manufacturing process or characterised by their assembly from elements assembled from at least two elements connected to each other; Connecting or sealing means therefor
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
  • D06F37/26—Casings; Tubs
  • D06F37/261—Tubs made by a specially selected manufacturing process or characterised by their assembly from elements
  • D06F37/262—Tubs made by a specially selected manufacturing process or characterised by their assembly from elements made of plastic material, e.g. by injection moulding

Definitions

• the present patent application relates to a system used to fix the two semi-shells of plastic tanks for washers, washer/dryer combos and similar appliances, and to the tank obtained with the said innovative technology.
• the aforementioned household appliances are provided with a fixed, basically cylindrical tank, moulded from plastic material (mostly polypropylene) and provided with a large front opening used to load laundry inside the traditional rotating drum.
• plastic material mostly polypropylene
• a similar tank is composed of two different semi-parts (or semi-shells) that are engaged and fixed by means of front coupling, in an orthogonal plane with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tank.
• each semi-shell is coupled after the traditional drum is placed in intermediate position between the two semi-shells, in order to be housed inside the tank.
• the circular opening of each semi-shell is provided with a perimeter border that protrudes outwards that acts as a flange.
• This fixing is obtained by means of an annular band designed to be closed with a screw; it being provided in particular that a similar band, suitably provided with a circumference that basically corresponds to the tank, has an upturned U-shaped transversal section that allows it to be exactly positioned on the protruding profile on the external perimeter of the tank, before being energetically tightened by means of the said screw.
• the energetic tightening of the band prevents the accidental uncoupling of the two flanges that form the protruding profile that is matched to the said band.
• the mutual fixing of the two flanges is obtained by means of a series of clamps mounted at a suitable distance astride the profile formed by the said flanges.
• fixing can also be obtained by means of a series of suitably spaced screws engaged in transversal direction within suitable pairs of threaded holes provided in aligned position on both flanges.
• the need to eliminate the complications of the aforementioned operations and simultaneously reduce production time has led to the development of the new fixing system that is the object of the present patent application.
• the new system is especially appreciated because it provides perfect hermetic seal between the flanges of the two semi-shells and mutual fixing, by means of a single, practical and quick operation.
• This particular technique basically consists in the application of an adhesive layer in intermediate position between the two interfaced surfaces of the two flanges, following to physical-chemical activation of the interested surfaces.
• the preliminary activation is necessary because the polypropylene that is traditionally used to produce the said semi-shells would not permit the stable energetic adhesion to the aforementioned adhesive layer.
• a similar chemical-physical activation of the surfaces to be adhered can be obtained by alternatively using the so-called “atmospheric plasma”, “crown”, “flame (methane)” or “UV- Ozone” techniques.
• the fixing system of the invention allows to uncouple, if necessary, the two semi-shells that were coupled by means of the said adhesion technique with prior physical-chemical activation.
• - figure 1 is the axonometric view of the tank obtained by using the new fixing system of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a cross-section with a transversal plane of a section of the perimeter profile formed on the outside of the tank by means of the cooperation of the two outward protruding flanges that surround the opening of the two semi-shells of the tank.
• the system of the invention is designed to fix the two semi-shells (1 , 2) of a traditional tank (V) for washers, washer/dryer combos and similar appliances.
• the openings of the two semi-shells (1 , 2) are usually provided with outward protruding perimeter flanges (10, 20) that are basically designed to be interfaced at very short distance.
• the flange (10) of the first semi-shell (1) is situated in slightly backward position with respect to the opening (1a) of the semi-shell (1 ), and the flange (20) of the second semi-shell (2) is flush with the opening (2a) of the semi-shell (2); it being provided that the opening (2a) has a slightly larger diameter than the back section due to the presence of an intermediate connection step (2b).
• the flanges (10, 20) are brought in a very close position that is useful for the execution of the fixing system of the invention.
• the two flanges (10, 20) are preferably provided with a basically sinusoidal profile (10a, 20a) on the internal surfaces. This has been studied to increase the useful surface of each flange

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Connection Of Plates (AREA)
• Cleaning In General (AREA)
• Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=38476841

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (4)

Citations (2)

• 2006
  • 2006-05-04 IT ITMC20060054 patent/ITMC20060054A1/it unknown
• 2007
  • 2007-05-02 EP EP07736823A patent/EP2019878A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-05-02 WO PCT/IT2007/000320 patent/WO2007129352A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2007-05-02 RU RU2008147703/12A patent/RU2008147703A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (2)

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