WO2009061284A1

WO2009061284A1 - Washing machine with a water supply tank

Info

Publication number: WO2009061284A1
Application number: PCT/SI2008/000057
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joze Katanec; Matjaz Kuhar; Boztjan Sovic
Original assignee: Gorenje Gospodinjski Aparati, D.D.
Priority date: 2007-11-05
Filing date: 2008-11-03
Publication date: 2009-05-14
Also published as: RU2499856C2; RU2010119338A

Abstract

The present invention refers to the field of washing machines, in particular to washing machines with a water tank attached thereto. Here, a common line (5) extends from a water tank (6) to at least on pump (4a, 4b; 9) pushing the water through at least one supply pipe (3a, 3b) into a dispenser (2) associated with a drum (1). A solenoid valve (8a, 8b) is optionally placed into each supply pipe (3a, 3b). Each pump (4a, 4b; 9) and each solenoid valve (8a, 8b) are controlled by means of an electronic programme controller (7). Further are disclosed embodiments of the mutual arrangement and connection of a washing machine (102) and a water tank (6), and the way of packaging.

Description

WASHING MACHINE WITH A WATER SUPPLY TANK

The present invention refers to the field of washing machines, in particular to washing machines with a water tank attached thereto.

In special cases, in the areas e.g. where there is a disrupted water supply, a washing machine is designed in a manner that a water tank is attached thereto and the user manually fills said water tank with water carried from a remote location. Such a washing machine utilizes a special pump in order to suck water from the water tank. Therefore, a suitable mechanism is provided on a dispenser redirecting the water during the washing process into the certain chamber of said dispenser. Said mechanism is mechanically linked to a programme controller which is for this purpose formed with a special connecting member. In addition, problems relating to the packing of the unit washing machine-water tank do occur during transportation of said unit from a producer to a seller and a user, respectively.

It is the object of the present invention to create the aforementioned washing machine with a water tank attached thereto where an ordinary electronic programme controller is used in order to control the operation of said washing machine, thus, the intricate mechanical programme controller and a connecting member become superfluous.

Another object of the invention is to create the aforementioned washing machine with a water tank attached thereto that can be quickly, simply and safely mounted and fixed at the location of the use thereof. Still another object of the invention is to create a washing machine with a water tank attached thereto that can be simply packed and transported to the user.

According to the invention, the object as set above is solved in a manner that a common line is directed from a water tank into at least one pump forcing the washing water through at least one supply pipe to a dispenser connected with a drum of a washing machine. Optionally, a solenoid valve is arranged in each supply pipe, each pump and each solenoid valve being controlled by means of an electronic programme controller. When the water supply network is not available or if there are problems with the water supply then it is provided according to the invention that the washing water is delivered to the dispenser of the washing machine from the water tank by means of at least one pump. And when the water supply network is available and ready to use, then the washing water is delivered from said water supply network into the washing machine via said solenoid valves. The user, using a switch relay on the washing machine, manually selects the mode of supplying washing water into the washing machine dispenser.

Furthermore, it is provided according to the present invention that both the washing machine and the water tank preferably comprise the same dimensions, when viewed in plan view, and that the water tank is arranged on top of the washing machine, or that the washing machine is arranged on top of the water tank, or that the water tank is arranged behind the washing machine. It is provided for, in the first and in the second embodiment, that a pump is arranged in the water tank in order to deliver the washing water from the water tank to the washing machine. In case the water tank is placed behind the washing machine it can be held in place by means of elastic fasteners which can be deformed transversally regarding the washing machine, or said fasteners are mounted on the bottom of the washing machine. Said fasteners are formed on each free end thereof in a manner that they fit closely to each side section of the water tank they cooperate with, thus creating a positive connection.

It is provided for, according to the invention, that said fasteners are fixed on the rear of the washing machine in holes provided for mounting reinforcements, for instance, used during the transportation of the washing machine. Said side section of the water tank where each fastener can snap in can be formed either as a protrusion or a depression.

Furthermore, it is also provided according to the invention that both the washing machine and the water tank are packed together, as a whole, in one single package.

Still further, it is provided for, according to the invention, that the water tank comprises a washing water intake and an overflow in the area under said intake where the water surplus drains through. A float-like closing system is attached to said washing water intake inside the water tank. An opening is provided in the area of the water tank bottom and in the wall of said water tank in order to provide a connection with said common line. Said common line comprises a flange on the side which extends through said opening into the water tank, said flange being pressed against the wall of the water tank by means of a filter inserted from the inside of the water tank in to said common line. Said filter is formed with a tubular projection comprising a radial extension formed at the end averted from the wider part of the filter. Said tubular projection extends on the side of the flange into said common line and exerts a radial pressure thereto, thus preventing potential leaking of the water tank.

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing where

Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-section of a water tank of a washing machine according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail of the water tank of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the first embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention, Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of the second embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention, Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of the third embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention, Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of the first embodiment of the arrangement of the washing machine and the water tank according to the invention,

Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of the second embodiment of the arrangement of the washing machine and the water tank according to the invention,

Fig. 8 shows the first embodiment of the connection of the water tank to the washing machine, Fig. 9 shows the second embodiment of the connection of the water tank to the washing machine, Fig. 10 shows a detail of the connection of the water tank to the washing machine, Fig. 11 shows a further detail of the connection of the water tank to the washing machine, and

Fig. 12 shows a schematic view of the packaging of the washing machine with the water tank.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the first embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention. A drum 1 is connected with a dispenser 2 in which two washing water supply pipes 3a, 3b are directed to. Each supply pipe 3a, 3b is connected to its own pump 4a, 4b arranged in a common body. Said pumps 4a, 4b are connected via a common line 5 to a water tank 6. The washing water is supplied to the first, the second and the third chamber of the dispenser 2 by means of a combination of engaging one of the said pumps 4a, 4b and a cross-jet system known per se and thus not shown. Here, said pumps 4a, 4b are controlled by means of an electronic programme controller 7 known per se.

The second embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention being schematically shown in Fig. 4 differs from the above described first embodiment in that it comprises a pair of solenoid valves 8a, 8b instead of pumps, said valves 8a, 8b being connected via said supply pipes 3a, 3b to said dispenser 2. On the other hand, said solenoid valves 8a, 8b are connected via the common line 5 with the water tank 6 whereby a pump 9 is provided in the common line 5 sucking the washing water from the water tank 6 and directing it towards said solenoid valves 8a, 8b. In this case the washing water is supplied to the first or the second or the third chamber of the dispenser 2 by means of the pump 9 and a cross-jet system known per se and thus not shown. Here, said solenoid valves 8a, 8b and said pump 9 are controlled by means of the electronic programme controller 7 known per se.

The third embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention being schematically shown in Fig. 5 represents a combination of the first and the second embodiment. Here, the washing water is supplied to the dispenser 2 via said supply pipes 3a, 3b being, on one hand, connected to a suitable pump 4a, 4b supplying the washing water from the water tank 6, and on the other hand being connected with a suitable solenoid valve 8a, 8b being connected with the water supply network W. The said pumps 4a, 4b and/or said solenoid valves 8a, 8b are controlled by means of a switch relay 7a known per se and the electronic programme controller 7. Before the start of washing, the user himself, using said switch relay 7a, manually selects the source of washing water, depending on the water supply, i.e. either from the water tank 6 or from the water supply network W.

The water tank 6 for the washing machine according to the invention is formed as a container having on the upper side thereof an opening 10 for manually supplying the water, said opening 10 can be closed by means of a cover 11. Said water tank 6 further comprises a water intake 12 for receiving water from the water network, said water network being either a network with a variable, mainly low water pressure, a network with an intermittent water supply, or an ordinary regular water network. The water tank 6 is formed in the area below said water inlet 12 with an overflow 13. A float-like closing system 14 known per se is associated with the water intake 12 inside the water tank 6, said closing system 14 controls a preset water level in the water tank 6. An opening 15 for connection with the washing machine is provided in the area of the bottom of the water tank 6 and in the wall thereof, said connection being provided, in the sense of the aforementioned common line 5, preferably in a form of a hose.

Said common line 5 is connected to the water tank 6 through said opening 15 in a manner that said line 5 comprises on the side extending through the opening 15 into the water tank 6 a flange 16 of greater diameter than the opening 15 has. A mushroom shaped filter 17 is inserted into the line 5 from the inside of the water tank 6, said filter 17 being formed in a manner that it presses the flange 16 of the line 5 with the wider section thereof against the wall of the water tank 6, whereas a tubular projection 18 thereof extends into the line 5. Said projection 18 is formed at the end which is averted from the wider section thereof with a radial extension 19 which, when installed, exerts a radial pressure to the line 5 thus creating a necessary sealing between the line 5 and the water tank 6. Typically, the line 5 and the filter 17 are placed into said opening 15 of the water tank 6 from the inner side of the water tank 6. Thus, additional sealing and/or fixing members become superfluous.

It has been proven, in the practice, that there exist several possibilities of arrangement of the water tank relative to the washing machine. One of these possibilities provides for the water tank 6 to be placed directly on the upper surface of the washing machine 102 as it is schematically shown in Fig. 6. According to one variant said washing machine 102 is produced without the upper, decorative plate which is replaced by the said water tank 6.

Another possibility provides for that the water tank 6 acts as a base for the washing machine 102 as it is schematically shown in Fig. 7. In both cases, a pump is installed in the water tank 6 which, during a washing process, transports water from the water tank 6 into the washing machine 102. From the aesthetic and from the practical point of view it is provided for that the water tank 6 comprises, when seen in plan view, preferably the same dimensions as the washing machine 102, so that they form a seemingly integral form when installed. The washing machine 102 and the water tank 6 are mutually connected and secured against the relative displacement towards each other in particular in a horizontal plane.

A further arrangement of the water tank 6 relative to the washing machine 102 provides for the water tank 6 to be placed behind the washing machine 102 i.e. on the side of the washing machine 102 facing away from the opening for filling the laundry to be washed. An interconnection between the water tank 6 and the washing machine 102 is to be ensured which can be achieved in several possible ways. Thus, it is provided for according to the invention that elastic fasteners 103 are fixed in holes 102a, 102b formed in the rear of the washing machine 102 in the area of both outermost vertical sections 102c, 102d, said holes being provided for mounting of reinforcements needed during the transportation of said washing machine, whereas said fasteners 103 can be deformable transversally to the washing machine. Said fasteners 103 are formed at each free end 104 thereof in a manner that they closely fit to each side section 105 of the water tank 6 they cooperate with. Said section 105 of the water tank 6 can be formed as a protrusion 106 or a depression 107 where each fastener 103 can snap in when said water tank 6 is arranged behind the washing machine 102. An arbitrary fastening means can be used instead of said fasteners 103, e.g. a holding band, said band extending from the first said hole 102a to the second said hole 102b and around the water tank 6 pressing thus said water tank closely against the washing machine 102 and fixing it into position.

Yet another possibility of fixing the water tank behind the washing machine 102 provides for a fastener 103a arranged in the area of the lower section of the washing machine 102, on the rear or on the bottom for instance. Said fastener 103a is preferably formed in a manner that it touches the ground with at least one of its part. According to another embodiment said fastener can be elastic and movable in the vertical direction, respectively. The water tank connection is preferably made by means of a positive connection enabling horizontal movements of the water tank relative to the washing machine.

During transportation from the producer to the end user, the washing machine and the water tank according to the invention must be properly protected and packed. In order to avoid separate packing, i.e. a separate washing machine and a separate water tank, it is provided for according to the invention that both parts are packed simultaneously in one single package. Here, the washing machine 102 and the water tank 6, arranged in a distance 109 from said washing machine, are placed on a package bed-plate 108 being usually a polystyrene plate. It is obvious that said bed-plate 108 is formed in a manner that the base of said bed-plate 108 at least equals the total base of the washing machine 102 and the water tank 6 arranged behind. A kind of a regular cube is achieved with said arrangement of the water tank 6 and the washing machine 102 on the bed-plate 108, said cube being encased in each vertical edge by means of a protective cover 110a, HOb, HOc, HOd usually made of polystyrene. A similar protective cover IHa, IHb can be optionally placed at the place of said distance 109 and a relative mutual movement of the water tank 6 and the washing machine 102 during transportation is thus prevented. The unit of the washing machine and the water tank arranged and protected as described is covered on the side opposite the bed-plate 108 with a protective coating 112 being formed as a polystyrene or cardboard plate, and then the entire unit is placed in a suitable cardboard box. Shrink wrapping can be used instead of said cardboard box where a film is placed on and around the entire said unit and then thermally processed. Thus, both the water tank 6 and the washing machine 102 are protected and ready for transport in one single piece.

Claims

1. Washing machine with a water tank, characterized in that a common line (5) extends from a water tank (6) to at least on pump (4a, 4b; 9) pushing the water through at least one supply pipe (3a, 3b) into a dispenser (2) associated with a dram (1), a solenoid valve (8a, 8b) is optionally placed into each supply pipe (3a, 3b), where each pump (4a, 4b; 9) and each solenoid valve (8a, 8b) being controlled by means of an electronic programme controller (7).

2. Washing machine with a water tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the washing water is fed from the water tank (6) by means of at least one pump (4a, 4b; 9) to the dispenser (2) of the washing machine.

3. Washing machine with a water tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the washing water is fed to the washing machine by means of solenoid valves (8a, 8b) from the water network (W).

4. Washing machine with a water tank according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the selection of the washing water supply to the dispenser (2) is made by means of a switch relay (7a) on the washing machine.

5. Washing machine with a water tank according to any claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the water tank (6) comprises a washing water intake (12) and an overflow (13) in the area below said intake, a float-like closing system (14) is associated with said intake (12) inside the water tank (6), and an opening (15) for communication with the common line (5) is provided in the area of the bottom of the water tank (6) and in the wall thereof.

6. Washing machine with a water tank according to any claim 1 to 5, characterized in that said common line (5) comprises a flange (16) on the side extending through the opening (15) into the water tank (6), said flange (16) being pressed against the wall of the water tank (6) by means of a filter (17) inserted into the line (5) from the inner side of the water tank (6).

7. Washing machine with a water tank according to any claim 1 to 6, characterized in that said filter (17) is formed with a tubular projection (18) comprising a radial extension (19) on the end thereof facing away from the wider section of the filter (17), said projection (18) extending on the side of the flange (16) into the line (5) and exerts a radial pressure against it thus creating a sealing between said line (5) and said water tank (6).

8. Washing machine with a water tank according to any claim 1 to 7, characterized in that said connection between the water tank (6) and the washing machine is provided, in the sense of the aforementioned common line 5, preferably in the form of a hose.

9. Washing machine with a water tank according to any claim 1 to 8, characterized in that said water tank (6), which is preferably designed with the same dimensions as the washing machine (102) is arranged, when viewed in plan view, on the washing machine (102).

10. Washing machine with a water tank according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said washing machine (102) is arranged on the water tank (6), which is preferably designed with the same dimensions as the washing machine (102), when viewed in plan view.

11. Washing machine with a water tank according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pump for supply washing water from the water tank (6) to the washing machine (102) is arranged either in the water tank (6) or in the washing machine (102).

12. Washing machine with a water tank according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water tank (6) is arranged behind the washing machine (102) and they are mutually connected by means of at least one fastening means (103).

13. Washing machine with a water tank according to claim 12, characterized in that said water tank (6) is fixed relative to the washing machine (102) by means of fasteners (103; 103a) being in positive connection with the water tank (6).

14. Washing machine with a water tank according to claims 12 and 13, characterized in that said fasteners (103) are fixed in holes (102a, 102b) on the rear of the washing machine (102).

15. Washing machine with a water tank according to claims 12 and 13, characterized in that said fasteners (103) are arranged in the bottom of the washing machine (102).

16. Washing machine with a water tank according to any claims 12 to 15, characterized in that each fastener (103) snaps into a section (105) of the water tank (6), said section being formed as a protrusion (106).

17. Washing machine with a water tank according to any claims 12 to 16, characterized in that each fastener (103) snaps into a section (105) of the water tank (6), said section being formed as a depression (107).

18. Washing machine with a water tank according to any of the preceding claims 12, characterized in that both the washing machine (102) and the water tank (6) are packed as a whole in one single piece.