WO2009083349A1

WO2009083349A1 - A dishwasher

Info

Publication number: WO2009083349A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/066354
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erkan Tarakci; Yilmaz Dogan; Kenan Atac; Cetin Aydintug
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2007-12-27
Filing date: 2008-11-27
Publication date: 2009-07-09
Also published as: CN101909507A; ES2527651T3; CN101909507B; EP2234534B1; PL2234534T3; EP2234534A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher wherein the prevention of the noise from reaching the outside environment by closing the clearance (G) between the plinth (3) and the door (2), which is also called the noise transmission path (1).

Description

A DISHWASHER

[0001] The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a plinth.

[0002] The noise arising from dishwashers can be originated from motor, pump, fan and washing. Noise caused by the fan operating during the drying step and the noise caused by the motor and the pump is added to washing based noise caused by water hitting the door and the walls of the tub delivered with pressure via a pump while the dishwasher operates.

[0003] All these noises reach the outside environment through the clearance (H) left between the plinth (P) and the door (D) to enable opening and closing of the door. This clearance (H) between the plinth (P) and the door (D) extends into the tub bottom region in the dishwasher (A), wherein two of the most important noise sources such as the motor and the pump are located. Therefore, this clearance (H) is one of the most important factors for the noise arising in the dishwasher (A) to spread to the outside environment (Figure 1 and Figure 2). In the state of the art, embodiments are developed for preventing the noise from reaching the outside environment by closing the said clearance, which is also called "noise transmission path".

[0004] In the state of the art German Patent Application No DE19907145, a gasket placed between the door and the plinth in order to prevent the noise from reaching the outside environment is explained. In this application, one end of the gasket is connected to the door and the other to the plinth. The gasket wears down in course of time and loses its function, since the gasket moves depending on the movement of the door.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher wherein the clearance between the plinth and the door is closed thereby reducing the noise reaching the outside environment.

[0006] The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a barrier, which extends from the plinth to the door in the horizontal direction when the door is closed and partially overlaps with the exterior surface of the door. [0007] While the door is closed, the exterior surface of the door overlaps with the inner surface of barrier; the door and the plinth contact entirely or partially in the horizontal direction thereby forming a block on the clearance between the door and the plinth whereon the noise is reflected. Thus, the clearance is shaped in a zigzag formed structure wherein the noise transmission path is extended in order to provide the sound power level to be minimized. Consequently, the noise inside the dishwasher is prevented from reaching the outside environment.

[0008] By means of the present invention, a block is formed in the clearance between the plinth and the door only by a structural alteration on the plinth, without requiring the use of sealing elements such as gasket, felting and etc. In the embodiment where the plinth is produced of plastic, the barrier is produced in the same mould as the plinth. In this way, labor cost and time are saved.

[0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher comprises a recess, which is positioned on the lower edge of the door, inside the exterior surface of the door wherein the barrier is seated when the door is closed. Thus, no level difference is formed between the exterior surface of the door and the exterior surface of the plinth, when the door is closed.

[0010] In the first embodiment, a more esthetic appearance is provided by preventing the level difference on the exterior surface of the door caused by the barrier overlapping with the exterior surface of the door, when the door is closed.

[0011] The barrier is "U" shaped and extends to the exterior surface of the door surrounding the lateral sides. Thus, the lower edge of the door is almost entirely surrounded from three sides by the barrier and the inner surface of the barrier overlaps with the exterior surface of the door encircling the lower edge of the door, when the door is closed.

[0012] By means of the present invention, the noise transmission path between the door and the plinth is provided to be closed only by a structural alteration on the plinth, without requiring the use of any sealing elements between the door and the plinth.

[0013] The dishwasher realized in order to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0014] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a dishwasher in the state of the art. [0015] Figure 2 - is the sideways view of a dishwasher in the state of the art. [0016] Figure 3 - is the detailed perspective view of a plinth. [0017] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the dishwasher. [0018] Figure 5 - is the detailed view of a door. [0019] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Dishwasher

2. Door

3. Plinth

4. Barrier

5. Recess

[0020] The dishwasher (1) of the present invention comprises a door (2) which enables the user to unload and load the dishes, and a plinth (3) which is placed below the door (2) and the upper edge of which extends parallel to the lower edge of the door (2) such that a clearance (G) remains between them, when the door (2) is closed.

[0021] The dishwasher (1) also comprises a barrier (4), which is located on the plinth (3), extends from the upper edge of the plinth (3) to the door (2) along the plinth (3), surrounds the lower edge of the door (2) when the door (2) is closed, forms a block in the clearance (G) between the door (2) and the plinth (3) by partially overlapping with the exterior surface of the door (2) in the horizontal direction (Figure 3).

[0022] The barrier (4) extends towards the exterior surface of the door (2) and surrounds the lower edge of the door (2), when the door (2) is closed. By means of the barrier (4), the plinth (3) overlaps with the door (2) in the horizontal direction, when the door (2) is closed. Thus, on the clearance (G), which creates the noise transmission path by means of the barrier (4), a block is formed, which enables noise reflection and the noise transmission path is extended and shaped in a zigzag formed structure, thereby the sound power level is minimized.

[0023] The plinth (3) is preferably produced of a plastic material. In this embodiment, the plinth (3) and the barrier (4) are removed as a single piece from the mould (Figure 3).

[0024] The barrier (4) is located on the upper edge of the plinth (3), which faces the lower edge of the door (2). The barrier (4) is "U" shaped and extends to the exterior surface of the door (2) surrounding the lateral sides of the door (2), as if the barrier (4) is an extension of the plinth (3). Thus, the lower edge of the door (2) is almost entirely surrounded from three sides by the barrier (4) and the inner surface of the barrier (4) overlaps with the exterior surface of the door (2) encircling the lower edge of the door (2), when the door (2) is closed. The insulation provided with the contact of the surface of the door (2) and the barrier (4) wherefore the noise transmission path is eliminated.

[0025] Rotation axis of the door (2) remains on the side whereon the contact surface of the door (2) and the plinth (3) along the barrier (4) faces the interior of the dishwasher (1). Therefore, the barrier (4) does not restrain the movement of the door (2) since the lower edge of the door (2) facing the plinth (3) moves away from the barrier (4), while the door (2) is opened. Furthermore, the barrier (4) is also prevented from damages by moving depending on the movement of the door (2).

[0026] In this embodiment of the present invention, the barrier (4) is at such a height, that the movement of the door (2) is not prevented when opened almost in a parallel position to the floor.

[0027] In another embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a recess (5), which is located on the lower edge of the door (2) wherein the barrier (4) is seated when the door (2) is closed (Figure 4 and 5). By means of the recess (5), the barrier (4) is prevented from forming a level difference on the exterior surface of the door (2), when the door (2) is closed. Thus, the noise transmission path is removed and an esthetic appearance is provided by preventing the formation of any level difference between the exterior surface of the door (2) and the barrier (4).

[0028] In this embodiment, the recess (5) is located inside the exterior surface of the door (2) and the inner surface of the barrier (4) overlaps with the exterior surface of the recess (5) contacting each other such that the recess (5) remains behind the barrier (4), when the door (2) is closed. In this case, the contact surfaces of the recess (5) and the barrier (4) serve as an insulation element, therefore block the clearance (G) and eliminate the noise transmission path. By means of the present invention, the noise is prevented from reaching the outside environment by blocking the clearance (G) between the plinth (3) and the door (2), which is also called the noise transmission path, without requiring the use of any sealing elements. Blocking the clearance (G) by means of the barrier (4) formed during the production of the plinth (3) advantageous for both labor and production costs.

Claims

1. A dishwasher (1 ) comprising a door (2) which enables the user to unload and load the dishes, and a plinth (3) which is placed below the door (2) and the upper edge of which extends parallel to the lower edge of the door (2) such that a clearance (G) remains between the plinth (3) and the door (2) when the door (2) is closed and characterized by a barrier (4), which is located on the plinth (3), extends from the upper edge of the plinth (3) to the door (2) along the plinth (3), surrounds the lower edge of the door (2) when the door (2) is closed, forms a block in the clearance (G) between the door (2) and the plinth (3) by partially overlapping with the exterior surface of the door (2) in the horizontal direction.

2. A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by a barrier (4) contacting the door (2).

3. A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a barrier (4) produced as a single piece with the plinth (3).

4. A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1 , 2 or 3, characterized by a "U" shaped barrier

(4).

5. A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims characterized by a barrier (4), which forms a block on the clearance (G) that creates the noise transmission path, enabling noise reflection thereby providing the noise transmission path to be extended.

6. A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims characterized by a recess (5) located on the lower edge of the door (2) wherein the barrier (4) is seated when the door (2) is closed.

7. A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by a recess (5) located inside the exterior surface of the door (2).