WO2013060602A2

WO2013060602A2 - A washing machine having a component

Info

Publication number: WO2013060602A2
Application number: PCT/EP2012/070498
Authority: WO
Inventors: Süleyman ÖZKAN
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2011-10-24
Filing date: 2012-10-16
Publication date: 2013-05-02
Also published as: WO2013060602A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a home appliance (10), in particular, a washing machine (10) having a body with a front panel (12), and comprising a component (13) with a surface (131) to be exposed to liquid during operation. The surface (131) comprises at least one layer having silicon-based hydrophobic nanoparticles, in order to make the component (13) hydrophobic.

Description

A WASHING MACHINE HAVING A COMPONENT

The present invention relates to a home appliance, in particular, a washing machine having a body with a front panel, and comprising a component with a surface to be exposed to liquid during operation.

Washing machines provide for the cleaning of laundry articles placed therein by bringing them together with water and cleaning agents. Drums disposed in washing machines move on their own axes in a rotational manner. As a result of this motion, laundry articles make contact with water and cleaning agents and are also subjected to physical intervention. A drum defines the borders of a region in which the laundry articles make contact with water in the machine.

Drums typically have a cylindrical form and perforated surfaces. Thus, water present in the drum is drained out through perforations once a wash cycle is completed. Despite the fact that water is a fluid, it does not leave the drum surface completely. Even if in negligible amounts, some amount of water is retained on the drum surface in the form of drops and is left in the drum. Water remaining on the drum surface starts accumulating thereon. Lime, detergent and other chemicals present in the water become deposited on the drum surface with the water leaving the drum surface. Additionally, the regions where water accumulates provide suitable conditions for the activities of microorganisms.

Patent application KR 20050002129 A is related to the aforesaid problems. The application describes a tub for a washing machine, wherein the tub is produced by injecting a resin comprising nano silver in order to prevent the formation of odor and bacteria.

Another patent document CN 101 125458 A discloses a method for manufacturing a germproof washing machine drum, comprising the step of mixing polypropylene particles, nano-sized silver material, and heat resisting plastics flavoring agent according to a cer- tain proportion in a charging basket. Said documents, however, do not mention on an embodiment which forces water to leave the drum's interior, but describe the elimination of microorganisms present in the drum using silver ions. The present invention relates to a washing machine drum, eliminating the aforesaid drawbacks encountered in current systems and brining new advantages to the relevant art.

One object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine drum wherein water present in the drum leaves the drum surface in a rapid manner by means of a coating applied to the drum surface.

In order to achieve all objects referred to above and below in the following detailed description, the present invention relates to a home appliance, in particular, a washing machine having a body with a front panel, and comprising a component with a surface to be exposed to liquid during operation. Further, the surface comprises at least one layer having silicon-based hydrophobic nanoparticles, in order to make the component hydrophobic. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the home appliance comprises a drum which is provided inside the body and wherein the items to be washed are to be placed; and a loading lid which is hinged onto the front panel and which provides access to the drum, wherein the drum is the hydrophobic component. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the silicon-based hydrophobic nanoparticles is nano silicon dioxide (Si0₂).

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the layer comprising nano silicon dioxide (Si0₂) is disposed on the surface. Thus, the roughness coefficient of the drum's inner surface is reduced. Liquid droplets which cannot be retained on the drum's inner surface are drained out through perforations.

A further preferred embodiment of the present invention provides that the component is made of sheet metal.

The invention also relates to a production method for a home appliance, particularly for a washing machine, having a body with a front panel and comprising a component with a surface to be exposed to liquid during operation. According to the invention the method comprises the step of covering the component with a chemical material having silicon- based hydrophobic nanoparticles, in order to make the component hydrophobic.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the process of coating the component with a chemical material comprising silicon-based nanopar- tides is applied in the form of pulverization. Thus, silicon-based nanoparticulate material is applied to the surface in a pressurized manner.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the process of coating with a chemical substance comprising silicon-based nanoparticles is applied by leaving or immersing the component for a certain time inside a tank which is filled with a chemical substance comprising silicon-based nanoparticles. Thus, the surface is completely contacted with silicon-based nanoparticulate material.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the proc- ess of coating with a chemical substance comprising silicon-based nanoparticles is applied by smearing or spreading said chemical material onto the surface.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the silicon- based hydrophobic nanoparticle is nano silicon dioxide (Si0₂).

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the component is a drum, and that the said nano silicon dioxide (Si0₂) is applied onto the inner surface of the drum. In the following detailed description, the novelty is described illustratively by making reference to the Figures of the annexed drawing, only for clarification, without imposing any restrictions on the scope of the invention. The annexed drawing shows preferred and exemplary embodiments of the invention. In the drawing: Figure 1 is a general view of a washing machine.

Figure 2 is a general view of a drum disposed in the washing machine shown in Figure 1. Accordingly, it has been assumed here that the present novelty is applied to a washing machine 10 in the following detailed description. The present invention, however, can also be embodied in any home appliance comprising a loading lid 1 1 , e.g. a drying machine. Figures 1 and 2 show a washing machine 10 having a loading lid 1 1 on a front panel 12 thereof. The loading lid 1 1 has a size which closes a loading opening (not illustrated) disposed on the front panel 12. The loading lid 1 1 is connected to the front panel 12 by means of a hinge and can be opened by a user by means of a handle 1 1 1 . A drum 13 made of sheet metal, in particular stainless steel, is disposed in the washing machine 10, which is accessed through the loading opening. The drum 13 has a perforated surface. On the inner surface 131 of the drum are provided perforations 132 through which water is drained out.

The retention of water to a surface is dependent on the roughness of the surface to which water contacts and on the surface tension. These two factors increase the binding angle of water to the surface and therefore provides for the retention of water on the surface where it contacts. A water repellent surface is referred to as a hydrophobic surface. Decreasing the roughness on the surface can be achieved by means of a coating applied onto the surface. Coating the surface with silicon-based hydrophobic nanoparticles will make the surface hydrophobic.

In order to render the surface of a part or component hydrophobic, a silicon-based nanoparticulate material in a liquid form is applied thereto. Silicon-based nanoparticles in liquid form can be applied to the surface by means of a pulverization method. In the pul- verization method, a silicon-based nanoparticulate material in liquid form is sprayed to the respective surface in a pressurized manner. Thus, the surface is coated with silicon-based nanoparticulate material. Another method comprises immersing a part to be coated into a container filled with a liquid silicon-based nanoparticulate material for a certain time. Liquid silicon-based nanoparticulate material can also be applied to the respective surface by means of direct smearing or spreading. In order to make the surface of a part hydrophobic, nano silicon dioxide (Si0₂) is used as a silicon based hydrophobic nanoparticulate material. The coating process using nano silica (Si0₂) is first performed on the drum 13. Thus, a layer is formed on the inner surface 131 of the drum that is water-repellant, i.e. does not retain water molecules. Once a wash cycle is completed in the washing machine 10, the machine drains out the water present therein. Following the drain-out phase, any droplets left on the inner surface 131 of the drum will be guided to perforations 132 with the aid of the nano silica (Si0₂) coating. Under the influence of gravity, liquid drops are subjected to a "G" force on the respective direction. This force, in turn, will reduce the surface tension produced by liquid drops and facilitate the function of the surface coated with nano silica (Si0₂).

With the liquid drops being drained out from the interior of the drum 13, the latter will be protected against calcification. The liquid drops which cannot vaporize into the gaseous state in the drum 13 will entrain any incorporated waste matters as they are drained out. Since no liquid drops will be retained in the interior of the drum 13, any activities of micro- organisms in the drum 13 will be prevented as well. Terminating the existence of microorganisms, in turn, will avoid the formation of any unpleasant odors within the washing machine 10.

The process of coating with nano silica (Si0₂) may be applied to any surfaces present in the washing machine 10 which make contact with liquid. For this purpose, nano silica (Si0₂) may be added to the detergent drawer of the washing machine 10, the machine may be run empty and then the nano silica (Si0₂) may be drained out. Thus, all parts of the washing machine 10 making contact with liquid may be coated with nano silica (Si0₂).

REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 Washing machine

1 1 Loading lid

1 1 1 Handle

12 Front panel

13 Drum

131 Inner surface of drum

132 Perforation

G Direction of gravity

Claims

1. A home appliance (10), in particular, a washing machine (10) having a body with a front panel (12), and comprising a component (13) with a surface (131 ) to be exposed to liquid during operation; characterized in that the surface (131 ) comprises at least one layer having silicon-based hydrophobic nanoparticles, in order to make the component (13) hydrophobic.

2. The home appliance (10) according to claim 1 , comprising a drum (13) which is provided inside the body and wherein the items to be washed are to be placed; and a loading lid (1 1 ) which is hinged onto the front panel (12) and which provides access to the drum (13), wherein the drum (13) is the hydrophobic component (13).

3. The home appliance (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the silicium based hydrophobic nanoparticles are nano silicium dioxide (Si0₂).

4. The home appliance (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the layer, comprising nano silicium dioxide (Si0₂), is provided on the inner surface (131 ) of the drum.

5. The home appliance (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the drum (13) is made of sheet metal.

6. A production method for a home appliance (10), particularly for a washing machine (10), having a body with a front panel (12) and comprising a component (13) with a surface (131 ) to be exposed to liquid during operation characterized by comprising the step of covering the component (13) with a chemical material having silicon-based hydrophobic nanoparticles, in order to make the component (13) hydrophobic.

7. The method according to Claim 6, wherein the process of covering the component (13) with a chemical material comprising silicon-based nanoparticles is applied as pulverization.

8. The method according to any one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the process of coating the component (13) by the nanoparticles is applied as the component (13) is waited for certain duration inside the tank which is full of a chemical substance comprising silicon based nanoparticles.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the process of coating the component (13) by a chemical material comprising silicon based nanoparticles is applied as said chemical material is applied onto the surfaces (131 ) of the component (13).

10. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the silicon based nanoparticles is nano silicon dioxide (Si0₂).

1 1 . The method according to claim 10, wherein the component (13) is a drum (13), and wherein nano silicon dioxide (Si0₂) is applied onto the inner surface (131 ) of the drum (13).