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
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/08—Liquid supply or discharge arrangements
  • D06F39/083—Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements
• • 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
• • 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
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/08—Liquid supply or discharge arrangements
  • D06F39/083—Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements
  • D06F39/085—Arrangements or adaptations of pumps
• • 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
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/10—Filtering arrangements

Definitions

• the invention relates to a draining device for a washing machine and a washing machine.
• Washing machines in households also called domestic washing machines, are well-known and usually are used for washing laundry.
• Washing machines usually comprise washing tubs in which a rotatable drum is housed for receiving goods to be washed, usually laundry. Washing liquid is introduced into the washing tub, which washing liquid consists only of water or mainly of water and detergents or washing or cleaning agents added to or dissolved in the water for improving the washing quality.
• a draining device is arranged for draining the washing liquid from the tub in order to either feed back the wash- ing liquid into the washing tub again, often being heated by a heating element arranged in or near the tub bottom, in a closed circuit or circulation mode or to drain the washing liquid out of the washing machine into a sewage conduit, in an open circuit, when it is not needed any more.
• the washing tub has a sump at the tub bottom which is in fluid connection to the draining de- vice.
• EP 0 110 482 Al discloses a washing machine having a washing tub with a draining sump integral with a first shell-like tub part of the washing tub and a basically flat or planar second tub part for closing the sump from one side thereof.
• the second tub part and the first tub part are connected with each other at a seam.
• the sump is fluidly connected to a parallel compartment through a rectangular slit in one of its side walls.
• a draining conduit is arranged for draining liquid from the compartment, which cui i u u i L i b made integral with the first tub part at three sides and closed at the front by the second tub part.
• the draining pump will be connected to this conduit but is not described . Because of the shape of the rectangular opening bigger obstacles cannot pass through and the water escaping from the sump through the opening into the parallel compartment will be filtered from such larger obstacles and be drained downwards into the draining conduit.
• EP 2 316 999 Al discloses a filter unit for a household appliance, in particular for a washing machine, comprising a filter receiving body, a filter opening in the filter receiving body, a cap for closing the filter opening, a drain passage passing through the cap and a closing means for closing the drain passage.
• a swivel-mounted lever element in connection or in operative connection with the closing means for opening and closing the closing means.
• the filter received in the filter receiving body is for instance a sieve and/or diaphragm, adapted for allowing the free passage of a liquid and for draping lint, fluff and other small object, i. e. buttons, coins etc. which may be contained in the liquid.
• the filter unit is interposed between the washing tub and the drain pump.
• the filter is shaped in a basically cylindrical shape and has a grid- or sieve-like lower wall and a cylindrical wall and two semicircular intermediate walls being arranged axial ly displaced at a distance and with their circular edges facing away from each other.
• the lever element forms a handle element for the cap in order to remove the filter manually for cleaning purposes.
• EP 1 593 768 A2 discloses a washing machine comprising a washing tub, a drain case to discharge the wash-water and a drain filter, position in the drain casing comprising a filter member having a plurality of filter holes protrusions.
• the protrusions perpendicularly protrude upward from the surface of the filter member with the filter protrusions having a length larger than the depths of the filter holes.
• the filter In front the filter has a hand lever with a knob for rotating and taking out the filter manually for emptying or cleaning.
• a washing machine comprising a drain pump draining water comprising a drain casing provided with an inlet and an outlet to supply and discharge the water in the plurality of filtering pins to filter impurities contained in the water and a drain filter provided with through holes defined therein into which the plurality of filtering pins are respectively connected .
• the drain filter is inserted into a drain casing and provided with a knob in the front to be removed from the drain casing for cleaning purposes.
• the pump with a pump wheel is attached to a pump wheel housing formed integral with the drain casing.
• the filter can be taken out by the user from the front of the washing machine in order to remove objects caught in the filter and allow for an adequate operation of the draining device. It is a purpose of the invention to propose a new draining device with a filter for a washing machine which can be easily manufactured.
• the draining device is designed and provided for draining washing liquid from a tub interior of a washing tub of a washing machine.
• the draining device comprises a draining conduit and a draining pump and a filter element having a filtering section for filtering out objects of certain dimensions and/or size from the drained washing liquid .
• the draining pump has at least one pump wheel arranged within a pump wheel housing and a pump drive for driving the pump wheel in a rotational movement about a central axis as rotational axis.
• the filter element is arranged within the draining conduit.
• the pump wheel housing is, according to the invention, formed integral with the filter element or the filtering section.
• the pump wheel housing being integral with the filter an efficient protection for the pump wheel being arranged in the pump wheel housing from puLt!i i Lid i i harmful or hazardous objects is achieved by the filter and an eff- cient cost saving manufacture and assembly are achieved .
• the integration of the pump wheel housing with the filter element makes it possible to significantly simplify the mounting and fixing of the filter element in the draining conduit and, furthermore, to enable a tight seal for the pump wheel housing to a pump flange for instance.
• the filtering section and the pump wheel housing are formed from the same thermoplastic material and/or formed in the same injection-moulding process.
• the pump wheel housing has a housing circumferential wall, which is shaped preferably at least partially cylindrical, and a front hous- ing wall closing the circumferential wall on one side and separating the inner space of the pump wheel housing from the filtering section, which front housing wall (94) is preferably circular shaped .
• “Circumferential wall” means a wall that is arranged, in particular in a closed manner, around something like an axis for instance and is not limited to a cylindrical or circular shape.
• the pump wheel housing has, in particular, a housing outlet which is formed as at least one opening in the housing circumferential wall, and a filter outlet is formed as an opening in the front housing wall which opening is preferably arranged in a central position and/or around a central axis of the conduit or the pump wheel and has in one embodiment a circular shape.
• the filtering section and the inner space of the pump wheel housing are in fluid connection by the filter outlet.
• the draining conduit has a pump receiving part at a first end for receiving the draining pump and is preferably closed by a cover wall at a second end of the conduit opposite to the first end, wherein the draining pump is releasably mounted to the pump receiving part at the first eiiu ui me conduit, and wherein the filter element is insertable into or re- moveable from the conduit through an opening at the first end of the conduit after demounting of the draining pump.
• the pump wheel housing with the pump wheel of the draining pump is arranged within the interior of the pump receiving part of the conduit which is surrounded by a circumferential wall.
• the pump drive is preferably mounted onto an end side of the pump receiving part.
• the conduit or its inner chamber preferably extends along the central axis which is the rotational axis of the pump wheel and is preferably horizontal.
• a flange of the pump closes the opening and the conduit at the first end, the flange in particular separating the pump wheel and the pump drive which is arranged outside the conduit.
• a sealing gasket is arranged between the flange and the conduit.
• the draining device further comprises a manifold for fluidly connecting in a removable manner the draining device to a tub portion of the washing tub, wherein the manifold has a first end adapted to be con ⁇ nected to an opening formed in said tub or to the sump and a second end in fluid communication with the draining conduit.
• the washing tub is composed of a pre ⁇ formed, preferably injection-moulded, front tub part and a pre-formed, pref ⁇ erably injection-moulded, rear tub part being connected (or: joined), prefera- bly by hot welding, with the front tub part in a connecting area (or: joining area).
• the conduit is formed (or: made) integral with a first tub part being a first one of the front tub part and the rear tub part and
• the cover wall for the conduit is formed (or: made) integral with a second tub part being the second one of the front tub part and the rear tub part and is connected with the conduit in the connecting area.
• the sump is formed integral with the same tub part the conduit is formed integral with and is preferably closed by the cover wall.
• FIG 5 a draining device of the washing tub unit according to FIG 1 to 4 in a perspective view from the front under a side viewing angle, the draining device of FIG 5 in a perspective and, for illustrative purposes, partially sectioned view mainly from the side, the draining device of FIG 5 and FIG 6 in a perspective and, for illustrative purposes, partially sectioned view from the rear under a viewing angle from above, FIG 8 the lower parts of the front tub part and the rear tub
• FIG 2 show a washing tub unit for a washing machine comprising a washing tub 2 and a draining device 7.
• the washing tub 2 is basically assembled from two parts, in this case a front tub part 21 and a rear tub part 22, which are connected (or: joined) in a connecting (or: joining) area 20 in order to form the washing tub 2 that it is closed in a liquid-tight manner, at its rear and at its circumference.
• At least one front connecting (or: joining) part 23 of the front tub part 21 and at least one rear connecting (or: joining) part 24 of the rear tub part 22 are connected with each other, in particular by hot welding in order to form a sort of liquid-tight welding seam in the connecting area 20.
• the front connecting part 23 and the rear connecting part 24 are in particular formed at least partially like connecting flanges which are pressed against each other and then connected, in particular welded by hot welding, to form a permanent connection between the two connecting parts 23 and 24 and thus between the two tub parts 21 and 22.
• the connecting area 20 is preferably arranged in or forms a connecting or joining plane.
• the connecting parts 23 and 24 have planar sur- faces that are joined, in particular welded, in the connecting plane.
• the front tub part 21 and the rear tub part 22 are, therefore, at least in their connecting parts 23 and 24, formed or made of a material that can be hot welded, preferably a suitable thermoplast or thermoplastic material, as are well known in the art
• the complete rear front tub part 21 and the complete rear tub part 22 are formed from such a thermoplast or thermoplastic material and are produced by moulding between or in at least two complementary moulding forms, in particular injection-moulding in the moulding forms.
• the hot welded connection also ensures a water tight connection so that no water or washing liquid can escape from the washing tub 2 through or in the connecting area 20 and no further seals or sealing rings are required .
• an opening 4 for loading of goods to be washed, such as laundry, into the tub interior 9 inside the washing tub 2 which opening 4 is formed in a front tub part 21.
• the opening 4 is at least partially surrounded by a counterweight structure 5 associated to the front tub part 21 for balancing the washing tub unit during operative conditions.
• the opening 4 allows access from the exterior or outside of the washing tub 2 to a carrier, in this case a rotatable or rotating drum 3, arranged in the tub interior 9 of the washing tub 2.
• a carrier in this case a rotatable or rotating drum 3, arranged in the tub interior 9 of the washing tub 2.
• the washing tub 2 is preferably mainly formed in a cylindrical shape.
• the drum 3 is rotatable or can be rotated by a rotation drive or drum drive 6 a part of which is shown in FIG
• the drum drive 6 is fastened at fastening section 61 arranged at the lower section of the rear tub part 21.
• the rear tub part 21 has a central through- hole 60 for a drive axle (not shown) connecting the drum drive 6 with the drum 3 for rotation of the drum 3 and bearing the forces and momenta exerted by the rotating drum 3 and the load of the laundry or the washing goods within the drum 3.
• the rear side of the rear tub part 22 is reinforced with reinforcing ribs 62 around the through- hole 60.
• a sump 10 is formed, which has an advantageous construction according to the invention.
• the sump 10 has a mainly horizontal sump bottom 13 and a side wall structure
• a carrier bridge 14 extends within the sump inlet 18 over the sump 10 as a protrusion or extension of the tub bottom 12 inwards from a side wall part 11 B and serves as a resting surface or element for coupling a holding element for a heating element (not shown) for heating the washing liquid within the tub 2 which heating element is connected electrically outside the tub 2 through a through-hole 63 in the back of the rear tub part 22.
• a rear tub bottom part 12A and adjacent side wall parts 11A, 11B, 11C and 11 D of the side wall structure 11 of the sump 10 and the sump bottom 13, that is to say all limiting walls of the sump 10 except for a front sump wall H E, are integral with or part of the rear tub part 22, preferably formed from the same thermoplastic material and in the same injection-moulding process in the same moulding form.
• the side wall parts 11A, 11B and 11C follow each other around the sump 10, preferably arranged rectangularly to each other, and are at least approxi- mately vertical walls with sloped upper entry sections at the sump inlet 18 and preferably horizontally curved intermediate transition sections in between the side wall parts 11A, 11 B and 11C.
• the side wall part 11 D is arranged above the vertical side wall part 11C and slopes upwardly from the vertical side wall part l lC forming a bottom wall of an air channel 16 of the sump 10 for releas- ing air bubbles caught in the liquid in the sump 10.
• a sump front wall H E which closes the side wall structure 11 of the sump 10 at the front is formed integral with the front tub part 21 and connected with the adjacent side wall parts 11A and 11C and 11 D and with the sump bottom 13 at the connecting parts 23 and 24 in the connecting area 20 to close and also seal the sump 10.
• the front wall H E lies in the connecting plane of the two tub parts 21 and 22 and is surrounded by the connecting parts 23 and 24 which are connected, in particular welded, together in the connecting area 20.
• a front tub bottom part 12B of the tub bottom 12 is integral with the front tub part 21 and partly connected by the hot welding in a sealed manner with the rear tub bottom part 12A in or at the connecting area 20 and partly separated from the rear tub bottom part 12A by the sump 10 and by the air outlet 16 of the sump 10.
• the draining device 7 Adjacent to the sump 10 and arranged at least partly lower than the sump 10 and its sump bottom 13 there is a draining conduit 75 of the draining device 7.
• the draining conduit 75 has, next to the sump 10, a mainly cylindrical circumferential wall 17 in which a rectangular opening is formed as a sump outlet 15 through which the sump 10 is in fluid connection with the draining conduit 75.
• the sump outlet 15 is arranged above the sump bottom 13, the sump bottom 13 slightly sloping downward towards the section of the circumferential wall 17 which is below the sump outlet 15, and/or arranged in an upper region of the circumferential wall 17 to allow for smooth draining flow from the sump 10 into the draining conduit 75.
• the draining conduit 75 also comprises, at a first end, here a rear end 75A, a pump receiving part 37 which has a mainly cylindrical circumferential wall 87 in which a draining outlet 74 is formed .
• a central (geometrical) axis A of the draining conduit 75 runs through the central region of the circumferential wall 17 and the pump receiving part 37 being their respective central or cylinder axis.
• the pump receiving part 37 or its circumferential wall 87 is arranged coaxially and subsequent to the circumferential wall 17 with respect to the central axis A at an opposite end of the circumferential wall 17 than the front tub part 21.
• the circumferential wall 87 of the pump receiving part 37 has a greater diame- Lt:r ur rduius from the axis A than the circumferential wall 17.
• the circumferential walls 17 and 87 of the draining conduit 75 together enclose an inner space or inner chamber 85 of the draining conduit 75.
• the circumferential wall structure of the conduit 75 protrudes or extends into the sump 10 and connects the sump bottom 13 with the side wall parts 11 B and 11C of the side wall structure 11 of the sump 10, thus forming a rigid structure, as can be seen best in FIG 3 and 4. Therefore, the circumferential walls 17 and 87 of the draining conduit 75 form themselves curved side wall parts of the side wall structure 11 of the sump 10 and, at the same time, separation wall(s) between the sump 10 and the conduit inner chamber 85.
• the curved circumferential wall 17 and 87 of the conduit 75 within the sump 10, i.e the parts defining side wall parts of the side wall structure 11 or separation walls between the sump 10 and the conduit 75, describe or cover an angle range ⁇ of usually at least 90°, preferably between 100° and 120°, measured around the central axis A.
• the corresponding opening angle a of the sump outlet 15, i.e. the opening in the circumferential wall 17 through which the sump 10 is in fluid communication with the inner chamber 85 of the conduit 75, is smaller than the angle range ⁇ and typically 80° or less.
• This design and arrangement of the sump outlet 15 as an, preferably rectangular, opening in a curved, preferably cylindrical, and concave as seen from the sump 10 (or convex as seen from the conduit inner chamber 85) separation wall between the sump 10 and the inner chamber 85 of the conduit 75 leads to very good flow results within the sump 10 and at the same time to a very solid and rigid construction.
• the sump outlet 15 being oriented towards the sump inlet 18 there is a direct and short flow path for the drained liquid through the sump 10 resulting in less turbulences.
• cuiiuuit 75 is, thus, rigidly connected with the sump side wall structure 11 and the tub bottom 12 over a pre-determined length and with at least two sump side wall parts 11 B and 11C and the sump bottom 13 so that forces exerted on the conduit 75 are distributed and born in a larger section into three dimensions
• the draining device 7 comprises a draining pump 70 with a pump wheel 72 (only shown in FIG 8 and FIG 10) as well as a pump drive 71, usually an electric motor with or without a gear and preferably with, usually electronic, control of the rotational speed, for rotating the pump wheel 72 about a rotational axis which is the central axis A of the draining conduit 75 in the mounted state.
• a rear side 87 of the pump receiving part 37 at the rear end 75A of the conduit 75 pointing away from the circumferential wall 17 is formed like a ring- shaped flange or flange ring surrounding a rear opening 88 of the pump receiving part 37.
• the pump drive 71 is fixed at this rear side 87 of the pump receiving part 37 of the draining conduit 75 at the rear end 75A, preferably by means of a circular planar drive flange 82 and screws 83 to be guided through guidings 84 in the drive flange 82 and to be screwed into corresponding screw holes 88 at the rear side 87. Therefore, the pump receiving part 37 and thus the whole conduit 75 has to bear the weight of the pump 70 which is accomplished by the rigid tube-like construction and the rigid connection with the sump 10 as already described.
• a gasket or sealing ring (not shown) is arranged between the pump receiving part 37 of the draining conduit 75 and the drive flange 82 for sealing.
• the pump wheel 72 together with a mainly cylindrical pump wheel housing 73 is introduced through the rear opening 88 into the inner conduit chamber 85 and arranged within the pump receiving part 37 or, more specifically, inside the part of the inner conduit chamber 85 of the draining conduit 75 that is surrounded by the circumferential wall 87 of the pump receiving part 37.
• i nt: wnuie circumferential wall structure 17 and 87 and the pump receiving part 37 of the conduit 75 are formed integral with the rear tub part 12, i.e. formed in the same material and/or injection-moulding process.
• the front tub part 21 has a cover wall 25.
• the cover wall 25 covers or closes the draining conduit 75 and its inner chamber 85 at a second end, here a front end, 75B which is, as seen axial ly along the central axis A, opposite to the rear end 75A and, further upwardly, forms the sump front wall H E of the sump 10 and continues into a front tub bottom part 12B of the tub bottom 12 which is more or less directed at a right angle to the cover wall 25. So the front cover of the conduit 75 and the sump 10 are formed integrally by the same cover wall 25 which in turn is formed integrally with the front tub part 21.
• the cover wall 25 is at least at the side towards the conduit 75 or sump 10 mainly flat or planar and is at least at the front end 75B of the conduit 75 oriented orthogonal to the central axis A of the conduit 75. Furthermore, the cover wall 25 is connected with the circumferential wall 17 of the conduit 75, usually in the connecting area 20 and/or in the connecting plane, which con- nection is made at the same time the two tub parts 21 and 22 are connected by hot welding.
• the cavity or volume or the conduit 75 as well as of the sump 10 is in each case formed entirely in the rear tub part 22 and only closed by the front tub part 21. This allows for simple moulding forms and manufacture.
• the sump front wall H E which is preferably constituted or formed by the cover wall 25, there is a hole or an opening 80 for mounting a pipe or level detection tube 28 of a level detection device 8.
• the level detection tube 28 is arranged at least slightly upwardly and is closed at a distal end or upper end 28A opposite to the connecting end 28B which is connected in the opening 80.
• M u i i i er ent level of washing liquid in the sump 10 and the tub bottom 12 will result in a different filling level in the level detection tube 28 and cause a variation of the air pressure above the liquid level which can be detected or sensed by an air pressure sensor 81 at the upper end 28A.
• This opening 80 is arranged above the draining conduit 75 and on the other side of the sump 10 than the sump outlet 15, basically opposite to the sump outlet 15, which results in the level detection tube 28 being emptied efficiently by the pump pressure being exerted in the sump 10 through the sump outlet 15.
• a central axis of the, preferably circular, opening 80 and/or an inserting direction for inserting the connecting end 28B of the level detection tube 28 is oriented parallel to the central axis A of the conduit 75.
• a filter element 76 is arranged, having a filtering section 77 for filtering out objects of specific size and/or dimensions, in particular larger and/or longer objects, from the draining liquid to prevent them from reaching the pump wheel 72.
• the filtering section 77 is arranged essentially within the circumferential wall 17 of the conduit 75 when the filter element 76 is mounted.
• the filter element 76 is shown in particular in FIG 8 to FIG 16 in different views.
• the filter element 76 has further a, preferably mainly cylindrical, pump wheel housing 73 formed integral with the filter element 76 or the filtering section 77 and being arranged within the pump receiving part 37 of the conduit 75 in the mounted state.
• the central axis A of the conduit 75 extends, in the mounted state, preferably in a horizontal direction or in a horizontal plane orthogonal to the direction of gravity which results in a horizontal axial flow of draining liquid through the draining conduit 75 and improves the filtering effect of the filter 76.
• I l ie men u draining flow direction of the liquid in the direction from the sump outlet 15 to the rear end 75A to the pump wheel 72 is, thus, horizontal and orientated from the front to the rear or away from the front tub part 21 and its front cover 25.
• Also there is an axial inflow along the horizontal axis A to- wards the pump wheel 72 which in turn has a radial outflow like a centrifugal pump.
• the draining outlet 74 of the pump receiving part 37 of the draining conduit 75 consists of a short pipe or tube extending from the circumferential wall 87 outwardly, essentially in radial direction from the axis A, and is inclined upwardly with respect to the axis A or a horizontal plane.
• a filter element 76 is mounted into the inner chamber 85 of the draining conduit 75 by inserting the filter element 76 through the rear opening 88 in an axial direction along the central axis A.
• a correct angular position of the filter element 76 within the conduit 75 is ensured by a positioning element 91 at the filter element 76 which is to be inserted into a positioning slot 92 at the circumferential wall 17 of the conduit
• positioning means 91 and 92 also support an angular fixation be- tween filter element 76 and conduit 75.
• a further positioning element 90 is provided at the second end 75B of the filter element
• the filter element 76 having a kind of leaf-like shape with a fitting contour 100 which, when the filter 76 is inserted correctly into the conduit 75, is inserted into and fits into a corresponding fitting contour 200 of a positioning receiving element 190 in the cover wall 25. In such a manner the filter element 76 is fixed and safely held within the conduit 75 in its predetermined position without any additional fixing means.
• the pump wheel housing 73 has a sort of bowl or pot shape and is provided with a, preferably mainly cylindrical, housing circumferential wall 93 surrounding or enclosing the central axis A when mounted and with a, preferably circular ring-shaped, housing front wall 94 being perpendicular to the central axis A emu sep rating as a separation wall the interior of the housing circumferential wall 93 from the filtering section 77.
• the housing circumferential wall 93 is provided with an opening over a certain angle about the axis A as a housing outlet 78.
• the separation wall or housing front wall 94 has a central opening through which the central axis A runs in the mounted state and which serves as a filter outlet 79 or a housing inlet and brings the filtering section 77 and the pump wheel housing 73 in fluid connection.
• the opening of the filter outlet 79 is preferably circular with a diameter D the central axis A preferably being its middle axis in the mounted state, so that the filter outlet 79 is arranged in a central position of the filter element 76 and around the central axis A of the conduit 75 which is the central axis and the rotational axis of the pump wheel 72 .
• the pump wheel housing 73 When the filter element 76 is mounted the pump wheel housing 73 is received in the pump receiving part 37 of the conduit 75 and its housing outlet 78 overlaps in the angular range and is, thus, in fluid connection with the draining outlet 74 at the circumferential wall 87, which angular positioning is assisted and ensured by the positioning elements 90 and 91 being inserted into the positioning receiving element 190 or the positioning slot 92.
• the pump wheel housing 73 has a slightly smaller diameter than the circumferential wall 87 of the conduit 75.
• the pump wheel 72 of the pump 70 can be introduced into the pump wheel housing 73 of the filter element 76.
• the central axis A is the central axis of the pump wheel housing 73 and the pump wheel 72 as its rotational axis and preferably axis of inertia for balanced rotation.
• the blades or wings of the pump wheel 72 When the pump wheel 72 is introduced into the pump wheel housing 73, the blades or wings of the pump wheel 72 have a radial distance to the inner wall of the pump wheel housing 73 and can be rotated about the axis A within the pump wheel housing 73 in order to suck or draw in washing liquid from the sump 10 through the sump outlet 15 into the inner conduit chamber 85 and through the filtering section 77 and thereafter through the filer outlet 79 into the pump wheel i iuu bi ny /3 and to dispense or pump the liquid out of the pump wheel housing 73 through the housing outlet 78 and the draining outlet 74 in a mainly radial direction. So, the draining pump 70 and its pump wheel 72 have an axial inflow and a radial outflow for the washing liquid with respect to the central axis A.
• the pump wheel 72 is separated from the sump 10 by means of the draining conduit 75 and the filter element 76 and the flow path and thus flow resistance are reduced, thereby reducing energy losses.
• the pump wheel 72 generates a low pressure in the conduit 75 and thus in the sump 10 and a steady flow of the drained liquid through the horizontal conduit 75.
• the filtering section 77 of the filter element 76 has a first filter chamber 86 and a second filter chamber 96 arranged axial ly one behind the other, in the mounted state axial ly along the central axis A, and are separated by an obstructing wall 64.
• the filter element 76 has in its front region behind the positioning element 90 a shell-shaped or semi-shell wall 103 in its lower region at which the positioning element 90 is arranged.
• the semi-shell wall 103, as well as the obstructing wall 64, are in their radially outermost region fixed to two side bars 101 and 102 extending axially, when mounted parallel to the central axis A and being at their ends connected with the housing front wall 94.
• the axial length a of the first chamber 86 corresponds in particular to the axial distance between the front wall of the semi-shell wall 103 and the obstructing wall 64 and is preferably larger than, in particular at least by a factor 2, than the axial length b of the second chamber 96 which corresponds in particular to the axial distance between the obstructing wall 64 and the housing front wall 94.
• the washing liquid which is drained from the sump 10 through the sump outlet 15 can have larger and more or less solid or strong objects 110 of certain size or dimensions contained in it which could damage the rotating pump wheel 72, in particular iuny ii.i l, uut thin objects 110 having a minimal length L' greater than a pre- specified length L and a diameter or thickness much smaller than the length L', such as pieces of tooth picks for instance which sometimes are left on tablecloths or in pockets of trousers or shirts to be washed .
• the design of the filtering section 77 is adapted to the pre-specified length L of objects 111 so that those objects 110 having a length L'> L should not pass the filtering section 77, but rather be obstructed from passing the obstructing wall 64 and stay in the first chamber 86 where they can be collected once in a while during cleaning of the filter element 76.
• the diameter D of the opening or filter outlet 79 as well as the length a of the first chamber 86 and the length b of the second chamber 96 and the shape of the contour of the obstructing wall 64 are all adapted to the length L of the objects 111. i.e.
• the length b of the second filter chamber 96 is chosen to be at most 1/2 L (b ⁇ L/2) and the diameter D of the filter outlet 79 is chosen to be D ⁇ L and D > b.
• the contour of the obstructing walls 64 at its circumference opposing the inner wall of the conduit 75 defines intermediate spaces for the passage of water or other washing liquid and for obstructing the passage of objects 110 having a size L' greater than the pre-defined size or dimension L through these intermediate spaces.
• the obstructing wall 64 has a straight first contour section 65 being inclined under an inclination angle ⁇ with re- spect to a horizontal plane H and a convexly curved, in particular circular, second contour 68 and a third contour 69 being convexly curved as well .
• the intermediate space forming a liquid passing passage between the first contour 65 and the wall 17 of the conduit 75 is designated 95
• the liquid passage between the second contour 68 and its circumferential wall 17 is designated with so emu d third liquid passing passage between the third contour 69 and the circumferential wall is designated with 99.
• the obstructing wall 64 is fixed to the side bars 101 and 102.
• the obstructing wall 64 is arranged axially displaced to the sump outlet 15 to the rear so that the sump outlet 15 is arranged completely in front of the obstructing wall 64 and only the first filter chamber 86 is connected directly to the sump 10 through the sump outlet 15 and the second filter chamber 96 is not directly connected to the sump outlet 15. In this way, the washing liquid exiting from the sump 10 and having objects 110 contained therein will first flow into the first filter chamber 86 and be filtered by the shape and design of the filtering section 77 and leave the filter 76 through the filter outlet 79 without the objects 110.
• the objects 110 will stay or be stuck in the first chamber 86 of the filter element 76 and be partially supported by the semi- shell wall 103 or can also get stuck in the intermediate space 99 under the obstructing wall 64, but it is practically excluded that the objects 110 reach the filter outlet 79.
• FIG 13 and 14 the situation of objects 111 having a length L and potentially harmful objects 110 having a length L'> L within the filter element 76 is shown It is clear that the objects 110 can under normal circumstances not pass through the filtering section 77 into the pump wheel housing 73 with the pump wheel 72, while objects 111 can pass forward and be expelled from the machine.
• the pump wheel housing 73 being integral with the filter element 76 has in particular a shape that increases in diameter in two steps starting from the housing front wall 94. This results in particular in a higher flow velocity through the filter outlet 79.
• the central body 72A of the pump wheel 72 is ar- ranged at a distance in front of the filter outlet 79 and the wheel blade 72B arranged at the central body 72A extend radially outwards from the central body 72A into the radially extending parts of the pump wheel housing 73 and its circumferential walls 67. I l ie i.u unsigned pump wheel housing allows the pump to work with high efficiency.
• the pump is in particular a centrifugal pump that needs to receive fluid axially to pump it out of the pump wheel housing through a radially oriented outlet channel.
• the shape of the pump wheel housing ensures such required fluid path, avoiding any fluid deviation/disturbance from a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the pump. Such deviation would cause the pump to require more power to drain fluid, because of high fluid energy losses.
• connecting elements 26 and 27 can be provided wherein, as shown, the connecting element 26 arranged at the front tub part 21 is a protruding part and is received by a receiving recess as a second connecting element 27 which design improves the connecting properties of hot welding and constitutes a welded water tight sealing. Also the connecting parts 26 and 27 allow for a pre-positioning of the two tub parts 21 and 22 before welding.
• the front tub part 21 and the rear tub part 22 are, in the preferred embodiment shown, both formed in such a way that they can be injection-moulded from a thermoplastic material between two moulding forms in a moulding process reducing the use of runners or moveable form parts in further moulding steps.
• At least one, preferably both, of the two moulding forms usually an inner moulding form, forms cavities and concave spaces in the tub parts 21 and 22 such as the sump 10 or the tub interior 9 or the draining conduit 75 which cavities or concave spaces start at the connecting line between the two moulding parts and are open towards the connecting part line of the moulding parts, wherein the sump 10 and the conduit 75 are preferably basically formed in the rear tub part 22.
• the front tub part 21 and preferably also the most part of the rear tub part 22 have a shape that allows for direct linear retraction of the moulding forms along a common retraction direction which is parallel to an axis running through the tub part 21 or 22 in case of tub part 22 the central axis A of the draining conduit 75.
• a common retraction direction which is parallel to an axis running through the tub part 21 or 22 in case of tub part 22 the central axis A of the draining conduit 75.
• tub parts 21 and 22 This is achieved in the construction of the tub parts 21 and 22 by not allowing or by limiting in number, in a direction opposite to the retraction direction, any broadening or increase in the diameter or inner dimension of each of the cavities or concave spaces in the tub parts 21 and 22 in any lateral direction which is orthogonal to the retraction direction of each of the two moulding forms.
• the inner dimensions or diameters of each cavity and concave space as seen in a linear projection along the retraction axis, in particular along or parallel to the central axis A, in the front tub part 21 and in the most part of the rear tub part 22, in particular the sump 10, the tub inte- rior 9 and the draining conduit 75, stay the same or decrease, i.e.
• the above described draining device 7 may be provided as a part which is independent, i.e separated, from the tub body and mountable to the latter by means of a manifold, such as a rubber conduit, preferably in a removable manner.
• a manifold such as a rubber conduit
• the manifold that puts in fluid communication the washing tub 2 with the draining device 7 has a first end connectable to the sump outlet 15 or to an opening 18 formed in the tub bottom 12, in case the sump 10 is not formed in the tub 2, and a second end, opposite to the first end, connectable to the draining device 7 via an opening formed in the circumferential wall 17.
• the draining device 7 is a separate piece, it is usually arranged within the inner chamber of a washing machine cabinet containing the tub 2 and all the operational devices for carrying out a washing process on laundry articles, through an appropriate fixing device.
• Such fixing device may be provided with one or more brackets attaching, preferably in a removable manner, the draining device 7 to a bottom and/or side inner wall of the cabinet.
• the draining conduit 75 is closed at a first end 75A by the pump drive 71 of the draining pump 70 which is fixed at this rear side 87 of the pump receiving part 37 of the draining conduit 75 at the rear end 75A, preferably by means of a circular planar drive flange 82 and screws 83 to be guided through guidings 84 in the drive flange 82 and to be screwed into corresponding screw holes 88 at the rear side 87.
• a second end 75B of the drain- ing conduit 75, opposite to the first end 75A is closed by a cover wall 25 which is separated by the tub body.
• the cover wall 25 may be formed integral with the circumferential wall 17, or it may be attached to the latter by welding or any removable fastening device known in the art, like screws for example.
• the alternative arrangement here disclosed allows to form the washing tub by a moulding process that is greatly simplified because there are no moulded parts in the way of a moulding form section along the mould retraction direction. In this way a sensible cost saving may be obtained

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
• Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
• Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)

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• 2012
  • 2012-02-27 EP EP12157038.6A patent/EP2631350B1/de active Active
• 2013
  • 2013-02-26 WO PCT/EP2013/053824 patent/WO2013127796A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-02-26 CN CN201380011280.XA patent/CN104169487B/zh active Active

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