WO2016027227A1

WO2016027227A1 - Drainage system for a washing machine and washing machine comprising the system

Info

Publication number: WO2016027227A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/056271
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ismael Gracia Bobed; Eduardo GRACIA CANO; Alberto MAÑAS MOLINA; Eduardo Recio Ferrer
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2014-08-21
Filing date: 2015-08-18
Publication date: 2016-02-25
Also published as: ES2560727A1; ES2560727B1

Abstract

Drainage system for of a washing machine (1) with a housing (1a), whereby said washing machine (1) comprises a motor-driven pump (4) that comprises a body (4a) and an electric motor (4d), being connected to a wash tub (2) for pumping wash water coming from same, a drainage outlet (4e) from the body (4a) of said motor-driven pump (4), a drainage orifice (5a) accessible from outside the washing machine (1) to evacuate wastewater to outside the washing machine (1) and a plug (7) coupleable to the drainage orifice (5a), whereby said drainage system comprises means (5) extendable lengthwise and has a a first end that comprises the drainage orifice (5a) and a second end (5b) suitable for being connected to the drainage outlet (4e) of the body (4a) of the motor-driven pump (4) for evacuating the wastewater towards said drainage orifice (5a).

Description

DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR A WASHING MACHINE AND WASHING AUHINb OU rKloIN I rit oYo I tM

The present invention relates to the technical field of washing machines and, in particular, to the area of the drainage systems used for such machines.

A conventional washing machine, understood as selectively embodied as a washer/dryer, comprises a housing in which a wash tub for containing washing or rinsing liquid is placed, wherein the wash tub includes a wash drum placed therein and an electric motor which rotates the wash drum slowly for washing or rinsing, and rather fast to evacuate the water from laundry placed in the wash drum and having been washed and rinsed therein.

The used wash water is evacuated from the wash tub with the help of a drainage system that comprises a motor-driven pump that receives the water that accumulates in the lower part of the wash tub and pumps same through an evacuation duct to the outside of the machine. The drainage system may also include a recirculation duct by means of which the wash water is recirculated, directly or indirectly, to the wash tub during washing or rinsing.

To prevent the ducts that evacuate the wash water from the wash tub from being clogged up with material such as lint, solid items, paper debris, etc., entrained in the wash water evacuated from the tub, removable antifouling filters may be provided to retain such material. To allow the cleaning of such filters, a drainage system that communicates with a drainage orifice accessible from outside the machine and sealed with an unscrewable stopper is usually provided, which in some embodiments forms a single piece into which the filter is integrated.

In most cases, the motor-driven pump is mounted to the lower part of the frame of the washing machine and is connected to the wash water outlet of the wash tub by means of an outlet duct. Washing machines in which the motor-driven pump is built into the wash tub directly are also known. In a washing machine in which the pump is mounted on the frame of the washing machine, the drainage orifice is usually retracted behind a removable or hinged cover that is in the lower part of the front panel of the washing machine. When the drainage cap is opened, the wastewater exits from the filter and may spill onto the ground, even when a receptacle is positioned below and in front, or, where the drainage orifice is located very close to the ground, a sponge. In addition, in a washing machine in which the motor- driven pump is integrated into the wash tub, the amount of wastewater may be even higher, so that the amount of outgoing wastewater passing out through the drainage orifice may be even greater.

The aim of the present invention is a drainage system for a washing machine, and a washing machine comprising the system, which avoids the disadvantages associated with the removal of the wastewater passing out through the drainage orifice. Further advantageous features of the invention will emerge from what is described hereinafter in this specification.

The term "washing machine" as used here refers to laundry washing machines, dryers, and washer/dryers.

According to the invention, there is provided a drainage system for a washing machine with a frame comprising: a motor-driven pump having a body and an electric motor, being connected to a wash tub for pumping wash water coming from the wash tub, a drainage outlet from the body of the motor-driven pump, a drainage orifice accessible from outside the washing machine to evacuate wastewater to outside the washing machine, a plug coupleable to the drainage orifice. Further, said system comprises a drainage duct extendable lengthwise with a first end that comprises the drainage orifice and with a second end connected to the drainage outlet of the body of the motor-driven pump for evacuating the wastewater towards the drainage orifice.

The extendable drainage duct permits the accumulation of wastewater in the interior thereof when extended, and, in a position remote from the washing machine, having the drainage orifice so that below the same can be positioned a receptacle in which, after opening the plug, wastewater can be removed from the washing machine. Moreover, the washing machine according to the invention comprises a wash tub and a drainage system with at least the features described above and below.

The body of the pump can be mountable on the frame of the washing machine, can be mounted on a lower front section in wash tub, or can preferably be molded as one and the same piece with at least one lower front section of the wash tub washing, preferably so as to project downward from the lower front section of the wash tub. The front section can be, for example, one of the pieces that make up the wash tub, which is called the "front tub".

In embodiments where the body of the pump is mounted or molded together with the front section of or with the entire wash tub, it is found that the drainage orifice remains at a higher elevation than when the motor-driven pump is mounted on the frame, which results in the user being able to access the drainage orifice and achieve the drainage more conveniently.

Additionally, molding the wash tub and the body of the motor-driven pump as a single piece reduces the level of vibration and offers a more secure seal in terms of the leak- tightness between the tub and the body of the motor-driven pump.

Preferably, the electric motor of the drainage system motor-driven pump is mounted at one end of the motor-driven pump body opposite the drainage outlet.

In a preferred embodiment, the extendable drainage duct is configured as a bellows. According to this embodiment, the bellows can be configured so that the plug stretches upon rotation in a first direction, for example, by means of a helical coil configuration of same.

The drainage orifice at the first end of the bellows can comprise a cylindrical inner surface provided with an inner threading for screwing in the cap, or a cylindrical outer surface provided with outer screw cutting for screwing in the cap. Moreover, the second end of the drainage duct can be removably connected to the drainage outlet of the motor-driven pump. The drainage outlet of the motor-driven pump body can communicate with an internal cylindrical chamber that extends axially in the motor-driven pump body and comprises an internal surface provided with a screw cutting. In this embodiment, the plug comprises a first end part that seals the drainage orifice and a second end part adapted for screwing into the screw cutting.

In the interior space can be removably positioned an antifouling filter that can be retained by one of its ends through the second end portion of the plug, or can form part of the plug and extend from the second end portion of the plug through the cylindrical chamber.

The removable connection of the second end of the drainage duct to the motor-driven pump body enables, on the one hand, the removal of the drainage duct filled with wastewater and pouring of the wastewater into a desired location and, secondly, its removal provides access to the antifouling filter and the withdrawal and reinsertion of same and access to the interior of the motor-driven pump body to perform maintenance or repairs. It also facilitates the replacement of the bellows, which can be made, for example, from plastic or rubber paper, and can be of a disposable material or a material suitable for repeated use.

Aspects and embodiments of the invention are described below, based on references to several figures of the attached drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevated lateral partially cross-sectional schematic view of a washing machine that incorporates an embodiment of the system as detailed above;

Figure 2 is an elevated frontal view of the wash tub and the drainage system shown in

Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the drainage system;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the drainage system; Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of body of the motor-driven pump;

Figure 6 is a partial and expanded view of the washing machine shown in Figure 1 with the drainage bellows extended; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the removed drainage bellows.

Figure 1 shows a washing machine 1 with a housing 1a that comprises a front panel 1 b and a top cover 1c. The front panel 1 b is provided with a loading hatch 1 d sealed by a loading door 1 e. The washing machine 1 rests on support legs 1f.

In the interior 1 g of the washing machine 1 is accommodated a wash tub 2, the loading opening 2a of which is horizontally aligned with the loading hatch 1d. The edges of the loading hatch 1d and of the loading opening 2a are connected by an annular flange 3 of elastic material. The inner space 2b of the tub 2 houses a rotary wash drum (not shown in the figures) in a conventional manner. The tub comprises a front section 2c and a rear section 2d, which can also be called respectively the "tub front" and "tub rear", assembled in a conventional manner.

The bottom 2e of the wash tub 2 exhibits a drop in the direction of the front panel 1 b of the washing machine 1. In the lower section of that drop is found the evacuation port 2f for the water from the wash tub 2 to which the body 4a of the motor-driven pump 4 is connected by means of a connector piece 4b through the inside of which extends an evacuation path (not shown in Figure 1) through which wash water coming from the tub 2 flows into the body 4a of the motor-driven pump 4. The pump 4 is driven by an electric motor 4d mounted on the rear section of the body 4a.

From the rear lateral section of the body 4a of the motor-driven pump 4 projects a connecting tube 4c to which it can be connected a conventional evacuation tube (not shown in the figures) for evacuating the wash water.

The front section 2c of the wash tub 2 and the body 4a of the motor-driven pump 4 with its connector piece 4b and the connecting tube 4c are molded into a single piece. At the front section of the body 4a of the motor-driven pump 4 is coupled a lengthwise extendable tube, namely a bellows 5, comprising a first end that comprises a drainage orifice 5a sealed by a plug (not shown in Figure 1), and second end 5b connected to the drainage outlet (not shown in Figure 1) from the front section of the body 4a of the motor- driven pump 4 perimetrically embracing that front section and secured by means of a clamp 6 that surrounds said second end 5b and presses against the front section of the body 4a of the motor-driven pump 4.

The bellows 5 is retracted by a hinged cover 1 h between a closed position and an open position 1 h' in which there is access to the bellows 5 from the outside of the washing machine.

Figure 2 is a frontal view of the front section 2c of the wash tub 2 with its loading opening 2a, the tube from the motor-driven pump 4 with its connector piece 4b, the connecting tube thereof 4c, and electric motor 4d thereof, as well as the bellows 5 with its drainage orifice 5a, and the plug 7 that seals the drainage orifice 5a.

On its outer part, the plug 7 comprises a diagonal rib 7a that facilitates handling when turning the plug 7.

In the embodiments of the drainage system illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the drainage orifice 5a of the bellows 5 comprises a cylindrical internal wall 5c provided with a threading 5d and a front widening 5e, in the rear section of which is accommodated a leak-tight sealing ring 8. In turn, the second end 5b of the bellows 5 perimetrically embraces the front section of the body 4a of the motor-driven pump and remains clamped against same by means of the bracket 6 such that the bellows 5 remains coupled to the drainage outlet body 4e of the body 4a of the motor-driven pump. Between the drainage orifice 5a and the second end 5b are extended the folds 5f of the bellows 5 surrounding an internal path 5g. The bellows 5 is configured such that its folds 5f form turns in the manner of a helical spring.

The drainage outlet 4e communicates with an internal cylindrical chamber 4f in the body 4a of the motor-driven pump. The cylindrical chamber 4f comprises an inner surface 4g provided with a screw cutting 4h near the drainage outlet 4e. Within said cylindrical chamber 4f is accommodated an antifouling filter 9. The cylindrical chamber 4f is, via the evacuation path 4i in the connector piece 4b, in communication with the interior of the wash tub 2.

In both embodiments illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the plug 7 comprises a first discoidal end part 7b that is dimensioned for sealing the drainage orifice 5a of the bellows 5, and a second end part 7c adapted for screwing into the screw cutting 4h internal surface 4g of the cylindrical chamber 4f of the body 4af of the motor-driven pump.

On the front face of the first end part 7a of the plug 7 is the aforementioned diagonal rib 7a, while its rear part exhibits a transition section 7d towards the discoidal part 7e having a diameter smaller than that of the first end part 7b and which exhibits a perimeter edge 7f adapted for screwing into the threading 5d of the drainage orifice 5a of the bellows 5.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, between the discoidal part 7e and the second end part 7c of the stopper 7 is extended an intermediate cylindrical part 7g having a diameter substantially less than that of the other parts of the plug 7, and the second end part 7c comprises another perimeter edge 7h that screws into the screw cutting 4h of the front section of the body 4a of the motor-driven pump.

The screw cutting 5d, the threading 4h, and the edges 7f, 7h are arranged and dimensioned such that when the plug 7 is rotated in a first direction, first the edge 7h of the second end part 7c, due to the helical configuration of the folds 5f of the bellows 5 which allows relative rotation between the drainage orifice 5a and the second end 5b thereof, unscrews and releases the threading 4h, such that once released from the threading 4h, the user can pull on the diagonal rib 7a and/or on the drainage orifice 5a to stretch the bellows 5.

In turn, when the plug 7 is screwed into the drainage orifice 5a such that the first part 7b thereof is accommodated in the front widening 5e and the transition section 7d thereof clamps onto the sealing ring 8, in the turning of the plug and, thereby, of the drainage orifice 5a, the helical configuration of the folds 5f of the bellows 5 enables the edge 7h of the second end part 7c of the plug to be screwed in and immobilized on the threading 4h of the cylindrical chamber 4f of the body 4a of the motor-driven pump. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the second end part 7c of the plug 7 comprises coils 7c emerging from the end part of a cylindrical part 7j that emerges axially from the rear face of the discoidal part 7e. These coils 7i are complementary to the screw cutting 4h of the front section of the body 4a of the motor-driven pump.

The screw cutting 5d, the threading 4h, as well as the edge 7f and the coils 7i of the plug 7 are arranged and dimensioned such that when the plug 7 is rotated in a first direction, first the coils 7j of the second end part 7c, due to the helical configuration of the folds 5f of the bellows 5 which allows relative rotation between the drainage orifice 5a and the second end 5b thereof, unscrews and releases the threading 4h, such that once the coils 7i are released, the user can pull on the diagonal rib 7a and/or on the drainage orifice 5a to stretch the bellows 5.

In turn, when the plug 7 is screwed into the drainage orifice 5a such that the first part 7b thereof is accommodated in the front widening 5e and the transition section 7d thereof clamps onto the sealing ring 8, in the turning of the plug and, thereby, of the drainage orifice 5a, the helical configuration of the folds 5f of the bellows 5 enables the coils 7i of the second end part 7c of the plug to be screwed in and immobilized on the threading 4h of the cylindrical chamber 4f of the body 4a of the motor-driven pump.

In Figure 5 shows the arrangement of the antifouling filter 9 within the cylindrical chamber 4f of the body 4a of the motor-driven pump.

The antifouling filter 9 is formed as a "diabolo", and comprises two conical halves joined by their vertices. At its base, the conical halves each comprise stiffening rings 9a, 9b, which are in contact with the inner surface 4g of the cylindrical chamber 4f.

Axial displacement of the filter 9 in the cylindrical chamber 4f is delimited between an annular projection 4j adjacent to the rear stiffening ring 9b and the second end part 7c (not shown in Figure 5) of the plug when it is inserted into the cylindrical chamber 4f. The antifouling filter 9 is removable and reinsertable through the drainage outlet 4e of the body 4a of the motor-driven pump 4. In Figure 6 can be seen a first stage of draining of wastewater from the motor-driven pump 4 and, in this case, the interior space 2b of the wash tub 2.

To reach the position of the bellows 5a illustrated in Figure 7, first the cover 1 h opens (see Figure 1) to assume the position 1 h'. Then, the plug is turned (see Figures 3 and 4) until it is released from the body 4a of the motor-driven pump 4, then the drainage orifice 5a is pulled to stretch the bellows 5 until it comes out of the washing machine, and remains in the position illustrated in Figure 6, in which the wastewater flows into the drainage orifice 5a.

In that position, and depending on the amount of wastewater to be evacuated, one option is to position a receptacle 10 beneath the drainage orifice 5a and open the plug to remove the wastewater into the container 10, or, if the amount of wastewater is low, the bellows 5 of the body 4a of the motor-driven pump are released such that the wastewater that remains stored in the bellows 5 is completely removed while maintaining the bellows with its second end 5b upwards (see Figure 7), and pour the wastewater into a chosen location.

List of Reference Symbols

1 Washing machine

1a Housing

1 b Front panel

1c Top cover

1d Loading hatch

1e Loading door

1f Support legs

ig Interior of the washing machine

1 h, 1 h" Cover

2 Wash tub

2a Loading opening

2b Internal space

2c Front section

2d Rear section

2e Bottom

2f Evacuation port

3 Annular flange

4 Motor-driven pump

4a Body of the motor-driven pump

4b Connector piece

4c Connecting tube

4d Electric motor

4e Drainage port

4f Cyiindrical chamber

4g Internal surface

4h Screw cutting

5 bellows

5a Drainage orifice

5b Second end c Cylindrical internal walld Threading

e Frontal broadeningf Folds

Clamp

plug

a Diagonal ribb First end partc Second end partd Transitional sectione Discoid partf Perimeter edgeg Intermediate parth Perimeter edgei Turns

j Cylindrical part

Sealing ring

Anti-soiling filtera, 9b Stiffening rings

Claims

Drainage system for a washing machine (1) with a frame comprising

a motor-driven pump (4) having a body (4a) and an electric motor (4d), being connected to a wash tub (2) for pumping wash water coming from the wash tub

(2),

a drainage outlet (4e) from the body (4a) of the motor-driven pump,

a drainage orifice (5a) accessible from outside the washing machine (1) to evacuate wastewater to outside the washing machine (1),

a plug (7) coupleable to the drainage orifice (5a),

characterized in that

said system comprises a drainage duct extendable lengthwise with a first end that comprises the drainage orifice (5a) and with a second end (5b) connected to the drainage outlet (4e) of the body (4a) of the motor-driven pump for evacuating the wastewater towards the drainage orifice (5a).

Drainage system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the body (4a) of the motor-driven pump is mountable onto the frame of the washing machine (1).

Drainage system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the body (4a) of the motor-driven pump is mountable onto the wash tub (2).

Drainage system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the body (4a) of the motor-driven pump and at least one part (2c) of the wash tub (2) are molded into one and the same piece.

Drainage system according to claim 4, characterized in that the body (4a) of the motor-driven pump is molded to project from below the part (2c) of the wash tub

(2).

6. Drainage system according to any one of claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the drainage duct is configured as a type of bellows (5).

7. Drainage system according to claim 6, characterized in that the bellows (5) is configured such that the plug (7) stretches upon rotation in a first direction.

8. Drainage system according to any one of claims 1 through 7, characterized in that the drainage orifice (5a) comprises a cylindrical internal wall (5c) provided with an inner threading (5d) for screwing in the plug (7).

9. Drainage system according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the second end (5b) of the drainage duct is removably connected to the drainage outlet (4e) of the body (4a) of the motor-driven pump.

10. Drainage system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drainage outlet (4e) of the body (4a) of the motor-driven pump communicates with a cylindrical internal chamber that extends axialiy in the body (4a) of the motor-driven pump;

the cylindrical chamber (4f) comprising an internal surface (4g) provided with a screw cutting (4h);

a plug (7) comprising a first end part (7b) that seals the drainage orifice (5a) and a second end part adapted for screwing into the screw cutting (4h).

11. Drainage system according to claim 10, characterized in that said system comprises an antifouling filter (9) removably positioned in the cylindrical chamber (4f) and retained in the cylindrical chamber (4f) by one of its ends through the second end part (7c) of the plug (7).

12. Drainage system according to claim 11 , characterized in that said system comprises an antifouling filter (9) that extends to the second end part (7c) of the plug (7) through the cylindrical chamber (4f) and forms part of the plug (7). Drainage system according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the electric motor (4d) of the motor-driven pump is mounted in one end of the body (4a) of the motor-driven pump opposite to drainage outlet (4e).

Washing machine comprising a wash tub (2) and a drainage system, characterized in that the drainage system is that defined in one of the claims 1 through 13.