WO2016142124A1

WO2016142124A1 - Domestic appliance for treating laundry

Info

Publication number: WO2016142124A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/052994
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Praller; Frank Emmerich
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2015-03-11
Filing date: 2016-02-12
Publication date: 2016-09-15
Also published as: DE102015204378A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a domestic appliance (1) for treating laundry, in particular washing machine, comprising at least one screw connection (4) for connecting at least two components (2) of the domestic appliance (1) to each other. In order to obtain are more robust connection between components (2) of a domestic appliance (1) for treating laundry, the screw connection (4) has at least one connecting means (5) which is captively mounted on one of the components (2) to be interconnected, said connecting means having a threaded hole (6) into which a screw (7) of the screw connection (4) can be screwed in order to connect the components (2) to each other.

Description

Domestic appliance for treating laundry

The invention relates to a domestic appliance for treating laundry, in particular a washing machine, comprising at least one screw connection for connecting at least two components of the domestic appliance. Furthermore, the invention relates to a component of a domestic appliance for treating laundry, in particular a washing machine.

A domestic appliance for treating laundry in the form of a washing machine comprises a lye container and a laundry drum arranged rotatably in the lye container. For rotatable mounting of the laundry drum can be attached to one of a filling opening of the laundry drum opposite the rear wall of the laundry drum, a carrying star, via which a torque applied by a drive motor of the washing machine torque is transferable to the laundry drum. Such a supporting star usually comprises at least three, at least partially radially extending support arms, which are rooted to a central portion of the support star, and via which the support star is connected to the laundry drum. On the outside of the tub, at least one ballast body can be arranged to give the tub additional mass and thereby reduce, for example, unbalanced vibrations of the tub during operation of the washing machine.

EP 0 318 120 A1 discloses a washing machine with a tub and a washing drum arranged rotatably therein. On the rear wall of the laundry drum, a carrying star or a bearing cross is attached, via which or a torque applied by a drive motor of the washing machine torque is transferable to the laundry drum. Each support arm of the support star is connected via a screw with the laundry drum.

The object of the invention is to provide a more robust connection between components of a domestic appliance for treating laundry.

This object is solved by the subject matters of the independent claims. Advantageous and preferred, but not necessary in the totality of their respective features necessary developments of the invention are particularly in the dependent claims, each of which, taken alone or in various combinations with each other, may constitute an aspect of the invention.

The household appliance according to the invention for treating laundry comprises at least one screw connection for connecting at least two components of the household appliance, wherein the screw connection has at least one captive on one of the components to be interconnected with connecting means having a threaded bore into which for connecting the components a screw of the screw connection can be screwed.

According to the screw of the screw is not, as in the above-mentioned prior art, screwed directly into a formed on a component of the household appliance threaded hole, but in the threaded bore on the connecting means, which is captively connected to the component. This is particularly advantageous in the case of a component made of a material with which a thread of a threaded bore of the component can only be insufficiently formed with respect to a lasting and reliable reception of mechanical loads acting on the screw connection during operation of the domestic appliance. For example, in a manufactured using a die-cast aluminum component, a threaded hole can be formed only with an insufficient surface of the thread of the threaded hole. As a result, a tightening torque and thereby a maximum achievable clamping force of a corresponding screw connection are relatively limited. This in turn can lead to problems in the strength or robustness of the screw connection, which can lead to a loosening of the screw connection during operation of the domestic appliance. In addition, an increased reject rate can occur in production, which is associated with increased costs for scrapping or reworking the components.

These disadvantages can be reliably avoided by the inventive captive arrangement of the connecting means on the component and the screwing of the screw in the connecting means. Captive here means that the connecting means is permanently connected to the component and an assembly forms with this and that the connecting means do not detach from the component by the force acting on the screw during operation of the domestic appliance forces can. With the invention thus higher tightening torques are possible, whereby a higher strength and robustness of the screw connection is achieved, which is particularly advantageous for domestic appliances whose washing drum is operated at high speeds, for example during a spin operation. With the invention, a loosening of the screw connection can be reliably avoided during operation of the domestic appliance, whereby a total loss of the domestic appliance is prevented. Due to the robustness of the screw connection according to the invention, two or more conventional screw connections, in which the screws are screwed into threaded bores formed directly on the component, can be replaced by a single screw connection according to the invention, which leads to cost savings and weight advantages. Alternatively, the components can also be connected to one another via two or more screw connections according to the invention.

The connecting means is preferably made of a material having a higher strength than the material of the component. For example, the connecting means may be formed of a metal, in particular steel, while the component may be made of a cast material or a composite material.

The domestic appliance can be designed as a washing machine, washer-dryer, tumble dryer or the like.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the connecting means is partially encapsulated with a material of the respective component. The component may be produced using a casting method, wherein the connecting means is inserted in advance in a casting tool used in this case and then partially encapsulated with the material of the component. This makes it possible to produce a very durable and robust form-fitting connection between the connecting means and the component.

According to a further advantageous, the connecting means is designed as a nut. Such nuts, for example in the form of standard nuts or special nuts, are freely available and inexpensively available, which simplifies the manufacture of the domestic appliance and reduces manufacturing costs. An alternative advantageous embodiment provides that the connecting means is designed as a sleeve, wherein on an inner lateral surface of the sleeve, the threaded bore is arranged. This embodiment is inexpensive to implement. It can be procured for the production of corresponding household appliances suitable sleeves on the inner lateral surfaces of the threaded holes are formed.

Advantageously, an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve is at least partially provided with a structure. As a result, the connection between the sleeve and the component can be strengthened. During production of the component using a casting method and a casting tool into which the sleeve has been inserted in advance, a structure complementary to the structure on the outer lateral surface of the sleeve can be formed on a surface of the component which encloses the sleeve radially outside. According to an alternative advantageous embodiment, the connecting means is designed as a sleeve, wherein on an inner lateral surface of the sleeve, the threaded bore and on an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve, an external thread is arranged, via which the sleeve is screwed into a bore on the respective component. In this case, the bore of the component may be formed as a threaded bore. Alternatively, the bore of the component without internal thread and the external thread of the sleeve can be formed thread-cutting. As a result, an internal thread is formed on the bore of the component by screwing the sleeve into the bore, which guarantees a high-quality positive connection between the sleeve and the component. According to a further advantageous embodiment, the component on which the connecting means is arranged, a cast component. For example, the component may be formed as a die-cast component, in particular an aluminum die cast component. Alternatively, the component may be made of another casting material, for example a castable composite material or the like.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the component on which the connecting means is arranged, designed as a carrier star, which is connectable via the screw with a laundry drum of the domestic appliance. The support star can be designed as an aluminum die cast component and at least three have a central portion of the supporting star rooted, at least partially radially extending support arms, via which the carrier star can be connected to the laundry drum. Each support arm of the support star can be connected to the laundry drum via one, two or more corresponding screw connections.

According to an alternative advantageous embodiment, the component on which the connecting means is arranged, designed as ballast body, which is connectable via the screw with a tub of the domestic appliance. The ballast body gives the tub additional mass to reduce, for example, unbalanced vibrations of the tub in the operation of the domestic appliance. The ballast body may be formed as a cast component.

With the invention, a component of a domestic appliance according to one of the aforementioned embodiments or any combination thereof is further proposed, wherein the connecting means is arranged captive on the component. With the component, the advantages mentioned above with respect to the domestic appliance are connected accordingly. The component may be formed, for example, as a star or ballast body. The invention is not limited to the specified combination of the features of the independent claims and the dependent claims. In addition, there are further possibilities of combining individual features, in particular if they result from the patent claims, the following description of the exemplary embodiments or directly from the figures. In addition, the reference of the claims to the figures by the use of reference numerals is not intended to limit the scope of the claims to the illustrated embodiments.

In the following, the invention will be explained by way of example with reference to the attached figures by means of preferred embodiments, wherein the features illustrated below, taken alone or in different combinations with each other, may constitute an aspect of the invention. Show it: Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of an inventive household appliance;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional representation of a further exemplary embodiment of a domestic appliance according to the invention; FIG. and

Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of an inventive household appliance. In the figures, functionally identical components are provided with the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of an inventive household appliance 1 for treating laundry in the form of a washing machine. Of the domestic appliance 1 are only a component 2 in the form of a supporting star cast aluminum, of which a support arm 3 is shown in cross section, and two screw 4 for connecting the component 2 with a not shown further component of the domestic appliance 1 in the form of a laundry drum of the domestic appliance 1 to see. The remaining, not shown support arms of the support star can be designed accordingly.

Each screw 4 comprises a captively arranged on the component 2 connecting means 5 with a threaded bore 6 into which a screw 7 of the respective screw 4 is screwed for connecting the component 2 with the further component, as shown in Fig. 1 on the left. Each connecting means 5 is partially encapsulated with a material of the component 2 and formed as a nut. On the support arm 3, two receptacles 1 1 are formed, which surround the nuts radially outwardly and partially surround, whereby the nuts are arranged captive on the component 2.

Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of an inventive household appliance 1 for treating laundry in the form of a washing machine. Of the domestic appliance 1 are only a component 2 in the form of a supporting star cast aluminum, of which a support arm 3 is shown in cross section, and two screw 4 for connecting the component 2 with a not shown further component of the domestic appliance 1 in the form of a laundry drum of the domestic appliance 1 to see. The remaining, not shown support arms of the support star can be designed accordingly.

Each screw 4 comprises a captively arranged on the component 2 connecting means 5 with a threaded bore 6, into which a screw 7 of the respective screw 4 is screwed for connecting the component 2 with the further component, as shown in Fig. 2 on the left. Each connecting means 5 is partially surrounded with a material of the component 2 and formed as a sleeve, wherein on an inner circumferential surface of the sleeve, the threaded hole 6 is arranged. An outer circumferential surface 8 of each sleeve is provided with a structure having three circumferential grooves 9. The component 2 engages in the grooves 9, whereby the sleeve is arranged captive on the component 2.

Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of an inventive household appliance 1 for treating laundry in the form of a washing machine. Of the domestic appliance 1 are only a component 2 in the form of a supporting star cast aluminum, of which a support arm 3 is shown in cross section, and two screw 4 for connecting the component 2 with a not shown further component of the domestic appliance 1 in the form of a laundry drum of the domestic appliance 1 to see. The remaining, not shown support arms of the support star can be designed accordingly.

Each screw 4 comprises a captively arranged on the component 2 connecting means 5 with a threaded hole 6 into which a screw 7 of the respective screw 4 is screwed for connecting the component 2 with the further component, as shown in Fig. 3 on the left. Each connecting means 5 is formed as a sleeve, wherein on an inner lateral surface of the sleeve, the threaded bore 6 and on an outer circumferential surface 8 of the sleeve, an external thread is arranged, via which the sleeve is screwed into a bore 10 on the component 2. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 household appliance

2 component

3 support arm

4 screw connection

5 connecting means

6 tapped hole

7 screw

8 outer circumferential surface

9 groove

10 hole

1 1 recording

Claims

Domestic appliance (1) for treating laundry, in particular a washing machine, comprising at least one screw connection (4) for connecting at least two components (2) of the domestic appliance (1), characterized in that the screw connection (4) at least one captive on one of them to be connected components (2) arranged connecting means (5) having a threaded bore (6) into which a screw (7) of the screw connection (4) can be screwed for connecting the components (2).

Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means (5) with a material of the respective component (2) is partially encapsulated.

Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting means (5) is designed as a nut.

Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting means (5) is designed as a sleeve, wherein on an inner lateral surface of the sleeve, the threaded bore (6) is arranged.

Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that an outer circumferential surface (8) of the sleeve is at least partially provided with a structure.

Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means (5) is designed as a sleeve, wherein on an inner lateral surface of the sleeve, the threaded bore (6) and on an outer circumferential surface (8) of the sleeve, an external thread is arranged over which the Sleeve is screwed into a bore (10) on the respective component (2).

Domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the component (2) on which the connecting means (5) is arranged is a cast component.

8. domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the component (2) on which the connecting means (5) is arranged, is designed as a star carrier, via the screw (4) with a laundry drum of Domestic appliance (1) is connectable.

9. domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the component (2) on which the connecting means (5) is arranged, is designed as a ballast weight, via the screw (4) with a tub of the Domestic appliance (1) is connectable.

10. component (2) of a domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the connecting means (5) is arranged captive on the component (2).