WO2017005311A1

WO2017005311A1 - Elastic drum baffle for use in a laundry washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2017005311A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/065504
Authority: WO
Inventors: Florin Horea CORCHES; Ibrahim Yildirim
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2015-07-07
Filing date: 2015-07-07
Publication date: 2017-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-07
Also published as: TR201608808A2

Abstract

The present invention provides a drum baffle (1) for use in a top loading type laundry washing machine (2). The washing machine (2) comprises a tub, a drum (3) and an impeller (4). The drum baffle (1) of the present invention comprises a squeezable elastic member (5), an attachment means (6) for attaching the elastic member (5) onto the inner surface (7) of the drum (3) or onto the impeller (4) so as to contact the laundry; a cavity (8) inside the elastic member (5), one or more openings (9) which fluidly connect the cavity (8) to the outside.

Description

ELASTIC DRUM BAFFLE FOR USE IN A LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE

The present invention relates to the treatment of clothes in a laundry washing machine, in particular in a top loading type laundry washing machine as well as in a front loading type laundry washing machine.

Top loading type laundry washing machines and front loading type laundry washing machines are both commonly known in the art. A top loading type laundry washing machine commonly includes a perforated drum which is vertically rotatably or obliquely rotatably disposed into the tub. The top loading type laundry washing machine commonly includes a separate impeller for agitating the washing fluid and the laundry inside the tub. Thereby, the detergent can be dissolved and the dirt can be removed from the laundry. The impeller is generally coaxially rotatably disposed onto the base section of the drum. A driving mechanism rotates the drum and the impeller. During the washing/rinsing cycle, the impeller is generally oscillated back and forth. During the spin-drying cycle, the drum and the impeller are generally jointly rotated.

US 5,297,403 discloses a prior art top loading type laundry washing machine.

A common problem with the prior art top loading type laundry washing machine is that the laundry may not be suffiently agitated and remain dirty after the completion of the washing/rinsing cycle. In general, the poor washing results decrease the user satisfaction. In such incidents the user needs to wash the unclean laundry again. It is commonly known to the top loading type laundry washing machine manufacturers that an increased amount washing/rinsing fluid inside the tub can increase the washing performance and prevent entanglement as well as abrasion of the laundry. However, this increases the water consumption and the detergent consumption. Moreover, the overall energy consumption of the top loading type laundry washing machine increases as well. It is also commonly known to the top loading type laundry washing machine manufacturers that the washing results can be improved by prolonging the washing cycle. However, long washing cycles are disliked by the consumers. In addition, the prolonged washing cycles increase the energy consumption. It is also commonly known to the top loading type laundry washing machine manufacturers that increasing the oscillation frequency of the impeller and/or increasing the size of the impeller can improve the washing results. However, these modifications also increase the energy consumption and the production costs.

Similar problems arise also in the front loading type laundry washing machines (hereinafter shortly referred to as frontloader).

An objective of the present invention is to provide a drum baffle for use in either one of a top loading type laundry washing machine and a front loading type laundry washing machine which solves the aforementioned problems of the prior art in a cost effective way and which enables an improved washing performance with comparatively less water, less detergent and less energy consumption as well as with comparatively less abrasion of the laundry.

This objective has been achieved by the drum baffle as defined in claim 1, and the laundry washing machine as defined in claim 9. Additional achievements have been attained by the subject-matters as defined in the dependent claims respectively.

According to the present invention the drum baffle can be used in front or top loading type laundry washing machine. The drum baffle of the present invention comprises a squeezable elastic member. The squeezable elastic member can be attached through an attachment means onto the inner surface of the drum or, where available, onto the impeller so as to contact the laundry within the drum. A cavity is formed into the elastic member. Also one or more openings are formed into the elastic member so as to fluidly connect the cavity to the outside. During the operation of the toploader/front loader, the elastic member discharges via each opening the washing/rinsing fluid inside the cavity onto the laundry when it is deformed into a squeezed state through the action of the striking laundry, and subsequently sucks via each opening the washing/rinsing fluid into the cavity when it recovers from the squeezed state to the unsqueezed state.

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the washing performance can be improved without increasing the water consumption, the detergent consumption and the energy consumption of the laundry washing machine. In particular, the mechanical energy of the rotating laundry can be transmitted to the drum baffle which, in turn, causes the elastic member to wash the laundry by way of discharging the washing/rinsing fluid onto the laundry and also by way of gently rubbing the laundry. Thereby, the mechanical energy of the laundry can be more efficiently utilized, and the laundry can be more effectively and efficiently washed and rinsed. Thereby, also the abrasion of the laundry can be reduced. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that by virtue of the drum baffle the need of installing any auxiliary device which jets the washing/rinsing fluid into the drum by means of an auxiliary pump has been obviated, and the costs for these auxiliary equipment can be saved. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the drum baffle can be provided in various sizes and attached to various parts inside the drum so as to increase the washing effect on the laundry. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that by virtue of the drum baffle, the amount of water, detergent and the energy consumed in the washing cycle can be even reduced below the traditional levels. Thereby, the overall efficiency of the laundry washing machine can be further improved, and the consumer satisfaction can be increased. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the drum baffle can be manufactured in different colors, shapes, and textures such that the user can personalize the laundry washing machine to his/her individual requirements.

In an embodiment, the elastic member can be detachably attached onto the inner surface of the drum or onto the impeller. In this embodiment, the user or the service person can manually attach/detach the elastic member of the drum baffle through accessing the interior of the drum. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the user can easily deploy a desired number of drum baffles in the laundry washing machine or detach one or more drum baffles for instance when they are not needed. Alternatively, the user can easily detach one or more drum baffles for maintenance or upgrade. The detachable attachment means may be provided in various different ways. For instance, in another embodiment, the elastic member has a headed projection which resiliently fits into a counterpart perforation of the drum or a counterpart aperture on the impeller. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the existing perforations of the drum or the existing apertures on the impeller can be used for the attachment operation of the elastic member. Alternatively one or more additional perforations or additional apertures with different shape and sizes may be provided.

In another alternative embodiment, the elastic member is permanently attached onto the inner surface of the drum or onto the impeller such that the user cannot detach it from the interior of the drum. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the drum baffle can be prevented from becoming lost. The permanent attachment means may be provided in various different ways. For instance, in another alternative embodiment, the headed projection is provided in from of a rivet which is made of plastic or metal that can be adhered, welded, beaten out or pressed down in place.

In another alternative embodiment, the drum baffle is manufactured as a single piece from an elastic material. For instance, a natural rubber or a synthetic rubber which is resistant to detergent may be used. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the rubber improves the squeezing process and the recovery process and also gently rubs the laundry. The elastic material should be provided with a thickness and hardness that quickly responds to the presence/absence of the rotating laundry.

In other alternative embodiments, the elastic member may have various different shapes and sizes. The squeezable elastic member may be bound by one or more curved surfaces and/or one or more flat surfaces. In another embodiment, the squeezable elastic member has a three-dimensional shape which is bound by a base surface and an exposed surface. In this embodiment, the base surface supports the attachment means. And the exposed surface includes the openings and protrudes towards the laundry inside the drum. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the elastic member has a simple configuration which is easy to install. In another embodiment, the elastic member has a substantially hemispherical shape. In other alternative embodiments, the exposed surface may be provided with a smooth, a rough or a raised texture. Thereby, the user is enables to use different drum baffles in accordance with his/her actual requirements.

In another embodiment, the drum baffle has plurality of openings. These openings may be distributed onto the elastic member in many different ways and patterns. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the number of openings and the contact area of elastic member, namely the coverage can be optimized so as to effectively clean the laundry by discharging washing/rinsing fluid and by rubbing the laundry. In a version of this embodiment, the openings are evenly arrayed along one or more curved lines on the exposed surface. In another version of this embodiment, the openings are evenly arrayed along one or more meridians of the hemispherical exposed surface.

Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the drum baffle and the laundry washing machine according to the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 – is a schematic vertical sectional view of a drum baffle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 – is a schematic perspective partial view of a top loading type laundry washing machine which includes a plurality of drum baffles according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 – is another schematic perspective partial view of the top loading type laundry washing machine of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 – is a schematic vertical sectional partial view of the top loading type laundry washing machine of Fig. 2;

Figure 5 – is a schematic enlarged view of the detail A of Fig. 4.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Drum baffle
Washing machine
Drum
Impeller
Elastic member
Attachment means
Inner surface
Cavity
Opening
Headed projection
Perforation
Aperture
Base surface
Exposed surface
Circumferential section
Bottom section
Wing section

The drum baffle (1) is suitable for use in a laundry washing machine (2). The laundry washing machine (2) comprises a tub (not shown), a perforated drum (3) which is rotatably disposed into the tub; and an impeller (4) which is rotatably disposed into the drum (3).

The drum baffle (1) of the present invention comprises a squeezable elastic member (5), an attachment means (6) which is adapted to attach the elastic member (5) onto the inner surface (7) of the drum (3) or onto the impeller (4) so as to contact the laundry (not shown) within the drum (3), a cavity (8) which is formed into the elastic member (5), one or more openings (9) which are formed into the elastic member (5) and which fluidly connect the cavity (8) to the outside, wherein the elastic member (5) is adapted to discharge via each opening (9) the washing/rinsing fluid inside the cavity (8) onto the laundry when it is deformed into a squeezed state through the action of the striking laundry, and to suck via each opening (9) the washing/rinsing fluid into the cavity (8) when it recovers from the squeezed state to the unsqueezed state.

The laundry washing machine (2) of the present invention comprises one or more drum baffles (1).

In an embodiment, that the attachment means (6) is further adapted to detachably attach the elastic member (5) onto the inner surface (7) of the drum (3) or onto the impeller (4) such that the elastic member (5) can be manually attached/detached through accessing the interior of the drum (3). In a version of this embodiment, the attachment means (6) comprises a resilient headed projection (10) which is adapted to resiliently fit into a counterpart perforation (11) of the drum (3) or an aperture (12) on the impeller (4).

In another embodiment, the squeezable elastic member (5), including the attachment means (6), the cavity (8), and the openings (9) are manufactured as a single piece from an elastic material that includes rubber. In a version of this embodiment, the elastic material includes silicone rubber.

In another embodiment, the squeezable elastic member (5) has a three-dimensional shape which is bound by a base surface (13) which supports the attachment means (6), and an exposed surface (14) which includes the openings (9). In a version of this embodiment, the base surface (13) and the exposed surface (14) define a substantially hemispherical shape.

In another embodiment, the drum baffle (1) comprises a plurality of openings (9) which are evenly arrayed along one or more curved lines on the exposed surface (14). In a version of this embodiment, the curved lines correspond to the meridians of the hemispherically shaped elastic member (5).

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that by virtue of the drum baffle (1) the washing performance of the laundry washing machine (2) can be improved without increasing the water consumption, the detergent consumption and the energy consumption. During the washing/rinsing cycle, the mechanical energy of the rotating laundry can be transmitted to the drum baffle (1) which, in turn, causes the elastic member (5) to wash/rinse the laundry by way of discharging the washing/rinsing fluid onto the laundry and also by way of gently rubbing the laundry. Thereby, the mechanical energy which is generated by the drum and/or the impeller, depending on the type of the washing machine (2), can be more efficiently utilized, and the laundry can be more effectively and efficiently washed and rinsed. Thereby, also the abrasion of the laundry can be reduced. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that by virtue of the drum baffle (1), the need of installing any auxiliary device (not shown) which jets the washing/rinsing fluid into the drum (3) by means of an auxiliary pump (not shown) has been obviated, and thus the costs for these auxiliary equipment (not shown) can be saved. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the drum baffle (1) can be provided in various sizes and attached to various parts inside the drum (3), including the circumferential section (15), the bottom section (16), the wing section (17) of the drum (3) or the impeller (4) so as to increase the washing effect on the laundry. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that by virtue of the drum baffle (1), the amount of water, detergent and energy consumed in the washing cycle can be even reduced below the traditional levels. Thereby, the overall efficiency of the laundry washing machine (2) can be further improved, and the consumer satisfaction can be increased. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the drum baffle (1) can be manufactured in different colors, shapes, and textures such that the user can personalize the laundry washing machine (2) to his/her individual requirements. Other advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the aforementioned particular embodiments.

Claims

A drum baffle (1) for use in a laundry washing machine (2) comprising a tub, a perforated drum (3) which is rotatably disposed into the tub and an impeller (4) which is rotatably disposed into the drum (3), the drum baffle (1) being characterized in that a squeezable elastic member (5), an attachment means (6) adapted to attach the elastic member (5) onto the inner surface (7) of the drum (3) or onto the impeller (4) so as to contact the laundry within the drum (3), a cavity (8) which is formed into the elastic member (5), one or more openings (9) which are formed into the elastic member (5) and fluidly connect the cavity (8) to the outside, wherein the elastic member (5) is adapted to discharge via each opening (9) the washing/rinsing fluid inside the cavity (8) onto the laundry when it is deformed into a squeezed state through the action of the striking laundry and to suck via each opening (9) the washing/rinsing fluid into the cavity (8) when it recovers from the squeezed state to the unsqueezed state.
The drum baffle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means (6) is further adapted to detachably attach the elastic member (5) onto the inner surface (7) of the drum (3) or onto the impeller (4) such that the elastic member (5) can be manually attached/detached through accessing the interior of the drum (3).
The drum baffle (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the attachment means (6) comprises a resilient headed projection (10) which is adapted to resiliently fit into a counterpart perforation (11) of the drum (3) or an aperture (12) on the impeller (4).
The drum baffle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means (6) is further adapted to permanently attach the elastic member (5) onto the inner surface (7) of the drum (3) or onto the impeller (4).
The drum baffle (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the squeezable elastic member (5), including the attachment means (6), the cavity (8) and the openings (9) are manufactured as a single piece from an elastic material that includes rubber.
The drum baffle (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the squeezable elastic member (5) has a three-dimensional shape which is bound by a base surface (13) which supports the attachment means (6), and an exposed surface (14) which includes the openings (9).
The drum baffle (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the base surface (13) and the exposed surface (14) define a substantially hemispherical shape.
The drum baffle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a plurality of openings (9) which are evenly arrayed along one or more curved lines on the exposed surface (14) of the squeezable elastic member (5).
A laundry washing machine (2) comprising a tub, a perforated drum (3) which is rotatably disposed into the tub, characterized in that one or more drum baffles (1) each as defined in claim 8.
The laundry washing machine (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that an impeller (4) which is rotatably disposed into the drum (3).