WO2019129400A1

WO2019129400A1 - A washer-dryer prevented from being damaged during transportation

Info

Publication number: WO2019129400A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/076827
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ismet Bayhan; Serkan Erten; Murat CARPAR; Selahattin CORAK
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2017-12-25
Filing date: 2018-10-02
Publication date: 2019-07-04
Also published as: EP3732320B1; EP3732320A1; TR201721666A2

Abstract

The washer-dryer (1) of the invention comprises a drum in which the laundry items are placed, a tub (3) in which the drum rotates, a body (2) to which the tub (3) is fixed during transportation, a first hole (8) provided on the rear wall of the body (2), a second hole (9) on the same direction with the first hole (8), provided on the rear wall of the tub (3), and at least one fastening member (4) enabling fixing the tub (3) to the body (2) during transportation.

Description

A WASHER-DRYER PREVENTED FROM BEING DAMAGED DURING TRANSPORTATION

The present invention relates to a washer-dryer prevented from being damaged during transportation.

In washer-dryers, the tub in which the drum loaded with the laundry items rotates, is connected to the body by means of damping members such as springs or dampers, in order to stabilize the loads occurring during washing/drying processes. During transportation, in order to prevent the tub from colliding the body and to prevent the damping members connecting the tub to the body from being overloaded, the tub is temporarily fixed to the body to be dismantled after transportation. Exceptional forces act on the washer-dryer being transported when the transporting vehicle halts abruptly, or when the washer-dryer is dropped off or unloaded on the ground uncarefully. Such forces also act on the fastening members fixing the tub to the body during transportation. In this case, both the fastening member and the hole through which the fastening member is fixed to the tub and its vicinity become damaged. Although coupling assemblies are used, counteracting and damping the forces received from several directions, in order to avert the damages likely to occur due to unexpected overloading incidents during transportation, additional members such as crossbars, etc. should be used to fix such assemblies to the washer-dryer. Considering that such assemblies would be used only in transportation operations, using them substantially increases the costs.

State of the art international patent application no. WO2010076134 discloses a fastening member provided between a tub and a body, comprising a shield protecting the head portion of a bolt and also damping the forces on the vertical axis.

State of the art European patent application no. EP0916760 discloses a fastening mechanism passed through a crossbar placed transversally at the rear wall of a washing machine, wherein the bolt head rests on the crossbar or on the rear body wall, comprising a plastic sleeve and a pressure spring counteracting the axial loads and lateral slips between the bolt head and the tub.

Another state of the art embodiment is the German patent application no. DE19703396. This document discloses a fastening member provided between a tub and a body, comprising a bolt having a piece wound with elastic material and a sleeve fixed to said piece.

Another state of the art embodiment, international patent application no. WO2005066408 discloses a fastening member preventing damages likely to occur during transportation.

State of the art international patent application no. WO2008104478 discloses a fastening member whose strength is enhanced by forming the screw pitches on its end entering the crossbar, in varying directions.

The aim of the present is to realize a washer-dryer prevented from being damaged during transportation.

The washer-dryer realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the first claim and the dependent claims, comprises a retainer extending between the tub and the body, coupling a tub and a body to each other, a shield having two arms, surrounding the retainer, enabling maintaining the distance between the tub and the body, and a cover made of elastic material, resting in the seat disposed at the end of the shield out of the body.

The shield and the cover preferably made of plastic material, enable preventing the retainer and the walls of the holes from being damaged and enable the tub and the body not to move independently relative to each other during transportation, by damping the forces likely to act on the retainer and a first and a second hole in which the retainer is placed, when the washer-dryer is subjected to unexpected forces in case of falling or colliding severely.

The holder on the shield and at least two arms extending outwards from the holder, are separated from each other by means of at least two slits. In this case, the arms approach to or move away from each other. Thanks to the arms of elastic structure, the fastening member is easily and rapidly mounted on the washer-dryer, and the most significant function of said arms is surrounding the cover in radial direction when the cover settles in the seat forming on the side of the retainer beyond the body, and protecting the cover and the retainer from external forces.

When an external force is applied on the fastening member, the force first acts on the arms of the shield. In this case, the arms move closer to each other until they contact the cover. Since the cover is also made of elastic material, when application of the forces is continued, the arms abut on the cover, and the cover damps the applied force by flexing, effectively protecting the retainer from external forces.

The invention enables the forces externally applied during transportation on the fastening member to be damped, and the fastening member to be mounted easily and simply on a washer-dryer.

A washer-dryer realized to achieve the aims of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a washer-dryer.

Figure 2 is a frontal perspective view of a fastening member.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fastening member from behind.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the fastening member.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

Washer/dryer
Body
Tub
Fastening member
Retainer
Shield
Door
First hole
Second hole
Arm
Slit
Holder
Seat
Support
Extension
Slot
Tie piece
Bar

The washer-dryer (1) comprises a drum in which the laundry items are placed, a tub (3) in which the drum rotates, a body (2) to which the tub (3) is fixed during transportation, a first hole (8) provided on the rear wall of the body (2), a second hole (9) on the same direction with the first hole (8), provided on the rear wall of the tub (3), and at least one fastening member (4) enabling fixing the tub (3) to the body (2) during transportation.

The washer-dryer (1) of the invention comprises a retainer (5) provided on the fastening member (4), coupling the body (2) and the tub (3) to each other, a shield (6) at least partially surrounding the retainer (5), extending between the tub (3) and the body (2), a cover (7) mounted to the first hole (8) so as to be above the portion of the retainer (6) out of the body (2), protecting the head portion of the retainer (5), and at least two slits (11) extending between the body (2) and the tub (3) up to the end of the retainer (5) out of the body (2) and at least two arms (10) separated from each other by the slits (11), both provided on the shield (6) (Figure 1).

In an embodiment of the invention, the retainer (5) is a bolt and bears the loads occurring due to oscillations of the tub (3). The portion of the retainer (5) with the screw pitches, is disposed between the tub (3) and the drum, and its head portion extends outwards from the rear wall of the body (2).

The washer-dryer (1) further comprises a slot (16) provided on the cover (7), through which the retainer (5) passes, an annular support (14) surrounding the slot (16), and a cylindrical extension (15) extending outwards from the support (14) and at least partially surrounding the retainer (5) so as not leave a gap in between. In addition, the washer-dryer (1) comprises one or more tie pieces (17) provided on the support (14), spacedly arranged circumferentially in radial direction, enhancing the flexibility and also the strength of the cover (7). The cover (7) is preferably made of an elastic material damping the forces applied thereon.

The washer-dryer (1) comprises a cylindrical holder (12) provided on the portion of the shield (6) abutting the body (2) and between the tub (3) and the body (2), at least partially surrounding the retainer (5) so as not to leave a gap in between, and a seat (13) surrounding the cover (7), provided at the end of the arms (10) extending outwards from the body (2). The seat (13) has annular structure and comprises two semi-circles. The shield (6) surrounds the retainer (5) and also maintains the distance between the tub (3) and the body (2) (Figure 2 and Figure 3).

The washer-dryer (1) comprises at least one bar (18) provided on each one of the arms (10), used to enhance the strength of an arm (10). The bars (18) prevent the flexing arms (10) from breaking by enhancing their strength.

The cover (7) and the shield (6) prevent damages on the retainer (5) and on the walls of the first and the second holes (8 and 9) through which the retainer (5) is coupled to the tub (3) and the body (2), due to an impact likely to occur if the washer-dryer (1) is dropped off or unloaded on the ground uncarefully during transportation.

In the embodiment of the invention, the fastening member (4) is mounted between the tub (3) and the body (2) before transportation, preventing movement of the tub (3) coupled to the body (2). The retainer (5), cover (7) and the shield (6) are arranged on the same axis when the fastening member (4) is placed between the tub (3) and the body (2). The fastening member (4) is placed on the washer-dryer (1) as follows. First, the shield (6) is passed through the first and the second holes (8 and 9). The shield (6) is advanced until the holder (12) abuts the wall of the second hole (9). When the holder (12) abuts the wall of the second hole (9), the arms (10) approach the horizontal axis of the shield (6) and flex, and the arms (10) extending outwards from the first hole (8) move closer to each other. The shield (6) can easily be passed through the first hole (8) since it has an elastic structure thanks to the arms (10) separated by two slits (11), When the shield (6) is completely placed between the tub (3) and the body (2), a gap remains between the arms (10) disposed out of the body (2). The gap and the seat (13) act as a chamber protecting the cover (7). In this case, the cover (7) is fitted on the retainer (5). When the cover (7) is fully fitted on the retainer (5), the head portion of the retainer (5) fully abuts the support of the cover (7). Then, the cover (7) and the retainer (5) are fitted into the seat (13) on the first hole (8). In the meanwhile, the arms (10) flex again, enabling the cover (7) to completely settle in the seat (13). In this embodiment of the invention, the seat (13) completely surrounds the cover (7) in radial axis, protecting it against external forces (Figure 4).

When the washer-dryer (1) is subjected to an unexpected force due to an impact or dropping during transportation, the tub (3) downwardly forces the fastening member (4) fixing it to the body (2). As a consequence of this force, the walls of the first and the second hole (8 and 9) to which the retainer (5) is mounted, are also forced. In this case, the seat (13) abutting to the wall of the first hole (8) and the cover (7) with elastic properties provided therein, counteract against the force from the fastening member (4), preventing the retainer (5) and the first and the second holes (8 and 9) from being damaged. Thus, the region on which the retainer (5) is fixed, is avoided from being deformed due to being overloaded. After completion of transportation, first the retainer (5) is removed together with the cover (7), then the shield (6) is removed by being pulled out of the first hole (8). The arms (10) are moved closer to each other by being flexed when the shield (6) is being removed, facilitating its removal from the first hole (8).

The fastening member (4) provided in the washer-dryer (1) of the invention, prevents the tub (3) from colliding the body (2) during transportation. Furthermore, the impacts likely to be applied on the retainer (5) in case of a collision or falling, first act on the shield (6) and the cover (7) and are thereby damped, and excessive forces are prevented from reaching the tub (3) by being distributed over the body (2). In addition, the fastening member (4) is enabled to be mounted easily and rapidly on the washer -dryer (1) thanks to the shield (6) and the cover (7).

Claims

A washer-dryer (1) comprising a drum in which the laundry items are placed, a tub (3) in which the drum rotates, a body (2) to which the tub (3) is fixed during transportation, a first hole (8) provided on the rear wall of the body (2), a second hole (9) on the same direction with the first hole (8), provided on the rear wall of the tub (3), and at least one fastening member (4) enabling fixing the tub (3) to the body (2) during transportation, characterized by

- a retainer (5) provided on the fastening member (4), coupling the body (2) and the tub (3) to each other,

- a shield (6) at least partially surrounding the retainer (5), extending between the tub (3) and the body (2),

- a cover (7) mounted to the first hole (8) so as to be above the portion of the retainer (6) out of the body (2), protecting the head portion of the retainer (5), and

- at least two slits (11) extending between the body (2) and the tub (3) up to the end of the retainer (5) out of the body (2) and at least two arms (10) separated from each other by the slits (11), both provided on the shield (6).
A washer-dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the retainer (5) which is a bolt.
A washer-dryer (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by a slot (16) provided on the cover (7), through which the retainer (5) passes, an annular support (14) surrounding the slot (16), and a cylindrical extension (15) extending outwards from the support (14), and at least partially surrounding the retainer (5) so as not leave a gap in between.
A washer-dryer (1) according to claim 3, characterized by one or more tie pieces (17) provided on the support (14), spacedly arranged circumferentially in radial direction, enhancing the flexibility and also the strength of the cover (7).
A washer-dryer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the cover (7) made of elastic material.
A washer-dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized by a cylindrical holder (12) provided on the portion of the shield (6) abutting the tub (3) and between the tub (3) and the body (2), at least partially surrounding the retainer (5) so as not to leave a gap in between, and by a seat (13) surrounding the cover (7), provided at the end of the arms (10) extending outwards from the body (2).
A washer-dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized by at least one bar (18) provided on each arm (10), used to enhance the strength of an arm (10).