A washing machine wherein the unbalanced load is balanced

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine in which the unbalanced load inside the drum is balanced by using water.

[0002] In washing machines having drums rotating about a horizontal axis, at various stages of the washing program, the washing process is carried out using a drum rotated at different speeds. When the drum is rotated, there is an uneven load distribution as a result of the accumulation of laundry in certain areas. In particular, in the spin drying stage, in which the drum is rotated at high speeds, the unbalanced load caused by the laundry and structural factors increases vibration and noise and causes washing machine wear. In addition, it has a negative effect on the drying efficiency by spinning carried out in the washing machine.

[0003] Various solutions have been developed in the prior art to balance unbalanced load. A common method is to attach balancing weights made of heavy materials, such as concrete or metal, to the washing tub. Due to the fact that balancing weights make transporting a washing machine difficult, in accordance with some embodiments, water is used to achieve balancing action. Water is filled into the balancing chambers formed on the ladle or drum to balance the detected unbalanced load and is discharged when the unbalanced load is eliminated. Using water to balance an unbalanced load also causes some problems. In particular, because it is necessary to use a certain number of sealing materials and elements to transfer water to the areas where balancing is carried out, the cost increases, in addition, as the elements used take up a lot of space inside the washing machine, the volume of the laundry may decrease. In prior art embodiments, water taken from the outside for balancing is generally transferred to chambers on the drum bulkheads by passing it through the drum hub and the tub where the drum rotating shaft is mounted. Water taken from the water supply is supplied to the gaps between the sealing elements placed in a certain sequence on the part of the hub where the shaft is mounted. If the number of baffles on the drum is (n) and if it is necessary to carry out the balancing process in the front and rear baffle chambers, for (2n) front and rear balancing chambers, it is necessary to use (2n) slots and (2n + 1) sealing elements . For example, if there are 6 front and rear balancing chambers together in a washing machine having a drum with 3 compartments, it is necessary to use 6 slots and 7 sealing elements to supply water to each of the balancing chambers, as a result of which the cost increases, and the gaps and sealing elements occupy more space, the increasing number of sealing elements produced with very small tolerances increases the cost and the drum volume decreases, in which laundry is placed.

[0004] The prior art Japanese Patent Application No. JP2002136792 describes an additional grooved element that rests on a shaft bearing and provides water transfer to the baffle on the drum by directing it in the event of an unbalanced load. This additional element does not rotate and the water in the groove is supplied to the water tanks through the channel, while the shaft bearing rotates.

[0005] The prior art international patent application No. WO2008 / 125498 describes the supply of water to the baffle in the drum above the bearing in which the drum shaft is mounted for balancing.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to obtain a washing machine in which the unbalanced load in the drum precisely balances when using water.

[0007] The washing machine obtained to achieve the purpose of the present invention as set out in the first patent claim and the claims dependent on it comprises balancing chambers located in the drum partitions at the front and rear, to which water is supplied to balance the unbalanced load present in the drum, and seals and gaps , which ensure the distribution of water into the balancing chambers from the ladle hub part, and the drum, and water taken from the outside for the balancing process is first supplied to the slots, and then to the balancing chambers corresponding to each slit. Each slot is connected to a single drum partition and each slot is divided into two compartments by a separator. Each compartment that separates the separator in the gap is connected to the balancing chamber located in the drum partition and water is supplied from each compartment in the gap to the balancing chamber to which this compartment is connected almost independently of the other compartment.

[0008] The separator is attached to the inner surface of the housing, which is part of the drum surrounding the hub of the ladle and slot, so that it completely surrounds the slot and concentrically rotates around the same axis as the drum, housing, seals and slots. The seals rotate around the ladle hub and rub the ladle hub to ensure tightness. On the other hand, the separators, unlike the seals, rotate around the drum hub without contacting the drum hub. Thus, it is not necessary to manufacture separators from a material as resistant to friction and costly as seals.

[0009] The separator has an annular rim that is attached to the inner surface of the housing completely surrounding the gap, which surrounds the compartments and which rotates around the gap with the casing, and an annular extension which is connected to the inner surface of this rim, which runs forward between the water inlet ducts exiting the gap passing through the gap from the outside towards the inside in the radial direction and which thereby divides the gap into compartments almost from its center in the radial direction.

[0010] The separator, moreover, has two openings that are located on the periphery, which overlap the water distribution lines supplying water to the balancing chambers and rotate together with the distribution lines, gap, rim and extension, which provides water pressure on the inner the periphery surface due to the centrifugal force so that it reaches the distribution conduit by passing through the periphery in the radial direction.

[0011] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the separator has blades that extend into the compartments from both sides of the extension on the inner side of the periphery, which rotate with the edge, and which increase the centrifugal force acting on directing water onto the inner surface of the periphery surrounding the compartment rotary motion. The blades run in a flat or curved manner on the inside of the separator towards the inside surface of the rim. The impact of curved blades consisting in increasing the centrifugal force acting on the water supplied to the balancing chambers from the compartments is greater than in the case of flat blades.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the separator has two channels that are located between the blades and the inner surface of the periphery on both sides of the extension facing the compartments that run around the inner surface of the periphery and allow water transfer along the inner surface of the periphery.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the separator has a groove that extends around the outer surface of the rim and which, thanks to the O-ring mounted on it, ensures that the separator is attached to the inner surface of the housing in a tight manner at the same level as the slots.

In the washing machine according to the present invention, in the case of an unbalanced load, water in an amount that compensates for the unbalanced load and reduces this effect to a minimum, is taken from the water supply network and is supplied to the gaps between the seals located on the part of the hub where the shaft is mounted rotating drum, and is passed to the balancing chambers on the partitions from the slots. By means of a separator connected to each slot, two chambers are supplied by one blade from two different compartments in a single aperture, and therefore a single aperture serves as two separate apertures, the two balancing chambers in the drum compartment are supplied almost independently of each other from separate compartments through a single aperture , which reduces the number of gaps. Use for this saves money by reducing the number of expensive seals that are produced with small tolerances. In addition, by reducing the space occupied by the seal-gap structure, the load capacity of the drum in terms of laundry for laundry is increased.

[0015] The washing machine obtained to achieve the purpose of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 - shows a schematic view of a washing machine.

Figure 2 - shows a view of detail D1 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 - shows a view of detail D2 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 - perspective view of the separator.

Figure 5 - perspective view of the separator on which the curved blades are placed on the inside.

Figure 6 - perspective view of a separator having flat blades.

[0016] The elements shown in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washing machine

2. Drum

3. Vat

4. Shaft

5. Hub

6. Housing

7. Gasket

8. Gap

9. Drum divider

10. 110 chamber

11. , 111 Water inlet valve

12. Control unit

13. 113, Water inlet hose

14. , 114 Water distribution hose

15. , 115 Range

16. Separator

17. Rim

18. Extension

19. , 119 Hole

twenty. Blade

21. Channel

22. Groove [0017] The washing machine (1) comprises a drum (2) rotated by a motor (M) about a horizontal axis (E) in which the laundry is placed, the tub (3) in which the drum (2) moves, the shaft ( 4), which transmits the motion transmitted by the motor (M) to the drum (2), the hub (5) located in the middle of the rear wall of the ladle (3), which is stationary with the ladle (3) and in which the shaft (4) is mounted, cylindrical the casing (6) located in the center of the rear wall of the drum (2), surrounding hub (5) concentrically and rotating with the drum (2), annular seals (7) - more than one, located between the cylindrical inner surface of the housing (6) and the cylindrical outer surface of the hub (5), located one after the other and parallel to themselves, whose outer edges are attached to the outer surface of the housing (6), rotating together with the housing (6) and whose inner edges contact the cylindrical outer surface of the hub (5) so that they rotate around the hub (5) rubbing it, slots (8) - more than one, placed between the seals (7) and positioned one after the other and parallel to each other between the housing (6) and the hub (5), at least one drum partition (9) located on the inner surface of the drum (2) that provides laundry tumbling, more than one compartment (10, 110) located in the drum partition (9) and to which water is supplied in accordance with the load imbalance status, more than one water inlet valve (11, 111), which ensures the supply of the necessary amount of water to the chambers (10, 110) from the water supply network for balancing process, a control unit (12) that opens / closes the water inlet valves (11, 111) by determining the amount and location of the unbalanced load after detecting the unbalanced load and which determines what amount of water should be delivered to which drum (9) and chamber (10, 110).

[0018] The washing machine (1) according to the present invention has • at least two water inlet hoses (13, 113) coming into the gap (8) passing through the hub (5) and which are stationary together with the ladle (3), one the end of each is connected to the water inlet valves (11, 111) and the other ends to the gap (8), • at least two water distribution lines (14, 114), with one end of each being connected to the gap ( 8), and the other end - with chambers (10, 110) and which supply water from the gap (8) to the chambers (10, 110), and

• at least one separator (16), which is placed between two seals (7), which extends inside the gap (8), which separates the gap (8) into at least two compartments (15, 115), which ensures water supply from the first water inlet hose (13) to the first compartment (15), and from there to the first water supply hose (14), and supplying water from the second water inlet conduit (113) to the second compartment (115) and from there to the second water supply conduit (114), and which thereby provides supply to the chambers (10, 110) from separate compartments (15, 115) through this the gap (8) almost independently of each other.

[0019] In the washing process in the washing machine (1), the control unit (12) detects an unbalanced load in the drum (2) and controls the operation of the water inlet valves (11, 111). The control unit (12) supplies water through the first water inlet hose (13) by opening the first water inlet valve (11) after detecting an unbalance in the first chamber (10), the water flowing into the gap (8) fills only the first compartment (15) thanks to the separator (16) and is supplied to the first water distribution line (14), and from there to the first chamber (10) by centrifugal force. The control unit (12) supplies water through the second water inlet hose (113) by opening the second water inlet valve (111) after detecting an unbalance in the second chamber (110), the water flowing into the gap (8) only fills the second compartment (115) thanks to the separator (16) and is supplied to the second water supply line (114), and from there to the second chamber (110) by centrifugal force. The single slot (8) serves as two separate slots (8) thanks to the separator (16), and the separator (16) almost completely prevents the flow of water from one compartment (15, 115) to the other compartment (15, 115) and water can be supplied separately up to two chambers (10, 110) from each slot (8) thanks to compartments (15, 115).

[0020] The separator (16) has an annular rim (17) which is attached to the cylindrical inner surface of the housing (6) between the seals (7) and which rotates together with the housing (6), and an annular extension (18) which is connected to the inner surface of the rim (17) and which runs in the radial direction in the direction between the water inlet ducts (13, 113), escaping into the gap (8) so that there remains a gap (G) between the cylindrical outer surface of the hub (5) and the extension (18) (Figure 3).

[0021] The seals (7) are in close contact with the cylindrical outer surface of the hub (5) and rotate by rubbing to ensure a tight connection between the slots (8). Thus, the seal (7) is made of friction-resistant and expensive material. The separator (16), on the other hand, is made of non-friction and inexpensive material, since the extension (18) rotates without contacting the cylindrical outer surface of the hub (5). Due to the fact that the separator (16) does not contact the outer surface of the hub (5), a small amount of water can flow from one compartment (15, 115) to the other compartment (15, 115) through the gap (G) between the separator ( 16) and the outer surface of the hub (5), however, the amount of water flowing from one compartment (15, 115) to the other compartment (15, 115) is insignificant and has no negative impact on the balancing process.

[0022] The separator (16), moreover, has at least two holes (19, 119) which are located on the periphery (17) which overlap the water distribution pipes (14, 114) and which rotate together with the housing (6 ), and water distribution lines (14, 114) that supply water adhering to the inner surface of the periphery (17) due to the centrifugal force that reaches the water distribution lines (14, 114) by flowing radially through the periphery (17) (Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6).

[0023] Water flowing from the water inlet hose (13, 113) into the gap (8) and filling the compartment (15, 115) that separates the separator (16) in the gap (8) adheres to the inner surface of the rim (17) due to the force centrifugal and reaches the water distribution pipe (14, 114) through the opening (19, 119) from the inner surface of the rim (17) and then into the chamber (10, 110).

[0024] When the washing machine (1) is running, the partition drum (9), housing (6), seals (7), slots (8), distribution lines (14, 114) and separators (16) rotate together with the drum (2) ) around the horizontal axis (E). The seals (7) contact the hub (5), but the separators (16) do not contact the hub (5). After the unbalanced load is detected by the control unit (12), the quantity and location of the unbalanced load is determined and to which chamber (10, 110) in which partition (9) water should be supplied, then the first necessary amount of water is taken from the water supply network thanks to the inlet valves water (11, 111) and water is supplied via water inlet ducts (13, 113) to the compartment (15, 115) connected to the chamber (10, 110), where imbalance has been detected. Water entering the appropriate compartment (15, 115) reaches the appropriate chamber (10, 110) through the appropriate opening (19, 119) and the appropriate water distribution pipe (14, 114) without flowing through another compartment (15, 115) in this the gap (8) itself or by flowing a small amount through the gap (G) thanks to the separator (16).

[0025] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the separator (16) has more than one blade (20) which is connected to the extension (18) on the inner side of the rim (17) which extends inside the compartments (15, 115) from both sides of the extension (18), which rotates together with the flange (17) and the extension (18), which increases the speed of water supplied to the water distribution pipe (14, 114) in the compartment (15, 115) by increasing the centrifugal force affecting the orientation towards the inner surface of the rim (17) during the rotational movement (Figure 5, Figure 6).

[0026] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the blades (20) extend in the direction of the inner surface of the rim (17) in a radial direction on both sides of the extension (18) (Figure 6).

[0027] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the blades (20) extend towards the inner surface of the rim (17) in a curved manner compared to the radial direction on both sides of the extension (18) (Figure 5). The curved blades (20) ensure the supply of water at an increased speed to the inner surface of the rim (17) and to the water distribution pipe (14, 114) thanks to the opening (19, 119) by increasing the centrifugal force acting on the water in the compartments (15, 115) more than on flat shoulders (20). [0028] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the separator (16) has two channels (21) which are formed by cutting off part of the blades (20) near the inner surface of the rim (17) or by giving the blades (20) a hollow form with both sides of the extension (18), which extend around the inner surface of the rim (17) and which supply water to the compartment (15, 115) during rotation, and in which the action of centrifugal force on them is increased by the vanes (20) to reach the opening (19, 119) on the inner surface of the rim (17) (Figure 3, Figure 5).

[0029] Water reaching the compartment (15, 115) through the water inlet pipe (13, 113) continues its movement in the radial direction and first reaches the blades (20) located in the compartment (15, 115) and then to the channel (21 ). Water reaching the channel (21) exerts pressure on the inner surface of the rim (17) due to the centrifugal force and quickly flows into the water distribution pipe (14, 114) through the opening (19, 119).

[0030] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the separator (16) has a groove (22) which extends around the outer surface of the rim (17) and which, thanks to the O-ring mounted thereon, ensures the attachment of the separator (16) to the inner surface the housing (6) in a sealed manner at the same level as the slots (8) (Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6).

[0031] In the washing machine (1) of the present invention, when an unbalanced load is detected by the control unit (12), water is taken from the water supply in an amount that compensates for the unbalanced load and reduces its impact to a minimum, and is delivered to the appropriate compartments (15, 115) in the gaps (8) located between the seals (7) located in the part where the shaft (4) rotating the drum (2) is mounted by means of water inlet pipes (13, 113), and then directed to the chambers (10, 110) from the compartments (15, 115) via the water distribution lines (14, 114). The separator (16) dividing each slot (8) into two compartments (15, 115) ensures the supply of chambers (10, 110) through a single slot (8) almost independently of each other, with the use of separate slots (8) for delivery to each the chamber (10, 110) is no longer required and thus the cost is reduced by using fewer gaps (8) and seals (7) compared to prior art embodiments. Thanks to the separator (16), water not affecting the balancing process flows from one compartment (15, 115) to the other compartment (15, 115) in the gap (8) through the gap (G) between the separator (16) and the hub (5). Thus, one slot (8) serves as two separate slots (8), two chambers (10, 110) in one drum partition (9) are provided by a single slot (8), the number of slots (8), and thus costly seals (7) ), which are difficult to manufacture, is reduced, savings are provided by using fewer gaskets (7) instead of more gaskets (7) and using cheaper separators (16).

[0032] It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above, and one skilled in the art can easily introduce various embodiments.

They are to be considered as falling within the scope of protection arising from the claims of the present invention.

Aręelik Anonymous Sirketi Proxy:

PL-PAT-2012-215

EP 2 572 025 B1