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(11) | EP 1 045 063 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Washing machine with improved filtering device |
| (57) Washing machine contained in a piece of furniture (51), said washing machine comprising
a washing tank (5), a hydraulic drain circuit of the washing liquid in the tank (5)
and filtration means (50) hydraulically connected to the hydraulic drain circuit.
Said filtration means are hydraulically connected with said hydraulic drain circuit
by extendible hydraulic connection means, so that said filtration means (50) are extractable
from the piece of furniture (51) containing the washing machine, and said extendible
hydraulic connection means serve as a tank for the washing liquid present in the hydraulic
drain circuit. |
[0001] The present invention refers to a washing machine with improved filtering device, more in particular for a laundry washing machine. Even more particularly this invention refers to a washing machine for domestic use, particularly but not exclusively for a front load type washing machine.
[0002] In traditional washing machines, the action of filtration of the water outflowing from the washing tank is carried out by a structure external to the same washing tank. By means of a tubular mean the washing water, primarily during the centrifugal stage, is introduced in a filtering cartridge device in which a proper rigid filter suitable to eliminate the various deposits and impurities found in the washing water is present. Subsequently the latter is sucked by an appropriate hydraulic pump and it is expelled on the outside through an appropriate drain pipe.
[0003] In modern washing machines, the filtering device is positioned in the lower zone of the structure of the piece of furniture that contains the washing machine, mainly for esthetical needs. As known, a frequently performed operation consists in the inspection and cleaning of the filter. Such operation becomes onerous since it obliges the user to preventively recover, with means of emergency, all the water contained in the drain circuit.
[0004] Currently, in order to avoid these complications inherent the operation of inspection and cleaning of the filter and its possible substitution, in some washing machines the filtering device is positioned at a certain height of the piece of furniture. A vertical tank suitable to contain the volume of backflow water of the drain pipe is connected to such device. Or instead, for esthetical needs, this tank is made with a wide surface but a small containment column, and it is then covered with a plastic cover.
[0005] In view of the state of the art herein described, object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine provided with a filtering device that is both aesthetically and functionally more advantageous than the known technology.
[0006] According to the present invention, such object is attained by means of a washing machine contained in a piece of furniture, said washing machine comprising a washing tank, a hydraulic drain circuit of the washing liquid in the tank and filtration means that are hydraulically connected with the hydraulic drain circuit, characterized in that said filtration means are hydraulically connected with said hydraulic drain circuit by extendible hydraulic connection means, so that said filtration means are extractable from the piece of furniture containing the washing machine, and said extendible hydraulic connection means serve as a tank for the washing liquid that is present in the hydraulic drain circuit.
[0007] Owing to the present invention it is possible to realise a washing machine with a filtering device in which the operation of inspection can be carried out with greater convenience and effectiveness, without any danger for the outflow of the liquid present in the filtering cartridge. In addition, such device, meets the aesthetical requirements, since it can be located in the lower zone of the piece of furniture containing the washing machine, without compromising the easiness of the inspection and/or substitution of the filter.
[0008] The characteristics and the advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, that are illustrated as non limiting examples in the enclosed drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the filtering device according to the invention, according to a first embodiment;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the filtering device according to the invention, according to a second embodiment;
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the filtering device according to the invention, according to a third embodiment;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the filtering device according to an alternative solution of the embodiments of the device of Figure 2, 3;
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the filtering device according to the invention, according to a fifth embodiment;
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the filtering device of figure 5, with the filtering cartridge device extracted from its housing;
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the filtering device according to the invention, according to a sixth embodiment;
Figure 8 is a sectional view of the filtering device of figure 7, with the filtering cartridge extracted from its housing.
[0009] In Figure 1 a first embodiment of the invention is shown. The filtering device 50 is housed in the lower zone of the structure of the piece of furniture 51 containing the washing machine. Such device is made up of a filtering cartridge 1, for instance with rectangular section, inside which a filter 2 comprising two annular concentric filtering walls with chequered pattern passages is housed in an extractable way and, externally, of a traditional type handle 25 of the with clutch closing. Such filtering cartridge 1 is connected with a tubular mean 3, made, for instance, of PVC or of rubber, that is corrugated in such a way so as to make it extendible, for instance up to three times its length, and it partially contains within itself a tubing 7, coaxial to it, connected, at one of its ends, with a washing tank 5 more or less centrally. The washing water coming from the tank 5 flows through the tubing 7 toward the filter 2 that provides to hold back filaments or other impurities. The other end of the tubing 7 is inserted inside the filtering cartridge 2, in order not to allow that the non-filtered washing water mixes with the filtered one that instead flows out through the tubular mean 3. The latter is connected to a hydraulic pump 8, that provides to suck the filtered washing water and it allows its expulsion outside through the drain pipe 9.
[0010] In the case in which the washing machine is at the end of the stage of wash-rinse, a considerable quantity of washing water backflowing from the drain pipe 9, remains inside the system consisting of the filtering device 50 and of the hydraulic pump 8. In order to avoid that this water flows outside during the operation of inspection or substitution of the filter 2, the filtering cartridge 1 is drawn out of the housing and it is lifted by means of the extension of the tubular mean 3. Said tubular mean 3, by increasing its volume, for instance from 100cc to 300cc, serves as a tank for the washing water contained in the system made up of the hydraulic pump 8 and of the filtering device 50, thus preventing the outflow of water.
[0011] In order to facilitate the operation of opening of the knob of the filtering cartridge 2, once it has been extracted from the housing, the filtering device 50 is preferably put in vertical position, and it is maintained in this position by means of the action of support of a lever 4 that is fixed on one end to the filtering cartridge 1 and on the other end connected with said cartridge by means of a spring. After the inspection or possible substitution of the filter 2, the filtering cartridge device is easily placed back in its housing due to the spring effect of the tubular mean 3. It must be noticed that, when the tubular mean 3 is in the compressed condition, its inside surface is substantially homogeneous, therefore no losses of hydraulic load take place.
[0012] In Figure 2 there is shown a second embodiment of the invention that even though following the scheme of operation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, provides different solutions. The tubing 7, has a greater length than the previous case, and it is connected with the washing tank 5 in a further back position. The tubular mean 3, coaxial to the tubing 7, also has a better extension. In this way a filtering cartridge device 11, of different typology as compared with the filtering cartridge device used previously, drawn out of its relative housing, is brought in vertical position up to a height that is greater than the maximum level that the washing mixture can reach inside the washing tank 5, and it is hooked to the washing machine by means of a hook 40. In this way the inspection of the filter 2 can take place while the washing machine is in operation even in the wash-rinse or centrifugal stage, thus favouring the intervention of the technicians of the service centres in the case of a sudden block of the filter 2 even at full load. In addition the housing of the filtering cartridge device 11 is provided with a pipe 100 serving as an inlet that facilitates the introduction of the same filtering cartridge device in its housing.
[0013] A variation of this second embodiment, provides the realisation in plastic corrugated material for both the tubular mean 3, and the tubing 7. This allows to position the hydraulic pump 8, in completely different positions, even not in axis with the filtering cartridge device 11, thus using up the spaces available inside the piece of furniture containing the washing machine in a better way.
[0014] In Figure 3 there is shown a third embodiment of the invention that provides for the use of the filtering cartridge 11 and of a different typology of filter 20, the latter of the so-called head type. The washing water coming from the tank flows through the tubing 30 inside the filtering cartridge device 11 and, once filtered, it flows out through the tubular mean 70, coaxial and internal to the tubing 30, toward the hydraulic pump 8 that provides for its expulsion through the drain pipe 9. Both the tubular mean 70, and the tubing 30 are made of corrugated plastic material, thus allowing to position the hydraulic pump in a position that is not in line with the filtering cartridge device 11. As a variation the tubular mean 70 can be a not corrugated pipe, but in this case, the hydraulic pump 8 must be placed at an axis with the filtering cartridge 11. The operation of extraction of the filtering cartridge device 11 from its housing remains the same as the previous embodiment.
[0015] In Figure 4 there is shown a different solution that can be adopted both in the second as well as in the third embodiment. This solution provides for a connection of the hydraulic pump 8 directly with the washing tank 5, thus eliminating additional openings used in the previous embodiment. In this case it is though necessary that both the tubular mean 3, 70 of connection with the pump 8, and the tubing 7, 30 coaxial to the first one and of connection with the washing tank 5, are made of corrugated plastic material.
[0016] In Figures 5 and 6, there is shown a fourth embodiment of the invention, that provides the use of a filtering cartridge 10 with curved section, in which a tubular filter 21 that is provided with through passages or with rectangular section is housed, like several filters currently in use. The tubular mean 3 and the tubing 7, that respectively allow the outflow and the inflow of the washing water, are coaxial and both made of in extendible material, for instance corrugated plastics, and naturally connected with the filtering cartridge device 10. The latter can rotate around a fixed pin 15 that is hooked to the structure of the piece of furniture 51. The operation of inspection of the filter, shown in Figure 6, provides the extraction of the filtering cartridge device 10 in rotary sense and, preferably, the use of a lock not visible in the figures, in order to make said cartridge 10 stay in vertical position. Inside the filtering cartridge device also a spherical joint 18 is present that connects the knob 25 with the filter 21, and allows an easier extraction of the filter 21 from its housing after a rotation of the same knob. The sizing of the extendible part of the filtering device 50 (pipes 3 and 7), is carried out considering the operation of rotation as also the quantity of washing water present in the filtering cartridge 10.
[0017] In Figures 7 and 8, there is shown a sixth embodiment of the invention, that provides for the use of pipes that are not coaxial, but separate, for the inflow and the outflow of the washing water from the filtering cartridge. The filtering device 50, as in the case of the previous figure, has a filtering cartridge 10, with curved section, that can rotate around a pin 15 hooked to the piece of furniture 51 containing the washing machine. The tubing 71 made of extendible material, for instance corrugated plastic, takes the washing water coming from the tank, directly to the filter 22 that in this case is of the "bucket" type. The filtered washing water is then sucked by the hydraulic pump 8 through the tubular mean 31, extendible too, and drained outside through the drain pipe 9. The operation of inspection of the filter, shown in Figure 8, similarly to the previous embodiment, provides the extraction in rotary sense of the filtering cartridge 10 and, preferably, the use of a retainer in order to make said cartridge 10 stay in vertical position.
1. Washing machine contained in a piece of furniture (51), said washing machine comprising
a washing tank (5), a hydraulic drain circuit of the washing liquid in the tank (5)
and filtration means (50) hydraulically connected to the hydraulic drain circuit,
characterized in that said filtration means are hydraulically connected with said
hydraulic drain circuit by extendible hydraulic connection means, so that said filtration
means (50) are extractable from the piece of furniture (51) containing the washing
machine, and said extendible hydraulic connection means serve as a tank for the washing
liquid present in the hydraulic drain circuit.
2. Washing machine according to claim 1, characterised in that said filtration means
(50) comprise a filtering cartridge (1; 10; 11) inside which a filter (2; 20; 21;
22) is housed in an extractable way, said filtering cartridge (1; 10; 11) is housed
in a respective housing made in the piece of furniture (51).
3. Washing machine according to claim 2, characterised in that said hydraulic connection
means comprise a tubular mean (3; 31) which connects the filtering cartridge (1; 10;
11) with a hydraulic pump (8) which sucks the filtered washing water and allows its
expulsion through the drain pipe (9).
4. Washing machine according to claim 2, characterised in that said hydraulic connection
means comprise a tubing (30) which connects the filtering cartridge (11) with the
washing water (5) and it allows the inflow of washing water inside the filtering cartridge
(11).
5. Washing machine according to claim 3, characterised in that a tubing (7; 71) is provided
having an end connected with the washing tank (5) and the other end inserted in the
filtering cartridge (1; 10; 11) in order to allow the inflow of washing water inside
the filtering cartridge (10) in such a way that said washing water does not mix with
the filtered washing water.
6. Washing machine according to claim 4, characterised in that a tubular mean (70) is
provided that connects the filtering cartridge (11) with the hydraulic pump (8), in
such a way so as to allow the outflow of washing water and its expulsion trough the
drain pipe (9).
7. Washing machine according to claim 5, characterised in that said tubing (7) is partly
contained inside said tubular mean (3) and it is coaxial to it, and the end of the
same is inserted in the filtering cartridge (1; 10; 11) in an uncouplable manner.
8. Washing machine according to claim 3, characterised in that said tubing (7) and said
tubular mean (31) are separate.
9. Washing machine according to claim 7, characterised in that said filtering cartridge
(1; 11), for example with rectangular section, is extracted from its housing during
the operation of inspection of the filter (2), and it can be placed in a vertical
position and maintained there through the action of a retainer (4; 40).
10. Washing machine according to claim 9, characterised in that said tubular mean (3),
being made of corrugated plastic material, contains backflow water from the drain
pipe (9) thus preventing said water to outflow during the operation of inspection
of the filter (2), and after the aforesaid operation, it allows an easier positioning
back in its housing of said filtering cartridge (1; 11), by means of its spring-effect,
having said tubular mean a substantially homogeneous inside surface, when in the compressed
condition.
11. Washing machine according to claim 10, characterised in that said filter (2) to retain
possible filaments or other impurities present in the washing water is a filter made
up of two annular concentric filtering walls with chequered pattern passages.
12. Washing machine according to claim 11, characterised in that said tubing (7) is connected
with the washing tank (5) in a central point.
13. Washing machine according to claim 12, characterised in that said filtering cartridge
(1), once it has been extracted from its housing, is kept in a vertical position by
the supporting action of a lever (4) that is fixed to said filtering cartridge (1)
at one end and is connected with said cartridge (1) by a spring at the other end.
14. Washing machine according to claim 11, characterised in that said tubing (7) is long
enough so as to be connected with the washing tank (5) in a further back point of
the same.
15. Washing machine according to claim 14, characterised in that said tubular mean (3)
is long enough so as to allow that said filtering cartridge (11), once extracted from
its housing, is brought up to a height greater than the maximum level that the washing
mix can reach inside the washing tank (5), is hooked to the piece of furniture containing
the washing machine by means of a hook (40), in vertical position, so that the inspection
of the filter (2) can take place also with the washing machine in operation during
the wash-rinse or centrifugal stage, thus favouring the intervention of technicians
of the service centres in case of a sudden block of the filter (2) even at full load.
16. Washing machine according to claim 15, characterised in that the filtering cartridge
housing (1) is provided with a duct (100) serving as an inlet, in order to facilitate
the introduction of the filtering cartridge (1) in its housing.
17. Washing machine according to claim 16, characterised in that both the tubing (7) and
the tubular mean (3) are made of corrugated plastic material, in order for the hydraulic
pump (8) to be placed in completely different positions and not at an axis with the
filtering cartridge (11), thus using up the spaces available inside the piece of furniture
(51) containing the washing machine in a better way.
18. Washing machine according to claim 6, characterised in that said filter (20) is a
head shape filter housed inside said filtering cartridge (11), for example with rectangular
section, said filtering cartridge (11) is extracted from its housing during the operation
of inspection of the filter (20), and it can be placed in a vertical position and
maintained there through the action of a block (40).
19. Washing machine according to claim 18, characterised in that said tubing (30) partly
internally contains said tubular mean (70) and is coaxial thereto, said tubing (30)
is as long as to allow that said filtering cartridge (11), once extracted from its
relative housing, is brought upward to a height greater than the maximum level that
the washing mix can reach inside the washing tank (5), and it is hooked to the piece
of furniture (51) containing the washing machine by means of a hook (40), in vertical
position, so that the inspection of the filter (20) can take place even with the washing
machine in operation during the wash-rinse or centrifugal stage, thus favouring the
intervention of technicians of the service centres in case of a sudden block of the
filter (20) even at full load, said tubing (30) being made of corrugated plastic material,
contains the water of backflow from the drain pipe (9), thus preventing that said
water outflows during the operation of inspection of the filter (20), and after the
aforementioned operation, it allows an easier positioning back of said filtering cartridge
(11)in its housing, by means its spring effect.
20. Washing machine according to claim 17 or 19, characterised in that both the tubing
(7; 30) and the tubular mean (3; 70) are made of corrugated plastic material, in order
for the hydraulic pump (8) to be placed in completely different positions and not
in axis with the filtering cartridge (11), thus using up the spaces available inside
the piece of furniture (51) containing the washing machine in a better way.
21. Washing machine according to claim 20, characterised in that said hydraulic pump (8)
is directly connected with the washing tank (5) in order to eliminate additional openings.
22. Washing machine according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that said filtering cartridge
(10) has a curved section and it can rotate around a fixed pin (15) that is hooked
to the piece of furniture containing the washing machine, said cartridge is connected
with a tubing (7; 71) and with a tubular mean (3; 31) both extensible, and a rotary
sense extraction of said filtering cartridge (11) is provided as well as the use of
a retainer so as to keep said filtering cartridge (10) in a vertical position.
23. Washing machine according to claim 22, in that it depends on claim 7, characterised
in that said filter (21) is a tubular type filter provided with pierced through passages
or with rectangular section.
24. Washing machine according to claim 23, characterised in that it provides a spherical
coupling (18) that connects the knob to the filter (21) and allows an easier extraction
of the filter (21) from its housing after a rotation of the same knob .
25. Filtering device according to claim 22, in that it depends on claim 8, characterised
in that said filter (22) is of the bucket type filter.