[0001] The invention relates to a washing tub unit for a washing machine and a washing machine.
[0002] Washing machines in households, also called domestic washing machines, are well-known
and usually are used for washing laundry.
[0003] Washing machines usually comprise washing tubs in which a rotatable drum is housed
for receiving goods to be washed, usually laundry. Washing liquid is introduced into
the washing tub, which washing liquid consists only of water or mainly of water and
detergents or washing or cleaning agents added to or dissolved in the water for improving
the washing quality.
[0004] Usually at the bottom of the washing tub a sump is arranged for draining the washing
liquid from the tub into a draining circuit or draining device in order to either
feed back the washing liquid from the sump into the washing tub again, often being
heated by a heating element arranged in or near the sump, in a closed circuit or circulation
mode or to drain the washing liquid out of the washing machine into a sewage conduit,
in an open circuit, when it is not needed any more.
[0005] US 6574996 discloses a washing machine including a tub with a sump and a dam placed therein
for preventing debris heavier than water from flowing to the sump outlet.
[0006] In the drained washing liquid air bubbles can form due to turbulences which air bubbles
hinder the flow of washing liquid and thus slow down the draining process.
[0007] It is a purpose of the invention to propose a washing tub unit which has good draining
properties.
[0008] This purpose is achieved by a washing tub unit having the features of claim 1. Preferred
embodiments and improvements according to the invention are claimed in the dependent
claims.
[0009] As air bubbles are at least partly released (or: removed) from the flow of the washing
liquid by means of the air channel according to the invention the draining properties
are significantly improved.
[0010] In an advantageous embodiment the first end of the air channel is arranged lower
than the second end of the air channel and than the sump inlet and the second end
is horizontally displaced to the sump inlet.
[0011] Preferably, the second end of the air channel is horizontally displaced from the
sump inlet by a portion of the tub bottom.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment the sump inlet is arranged upstream the air channel along
the main drum rotational direction in a spinning phase of a laundry treating process.
This avoids air flowing opposite to the stream of the washing liquid during that phase
and further improves the draining.
[0013] In a further preferred embodiment the first end of the air channel is formed by an
opening in or between side wall parts of a side wall structure of the sump.
[0014] Furthermore, preferably, the second end of the air channel is formed by an opening
in a tub bottom.
[0015] Advantageously and preferably, at least a bottom wall of the air channel is inclined
with respect to a horizontal plane and in a direction away from the sump inlet. The
inclination angle can in particular be between 10° and 60°.
[0016] Also, a main flow direction of the air bubbles upwardly through the air channel can
be at least approximately orthogonal to a main flow direction of the washing liquid
towards the sump outlet.
[0017] An overhang and/or a bridge of the tub bottom is arranged between the air channel
and the sump inlet and reaches into the sump defining a horizontal distance between
the second end of the air channel and the sump inlet. The overhang and/or bridge preferably
extends at least partly over the sump outlet at a pre-determined first vertical distance
and/or has at its lowermost area a pre-determined second vertical distance from the
sump inlet. The vertical distance of the second end from the first end of the air
channel corresponds in particular to the vertical distance of the lowermost area of
the overhang and/or bridge from the sump inlet. The overhang and/or bridge defines
a horizontal distance between the second end of the air channel and the sump inlet.
[0018] In a further improvement on the tub bottom adjacent to the sump inlet at least one
directing element is arranged The directing element has an impact wall protruding
upwardly from the tub bottom towards an outside wall of the drum, but keeping a distance
from the outside wall of the drum, and extending continuously to the edge of the sump
inlet, thereby directing washing liquid running down the inner tub wall and impacting
onto the impact wall directly towards and into the sump inlet.
[0019] In a further preferred embodiment the washing tub is composed of a pre-formed front
tub part having a front tub bottom part and a pre-formed rear tub part having a rear
tub bottom part, wherein the rear tub part is connected with the front tub part in
a connecting area. Now, at least one wall of the air channel is an integral part with
the front tub part and the other walls of the air channel are integral parts with
the rear tub part. Furthermore or alternatively, a front side wall part of the side
wall structure of the sump is an integral part with the front tub part and wherein
the other parts of the side wall structure of the sump are integral parts with the
rear tub part.
[0020] According to claim 15 a washing machine comprises a washing tub unit according to
the invention.
[0021] Further exemplary embodiments are described and explained in the following with reference
to the drawings, which show in
- FIG 1
- a washing tub unit in a three-dimensional perspective view from the front under a
viewing angle from the side,
- FIG 2
- the washing tub unit of FIG 1 in a perspective view from the rear under a viewing
angle from the side,
- FIG 3
- the washing tub unit of FIG 2 in a partially cut perspective view from the rear under
a viewing angle from the side so that the tub interior can be partly seen,
- FIG 4
- the lower section of the washing tub unit according to FIG 3 with the front tub part
and the rear tub part in a partially sectioned three-dimensional view from the side,
- FIG 5
- the sump of the rear tub part of FIG 3 in greater detail in a perspective view from
the front under a viewing angle from above,
- FIG 6
- the lower section of the washing tub unit according to FIG 5 in a sectional view.
[0022] Identical or at least corresponding parts and quantities in FIG 1 to 6 are designated
with the same reference numerals. Reference is made also to the list of reference
numerals if a reference numeral is not mentioned in the text.
[0023] FIG 1 to 3 show a washing tub unit for a washing machine comprising a washing tub
2 and a draining device 7. The washing tub 2 is basically assembled from two parts,
in this case a front tub part 21 and a rear tub part 22, which are connected (or:
joined) in a connecting (or: joining) area 20 in order to form the washing tub 2 that
it is closed in a liquid-tight manner, at its rear and at its circumference.
[0024] In the connecting area 20 at least one front connecting (or: joining) part 23 of
the front tub part 21 and at least one rear connecting part 24 of the rear tub part
22 are connected with each other, in particular by hot welding in order to form a
sort of liquid-tight welding seam in the connecting area 20. The front connecting
part 23 and the rear connecting part 24 are in particular formed at least partially
like connecting flanges which are pressed against each other and then connected, in
particular welded by hot welding, to form a permanent connection between the two connecting
parts 23 and 24 and thus between the two tub parts 21 and 22.
[0025] The connecting area 20 is preferably arranged in or forms a connecting or joining
plane. In particular the connecting parts 23 and 24 have planar surfaces that are
joined, in particular welded, in the connecting plane.
[0026] The front tub part 21 and the rear tub part 22 are, therefore, at least in their
connecting parts 23 and 24, formed or made of a material that can be hot welded, preferably
a suitable thermoplast or thermoplastic material, as are well known in the art
[0027] Preferably the complete rear front tub part 21 and the complete rear tub part 22
are formed from such a thermoplast or thermoplastic material and are produced by moulding
between or in at least two complementary moulding forms, in particular injection-moulding
in the moulding forms.
[0028] The hot welded connection also ensures a water tight connection so that no water
or washing liquid can escape from the washing tub 2 through or in the connecting area
20 and no further seals or sealing rings are required.
[0029] At the front of the washing tub unit there is an opening 4 for loading of goods to
be washed, such as laundry, into the tub interior 9 inside the washing tub 2 which
opening 4 is formed in a front tub part 21. The opening 4 is at least partially surrounded
by a counterweight structure 5 associated to the front tub part 21 for balancing the
washing tub unit during operative conditions. The opening 4 allows access from the
exterior or outside of the washing tub 2 to a rotatable or rotating drum 3, arranged
in the tub interior 9 of the washing tub 2 and provided for receiving goods such as
laundry to be washed.
[0030] Adapted to the rotating drum 3 the inner wall 121 of the washing tub 2 is preferably
mainly formed in a cylindrical shape or as a cylindrical surface or wall. The drum
3 is rotatable or can be rotated about a rotational axis RA in at least one, preferably
two, rotational direction(s) RD by a rotation drive or drum drive 6 a part of which
is shown in FIG 1 below the washing tub 2 but is not explained any further as the
rotation and the drive of the rotating drum are well-known in the art.
[0031] The drum drive 6 is fastened at fastening section 61 arranged at the lower section
of the rear tub part 21. The rear tub part 21 has a central through-hole 60 for a
drive axle (not shown) connecting the drum drive 6 with the drum 3 for rotation of
the drum 3 about the rotational axis RA in the at least one, usually two rotational
directions RD and bearing the forces and momenta exerted by the rotating drum 3 and
the load of the laundry or the washing goods within the drum 3. For this purpose,
as can be seen in FIG 2 and 3, the rear side of the rear tub part 22 is reinforced
with reinforcing ribs 62 around the through-hole 60.
[0032] As can be seen best in FIG 3 to 6 in the tub bottom 12 a sump 10 is formed. The sump
10 has a mainly horizontal sump bottom 13 and a side wall structure 11 rising upwards
from the sump bottom 13 up to the tub bottom 12, so that the sump bottom 13 is the
lowest wall of the sump 10 and arranged below the tub bottom 12. An opening in the
tub bottom 12 surrounded by the side wall structure 11 forms a sump inlet 18 for the
washing liquid in the uppermost part of the sump 10. The sump bottom 13 and the side
wall structure 11 are arranged lower than the tub bottom 12 so that washing liquid
in the washing tub 2 can be collected and drained in the sump 10 under the influence
of gravity and/or, in addition, low pressure exerted by a draining pump 70 of the
draining device 7.
[0033] A carrier bridge 14 extends adjacent to the sump inlet 18 over the sump 10 as a protrusion
or extension of the tub bottom 12 inwards from a side wall part 11B and serves as
a resting surface or element for coupling a holding element for a heating element
(not shown) for heating the washing liquid within the tub 2 which heating element
is connected electrically outside the tub 2 through a through-hole 63 in the back
of the rear tub part 22.
[0034] A rear tub bottom part 12A and adjacent side wall parts 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D of
the side wall structure 11 of the sump 10 and the sump bottom 13, that is to say all
limiting walls of the sump 10 except for a front sump wall 11E, are integral with
or part of the rear tub part 22, preferably formed from the same thermoplastic material
and in the same injection-moulding process in the same moulding form.
[0035] The side wall parts 11A, 11B and 11C follow each other around the sump 10, preferably
arranged rectangularly to each other, and are at least approximately vertical walls
with sloped upper entry sections at the sump inlet 18 and preferably horizontally
curved intermediate transition sections in between the side wall parts 11A, 11B and
11C.
[0036] A sump front wall 11E which closes the side wall structure 11 of the sump 10 at the
front is formed integral with the front tub part 21 and connected with the adjacent
side wall parts 11A and 11C and 11D and with the sump bottom 13 at the connecting
parts 23 and 24 in the connecting area 20 to close and also seal the sump 10.
[0037] Preferably the front wall 11E lies in the connecting plane of the two tub parts 21
and 22 and is surrounded by the connecting parts 23 and 24 which are connected, in
particular welded, together in the connecting area 20.
[0038] A front tub bottom part 12B of the tub bottom 12 is integral with the front tub part
21 and partly connected by the hot welding in a sealed manner with the rear tub bottom
part 12A in or at the connecting area 20 and partly separated from the rear tub bottom
part 12A by the sump 10 and by the air channel 16 of the sump 10.
[0039] Now, referring to the draining device 7, it has a draining conduit 75, which is adjacent
to the sump 10 and arranged at least partly lower than the sump 10 and its sump bottom
13 there is of the draining device 7.
[0040] The draining conduit 75 has, next to the sump 10, a mainly cylindrical circumferential
wall 17 in which a rectangular opening is formed as a sump outlet 15 through which
the sump 10 is in fluid connection with the draining conduit 75. The sump outlet 15
is arranged above the sump bottom 13, the sump bottom 13 slightly sloping downward
towards the section of the circumferential wall 17 which is below the sump outlet
15, and/or arranged in an upper region of the circumferential wall 17 to allow for
smooth draining flow from the sump 10 into the draining conduit 75.
[0041] The draining conduit 75 also comprises a draining outlet 74. A central (geometrical)
axis A of the draining conduit 75 runs through the central region of the circumferential
wall 17 which is preferably parallel to the rotational axis RA of the drum 3 , preferably
in a horizontal direction.
[0042] Now, the circumferential wall structure of the conduit 75, in particular the circumferential
wall 17 in the front of the conduit 75 and also a part of the circumferential wall
of the pump receiving part 37 in the rear of the conduit 75, protrudes or extends
into the sump 10 and connects the sump bottom 13 with the side wall parts 11B and
11C of the side wall structure 11 of the sump 10, thus forming a rigid structure,
as can be seen best in FIG 3 and 4. Therefore, the circumferential wall structure
of the draining conduit 75 forms itself curved side wall parts of the side wall structure
11 of the sump 10 and, at the same time, separation wall(s) between the sump 10 and
the conduit inner chamber 85.
[0043] This design and arrangement of the sump outlet 15 as an, preferably rectangular,
opening in a curved, preferably cylindrical, and concave as seen from the sump 10
(or convex as seen from the conduit inner chamber 85) separation wall between the
sump 10 and the inner chamber 85 of the conduit 75 leads to very good flow results
within the sump 10 and at the same time to a very solid and rigid construction. In
particular, due to the sump outlet 15 being oriented towards the sump inlet 18 there
is a direct and short flow path for the drained liquid through the sump 10 resulting
in less turbulences.
[0044] The conduit 75 is, thus, rigidly connected with the sump side wall structure 11 and
the tub bottom 12 over a pre-determined length and with at least two sump side wall
parts 11B and 11C and the sump bottom 13 so that forces exerted on the conduit 75
are distributed and born in a larger section into three dimensions.
[0045] In addition to the draining conduit 75 having the sump outlet 15 as the draining
conduit inlet the draining device 7 comprises a draining pump 70 with a pump wheel
(not shown) as well as a pump drive 71, usually an electric motor with or without
a gear and preferably with, usually electronic, control of the rotational speed, for
rotating the pump wheel about a rotational axis which is the central axis A of the
draining conduit 75 in the mounted state. A pump receiving part 37 of the conduit
75 receives a pump wheel (not shown) of the pump 70 and carries the drive 71.
[0046] The front tub part 21 has a cover wall 25. The cover wall 25 covers or closes the
draining conduit 75 and its inner chamber 85 at a second end, here a front end, which
is, as seen axially along the central axis A, opposite to the rear end and, further
upwardly, forms the sump front wall 11E of the sump 10 and continues into a front
tub bottom part 12B of the tub bottom 12 which is more or less directed at a right
angle to the cover wall 25. So the front covers of the conduit 75 and the sump 10
are formed integrally by the same cover wall 25 which in turn is formed integrally
with the front tub part 21.
[0047] The cover wall 25 is at least at the side towards the conduit 75 or sump 10 mainly
flat or planar and is at least at the front end of the conduit 75 oriented orthogonal
to the central axis A of the conduit 75. Furthermore, the cover wall 25 is connected
with the circumferential wall 17 of the conduit 75, usually in the connecting area
20 and/or in the connecting plane, which connection is made at the same time the two
tub parts 21 and 22 are connected in the connecting area 20 by hot welding.
[0048] The whole wall structure of the conduit 75 except for the cover wall 25 is formed
integral with the rear tub part 12, i.e. formed in the same material and/or injection-moulding
process. Due to the front wall of the conduit 75 formed by the cover wall 25 and the
front wall 11E of the sump 10 also formed by the cover wall 25 being planar, preferably
lying in the same connecting plane, the cavity or volume or the conduit 75 as well
as of the sump 10 is in each case formed entirely in the rear tub part 22 and only
closed by the front tub part 21. This allows for simple moulding forms and manufacture.
[0049] In order to improve the draining of the washing liquid L, in particular in the front
tub bottom 12B, a directing element 30 is arranged on the tub bottom 12, in particular
the front tub bottom 12B, for directing washing liquid L running down the inner wall
121B of the front tub part 22 of the tub 2 into the sump 10. This directing element
30 has an impact wall 31 which can be inclined under an inclination angle α towards
the direction where the washing liquid L comes from as shown, wherein the inclination
angle α can be in particular between 70° and 88°. The washing liquid L impacts or
impinges on the impact wall 31 and is re-directed in a flow direction along the impact
wall 31 towards the sump 10. The re-directed washing liquid flowing along the impact
wall 31 into the sump 10 is designated by L'. The directing element 30 has, in particular,
an overhang 32 arranged above the impact wall 31 to catch washing liquid L splashing
upwardly when impacting on the impact wall 31 and keep it from spilling over the directing
element 30 but rather direct it downward and towards the sump 10. The directing element
30 is preferably formed integral with the tub wall, in particular with the front tub
bottom 12B or front tub part 22, and is brought into its position relative to the
sump 10 when the front tub part 22 and the rear tub part 21 are connected in the connecting
area 20.
[0050] As can be seen best in FIG 5, below the carrier bridge 14, there is an overhang (or:
balcony-shaped walls structure) 114, extending from the tub bottom 12 down into the
sump 10. This overhang 114 extends, with its lower wall, horizontally into the sump
10 starting from the side wall part 11B which it is connected with and overlapping
or covering at a vertical distance h1 at least partly the sump outlet 15. A free front
wall 116 of the overhang 114 is, in the embodiment shown, parallel to the side wall
part 11B and orthogonal to the side wall part 11C of the sump 10 the latter of which
the overhang 114 is connected with too.
[0051] On the one side facing the side wall 11A the sump inlet 18 in the tub bottom 12 is
arranged between the side wall 11A and the overhang 114 at the level of the tub bottom
12.
[0052] On the opposite side of the overhang 114 an air channel 16 is arranged. The side
wall part 11D of the sump 10 is arranged above the vertical side wall part 11C and
in front of the overhang 114 and slopes upwardly from the vertical side wall part
11C. This side wall part 11D forms a bottom wall of the air channel 16. The air channel
16 is sloped with respect to the horizontal plane, pointing away from the sump inlet
18, preferably by an inclination angle 8 which is typically between 10° and 60°, preferably
around 30°. A, thus, more or less triangular rear channel wall 115 of the air channel
16 is displaced to the front wall 116 of the overhang 114 in a direction to the front.
[0053] At the other side opposing the rear channel wall 115 there is a front channel wall
117. The front channel wall 117 is connected to the front tub bottom part 12B and
thus integral part of the front tub part 21 whereas the other walls of the channel,
in particular the rear channel wall 115 and the bottom wall defined by the side wall
part 11D, are integral parts with the rear tub part 22 as is the overhang 114. The
distance between the front channel wall 117 and the rear channel wall 115 defines
a width w of the air channel 16 (see FIG 4) which is much smaller than the dimensions
of the sump inlet 18. In particular the second end or outlet 16B of the air channel
16 is smaller in its cross section or size than the sump inlet 18 so that, if at all,
only a small proportion of washing liquid L can enter the sump 10 through the air
channel 16.
[0054] The main flow of washing liquid L through the sump 10 will be generated by the low
pressure in the conduit 75 and take place and be directed between the sump inlet 18
and the sump outlet 15. However, due to turbulences and other effects in the flow
air bubbles AB will be generated and be contained in the washing liquid L within the
sump 10. The air bubbles AB are also generated by the air flows over the rotating
drum in particular when water or washing liquid L is extracted from the laundry by
the centrifugal forces.
[0055] These air bubbles AB will hinder and deteriorate the flow of the washing liquid L
from the sump inlet 18 to the sump outlet 15 and does cause a delay in the draining
process. In particular the air prevents the water of washing liquid L to drop down
into the sump outlet 15.
[0056] In order to at least decrease the number of air bubbles AB in the flow of the washing
liquid L through the sump 10 the aforementioned air channel 16 is provided.
[0057] The air channel 16 has a channel inlet or first end 16A below and in front of the
overhang 114, right above the side wall 11C and well below the sump inlet 18 by which
inlet or first end 16A the air channel 16 is in fluid communication with the sump
10. At the second end or outlet 16B of the air channel 16 the air channel 16 is connected
to the tub interior 9.
[0058] The inlet or first end 16A of the air channel 16 is arranged at a horizontal distance
d, defined by the lower wall of the overhang 114, from the sump inlet 18. The outlet
or second end 16B of the air channel 16 is arranged at a horizontal distance d, defined
by the tub bottom 12 and bridge 14 above the overhang 114, from the sump inlet 18,
and the air channel 16 is inclined away from the sump inlet 18. The height or vertical
distance h2 of the overhang 114 from the sump inlet 18 corresponds in particular to
the vertical distance of the first end 16A from the second end 16B of the air channel
16. The vertical distance or height of the first end 16A above the sump outlet 15
corresponds to h1, wherein typically h1 < h2 and preferably h1 < d.
[0059] By this construction and the dimensioning of the air channel 16 and its distances
d, h1 and h2 the air channel 16 is rather far apart from the direct flow of washing
liquid L between sump inlet 18 and sump outlet 15, and, therefore, the washing liquid
L in the area of the air channel 16 in particular at its inlet or first end 16A is
relatively calm. Therefore, air bubbles AB can, due to their lower weight or mass
density compared to the washing liquid L, escape upwardly through the channel 16 in
the bubble main flow direction BD designated by arrows and will escape from the washing
liquid L at its surface. There, the air bubbles AB will, depending on the liquid level
of the washing liquid L, either join the air in the air channel 16 below the second
end 16B or already enter the tub interior 9 when the liquid level has reached the
second end 16B already. The inclination by the inclination angle 8 provides a smooth
release of air bubbles AB through the air channel 16.
[0060] The main flow direction BD of the air bubbles AB is in particular approximately orthogonal
to the main flow direction MF of the washing liquid L in front of and towards the
sump outlet 15.
[0061] It has to be noted that the sump inlet 18 is arranged upstream the air channel 16
along the main rotational direction RD (see Figure 3) of the drum 3 during a spinning
phase of a laundry treating process. Said main drum rotational direction is the prevalent
rotational direction during a spinning period of a laundry treating process. In the
attached Figures such main drum rotational direction RD during a spinning phase is
anticlockwise. In this way the water exiting the drum 3 due to centrifugal forces
acting on wet laundry is prevented from remaining attached to (i.e. dragged by) the
outer surface 33 of the drum 3 itself by the depression created by the draining pump
70 within the sump 10 and by the air channel 16 that allows air to escape from the
sump 10 through a way that is different from the way allowing water to enter the sump
10. It is therefore advantageously avoided that air bubbles AB go against the current
of water entering the sump 10, thereby obstructing the water flow.
[0062] Furthermore, the directing element 30 prevents the washing liquid L from reaching
the second end 16B of the air channel 16, thus increasing the air release effect.
The draining effect is in particular enhanced during spinning or washing liquid extractions
from the laundry at high rotational speeds of the drum.
[0063] In the sump front wall 11E, which is preferably constituted or formed by the cover
wall 25, there is a hole or an opening 80 for mounting a pipe or level detection tube
28 of a level detection device 8. The level detection tube 28 is arranged at least
slightly upwardly and is closed at a distal end or upper end 28A opposite to the connecting
end 28B which is connected in the opening 80. A different level of washing liquid
in the sump 10 and the tub bottom 12 will result in a different filling level in the
level detection tube 28 and cause a variation of the air pressure above the liquid
level which can be detected or sensed by an air pressure sensor 81 at the upper end
28A. This opening 80 is arranged above the draining conduit 75 and on the other side
of the sump 10 than the sump outlet 15, basically opposite to the sump outlet 15,
which results in the level detection tube 28 being emptied efficiently by the pump
pressure being exerted in the sump 10 through the sump outlet 15. A central axis of
the, preferably circular, opening 80 and/or an inserting direction for inserting the
connecting end 28B of the level detection tube 28 is oriented parallel to the central
axis A of the conduit 75.
[0064] In a preferred embodiment not shown, a filter element is mounted into the inner chamber
85 of the draining conduit 75 by inserting the filter element through a rear opening
of the conduit in an axial direction along the central axis A.
[0065] In order to facilitate and improve the connection between the front tub part 21 and
the rear tub part 22 at the connecting area 20 connecting elements 26 and 27 can be
provided wherein, as shown, the connecting element 26 arranged at the front tub part
21 is a protruding part and is received by a receiving recess as a second connecting
element 27 which design improves the connecting properties of hot welding and constitutes
a welded water tight sealing. Also the connecting parts 26 and 27 allow for a pre-positioning
of the two tub parts 21 and 22 before welding.
[0066] The front tub part 21 and the rear tub part 22 are, in the preferred embodiment shown,
both formed in such a way that they can be injection-moulded from a thermoplastic
material between two moulding forms in a moulding process reducing the use of runners
or moveable form parts in further moulding steps. At least one, preferably both, of
the two moulding forms, usually an inner moulding form, forms cavities and concave
spaces in the tub parts 21 and 22 such as the sump 10 or the tub interior 9 or the
draining conduit 75 which cavities or concave spaces start at the connecting line
between the two moulding parts and are open towards the connecting part line of the
moulding parts, wherein the sump 10 and the conduit 75 are preferably basically formed
in the rear tub part 22. In particular, the front tub part 21 and preferably also
the most part of the rear tub part 22, have a shape that allows for direct linear
retraction of the moulding forms along a common retraction direction which is parallel
to an axis running through the tub part 21 or 22 in case of tub part 22 the central
axis A of the draining conduit 75. In order to be able to withdraw or retract each
of the moulding forms after the moulding process it is necessary that no moulded part
of the freshly moulded tub part is in the way of a moulding form section along the
retraction direction. The moulding process will be anyway greatly simplified if the
number of moulded parts in the way of a moulding form section along the retraction
direction is very little, for example just one.
[0067] This is achieved in the construction of the tub parts 21 and 22 by not allowing or
by limiting in number, in a direction opposite to the retraction direction, any broadening
or increase in the diameter or inner dimension of each of the cavities or concave
spaces in the tub parts 21 and 22 in any lateral direction which is orthogonal to
the retraction direction of each of the two moulding forms. In other words, the inner
dimensions or diameters of each cavity and concave space, as seen in a linear projection
along the retraction axis, in particular along or parallel to the central axis A,
in the front tub part 21 and in the most part of the rear tub part 22, in particular
the sump 10, the tub interior 9, the shape of the directing element 30 and the draining
conduit 75, stay the same or decrease, i.e. do not increase, in a direction which
is opposite to each moulding form retraction direction. This allows linear retraction
of an inner moulding form which has the complementary shape to these cavities or concave
spaces out of these cavities and spaces of a freshly moulded front tub part 21 and
the most part of rear tub part 22 in a retraction direction parallel to the retraction
axis, in particular central axis A.
List of reference numerals
[0068]
- 2
- washing tub
- 3
- drum
- 4
- opening
- 5
- counterweight structure
- 6
- drum drive
- 7
- draining device
- 8
- level detection device
- 9
- tub interior
- 10
- draining sump
- 11
- side wall structure
- 11A
- side wall part
- 11B
- side wall part
- 11C
- side wall part
- 11D
- side wall part
- 11E
- front side wall part
- 12
- tub bottom
- 12A
- rear tub bottom part
- 12B
- front tub bottom part
- 13
- sump bottom
- 14
- carrier bridge
- 15
- sump outlet
- 16
- air channel
- 16A
- first end
- 16B
- second end
- 17
- circumferential wall
- 18
- sump inlet
- 19
- reinforcing rib
- 20
- connecting area/seam
- 21
- front tub part
- 22
- rear tub part
- 23
- front connecting part
- 24
- rear connecting part
- 25
- front cover
- 26,27
- connecting element
- 28
- level detection tube
- 28A
- distal end
- 28B
- connecting end
- 30
- directing element
- 31
- impact wall
- 32
- overhang
- 37
- pump receiving part
- 60
- through-hole
- 61
- fastening element
- 62
- reinforcing ribs
- 63
- through-hole
- 70
- draining pump
- 71
- pump drive
- 74
- draining outlet
- 75
- draining conduit
- 80
- connecting hole
- 81
- air pressure sensor
- 114
- overhang
- 115
- rear channel wall
- 116
- front wall
- 121
- inner tub wall
- 121A
- inner wall of rear tub part 22
- 121B
- inner wall of front tub part 21
- A
- central axis
- AB
- air bubbles
- BD
- bubble direction
- L
- washing liquid
- L'
- re-directed washing liquid (flowing into sump 10)
- MF
- Main flow direction
- RA
- rotational axis
- RD
- rotational direction
- α
- opening angle
- β
- opening angle
- δ
- inclination angle
- w
- width
- d1,d2
- distance
- h1,h2
- height
1. Washing tub unit for a washing machine comprising
a) a washing tub (2) having a tub interior (9) and housing a rotatable drum (3) for
receiving goods to be washed,
b) a draining sump (10) arranged in a lower region of the washing tub (2) for draining
washing liquid from the tub interior (9), the draining sump (10) having a sump inlet
(18) and a sump outlet (15),
c) wherein an air channel (16) is arranged in fluid communication with the sump (10)
at a first end (16A) and with the tub interior (9) at a second end (16B) such that
the air channel (16) release, into the tub interior (9), at least a part of air bubbles
(AB) out of the washing liquid (L) which is contained in or flows through the sump
(10) characterised in that between the air channel (16) and the sump inlet (18) an overhang (114) and/or a bridge
(14) of the tub bottom (12) is arranged and reaches into the sump (10) defining a
horizontal distance (d) between the second end (16B) of the air channel (16) and the
sump inlet (18).
2. Washing tub unit according to claim 1, wherein the first end (16A) of the air channel
(16) is arranged lower (h2) than the second end (16B) and the sump inlet (18), the
second end (16B) being horizontally displaced (d1) to the sump inlet (18).
3. Washing tub unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second end (16B) of
the air channel (16) is horizontally displaced (d) from the sump inlet (18) by a portion
of the tub bottom (12, 14).
4. Washing tub unit according to any preceding claim wherein the sump inlet (18) is arranged
upstream the air channel (16) along the main drum rotational direction (RD) in a spinning
phase of a laundry treating process.
5. Washing tub unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first end (16A) of
the air channel (16) is formed by an opening in or between side wall parts (11D, 115)
of a side wall structure (11) of the sump (10) and/or the second end (16B) of the
air channel (16) is formed by an opening in a tub bottom (12).
6. Washing tub unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a bottom wall (11D)
of the air channel (16) is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane away from the
sump inlet (18).
7. Washing tub unit according to claim 6, wherein an inclination angle (δ) is chosen
to be between 10° and 60°.
8. Washing tub unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sump (10) and
the air channel (16) are defined by walls (11, 13; 115, 11D) determining a main flow
direction (BD) of the air bubbles (AB) upwardly through the air channel (16) wherein
the air bubble flow direction (BD) is at least approximately orthogonal to a main
flow direction of the washing liquid towards the sump outlet (15).
9. Washing tub according to claim 1, wherein the overhang (114) and/or bridge (14) extends
at least partly over the sump outlet (15) at a pre-determined first vertical distance
(h1) and/or has at its lowermost area a pre-determined second vertical distance (h2)
from the sump inlet (18).
10. Washing tub according to claim 9, wherein the vertical distance (h2) of the second
end (16B) from the first end (16A) of the air channel (16) corresponds to the vertical
distance of the lowermost area of the overhang (114) and/or bridge (14) from the sump
inlet (18).
11. Washing tub unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the overhang (114)
and/or bridge (14) has a lower wall that extends horizontally into the sump 10 starting
from a side wall structure (11B) of the sump (10).
12. Washing tub unit according to claim 11 wherein the overhang (114) has a free front
wall end (116) which is parallel to said side wall structure (11B), is orthogonal
to a side wall part (11C) of the sump (10) and is connected to said side wall part
(11C).
13. Washing tub unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein
a) on the tub bottom (12) adjacent to the sump inlet (18) at least one directing element
(30) is arranged,
b) the directing element (30) having an impact wall (31) protruding upwardly from
the tub bottom (12) towards an outside wall of the drum (3) but keeping a distance
from the outside wall of the drum (3) and extending continuously to the edge of the
sump inlet (18), thereby directing washing liquid running down the inner tub wall
(121) and impacting onto the impact wall (31) directly towards and into the sump inlet
(18).
14. Washing tub unit according to any of the preceding claims,
a) wherein the washing tub (2) is composed of a pre-formed front tub part (21) having
a front tub bottom part (12B) and a pre-formed rear tub part (22) having a rear tub
bottom part (12A) the rear tub part (22) being connected with the front tub part (21)
in a connecting area (20),
b) wherein at least one wall (117) of the air channel (16) is an integral part with
the front tub part (21) and the other walls (11D, 115) of the air channel (16) are
integral parts with the rear tub part (21) and/or
c) wherein a front side wall part (11E) of the side wall structure (11) of the sump
(10) is an integral part with the front tub part (21) and wherein the other parts
(11A to 11D) of the side wall structure (11) of the sump (10) are integral parts with
the rear tub part (22).
15. Washing machine characterised by comprising a washing tub unit according to any of claims 1 to 14.
1. Laugenbehältereinheit für eine Waschmaschine, die umfasst:
a) einen Laugenbehälter (2), der ein Laugenbehälterinneres (9) aufweist und eine drehbare
Trommel (3) zur Aufnahme von zu waschenden Waren aufnimmt,
b) einen Ablaufsumpf (10), der in einem unteren Bereich des Laugenbehälters (2) zum
Ablaufen von Waschflüssigkeit aus dem Laugenbehälterinneren (9) angeordnet ist, wobei
der Ablaufsumpf (10) einen Sumpfeinlass (18) und einen Sumpfauslass (15) aufweist,
c) wobei ein Luftkanal (16) in Fluidverbindung mit dem Sumpf (10) an einem ersten
Ende (16A) und mit dem Laugenbehälterinneren (9) an einem zweiten Ende (16B) steht,
so dass der Luftkanal (16) zumindest einen Teil von Luftblasen (AB) aus der Waschflüssigkeit
(L), die im Sumpf (10) enthalten ist oder aus diesem fließt, in das Laugenbehälterinnere
(9) freisetzt,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass zwischen dem Luftkanal (16) und dem Sumpfeinlass (18) ein Überstand (114) und/oder
eine Brücke (14) des Laugenbehälterbodens (12) angeordnet ist bzw. sind und in den
Sumpf (10) reicht bzw. reichen, der bzw. die einen horizontalen Abstand (d) zwischen
dem zweiten Ende (16B) des Luftkanals (16) und dem Sumpfeinlass (18) definiert bzw.
definieren.
2. Laugenbehältereinheit nach Anspruch 1, wobei das erste Ende (16A) des Luftkanals (16)
niedriger (h2) als das zweite Ende (16B) und der Sumpfeinlass (18) angeordnet ist,
wobei das zweite Ende (16B) zum Sumpfeinlass (18) horizontal versetzt ist (d1).
3. Laugenbehältereinheit nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei das zweite Ende (16B) des Luftkanals
(16) um einen Teil des Laugenbehälterbodens (12, 14) vom Sumpfeinlass (18) horizontal
versetzt ist (d).
4. Laugenbehältereinheit nach einem vorstehenden Anspruch, wobei der Sumpfeinlass (18)
dem Luftkanal (16) entlang der Haupttrommeldrehrichtung (RD) in einer Schleuderphase
eines Wäschebehandlungsprozesses vorgeschaltet angeordnet ist.
5. Laugenbehältereinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei das erste Ende (16A)
des Luftkanals (16) durch eine Öffnung in oder zwischen Seitenwandteilen (11D, 115)
einer Seitenwandstruktur (11) des Sumpfs (10) gebildet ist und/oder das zweite Ende
(16B) des Luftkanals (16) durch eine Öffnung in einem Laugenbehälterboden (12) gebildet
ist.
6. Laugenbehältereinheit nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei eine Bodenwand
(11D) des Luftkanals (16) in Bezug auf eine horizontale Ebene vom Sumpfeinlass (18)
weggeneigt ist.
7. Laugenbehältereinheit nach Anspruch 6, wobei ein Neigungswinkel (δ) so gewählt ist,
dass er zwischen 10° und 60° liegt.
8. Laugenbehältereinheit nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Sumpf (10)
und der Luftkanal (16) durch Wände (11, 13; 115, 11D) definiert ist, die eine Hauptströmungsrichtung
(BD) der Luftblasen (AB) aufwärts durch den Luftkanal (16) bestimmen, wobei die Luftblasenströmungsrichtung
(B) zumindest ungefähr orthogonal zur Hauptströmungsrichtung der Waschflüssigkeit
hin zum Sumpfauslass (15) ist.
9. Laugenbehältereinheit nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Überstand (114) und/oder die Brücke
(14) sich zumindest teilweise über den Sumpfauslass (15) in einem vorab festgelegten
ersten vertikalen Abstand (h1) erstreckt bzw. erstrecken und/oder an seinem/ihrem
untersten Bereich einen vorab festgelegten zweiten Abstand (h2) vom Sumpfeinlass (18)
hat.
10. Laugenbehältereinheit nach Anspruch 9, wobei der vertikale Abstand (h2) des zweiten
Endes (16B) vom ersten Ende (16A) des Luftkanals (16) dem vertikalen Abstand des untersten
Bereichs des Überstands (114) und/oder der Brücke (14) vom Sumpfeinlass (18) entspricht.
11. Laugenbehältereinheit nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Überstand (114)
und/oder die Brücke (14) eine untere Wand aufweist bzw. aufweisen, die sich ausgehend
von einer Seitenwandstruktur (11B) des Sumpfs (10) in den Sumpf 10 erstreckt.
12. Laugenbehältereinheit nach Anspruch 11, wobei der Überstand (114) ein freies Stirnwandende
(116) aufweist, das parallel zur Seitenwandstruktur (11B) verläuft, orthogonal zu
einem Seitenwandteil (11C) des Sumpfs (10) verläuft und mit dem Seitenwandteil (11C)
verbunden ist.
13. Laugenbehältereinheit nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei:
a) zumindest ein Lenkelement (30) am Laugenbehälterboden (12) dem Sumpfeinlass (18)
benachbart angeordnet ist,
b) das Lenkelement (30) eine Prallwand (31) aufweist, die vom Laugenbehälterboden
(12) aufwärts hin zu einer Außenwand der Trommel (3) vorsteht, dabei aber einen Abstand
von der Außenwand der Trommel (3) wahrt und sich kontinuierlich zum Rand des Sumpfeinlasses
(18) erstreckt, wodurch Waschflüssigkeit, die der Laugenbehälterinnenwand (121) hinabläuft,
gelenkt wird und auf die Prallwand (31) direkt hin zum Sumpfeinlass (18) und in diesen
aufprallt.
14. Laugenbehältereinheit nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche,
a) wobei der Laugenbehälter (2) aus einem vorgeformten Vorderlaugenbehälterteil (21)
mit einem Vorderlaugenbehälterbodenteil (12B) und einem vorgeformten Rücklaugenbehälterteil
(22) mit einem Rücklaugenbehälterbodenteil (12A) zusammengesetzt ist, wobei der Rücklaugenbehälterteil
(22) mit dem Vorderlaugenbehälterteil (21) in einem Verbindungsbereich (20) verbunden
ist,
b) wobei zumindest eine Wand (117) des Luftkanals (16) ein integraler Teil mit dem
Vorderlaugenbehälterteil (21) ist und die anderen Wände (11D, 115) des Luftkanals
(16) integrale Teile mit dem Rücklaugenbehälterteil (21) sind, und/oder
c) wobei ein vorderer Seitenwandteil (11E) der Seitenwandstruktur (11) des Sumpfs
(10) ein integraler Teil mit dem Vorderlaugenbehälteiteil (21) ist und wobei die anderen
Teile (11A bis 11D) der Seitenwandstruktur (11) des Sumpfs (10) integrale Teile mit
dem Rücklaugenbehälterteil (22) sind.
15. Waschmaschine, die dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass sie eine Laugenbehältereinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 14 umfasst.
1. Unité formant cuve de lavage pour machine à laver comprenant
a) une cuve de lavage (2) comportant un intérieur de cuve (9) et logeant un tambour
rotatif (3) destiné à recevoir les produits à laver,
b) un compartiment de vidange (10) disposé dans une région inférieure de la cuve de
lavage (2) et destiné à drainer le liquide de lavage de l'intérieur (9) de la cuve,
le compartiment de vidange (10) comportant une entrée de compartiment (18) et une
sortie de compartiment (15),
c) un conduit d'air (16) étant placé en communication fluidique avec le compartiment
(10) à une première extrémité (16A) et avec l'intérieur (9) de la cuve à une seconde
extrémité (16B), de telle sorte que le conduit d'air (16) libère au moins une partie
des bulles d'air (AB) du liquide de lavage (L), qui est contenu dans le compartiment
(10) ou qui s'écoule à travers celui-ci, pour les amener à l'intérieur (9) de la cuve.
2. Unité formant cuve de lavage selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle la première extrémité
(16A) du conduit d'air (16) est placée plus bas (h2) que la seconde extrémité (16B)
et l'entrée (18) du compartiment, la seconde extrémité (16B) étant déplacée horizontalement
(D1) vers l'entrée (18) du compartiment.
3. Unité formant cuve de lavage selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans
laquelle la seconde extrémité (16B) du conduit d'air (16) est déplacée horizontalement
(d) depuis l'entrée (18) du compartiment d'une partie du fond (12, 14) de la cuve.
4. Unité formant cuve de lavage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans laquelle l'entrée (18) du compartiment est disposée en amont du conduit d'air
(16) dans le sens de rotation principal (RD) du tambour dans une phase d'essorage
d'un processus de traitement de linge.
5. Unité formant cuve de lavage selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, dans laquelle la
première extrémité (16A) du conduit d'air (16) est formée par un orifice ménagé dans
ou entre les parties de paroi latérales (11D, 115) d'une structure de paroi latérale
(11) du compartiment (10) et/ou la seconde extrémité (16B) du conduit d'air (16) est
formée par un orifice ménagé dans un fond (12) de la cuve.
6. Unité formant cuve de lavage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans laquelle au moins une paroi de fond (11d) du conduit d'air (16) est inclinée
par rapport à un plan horizontal en s'écartant de l'entrée (18) du compartiment.
7. Unité formant cuve de lavage selon la revendication 6, dans laquelle l'angle d'inclinaison
(δ) est choisi pour être compris entre 10° et 60°.
8. Unité formant cuve de lavage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans laquelle le compartiment (10) et le conduit d'air (16) sont définis par des parois
(11, 13 ; 115, 11d) déterminant le sens d'écoulement principal (BD) des bulles d'air
(AB) vers le haut à travers le conduit d'air (16), le sens d'écoulement des bulles
d'air (BD) étant au moins approximativement orthogonal au sens d'écoulement principal
du liquide de lavage vers la sortie (15) du compartiment.
9. Cuve de lavage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle
la saillie (114) et/ou le pont (14) s'étendent au moins partiellement par-dessus la
sortie (15) du compartiment à une première distance verticale prédéterminée (h1) et/ou
se trouve au niveau de sa zone la plus inférieure à une seconde distance verticale
prédéterminée (h2) de l'entrée (18) du compartiment.
10. Cuve de lavage selon la revendication 9, dans laquelle la distance verticale (h2)
de la seconde extrémité (16B) à la première extrémité (16A) du conduit d'air (16)
correspond à la distance verticale de la zone la plus inférieure de la saillie (114)
et/ou du pont (14) de l'entrée (18) du compartiment.
11. Cuve de lavage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle
la saillie (114) et/ou le pont (14) comportent une paroi inférieure qui s'étend horizontalement
jusque dans le compartiment (10) en partant d'une structure de paroi latérale (11B)
du compartiment (10).
12. Unité formant cuve de lavage selon la revendication 11, dans laquelle la saillie (114)
comporte une extrémité de paroi avant libre (116) qui est parallèle à ladite structure
de paroi latérale (11B), qui est orthogonale à une partie de paroi latérale (11C)
du compartiment (10) et qui est raccordée à ladite partie de paroi latérale (11C).
13. Unité de cuve de lavage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans
laquelle
a) au moins un élément de guidage (30) est disposé sur le fond (12) de cuve près de
l'entrée (18) du compartiment,
b) l'élément de guidage (30) comportant une paroi d'impact (31) faisant saillie vers
le haut depuis le fond (12) de la cuve en direction d'une paroi extérieure du tambour
(3) tout en gardant une certaine distance par rapport à la paroi extérieure du tambour
(3) et s'étendant en continu jusqu'au bord de l'orifice d'entrée (18) du compartiment,
de façon à guider le liquide de lavage, qui s'écoule en bas de paroi intérieure (121)
de la cuve et vient heurter la paroi d'impact (31), directement vers l'entrée (18)
du compartiment jusque dans celui-ci.
14. Unité formant cuve de lavage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
a) la cuve de lavage (2) étant constituée d'une partie de cuve avant préformée (21)
comportant une partie de fond de cuve avant (12B) et une partie de cuve arrière préformée
(22) comportant une partie de fond de cuve arrière (12A), la partie de cuve arrière
(22) étant raccordée à la partie de cuve avant (21) dans une zone de raccordement
(20),
b) au moins une paroi (117) du conduit d'air (16) faisant partie intégrante de la
partie de cuve avant (21) et les autres parois (11D, 115) du conduit d'air (16) font
partie intégrante de la partie de cuve arrière (21) et/ou
c) une partie de paroi latérale avant (11E) de la structure de paroi latérale (11)
du compartiment (10) fait partie intégrante de la partie de cuve avant (21) et les
autres parties (11A à 11D) de la structure de paroi latérale (11) du compartiment
(10) font partie intégrante de la partie de cuve arrière (22).
15. Machine à laver caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend une unité formant cuve de lavage selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1 à 14.