DRUM OF A MACHINE FOR THE CAREFUL TREATMENT FOR CLOTHES
A drum of a machine for the treatment of clothes is provided and includes a drum casing, which is essentially cylindrical in its basic form, with a central cylinder axis that forms an axis of rotation about which the drum can rotate. The drum casing has a tubular main casing portion with a first and a second front wall, which are connected to a first and second axial edge region of the main casing portion, and a reinforcing piece. The reinforcing piece surrounds the main casing portion over the outside circumference of the drum and counteracts the bulging of the main casing portion during the rotation of the drum under the influence of the centrifugal force, wherein the reinforcing piece has a cord-like component that encircles the outside circumference of the main casing portion.
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The present invention relates to a drum of a machine for the careful treatment of clothes, particularly of a washing machine, a washer-dryer, a tumble dryer or suchlike according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1. The invention also relates to a machine for the careful treatment of clothes with a drum of this type.
PRIOR ARTEP 1,568,812 A2 and EP 1,505,188 A2 describe such a drum (200 in
Although the reinforcing strip (500) basically offers a high-quality solution, the production of the reinforcing strip (500) and the fitting of strip (500) in the drum are quite complicated and expensive as far as the production and fitting methods are concerned, and call for special tools and machinery. The cross-section of the reinforcing strip (500) should almost always be slightly raised like an arc to ensure that the convex side of the strip can then be positioned in such a way that the edges of the strip (500) do not rub against the drum later. Furthermore, the fitting of the pretensed reinforcing strip (500) to the drum requires a strong mechanical force, as well as special preventive measures or tensing components in said reinforcing strip (500). Such reinforcing strips (500) therefore cannot be adapted to drums of different shapes and sizes, or can only be adapted to them by the use of extremely strong forces, for example in different washing machines or machines for the careful treatment of clothes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe task or technical problem of the present invention is to provide a drum with a reinforcing piece of the type mentioned at the beginning, which can be produced simply and effectively, can be fitted to the main casing part, and even so reliably counteracts the bulging of the main casing part during the rapid rotation of the drum, and can also be used in drums of different shapes and sizes. A machine for the careful treatment of clothes with a drum of this type should also be available.
This task is accomplished according to a first aspect of the invention by a drum according to the invention, with characteristics set out in claim 1.
This drum of a machine for the careful treatment of clothes, particularly a washing machine, a washer-dryer, a tumble dryer or suchlike, is provided with a drum casing that is essentially cylindrical in its basic form, with a central cylinder axis that forms an axis of rotation about which the drum can rotate, where the drum casing has a tubular main casing part with a first and a second front wall, which are connected to a first and second axial edge region of the main casing part, and it also has at least one reinforcing piece that surrounds the main casing part over the outside circumference of the drum and counteracts the bulging of the main casing part during the rotation of the drum under the influence of the centrifugal force, characterized in that the reinforcing piece is at least one cord-like component, which encircles the outside circumference of the main casing part at least once. The drum is characterized in that the reinforcing piece is at least one cord-like component that is passed around the circumference of the main casing part at least once.
In the present invention, the term “cord-like component” is used to denote any type of component made at least with one wire and at least one fiber or at least one filament or similar elongated and ductile (and therefore also flexible) component for the transmission of forces of traction. The cord-like component is made of a number of separate wires, cords, fibers or filaments, which are for example twisted, braided or grouped together to form one or more strands by some optional other means. The cord-like component also has a certain elasticity. The cross-section of the cord-like component or the profile of its cross-section is preferably essentially circular, elliptical or at least round.
Since in the case of the drum according to the invention the reinforcing piece is a cord-like component, it can be joined to the drum or to the main casing part thereof in a simple form and manner as regards the production and fitting techniques. For example, the cord-like component can be simply unwound during the manufacture of a reel, cut to the required length, passed around the drum and fixed to it. No special tools or machines are needed for this operation. The cord-like component can also be a standard one, such as for example normal stainless steel wires and suchlike. These have by nature a circular or round cross-section that ensures that the cord-like component, in the final state of fitting and working in the drum, does not rub against the outside surface. Unlike in the case of the prior art described above, there is no need in this case for any treatment or deformation of the reinforcing piece.
The cord-like component can also be encircled in the pretensed state, around the outside circumference of the main casing part and fixed in this state in a relatively simple way without costly procedures. Due to the ductility of the cord-like component, it can also be easily mounted around the main casing part in several turns or passes and at one or more angles of tilt, and in this way it can reach, if necessary, different points on the outside circumference of the main casing part. This makes it possible to reinforce the drums in a simple and effective form and manner at the points that are subjected to particularly strong forces. The cord-like component can also be used for reinforcing drums of different sizes and/or drums of different types of machines for the careful treatment of clothes, without calling for an essential adaptation or modification of the cord-like component or for tools for fitting it. The production of the drum according to the invention is therefore simpler, more effective and more economic than that of known drums. Furthermore, the component acts by securely and reliably counteracting the undesirable bulging of the main casing part during the rapid rotation of the drum (for example at a speed of 1400 rpm or more).
Other preferred and advantageous characteristics of the drum according to the invention are the subject of claims 2-26, which are based on the subsequent description of examples of preferred embodiments.
Furthermore, the underlying aim of the invention is achieved by a machine for the careful treatment of clothes according to the invention, with the characteristics specified in claim 27.
The machine for the careful treatment of clothes, in particular a washing machine, a washer-dryer, a tumble dryer or suchlike, has a drum according to one or more of claims 1-26.
The machine for the careful treatment of clothes basically makes it possible to achieve the same technical advantages as those set out above in connection with the drum according to the invention.
The preferred embodiments of the invention, with their combined design features and other advantages, are described and explained below in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
In the following description and in the drawings, in order to avoid repetitions, identical parts are denoted by the same symbol if there is no need to differentiate between them in other respects.
The drum (2) also has at least one reinforcing piece, which encircles the main casing part (4a) on the outside circumference of the drum (2) and which counteracts the bulging of the main casing part (4a) that occurs during the rotation of the drum (2) under the influence of the centrifugal force (this bulging is indicated in
This ensures a long service life for the folded joint (6) and consequently a secure and reliable connection between the first and a second front wall (4b, 4c), on the one hand, and the first and a second axial edge region (RB1, RB2) of the main casing part (4a) on the other hand, which might otherwise be damaged in the case of the rapid rotation of the drum (2), with strong bulging of the main casing part (4a). As shown in the drawing, the reinforcing piece is at least one cord-like component (8) (called simply “cord (8)” in the following), which encircles the outside circumference of the main casing part (4a) at least once. In the embodiment under discussion, a single turn is envisaged. In the final, mounted state of the cord (8), the latter preferably encircles the main casing part (4a) in the pretensed form.
As can be seen from
The cord (8) used in this embodiment is a standard steel cable that is made of stainless steel and is corrosion-proof. The cord (8) has a diameter of about 2.5 mm and basically a round cross-section. Other diameters are of course also possible in any application, depending on the size of the drum (2) and on the planned speed of rotation. The cord (8) is preferably made of a number of separate elements that are twisted, stranded together or combined in another way. However, in a very simple embodiment, it can also be a single length of wire or suchlike.
Other suitable materials, that is to say, other materials that resist oxidation and corrosion, can also be used basically for making the cord (8). For example, the cord (8) can thus also be made of a number of non-metallic fibers, a number of filaments or a composite fibrous material.
As shown in
In this example, the cord (8) is in the form of a finite length of cord whose ends (8a, 8b) are joined together by a cord-joining component (14) in the mounted state, that is to say, in a state in which it is fixed to the main casing part (4a). However, in principle, the cord (8) can also be an infinite cord, for example in the form of a ring. The cord-joining component (14) is preferably a cord-joining component that is chosen from a group of cord-joining components comprising: a shape-based joint, a joint working by friction, an adhesive or glued joint, in particular a knotted joint, a plaited joint, an interlacing joint, a spliced joint, a (strong) welded joint, a soldered or brazed joint, a cast joint, a joint working by clamping or pressure (for example, also in the form of two screwed pieces or partially riveted elements), an interlocking joint, a hooking joint, or a combination of at least two of the above-mentioned cord-joining components. In the present example, the cord-joining component (14) is a clamping joint or a pressure joint, as described later in detail.
As can be seen from
To facilitate mounting on the main casing part (4a) in this example, the cord (8) is prefabricated as a single mounting unit, with a cord-joining component (14) or its separate components, which mounting unit has a predetermined mounting length (LM). In this example, the mounting length LM is given as follows:
LM=LA−DX
In this case, LA is the length of the outside circumference of the main casing part (4a) in the region where the cord (8) is to be located, and DX is a length of considerable magnitude for the reversible elastic tensing of the cord (8) in a later step. In this example, the actual length of the cord (LS), to which the cord (8) should be cut for making said mounting unit, is somewhat smaller than the mounting length (LM), since the coupling elements (14a, 14b) themselves have a predetermined length.
When the cord (8) is in the first state (see
To be able to effect the pretensing of the cord (8) mentioned above, it is basically also possible to use a cord (8) or a mounting unit that has in the second state a smaller length than the outside circumference (LA) of the main casing part (4a). However, this would mean that the cord (8) then locally strongly presses on the drum (2). This should be largely avoided, because the sheet used for making the drum (2) is usually very thin.
Another possibility is a composite shape, starting with the first and second variant; this is an actual solution in practice, since not only the cord (8) but also the drum (2) always exhibit a certain elasticity or yield. In the second state shown in
In this variant, the following relationship holds for the mounting length (LM) mentioned above:
LM=LA−(DX1+DX2)
DX1 and DX2 can be identical or different. As far as possible, the sum of DX1+DX2 should be equal to the value of DX in the example illustrated in
-
- In this case, the ends of the cord can:
- have the same beginning and end (and be combined there together over a shared cord-joining component), or
- have different beginnings and ends, where the ends of the cord may be for example fixed at different sites, e.g. also to the same casing of drum (4).
- In this case, the ends of the cord can:
The beginning and/or end of the turn of the cord can also be located in the transition zone T.
Mixed forms based on the variants described above are also possible and are envisaged according to the invention.
The drum (2) according to the invention is used in a machine for the careful treatment of clothes, in particular a washing machine, a washer-dryer, a tumble dryer or suchlike.
The invention is not limited to the examples described above. The drum according to the invention and the machine for the careful treatment of clothes according to the invention can also have other embodiments not described above in concrete terms while similarly lying within the scope of protection. It is also possible in this way to couple or premount the cord in order to form a grid or lattice pattern. The cord or the cord-like component can also be fixed to the main casing part at least at one site in the direction of the circumference and/or in its axial direction. In this case, the cord-joining component can act as a similar kind of fixing element in at least one embodiment of the invention. The cord-joining component can also have internal cord-tensing devices. In addition, various cord-joining components can also be used. Furthermore, the coupling element(s) of the cord-joining component can have different forms than those described above in concrete terms. Thus, it is also possible to have one or more connectable coupling elements. The main casing part may also have, on the outside, elbows and/or bends or other elements matching the shape of the cross-section and dimensions of the cord-like component and serving to fix their position, as well as guiding and securing them. Instead of a grooved elbow, other guiding and securing elements can also be employed.
In the claims, description and drawings, the symbols only serve for the better understanding of the invention and cannot be taken to limit the scope of protection.
LIST OF SYMBOLS USED
- 2 Drum
- 4 Drum casing
- 4a Main casing part of 4
- 4b First front wall of 4
- 4c Second front wall of 4
- 6 Folded joint
- 8 Cord or cord-like component
- 8a End of the cord
- 8b End of the cord
- 10 Grooved elbow(s)
- 10A Longitudinal axis of 10
- 12 Slot-like elbow(s)
- 14 Cord-joining component
- 14a First coupling element of 14
- 14a1 Cord-joining region of 14a
- 14a2 Head of 14a
- 14b Second coupling element of 14
- 14b1 Cord-joining region of 14b
- 14b2 Deformation zone of 14b
- 14b3 Receiving region
- 16 Limiter
- 18 Cord-joining component
- 18a First coupling element of 18
- 18a1 Cord-joining region of 18a
- 18a2 Head of 18a
- 18b Second coupling element of 18
- 18b1 Cord-joining region of 18b
- 18b2 Head of 18b
- 18c Capsule of 18 in the middle
- 18c1 Internal separating wall of 18c
- 18c2 Regions of the deforming capsules of 18c
- 20 Flat coupling element operating by clamping or pressure
- 22 Pressed and spot-welded metal band
- 24 Injection joint or cast joint
- 200 Drum
- 400 Drum casing
- 400a Main casing part
- 400b First front wall
- 400c Second front wall
- 500 Reinforcing strip
- A Cylinder axis/axis of rotation
- BF Extended inserting region
- DX Predetermined distance
- DX1 First predetermined distance
- DX2 Second predetermined distance
- LA Length of the outside circumference of 4a/length of the second turn
- LM Mounting length/length of the first turn
- LS Length of the cord
- P1 First position
- P2 Second position
- RB1 First edge region of 4a
- RB2 Second edge region of 4a
- T Transition zone
- VF Folded joint
- W1 First turn of the cord 8
- WX x-th turn of the cord 8.
Claims
1-27. (canceled)
28. A drum for a machine that performs a treatment, particularly a treatment of clothes, particularly a washing machine, a washer-dryer, a tumble dryer or the like, the drum comprising:
- a drum casing, the drum casing delimiting an overall cylindrical shape in its basic form and having a central cylinder axis that forms an axis of rotation about which the drum can be rotated, the drum casing having a tubular main casing portion with a first wall at one axial end of the main casing portion and a second wall at an opposite axial end of the main casing portion, the first wall being connected to a first axial edge region of the main casing portion and the second wall being connected to a second axial edge region of the main casing portion; and
- at least one reinforcing piece that extends around the main casing portion radially outwardly of the outside circumference of the drum, the reinforcing piece having at least one cord-like component, the at least one cord-like component extending circumferentially around the main casing portion at least once and engaging the main casing portion in a manner to resist a radially outward bulging of the main casing portion that may occur during the rotation of the drum as a result of a centrifugal force acting on the drum.
29. The drum as claimed in claim 28, wherein the cord-like component extends circumferentially around the main casing portion several times.
30. The drum as claimed in claim 29, wherein the cord-like component has a plurality of turns that each extend circumferentially around the main casing portion and the turns extend at generally the same radial diameter as adjacent turns and at an axial displacement relative to such adjacent turns.
31. The drum as claimed in claim 28, wherein there is a space between the adjacent turns of the cord-like component.
32. The drum as claimed in claim 28, wherein the cord-like component has a plurality of turns that each extend circumferentially around the main casing portion and the turns of the cord-like component encircle the outside circumference of the main casing portion at different twist angles.
33. The drum as claimed in claim 28, wherein runs of the cord-like component that encircles the outside circumference of the main casing portion cross over one another.
34. The drum as claimed in claim 28, wherein the at least one cord-like component is arranged substantially axially centrally of the main casing portion.
35. The drum as claimed in claim 28, wherein the at least one cord-like component is extended circumferentially around the main casing portion at two different axially spaced locations thereon.
36. The drum as claimed in claim 28, wherein the reinforcing piece includes at least two cord-like components each of which is located at a different axial position relative to the main casing portion than the other cord-like component, whereby the at least two cord-like components have axial spacing between themselves.
37. The drum as claimed in claim 36, wherein each of the at least two cord-like components includes a single cord at the respective axially spaced position of the main casing portion.
38. The drum as claimed in claim 28, wherein the cord-like component is fixed to the circumference of the main casing portion in a manner that limits movement of the cord-like component at least circumferentially or axially relative to the main casing portion.
39. The drum as claimed in claim 28, wherein the cord-like component encircles the main casing portion in a pretensed state.
40. The drum as claimed in claim 28, wherein the cord-like component is composed of a number of wires or filaments.
41. The drum as claimed in claim 28, wherein the cord-like component is made of a stainless, anticorrosive material.
42. The drum as claimed in claim 28, wherein the cord-like component does not extend fully circumferentially around the main casing portion and the at least one reinforcing piece includes a cord joining component that joins two opposite ends of the cord-like component to one another.
43. The drum as claimed in claim 42, wherein the cord joining component is a cord-joining component that is chosen from a group of cord joining components consisting of a shape-based joint, a joint working by friction, an adhesive or glued joint, in particular, a knotted joint, a plaited joint, an interlacing joint, a spliced joint, a (strong) welded joint, a soldered or brazed joint, a cast joint, a joint working by clamping or pressure, an interlocking joint, a hooking joint, or a combination of at least two of the cord joining components of the group of cord-joining components.
44. The drum as claimed in claim 42, wherein the cord joining component has at least one first coupling element that can be fixed to a first end of the cord-like component and at least one second coupling element that can be fixed to a second end of the cord-like component.
45. The drum as claimed in claim 44, wherein the two coupling elements can be inserted into each other.
46. The drum as claimed in claim 42, wherein the cord joining component is configured as a pressure terminal and both coupling elements have, in the pressed-in state, a logico-conclusive joint in a longitudinal direction of the cord-like component.
47. The drum as claimed in claim 28, wherein the cord-like component, in its mounted condition on the main casing portion in which it extends circumferentially around the main casing portion, has cord ends joined together via a reversibly releasable and elastic cord-joining component, and the length of the cord-like component in this mounted condition substantially equals the circumference of the main casing portion and is longer than a first predetermined length of the cord-like component prior to mounting of the cord-like component that is shorter than the circumference of the main casing portion, whereupon the cord-like component, in its mounted condition, encircles the main casing portion in a pretensed state.
48. The drum as claimed in claim 47, wherein the cord-like component does not extend fully circumferentially around the main casing portion and the at least one reinforcing piece includes a cord joining component that joins two opposite ends of the cord-like component to one another, the cord joining component has at least one first coupling element that can be fixed to a first end of the cord-like component and at least one second coupling element that can be fixed to a second end of the cord-like component, the two coupling elements can be inserted into each other, and the cord joining component has a limiter for at least one of the coupling elements, whereby, when the cord-like component is in its state prior to mounting, one coupling element is placed at a predetermined distance in front of the limiter, thus defining the length of a first turn of the cord-like component, and, when the cord-like component is in its mounted state, this coupling element is adjusted at the limiter to thereby set the length of a second turn of the cord-like component and, thus, to set the magnitude of pretensing of the cord-like component.
49. The drum as claimed in claim 48, wherein the limiter is formed on at least one of the coupling elements.
50. The drum as claimed in claim 48, wherein the cord joining component has a separate limiter, which is associated with at least a first and a second coupling element.
51. The drum as claimed in claim 28, wherein the cord-like component does not extend fully circumferentially around the main casing portion and the at least one reinforcing piece includes a cord joining component that joins two opposite ends of the cord-like component to one another, the main casing portion has, on its outside circumferential surface, a plurality of grooved elbows, each of which extends essentially parallel to the length of the cylinder axis and forms a blade-like breaker inside the main casing portion, and the cord joining component is placed at least in the area of one of these elbows.
52. The drum as claimed in claim 51, wherein the tubular main casing portion is made from a basic sheet material which is deformed to obtain a tubular structure and is joined at the two edges of the sheet to an extended inserting region that extends essentially parallel to the cylinder axis, the inserting region is fitted with at least one elbow in the form of a small channel, whose longitudinal axis extends substantially in the direction of the circumference of the main casing portion; and the cord-like component extends through the grooved elbow in a manner via which the grooved elbow secures the cord-like component in the axial direction of the drum.
53. The drum as claimed in claim 52, wherein the cord-like component does not extend fully circumferentially around the main casing portion, the at least one reinforcing piece includes a cord joining component that joins two opposite ends of the cord-like component to one another, and the cord joining component is located in a region of the circumference of the main casing portion opposite the extended inserting region.
54. A machine that performs a treatment, particularly a treatment of clothes, particularly a washing machine, a washer-dryer, a tumble dryer or the like, the machine comprising:
- a drum; and
- a device for rotating the drum, the drum having a drum casing, the drum casing delimiting an overall cylindrical shape in its basic form and having a central cylinder axis that forms an axis of rotation about which the drum can be rotated, the drum casing having a tubular main casing portion with a first wall at one axial end of the main casing portion and a second wall at an opposite axial end of the main casing portion, the first wall being connected to a first axial edge region of the main casing portion and the second wall being connected to a second axial edge region of the main casing portion, and at least one reinforcing piece that extends around the main casing portion radially outwardly of the outside circumference of the drum, the reinforcing piece having at least one cord-like component, the at least one cord-like component extending circumferentially around the main casing portion at least once and engaging the main casing portion in a manner to resist a radially outward bulging of the main casing portion that may occur during the rotation of the drum as a result of a centrifugal force acting on the drum.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 3, 2008
Publication Date: Jun 10, 2010
Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH (Munich)
Inventors: Ismael Gracia Bobed (Zaragoza), Eduardo Recio Ferrer (Zaragoza)
Application Number: 12/532,657