EP2195480B1 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A washing machine includes an outer tub, and a counterweight fastened to the outer tub by a screwed connection. The screwed connection includes a screw guided through an opening of the counterweight, a spiked plate at an end of the screw with a spike-type projection in a fastening section of the outer tub that non-rotatably secures the spiked plate, and a brace at the other end of the screw that braces the counterweight and the fastening section with the spiked plate.

Description

The invention relates to a washing machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

To support an unbalance washing operation of the washing machine, the tub of the washing machine, within which rotates the washing drum, provided with balancing weights. These can be attached via screw to the tub.

From the US 2005/005650 A1 is a screw for attaching a balance weight to a tub of a washing machine known. The screw has a guided in the assembly position by the balance weight screw which is screwed into a receiving thread of the tub. The screw head is in contact with a side facing away from the tub bearing surface of the balance weight.

From the DE 42 38 685 A1 is another screw for attaching the balance weight of the tub known, in which in assembly position of the screw head by means of a washer designed as a spring washer in contact with the side facing away from the tub bearing surface of the balance weight. The screw head is screwed in a material-integral and integrally formed with the tub screw dome. The Schraubdom protrudes through a mounting hole in the balance weight.

To prevent rotation of the screw between the balance weight and the tub known to be a screw can be used between the screw head and screw shaft an approximately rectangular safety collar is provided. The safety collar of the screw is in one corresponding passage opening of a locking plate used, which in turn is arranged against rotation of the balance weight. To prevent rotation, therefore, a special trained with the safety collar screw and a backup plate are required. The assembly or component cost of rotation of the screw is therefore correspondingly large.

The object of the invention is to provide a washing machine in which the balance weight is attached to the tub with a reduced number of components.

The object is achieved by a washing machine with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims, which find their support in the following description and the drawings.

According to the characterizing part of claim 1, at least one of the end-side clamping elements is formed as a spiked disc having at least one spike-like projection. In the attached state of the balance weight of the thorn-like projection is pressed in the clamping direction in the mounting portion of the tub and thereby secured the spiked disc rotation. An additional locking plate with associated securing collar of the screw, as it is used in the prior art, can thus be omitted in terms of simplification of assembly and component reduction. Preferably, a plurality of mandrel-like projections is provided.

The two end clamping elements can be a threaded nut and / or a screw head in the context of the invention. Optionally, the clamping element may also be a washer, which is pressed by means of the threaded nut or the screw head against the mounting portion of the tub.

Preferably, the spiked disc according to the invention can be designed as a spigot nut which can be screwed to the screw element. The thorns mother is adapted regardless of the screw used according to the invention, while the screw can be conventionally, without additional anti-rotation elements, formed.

The thorns disc may be a deep-drawn sheet metal part, for example, from a spring-hardened stainless steel sheet, whereby the thorns disc manufacturing technology is easy to manufacture.

As an alternative, the spiked disc can also be designed as a screw head of the screw. The pin-like projections of the screw head point in the direction of the threaded shaft of the screw. The screw serves in a double function both for clamping and for rotation of the screw. The thorn-like projections are arranged on the underside of the screw head facing the tub attachment section.

As a further alternative, the spiked disc may be a washer associated with the screw head of the screw member. The washer is designed so that it is rotatably connected to the screw head. For such a rotationally fixed connection, the washer may have a recess whose inner contour is adapted to the outer contour of the screw head (eg a hexagonal inner contour). When fastened, the screw head is in positive engagement with the inner contour of the recess of the washer, as a result of which the screw can not rotate relative to the washer.

To simplify assembly, the at least one thorn-like projection of the spiked disc may have a rounded spike, which may result in a not yet tightened pre-assembly of the screw following advantages: In the pre-assembly state, the spiked disc with its thorn-like projection is still in loose contact with the tub -Befestigungsabschnitt. Due to the rounded tip of the spike-like projection, the spiked disc can be easily moved along the attachment portion. Such a displacement would be in an edged or tapered spike tip lead to a "hooking" of the thorn-like projection in the attachment portion and thus to a stiff sliding movement.

Preferably, the spiked disc can have a polygonal circumferential profile with an even number of edges. As a result, a tool attachment to the spiked disc can be simplified. The spiked disc may have at least one pair of opposing, parallel side surfaces for further simplicity. The side surfaces of the spiked disc serve in a dual function both as a tool approach and as lateral stops for further rotation of the spiked disc. For such an additional anti-rotation device, the spiked disc according to the invention can be assigned at least one rotational stop formed on the fastening section, which guarantees the rotational security of the screw connection in addition to the at least one thorn-like projection of the spiked disc. For this purpose, the rotational stop formed on the fastening section can have two mutually parallel, opposite side walls. Between these side walls then the thorns disc can be arranged against rotation with their lateral abutment surfaces.

To increase the functionality of the spiked disc, it may have an inner screw-fastener section and an outer plate-shaped abutment section press-fitted with the tub-mounting section. At least one thorn-like projection is provided on the plate-shaped contact section. The inner screw-mounting portion is in fixed state of the balance weight in fixed engagement with the screw. In a special embodiment, the screw-fastening portion may be a receiving thread into which the screw is screwed.

For a permanently reliable attachment of the balance weight to the tub, it is preferred that the screw is associated with an additional biasing element. The biasing member maintains a permanent bias between the chucking elements and the balance weight or the tub attachment portion upright, even if by the Washing machine operation caused strong dynamic stresses of the screw and in retardation or plastic or entropy-plastic deformations, as they can occur under long-term stress, in particular on a tub made of plastic tub attachment portion and / or other, the screw directly associated (plastic) parts.

The biasing member may be integrated according to the invention in the thorns disc. Advantageously, the biasing member is a plate-like spring portion which is provided between the inner screw member mounting portion and the outer plate-shaped abutment portion of the spiked disc. The plate-like spring portion may be formed as a cone portion. In the thorn-shaped disc formed as a thorn-nut, a receiving thread for the screw can be provided in the inner screw member mounting portion. In this case, the receiving thread can be provided in a central bottom region of the spiked disc. Alternatively, the inner screw member mounting portion may comprise a threaded sleeve, on the inside of the receiving thread is provided.

The threaded sleeve can in this case be provided on the side facing away from the thorn-like projections side of the mandrel disc. Likewise, the threaded sleeve can also be provided on the thorn-like projections facing side of the spiked disc. With a suitable length, the threaded sleeve can be guided together with the threaded shaft through the attachment portion of the tub here. The threaded shaft of the screw is therefore not in direct contact with the tub attachment portion, but only the smooth outside of the threaded sleeve of the spiked disc.

In the case of the spiked disk designed as a screw head, moreover, the inner screw-element fastening section can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the screw element, in particular integrally connected thereto.

The tub attachment section may include a laterally open insertion slot through which the screw member projects. With loosely screwed clamping elements, therefore, one of the clamping elements can be inserted into the laterally open insertion slot and displaced therein into a predetermined final fastening position. The attachment portion of the tub can also form a guide channel. The insertion slot may open into the guide channel and extend in the longitudinal direction thereof. When mounting the screw connection, the spiked disc can then be displaced along the guide channel and the screw element along the insertion slot to a final fastening position.

Preferably, the attachment portion is formed of the same material and integral with the tub. The tub and / or the attachment portion can be manufactured advantageously made of plastic manufacturing technology. In a method for attaching the balance weight to the tub, a screw of the screw connection according to the invention can first be performed by the balance weight. The guided by the balance weight screw end can then be screwed loosely with an end-side clamping element. The end-side clamping element is the spike washer according to the invention. The loosely screwed, end-side clamping element can then be inserted into the guide channel of the tub attachment section. Subsequently, the balance weight can be moved for position adjustment with the loosely screwed clamping element along the guide channel; and in a correct position arrangement of the balance weight, the screw can be tightened in its final mounting position.

Hereinafter, five embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1

gemäß dem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel in einer schematischen Teilansicht ein oberes Ausgleichsgewicht, das über Schraubver- bindungen am Laugenbehälter der Waschmaschine befestigt ist;

Fig. 2

in einer vergrößerten Schnittdarstellung eine der Schraubverbindungen zwischen dem Ausgleichsgewicht und dem Laugenbehälter;

Fig. 3

in perspektivischer Darstellung eine für die Schraubverbindung verwendete Gewindemutter;

Fig. 4

eine als Gewindemutter ausgeführte Dornen-Scheibe gemäß dem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 5

eine als Gewindemutter ausgeführte Dornen-Scheibe gemäß dem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 6

eine als Schraubenkopf ausgeführte Dornen-Scheibe gemäß dem vierten Ausführungsbeispiel; und

Fig. 7

eine als Unterlegscheibe ausgeführte Dornen-Scheibe gemäß dem fünften Ausführungsbeispiel.

Show it:

Fig. 1

according to the first embodiment in a schematic partial view of an upper balance weight, which is fastened via Schraubver- connections to the tub of the washing machine;

Fig. 2

in an enlarged sectional view of the screw between the balance weight and the tub;

Fig. 3

in perspective view a threaded nut used for the screw;

Fig. 4

a mandrel disc designed as a threaded nut according to the second embodiment;

Fig. 5

a mandrel disc designed as a threaded nut according to the third embodiment;

Fig. 6

a designed as a screw head spiked disc according to the fourth embodiment; and

Fig. 7

a washer disc as a washer according to the fifth embodiment.

In the Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a portion of a tub 1 a washing machine and a top side attached to the tub 1 balancing weight 3 is shown, which ensures an unbalance washing operation. The elongated balance weight 3 extends transversely to a central axis, not shown, of the hollow cylindrical tub 1 and is at its two opposite ends on support hollow sections 5 of the tub 1. The balance weight 3 is mounted at its longitudinal ends in each case via a screw connection 7 on the associated hollow support profile 5 of the tub 1.

In known manner, the balance weight 3 is made of a cast material, such as cast iron or concrete, or other suitable material. The tub 1 is a plastic injection molded part. The hollow support profile 5 is integrally formed integrally on the tub 1 in manufacturing technology simple manner.

In the Fig. 2 is one of the screw 7 of Fig. 1 shown in an enlarged partial sectional view. The opposite, not shown screw is identical.

Like from the Fig. 2 reveals, the screw 7 is formed in three parts, with a screw 9 or a screw, a washer 11 and a threaded nut designed as a thorn-disc 13. The screw 7 is in the Fig. 2 shown in the assembly position of the balance weight 3 and the tub 1. The screw 9 is guided with its threaded shaft 15 through a mounting hole 17 of the balance weight 3. Here, the screw head 19 is supported on the washer 11 on a side facing away from the tub 1 contact surface 21 of the balance weight 3. The contact surface 21 is here the bottom of a conically widened countersunk hole 23.

The guided through the mounting hole 17 threaded shaft 15 projects with its shaft end in an insertion channel 25 of the support hollow profile 5. The insertion channel 25 extends perpendicular to the plane of the Fig. 2 and is bounded by two side walls 27 and by one, the two side walls 27 connecting upper top wall 29.

In the present embodiment, the upper top wall 29 is a mounting portion of the tub 1. This attachment portion 29 and the balance weight 3 are according to the Fig. 1 and 2 clamped between the screw head 19 and the mandrel plate 13, which are the end-side clamping elements of the screw connection 7. In the top wall 29, a narrow insertion slot 31 is provided for this purpose, which extends along the guide channel 25 and through which the threaded shaft 15 protrudes. The insertion slot 31 is open at the side and opens into the guide channel 25.

The designed as a threaded nut spiked disc 13 is within the guide channel 25 with the in Fig. 2 screwed lower end of the threaded shaft 15. The spiked disc 13 thus engages behind the top wall 29. In the assembly position shown, therefore, the balance weight 2 and the top wall 29 of the tub 1 between the screw head 19 and the spiked disc 13 is clamped.

The designed as a threaded nut thorns disc 13 is in the Fig. 3 shown in enlarged perspective view in detail. The threaded nut 13 is made of a spring-hardened stainless steel sheet having a material thickness a of about 1 mm. The spiked disc 13 has according to the Fig. 3 an inner screw-mounting portion 32. The inner screw-fastening portion 32 is here provided with an internal thread 33, with which the end of the shank 15 of the screw 9 can be screwed.

Like from the Fig. 3 further shows, the screw-mounting portion 32 of the mandrel plate 13 has a centrally disposed threaded sleeve 35, in which the internal thread 33 is provided. To the threaded sleeve 35 is followed in the direction of the outer contour of the mandrel plate 13 towards a cone portion, which forms a plate-like spring portion 37 (in the manner of a plate spring). At its outer edge region, the spring section 37 merges integrally into a plate-shaped, planar bearing section 39 extending in the radial direction of the spiked disc 13. The contact section 39 has a uniform octagonal outer contour with respective opposite pairs of mutually parallel side surfaces or stop surfaces 41. In its installed position, the thorns disc 13 presses with the in Fig. 3 lower surface of the abutment portion 39 against the top wall 29th

A permanently rotationally tight seat designed as a threaded mandrel thorns 13 is for the reliability of great importance. According to the invention, therefore, protrusions 43 with rounded mandrel tips are provided on the side of the spiked disc 13 facing the top wall 29. The thorn-like projections 43 are on the side facing away from the threaded sleeve 35 of the mandrel disc 13 and extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the threaded shaft 15 or substantially parallel direction. In the attached state of the balance weight 3, the thorn-like projections 43 are pressed by the clamping forces of the screw in the clamping direction in the plastic material of the top wall 29.

For an additional anti-rotation against rotation of the spiked disc 13 is in the Fig. 3 shown distance b between two opposite lateral abutment surfaces 41 dimensioned so that each of the opposite stop surfaces 41 with little play c facing the side wall 27 of the tub support hollow profile 5 is opposite (see Fig. 2 ). The two side walls 27 of the hollow support profile 5 therefore act as a rotation stop, which additionally limits a rotational movement of the spiked disc 13.

For fastening the balance weight 3 with the tub 1, first the screw 9 is guided by the side facing away from the tub 1 side of the balance weight 3 through the mounting hole 17. Then the thorns disc 13 is loose with the in Fig. 2 screwed lower end of the shaft 15. This loose screw can still be done independently of the tub 1. Subsequently, to connect the balance weight 3 with the tub 1, the loosely connected to the screw 9 thorn plate 13 is inserted into the laterally open guide channel 25 of the tub 1. The threaded shaft 15 of the screw 9 now protrudes through the insertion slot 31, while the top wall 29 is disposed between the threaded nut 13 and the balance weight 3. In this state, the loosely screwed spike washer 13 along the guide channel 25 and the screw 9 along the insertion slot 31 can be moved to a positionally correct or final mounting position.

After correct position positioning of the balance weight 3, the screw 7 is clamped on a tool attached to the screw head 19 tool.

To simplify the clamping operation, the spiked disc 13 is held against rotation by its lateral stop surfaces 41 between the two side walls 27. On the other hand, due to the play between the stop surfaces 41 of the spiked disc 13 and the side walls 27 c and due to the rounded projections 43 ensures that with loosely screwed spiked disc 13 a smooth displacement of the spiked disc 13 within the guide channel 25 possible is.

In the Fig. 4 the spiked disc 13 according to the second embodiment is shown. The basic structure as well as the functioning of the in Fig. 4 shown thorns disc 13 corresponds to the structure and operation of the spiked disc 13 of the first embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 3 , so that the same reference numerals are used for the same-acting features, and in particular the differences from the first embodiment are described below.

Accordingly, in the inner screw member mounting portion 32 of the mandrel plate 13, the receiving thread 33 is also provided for the screw 9. In contrast to the first embodiment, however, the receiving thread 33 is not provided within the threaded sleeve 35, but rather in a central bottom portion 45. The central bottom portion 45 passes over the plate-like spring portion 37 in the outer plate-shaped abutment portion 39 of the spiked disc over. At the, in the presentation after Fig. 4 , the upper side of the contact area 39, in turn, the rounded mandrel-like projections 43 are provided.

In the Fig. 5 the spiked disc 13 according to the third embodiment is shown. The thorns slice of the Fig. 5 has - as in the first embodiment - a central threaded sleeve 35, on whose in Fig. 5 the lower end portion of the plate-like spring portion 37 connects, which merges into the outer plate-shaped abutment portion 39.

In contrast to the first embodiment, however, the threaded sleeve 35 is not provided on the, the thorn-like projections 43 facing away from the thorn-disc 13, but rather on the thorn-like projections 43 facing side. In the in Fig. 5 Therefore, the central threaded sleeve 33, the spring portion 37 and the radially outer abutment portion 39 are partially "interleaved" with each other, resulting in a total of the overall height of the spiked disc 13 compared to the first embodiment reduced. This thorn disc 13 is therefore particularly suitable for a very shallow guide channel.

With a corresponding length thus the threaded sleeve 35 is guided together with the threaded shaft 15 screwed therein through the insertion slot 31 of the top wall 29 of the hollow support profile 5. The edges of the insertion slot 31 are therefore not directly in contact with the threaded shaft 15 of the screw 9. Rather, the smooth outside of the threaded sleeve 35 advantageously comes into contact with the edges of the insertion slot 31, whereby a smooth displacement of the threaded shaft 15 takes place within the insertion slot 31.

In the Fig. 6 the spiked disc 13 according to the fourth embodiment is shown. In contrast to the first three embodiments, here the spiked disc 13 is integrally formed with the screw 9 as the screw head. The spiked disc 13 accordingly has a central head section 47. At the central head portion 47, the plate-like spring portion 37 connects radially outwardly, which merges into the contact portion 39. In the exploded view shown, the screw 9 is associated with a conventional washer 11 and a conventional threaded nut 49, for clamping the top wall 29 and the balance weight 3 with the in Fig. 6 upper end of the shaft 15 is screwed. In the attached state of the balance weight 3 is supported in the variant according to the Fig. 6 the threaded nut 49 with its washer 11 on the side facing away from the tub 1 contact surface 21 of the balance weight 3, as shown in the Fig. 2 is shown. In a corresponding manner, the mandrel disc 13 designed as a screw head is arranged within the guide channel 25 of the hollow support profile 5.

In the Fig. 7 the screw connection 7 according to the fifth embodiment is also shown in an exploded view. Like from the Fig. 7 As can be seen, the spiked disc 13 is designed here as a washer of the screw head 19. The spiked disc 13 in this case has a central indentation 51, the inner contour of the outer contour of the screw head 19 is adapted in a form-fitting manner. At the central indentation 51, the plate-like spring portion 37 connects, which merges again into the radially extending, plate-shaped abutment portion 39. At the contact portion 39, in turn, the thorn-like projections 43 are arranged. The end of the threaded shaft 15 of the screw 9 is also bolted to a conventional threaded nut 49. In the attached state of the balance weight 3, the spiked disc 13 is arranged together with the arranged in its indentation 51 screw head 19 in the guide channel 25. The spiked disc 13 sits with its, pressed into the plastic material of the top wall 13 projections 43 rotatably on the top wall 29. Accordingly, due to the positive connection between the outer contour of the screw head 19 and the inner contour of the recess 51 of the screw head 19 rotatably with the thorn Disc 13 in connection.

Reference signs in the claims, the description and the drawings are only for the better understanding of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

tub

3

counterweight

5

Supporting hollow profile

7

screw

9

Screw / screw element

11

washer

13

Spiked plate

15

Shank / threaded shaft

17

mounting hole

19

screw head

21

contact surface

23

sink hole

25

Insertion channel / guide channel

27

side walls

29

Cover wall / attachment section

31

Insertion slot 31

32

Screw member mounting portion of 13

33

inner thread

35

threaded sleeve

37

Plate-like spring section

39

contact section

41

stop surfaces

43

Thorny projections of 13

45

floor area

47

header

49

threaded nut

51

indentation

a

material thickness

b

distance

c

Game between 27 and 41

Claims (17)

1. Washing machine with a solution container (1) and a compensating weight (3) fastened thereat by way of a screw connection, wherein the screw connection comprises a screw element (9), which is led through an opening (17) of the compensating weight (3), with two clamping elements (13, 19) which are at the ends and between which the compensating weight and a fastening section (39) of the solution container (1) are clamped in place, characterised in that at least one of the clamping elements (13, 19) at the ends is constructed as a mandrel disc (13) with at least one mandrel-like projection (43), which in the fastened state of the compensating weight (3) is pressed in clamping direction into the fastening section (29) and secures the mandrel disc (13) against rotation.
2. Washing machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the mandrel disc (13) is constructed as a mandrel nut able to be screwed together with the screw element (9).
3. Washing machine according to claim 2, characterised in that when the mandrel disc (13) is constructed as a mandrel nut a receiving thread (33) for the screw element (9) is provided in the inner screw element fastening section (32).
4. Washing machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the mandrel disc (13) is constructed as a screw head of the screw element (9).
5. Washing machine according to claim 4, characterised in that when the mandrel disc (13) is constructed as a screw head the inner screw element fastening section (32) is connected in rotationally fast manner with the screw element (9), preferably integrally connected in rotationally fast manner.
6. Washing machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the mandrel disc (13) is constructed as a washer which is associated with a screw head of the screw element (9) and with which the screw head is connectible to be secure against rotation.
7. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one mandrel-like projection (43) has a rounded mandrel tip.
8. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mandrel disc (13) has a polygonal circumferential profile with an even-numbered number of edges.
9. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mandrel disc (13) has at least one pair of opposite, parallel side surfaces (41).
10. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mandrel disc (13) is associated with at least one rotational abutment (27), which is constructed at the fastening section (29) and which forms an additional rotational securing for the mandrel disc (13).
11. Washing machine according to claim 10, characterised in that the rotational abutment constructed at the fastening section (29) has two mutually parallel opposite side walls (27) between which the mandrel disc (13) is arranged to be secure against rotation.
12. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mandrel disc (13) has an inner screw element fastening section (32) and an outer plate-shaped support section (39), which is disposed in pressurable contact with the fastening section (29) and at which the at least one mandrel-like projection (43) is provided.
13. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a plate-like spring section (37) is provided between the inner screw element fastening section (32) and the outer plate-shaped contact section (39).
14. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the solution container fastening section (29) has a laterally open introduction slot (31) through which the screw element (9) projects.
15. Washing machine according to claim 14, characterised in that the fastening section (29) forms a guide channel (25); the introduction slot (31) opens into the guide channel (25) and extends in longitudinal direction therein; and on assembly of the screw connection the mandrel disc (13) can be pushed along the guide channel (25) and the screw element (9) along the introduction slot (31) to a final fastening position.
16. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the fastening section (29) is connected in material unitary manner and integrally with the solution container (1).
17. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the solution container (1) and/or the fastening section (29) is or are made of plastics material.

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