U.S. patent application number 14/653919 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-05 for laundry treating appliance.
This patent application is currently assigned to Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.. The applicant listed for this patent is ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.. Invention is credited to Diego Dal Ben, Marcin Lorenc, Marco Santarossa.
Application Number | 20150315739 14/653919 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47603113 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150315739 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ben; Diego Dal ; et
al. |
November 5, 2015 |
Laundry Treating Appliance
Abstract
The present invention relates to a laundry treating appliance,
such as a washing machine or a machine having laundry drying
functions; a laundry treating appliance according to the invention
comprises a cabinet assembly (1) including a front wall (3), a rear
wall (4), side panels (31, 32) arranged between the front and rear
walls (3, 4) and one or more beam elements (10) for structurally
connecting the front and rear walls (3, 4), the cabinet assembly
(1) accommodating operational components which are required for
carrying out a treatment on laundry and a control unit device
designed to control the operational components, the appliance
having one of the beam elements (10) made of an electrical
insulating material and formed as a box member (6) having an
interior housing (50) for accommodating the control unit device
therein.
Inventors: |
Ben; Diego Dal; (Zoppola
(PN), IT) ; Lorenc; Marcin; (Sacile (PN), IT)
; Santarossa; Marco; (S. Quirino (PN), IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V. |
Brussels |
|
BE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Electrolux Home Products
Corporation N.V.
Brussels
BE
|
Family ID: |
47603113 |
Appl. No.: |
14/653919 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
December 13, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2013/076617 |
371 Date: |
June 19, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/228 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 34/28 20200201;
D06F 39/12 20130101; D06F 58/30 20200201 |
International
Class: |
D06F 39/12 20060101
D06F039/12; D06F 58/28 20060101 D06F058/28; D06F 39/00 20060101
D06F039/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 21, 2012 |
EP |
12199201.0 |
Claims
1. A laundry treating appliance comprising a cabinet assembly (1)
including a front wall (3), a rear wall (4), side panels (31, 32)
arranged between the front and rear walls (3, 4) and one or more
beam elements (10) for structurally connecting the front and rear
walls (3, 4), the cabinet assembly (1) accommodating operational
components which are required for carrying out a treatment on
laundry and a control unit device designed to control the
operational components, the appliance being characterized in that
one of the beam elements (10) is made of an electrical insulating
material and is formed as a box member (6) having an interior
housing (50) for accommodating the control unit device therein.
2. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 having a drum (16) for
receiving laundry to be treated, wherein the beam element (10)
formed as a box member (6) comprises an elongated plate (8), the
control unit device being arranged over the elongated plate (8) so
as to be placed between the elongated plate (8) and the drum
(16).
3. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 or 2, wherein the beam
element (10) formed as a box member (6) comprises an elongated
plate (8) connected to the front and rear walls (3, 4) and a cover
(7) for closing the interior housing (50) accommodating the control
unit device.
4. The laundry treating appliance of claim 3 wherein the cover (7)
is pivotally connected to said elongated plate (8), fastening
devices (9) being provided for fastening the cover (7) onto the
elongated plate (8) so as to close the interior housing (50).
5. The laundry treating appliance of claim 3 or 4, wherein the
elongated plate (8) and the cover (7) are formed as a single,
unitary piece.
6. The laundry treating appliance of claim 5 wherein the cover (7)
is pivotally connected to said elongated plate (8) by means of a
pliable surface portion (14) arranged between the cover (7) and the
elongated plate (8).
7. The laundry treating appliance of any claims 3 to 6 wherein the
cover (7) can be applied onto the box member interior housing (50)
independently from said cabinet side panels (31, 32).
8. The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim wherein
the box member (6) comprises one or more fastening devices (51) to
hold the control unit device.
9. The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim wherein
the beam element (10) formed as a box member (6) comprises
strengthening and stiffening ribs (13) arranged on an opposite side
of the beam element (10) formed as a box member (6) relative to the
interior housing (50) accommodating the control unit device.
10. The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim having a
drum (16) for receiving laundry to be treated, wherein the box
member (6) is formed on said beam element (10) by walls (26)
protruding from an elongated plate (8) towards the drum (16).
11. The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim wherein
the cover (7) has a seat (55) for receiving at least a part of the
control unit device.
12. The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim wherein
one of said cabinet side panels (31, 32) is applied onto a first
side of the beam element (10) formed as a box member (6) and the
control unit device is arranged on a second side of said beam
element (10) which is opposite to the first side.
13. The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim wherein
the box member (6) comprises apertures (21, 56).
14. The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim wherein
the front wall (3) of the cabinet assembly (1) is covered by a
decorative, non-structural panel (30).
15. The laundry treating appliance of any preceding claim wherein a
control panel (41) for operating the appliance is arranged on the
front wall (3).
Description
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
[0001] The present invention relates to a laundry treating machine
such as a laundry washing machine, a laundry washing-drying machine
or a laundry dryer.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Laundry washing machines, laundry washing-drying machines
and laundry driers share some structural features as well as some
technical issues, due to the very similar overall architecture,
based on a rotary drum mounted in a support structure. For this
reason, these machines are sometimes referred to as rotary drum
laundry treating appliances, when it is intended to refer to any of
these three types of machines, like in the present
specification.
[0003] A rotary drum laundry treating appliance is made with a
support structure that has the task of supporting the rotary drum
and all the parts and elements of the appliance, either directly or
indirectly, and of transferring the weight of the appliance and all
stresses generated during operation to the floor on which the
appliance is laid. Normally, the support structure comprises a
cabinet assembly including a front wall and a rear wall of the
appliance, as well as elements that structurally connect these two
walls, at different heights so as to ensure that the support
structure is sufficiently strong. By the expression "structurally
connect" it is meant here that these elements are strong enough to
bear mechanical stresses that go well beyond those merely implied
by these elements themselves (such as their weight, or the forces
necessary to fix them to the walls), so as to be able to transfer
significant stresses between the walls, such as stresses due to the
rotation of the drum, even at high speed or with somehow unbalanced
loads.
[0004] In a first known solution, the supporting structure
comprises a cabinet assembly including a base portion that connects
a front and a rear wall at the bottom of the appliance, and one or
more metal beams that connect the two walls at the top of the
appliance. A front panel and further two side panels having
decorative purpose only cover the machine supporting structure.
Such a structure is disclosed in EP 1783266 A1.
[0005] Moreover, the cabinet assembly typically accommodates also
operational component parts of the machine which are required for
treating laundry, such as a rotating drum, a control panel, air
circulating conduits, heating devices, filters, liquid draining
apparatus and so on. A control panel is generally provided at a
front portion of the cabinet assembly with appropriate electronics
connected thereto.
[0006] Due to reduced space behind the control panel, further
control unit devices designed to control the machine operational
components are arranged along a side of the appliance.
[0007] In most cases, the control unit devices including a printed
circuit board, onto which electronic components are mounted, are
placed inside a box closed with a cover for safety reasons.
[0008] To save space and to define a firm positioning for the box,
the box is normally fastened to one of the metal beams of the
appliance supporting structure. According to this typical
configuration, two components must be produced and handled, i.e. a
metal beam element and a box containing the control unit device.
Then the box must be fastened to the traverse either before or
after that the metal beam element is connected to the front and
rear panels of the cabinet assembly.
[0009] In both cases, two separate operation steps are to be
carried out, that is connecting the metal beam element and
fastening the box, and two components are involved, that is the
beam element and the box.
[0010] Metal beam elements can cause some problems as they are
heavy and not suitable to directly support a control unit device
because it cannot ensure an appropriate electrical insulation of
the control device from the surrounding components of the
appliance.
[0011] Moreover, the box and metal beam element assembling
operation is time consuming and not always straightforward, having
a negative impact on the global cost and operations of the
appliance manufacture.
Objects of the Disclosure
[0012] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at
least reduce the drawbacks noted above with reference to the prior
art appliances.
[0013] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
laundry treating appliance with a control unit device containing
box member which has also the function of a structural element of
the cabinet.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
laundry treating appliance with a structural control unit device
containing box member which allows for cost reduction and improves
assembly operations of the appliance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating
appliance, such as a laundry washing machine, a laundry
washing-drying machine or a laundry dryer, as set out in the
accompanying claims.
[0016] Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a laundry
drying appliance comprising a cabinet assembly including a front
wall, a rear wall, side panels arranged between the front and rear
walls and one or more beam elements for structurally connecting the
front and rear walls, the cabinet assembly accommodating
operational components which are required for carrying out a
treatment on laundry and a control unit device designed to control
the operational components, in the appliance one of the beam
elements is made of an electrical insulating material and is formed
as a box member having an interior housing for accommodating the
control unit device therein.
[0017] According to a further aspect of the invention, the laundry
treating appliance has a drum for receiving laundry to be treated,
wherein the beam element formed as a box member comprises an
elongated plate, the control unit device being arranged over the
elongated plate so as to be placed between the elongated plate and
the drum.
[0018] In one embodiment of the invention the beam element formed
as a box member comprises an elongated plate connected to the front
and rear walls and a cover for closing the interior housing
accommodating the control unit device.
[0019] In a further aspect of the invention the cover (7) is
pivotally connected to the elongated plate, fastening devices being
provided for fastening the cover onto the elongated plate so as to
close the interior housing.
[0020] In one embodiment of the invention the elongated plate and
the cover are formed as a single, unitary piece.
[0021] In another embodiment of the invention the cover is
pivotally connected to the elongated plate by means of a pliable
surface portion arranged between the cover and the elongated
plate.
[0022] In one aspect of the invention the cover can be applied onto
the box member interior housing independently from said cabinet
side panels.
[0023] In another aspect of the invention the box member comprises
one or more fastening devices to hold the control unit device.
[0024] According to an embodiment of the invention the beam element
formed as a box member comprises strengthening and stiffening ribs
arranged on an opposite side of the beam element formed as a box
member relative to the interior housing accommodating the control
unit device.
[0025] In another embodiment of the invention the laundry treating
appliance has a drum for receiving laundry to be treated and the
box member is formed on the beam element by walls protruding from
an elongated plate towards the drum.
[0026] In one embodiment of the invention the cover has a seat for
receiving at least a part of the control unit device.
[0027] In one aspect of the invention one of the said cabinet side
panels is applied onto a first side of the beam element formed as a
box member and the control unit device is arranged on a second side
of said beam element which is opposite to the first side.
[0028] In a further aspect of the invention the box member
comprises apertures.
[0029] In one embodiment of the invention, the front wall of the
cabinet is covered by a decorative, non-structural panel.
[0030] In another embodiment of the invention a control panel for
operating the appliance is arranged on the front wall of the
appliance.
[0031] The present invention offers a number of benefits. One of
the advantages of the invention derives from the integration of a
control unit device box member with a beam element of the appliance
support structure, forming in this way a unique structural element,
which has the task of joining the rear and front walls of the
appliance cabinet assembly and the task of containing the control
unit device which typically, in known appliances, is enclosed
within a separate box fastened to traverse beam element.
[0032] This means that only one operation step is necessary to
obtain the structural element.
[0033] Another advantage is an easier assembling operation, which
facilitates the work of the operators, because the single
structural element is also lighter and made with an electrical
insulating material, therefore needing no additional
insulation.
[0034] All this results in a reduction of time during appliance
assembling operation, which means a decrease in manufacturing
cost.
[0035] A further advantage is given by the position of the beam
element integrating the box member for housing an appliance control
unit. By placing the box member in a region close to the drum a
better removal of heat produced by the control unit device may be
achieved. This advantage is particularly evident in a laundry
drying machine, wherein the drum rotates and moves air within the
appliance cabinet.
[0036] Another advantage is due to electrical insulation of the
control unit device obtained by using an electrical insulating
material for forming the beam element. In case of an electrical
dispersion from the control unit device, any risk for the user is
avoided because the dispersion is kept confined into the box member
containing the control unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0038] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of laundry treating appliance
according to the invention;
[0039] FIG. 2 shows the laundry treating appliance of FIG. 1 with
the front panel, the side panels and the top panel removed for
better showing the cabinet assembly;
[0040] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a perspective view of a structural beam
element formed as a box member for housing a control unit device in
an open configuration, as seen from opposite sides
respectively;
[0041] FIGS. 4a and 4b show a perspective view of a structural beam
element formed as a box member for housing a control unit device in
a closed configuration, as seen from opposite sides
respectively;
[0042] FIG. 5 shows the upper portion of the appliance of FIG. 1
with some parts removed to show the structural beam element of
FIGS. 3a to 4b installed in the appliance.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0043] In the attached drawings the laundry treating appliance
according to the invention is embodied as a laundry dryer, however
the same invention can be equivalently applied to a laundry washing
machine and/or to a laundry washing and drying machine.
[0044] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the laundry dryer comprises
a cabinet assembly 1 having a base portion 2, a front wall 3, a
rear wall 4, and beam elements 10 structurally connecting the front
wall 3 with the rear wall 4. The front and rear walls 3, 4 are
further connected to the base portion 2 so as to form, together
with the beam elements 10, a support structure that rests on a
floor and supports all remaining parts and elements of the laundry
dryer. These parts and elements include in particular a front panel
30, left and right side panels 31, 32, an electric motor 34, a
rotary drum 16 comprising a laundry treatment chamber 35 for
receiving laundry to be treated by the appliance, the drum being
driven by the electric motor 34 via a belt transmission device 36.
The front and side panels 30, 31 and 32 are mounted to the front
and rear walls 3 and 4, but are not involved in the structural
connection between these two walls, that is fully achieved by the
base portion 2 and the beam elements 10. The front and side panels
30, 31 and 32 are decorative panels. Therefore, in particular, side
panels 31 and 32 have a mechanical strength that is negligible
compared to that of the front and rear walls 3, 4 and beam elements
10. The front panel 30 has an opening 37 giving access to the
laundry treating chamber 35. Such opening 37 is aligned with a
corresponding opening 38 formed on the front wall 3, and both
openings 37, 38 are closed by a pivotable door 39.
[0045] The front wall 3 comprises an air duct 40 provided for
conveying air thought the laundry treating chamber 35 so as to dry
wet laundry.
[0046] A control panel 41, for allowing a user to operate the
appliance, is arranged on the front wall 3 of the appliance. A
drawer-like water bearing device 42, like a water tank, is slidably
received into a hopper 43 which is arranged close to one of the
structural beam elements 10.
[0047] The cabinet assembly 1 contains all the operational
components which are required for carrying out a treatment on
laundry. Some of the operational components like the drum 16, its
driving electric motor 34 have been already cited above, while
other parts and elements of the laundry drier are not mentioned in
detail here, but many of them are shown in the drawings.
[0048] A control unit device (not shown in the drawings), is
provided to control the operational components of the appliance so
as to perform a laundry treating process on laundry.
[0049] Such control unit device may be embodied as a printed
circuit board carrying electric/electronic elements thereon.
[0050] With further reference to FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, and 5,
according to the invention, one of the beam elements 10 of the
appliance support structure is formed as a box member 6 that
comprises an interior housing 50 for accommodating the control unit
device. The beam element 10 incorporating the box member 6 is made
of an electrical insulating material, preferably of polymeric
nature. A couple of fastening devices 51 are provided on the box
member 6 to hold the control unit device in a stable position.
[0051] A plurality of ribs 13 are provided for giving the beam
element 10 formed as a box element 6 strength and rigidity to keep
the cabinet assembly during manipulation and operation of the
appliance. Ribs 13 are preferably formed on a side of the beam
element 10 which is opposite to the side carrying the control unit
device. In this way stiffening ribs 13 face a side panel 31 which
is applied thereon. With such arrangement, the removal of the side
panel 31 does not uncover the control unit device which remains
behind the beam element 10.
[0052] The beam element 10 formed as a box member 6 comprises an
elongated plate 8 over which the control unit device is to be
placed. The elongated plate 8 features fixing devices 11 at its
opposite ends, as can be seen in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b.
[0053] The fixing devices 11 are aimed to connect the elongated
plate 8 of the beam element 10 formed as a box member 6 to the
front and rear walls 3, 4, as can be easily seen in FIGS. 2 and 5.
In this way, the beam element 10 keeps the front and rear panels 3,
4 in place, at the correct distance from each other.
[0054] The fixing devices 11 include threaded holes 12, or holes
with threaded nuts, for engagement by screws passing through the
front and rear walls 3, 4. Of course, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that different fixing devices, other than the threaded
holes and screws, can be used to fasten the beam element 10 to the
front and rear walls 3, 4, e.g. nuts and bolts.
[0055] Walls 26, protruding from the elongated plate 8 towards the
appliance drum 16, form the box member 6 and define the perimeter
of the box member 6 interior housing 50. The elongated plate 8
forms the bottom portion of said interior housing 50.
[0056] A cover 7 may be provided for closing the interior housing
50 of the box member 6 so as to protect the control unit device and
to further enhance the strength of the beam element 10 formed as a
box member 6. Cover 7 may be formed as a piece which is separate
from but attachable to the box member 6 through fastening devices
9. The cover 7 can be applied on the box member 6 interior housing
10 independently from the cabinet side panels 31, 32. The material
constituting the cover is an electrical insulating material.
Fastening devices 9 are provided either on the cover 7 or the
elongated plate 8 or on both the cover 7 and the elongated plate 8.
In a preferred embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3a to 4b the cover 7
and the elongated plate 8 are formed as a single, unitary piece. In
this embodiment, the cover is pivotally connected to the elongated
plate 8 by means of a pliable surface portion 14 arranged between
the cover 7 and the elongated plate 8. The pliable surface portion
14 is formed by locally reducing the thickness of the electrical
insulating material forming the beam element 10, so as to form a
portion that is pliable along a line. Such arrangement forms a
hinge interconnecting the cover 7 with the elongated plate 8. In an
alternative embodiment comprising a cover 7 which is detachable
from the elongated plate 8, a hinge having a pivot and a pivot seat
may be provided for hingedly interconnecting the cover 7 on the
elongated plate 8.
[0057] The cover 7 preferably comprise a seat 55 provided for
receiving at least a part of the control unit device. Since the
control unit device may include components having a considerable
height, for example a heat sink for cooling electronics, a portion
or even the most part of the control unit device may be received in
a seat 55 formed on the cover 7 and facing the elongated plate 8
when he cover 7 is applied thereon.
[0058] Apertures 56, 21 may be provided on the box member 6, in
particular on the elongated plate 8 and the cover 7. Such apertures
56, 21 may be used for being passed through by wires connected or
connectable to the control unit device, or for dispersing the heat
produced by the control unit device. One or more clips 22 may be
provided on an outer side of the box member 8 for holding wires
and/or cables connected to or passing close to the control unit
device.
[0059] The integration of a box member for containing a control
unit device with a beam element of the appliance support structure
allows forming a single structural element which has the task of
joining the rear and front walls of the casing assembly and the
task of safely containing the electric/electronic components.
[0060] Only one operation step is necessary to obtain the beam
element.
[0061] Another advantage is a more simple assembling operation,
which facilitates the work of the operators. The single structural
element is lighter and entirely made from an electrical insulating
material, which is preferably of polymeric nature.
[0062] The result is a reduction of time for carrying out the
appliance assembling operations, which means a decrease in
manufacturing cost.
[0063] Lastly, with the implementation of the present invention at
least one of the metal beam elements is eliminated and a single
structural element made of polymeric material and including a box
member for containing a control unit device of the appliance is
used.
[0064] It will be understood that, while in the foregoing reference
was mainly made to a laundry treating appliance embodied in the
form of a laundry dryer, the present invention is suitable for any
apparatus intended for drying and/or washing clothes.
[0065] It will be appreciated that alterations and modifications
may be made to the above without departing from the scope of the
disclosure. Naturally, in order to satisfy local and specific
requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to the solution
described above many modifications and alterations. Particularly,
although the present disclosure has been described with a certain
degree of particularity with reference to preferred embodiment(s)
thereof, it should be understood that various omissions,
substitutions and changes in the form and details as well as other
embodiments are possible; moreover, it is expressly intended that
specific elements described in connection with any disclosed
embodiment of the disclosure may be incorporated in any other
embodiment as a general matter of design choice.
* * * * *