U.S. patent application number 15/114713 was filed with the patent office on 2017-02-23 for device and washing machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is HAIER ASIA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jungo KATSUKI, Takeshi KAWAKAMI, Katzumi OE, Takashi ONISHI, Takaaki YONEZAWA.
Application Number | 20170051448 15/114713 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53756222 |
Filed Date | 2017-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170051448 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KAWAKAMI; Takeshi ; et
al. |
February 23, 2017 |
DEVICE AND WASHING MACHINE
Abstract
A device and a washing machine are disclosed. The device
includes: a main body mounted on an inner circumferential face of
the washing tank; an intake port provided at a lower end portion of
the main body; a waterway; and an exhaust port provided on a
surface of an upper end portion of the main body. Water is guided
through the waterway so as to be exhausted from the exhaust port
and splashed onto laundry in the washing tank. The exhaust port is
relatively long in a circumferential direction Y of the inner
circumferential face, a top-to-bottom width of the exhaust port in
the middle is narrower than that at both ends in the
circumferential direction Y, and a groove on the surface of the
main body is adjacently arranged on two outer sides of the exhaust
port in the circumferential direction Y.
Inventors: |
KAWAKAMI; Takeshi; (Osaka,
JP) ; ONISHI; Takashi; (Osaka, JP) ; KATSUKI;
Jungo; (Osaka, JP) ; OE; Katzumi; (Osaka,
JP) ; YONEZAWA; Takaaki; (Osaka, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HAIER ASIA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD. |
Osaka
Qingdao City, Shandong |
|
JP
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
53756222 |
Appl. No.: |
15/114713 |
Filed: |
December 31, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
December 31, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2014/095748 |
371 Date: |
July 27, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 37/12 20130101;
D06F 39/088 20130101; D06F 39/083 20130101; D06F 23/04
20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 39/08 20060101
D06F039/08; D06F 23/04 20060101 D06F023/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 29, 2014 |
JP |
2014-014723 |
Claims
1. A device for use in a vertical washing machine, the vertical
washing machine having a cylindrical washing tank with a bottom and
is formed with an access port for laundry at an upper end and is
provided with a bottom wall at a lower end; the device comprises: a
main body, having a back face which is opposite to an inner
circumferential face of the washing tank and a surface which is
located on an opposite side of the back face and faces a central
axis side of the washing tank; wherein the main body is mounted on
the inner circumferential face of the washing tank in a posture
along the up-down direction; an intake port, which is provided at a
lower end portion of the main body for introducing water in the
washing tank from a bottom wall side; a waterway, which is provided
in the main body for guiding the water introduced by the intake
port upwardly; and an exhaust port, which is provided on a surface
of an upper end portion of the main body for exhausting the water
guided by the waterway and splashing the water onto laundry in the
washing tank, wherein the exhaust port is relatively long in a
circumferential direction of the inner circumferential face of the
washing tank, a top-to-bottom width of the exhaust port in the
middle of the circumferential direction is narrower than that at
both ends in the circumferential direction, and a groove on the
surface of the main body is adjacently arranged on two outer sides
of the exhaust port in the circumferential direction.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is mounted
on the inner circumferential face of the washing tank in a state
that a plurality of devices are gathered together and are arranged
in the circumferential direction, and each of the devices comprises
a guiding member, which is arranged on the surface of the main body
in such a way that an upper end of the exhaust port is bordered,
and guides the water exhausted from the exhaust port in an
obliquely downward direction relative to the horizontal
direction.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is mounted
on the inner circumferential face of the washing tank in a state
that a plurality of devices are gathered together and arranged in
the circumferential direction, and each of the devices comprises a
blocking member, which blocks an end portion on a same side in the
circumferential direction in the exhaust port.
4. A washing machine, comprising a device for use in a vertical
washing machine, the vertical washing machine having a cylindrical
washing tank with a bottom and is formed with an access port for
laundry at an upper end and is provided with a bottom wall at a
lower end; the device comprises: a main body, having a back face
which is opposite to an inner circumferential face of the washing
tank and a surface which is located on an opposite side of the back
face and faces a central axis side of the washing tank; wherein the
main body is mounted on the inner circumferential face of the
washing tank in a posture along the up-down direction; an intake
port, which is provided at a lower end portion of the main body for
introducing water in the washing tank from a bottom wall side; a
waterway, which is provided in the main body for guiding the water
introduced by the intake port upwardly; and an exhaust port, which
is provided on a surface of an upper end portion of the main body
for exhausting the water guided by the waterway and splashing the
water onto laundry in the washing tank, wherein the exhaust port is
relatively long in a circumferential direction of the inner
circumferential face of the washing tank, a top-to-bottom width of
the exhaust port in the middle of the circumferential direction is
narrower than that at both ends in the circumferential direction,
and a groove on the surface of the main body is adjacently arranged
on two outer sides of the exhaust port in the circumferential
direction.
5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device is mounted
on the inner circumferential face of the washing tank in a state
that a plurality of devices are gathered together and arranged in
the circumferential direction, and each of the devices comprises a
blocking member, which blocks an end portion on a same side in the
circumferential direction in the exhaust port.
6. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the device is
mounted on the inner circumferential face of the washing tank in a
state that a plurality of devices are gathered together and are
arranged in the circumferential direction, and each of the devices
comprises a guiding member, which is arranged on the surface of the
main body in such a way that an upper end of the exhaust port is
bordered, and guides the water exhausted from the exhaust port in
an obliquely downward direction relative to the horizontal
direction.
7. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the device is
mounted on the inner circumferential face of the washing tank in a
state that a plurality of devices are gathered together and
arranged in the circumferential direction, and each of the devices
comprises a blocking member, which blocks an end portion on a same
side in the circumferential direction in the exhaust port.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a National Stage of International Patent
Application No. PCT/CN2014/095748 filed on Dec. 31, 2014, which
claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-014723,
filed on Jan. 29, 2014, the disclosures of which are hereby
incorporated entirely herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a device for use in a
washing machine, and a washing machine having the device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The washing machine disclosed in following patent documents
1-3 has a device, which is configured to draw water accumulated in
a washing tank for accommodating laundry and then discharge the
water to splash onto the laundry inside the washing tank from
top.
[0004] In patent document 1, a cover member as the device is
mounted on an inner circumferential face of the washing tank. A
circulation waterway is defined between the cover member and the
inner circumferential face of the washing tank. Water drawn in the
circulation waterway is exhausted from an exhaust port which is
formed in the upper end portion of the cover member, so as to be
splashed onto the laundry inside the washing tank.
[0005] In patent document 2, a guiding wall part as the device is
mounted on the inner circumferential face of the washing tank. A
circulation waterway is defined between the guiding wall part and
the inner circumferential face of the washing tank. Water drawn in
the circulation waterway is exhausted from an exhaust port which is
formed in an upper end portion of the guiding wall part, so as to
be splashed onto the laundry inside the washing tank.
[0006] In patent document 3, a waterway constituting member as the
device is mounted on the inner circumferential face of the washing
tank. A circulation waterway is formed in the waterway constituting
member. Water drawn in the circulation waterway is exhausted from
an exhaust port which is formed in an upper end portion of the
waterway constituting member, so as to be splashed onto the laundry
inside the washing tank.
RELATED ART DOCUMENT
Patent Document
[0007] Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
2004-113277
[0008] Patent document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Heisei
10-33883
[0009] Patent document 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Heisei
8-336696
SUMMARY
Problems to be Solved by the Disclosure
[0010] A state of water when being exhausted from the exhaust port
of the device of patent documents 1-3 is largely effected by volume
and level of water accumulated in the washing tank and the height
of the exhaust port. For example, when the water volume is less, or
the water level is lower than the exhaust port and a height
difference between the water level and the exhaust port is large,
water potential is weak when water being exhausted from the exhaust
port, and a water exhaust range is narrower. Thus, it is difficult
to splash all the water exhausted from the exhaust port onto
laundry inside the washing tank.
[0011] In patent document 1, since the exhaust port is bordered
into a straight line such that it becomes flat in a direction
tangential to an inner circumferential face of the washing tank,
the water exhausted from the exhaust port would not diffuse in the
circumferential direction of the inner circumferential face of the
washing tank, but only be splashed onto the laundry on a side
closer to a curvature center of the inner circumferential face of
the washing tank.
[0012] In patent document 2, a portion of a guiding wall part
surrounding the exhaust port is formed in a substantially arc shape
bulged toward a curvature center of the inner circumferential face
of the washing tank. Similarly, in patent document 3, a portion of
a waterway constituting member surrounding the exhaust port is also
formed in a substantially arc shape bulged toward a curvature
center of the inner circumferential face of the washing tank.
Consequently, since the exhaust port is bordered into a
substantially arc shape bulged toward the curvature center of the
inner circumferential face of the washing tank, the water exhausted
from the exhaust port will not only diffuse toward the curvature
center but also toward the circumferential direction of the inner
circumferential face of the washing tank into a fan shape, and is
completely splashed onto the laundry.
[0013] However, in the case of patent documents 2 and 3, it is
difficult to form a portion of the guiding wall part and the
waterway constituting member surrounding the exhaust port to be
bulged toward the curvature center of the inner circumferential
face of the washing tank.
[0014] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of
these circumstances, and therefore an object of the present
disclosure to provide a device and a washing machine having the
same, where the device is configured to draw water accumulated in a
washing tank and splash the water onto laundry in the washing tank,
and can lower difficulty in arranging a structure for splashing all
the water onto the laundry.
[0015] Furthermore, an object of the present disclosure to provide
a device capable of splashing all the water onto laundry, and a
washing machine having the device.
Technical Solutions for Solving the Problems
[0016] The device of the present disclosure is used in a vertical
washing machine, the vertical washing machine having a cylindrical
washing tank with a bottom and is formed with an access port for
laundry at an upper end and is provided with a bottom wall at a
lower end; the device includes: a main body, having a back face
which is opposite to an inner circumferential face of the washing
tank and a surface which is located on an opposite side of the back
face and faces a central axis side of the washing tank; wherein the
main body is mounted on the inner circumferential face of the
washing tank in a posture along the up-down direction; an intake
port, which is provided at a lower end portion of the main body for
introducing water in the washing tank from a bottom wall side; a
waterway, which is provided in the main body for guiding the water
introduced by the intake port upwardly; and an exhaust port, which
is provided on a surface of an upper end portion of the main body
for exhausting the water guided by the waterway and splashing the
water onto laundry in the washing tank, where the exhaust port is
relatively long in a circumferential direction of the inner
circumferential face of the washing tank, a top-to-bottom width of
the exhaust port in the middle of the circumferential direction is
narrower than that at both ends in the circumferential direction,
and a groove on the surface of the main body is adjacently arranged
on two outer sides of the exhaust port in the circumferential
direction.
[0017] Furthermore, the device is mounted on the inner
circumferential face of the washing tank in a state that a
plurality of devices are gathered together and are arranged in the
circumferential direction, and each of the devices includes a
guiding member, which is arranged on the surface of the main body
in such a way that an upper end of the exhaust port is bordered,
and guides the water exhausted from the exhaust port in an
obliquely downward direction relative to the horizontal
direction.
[0018] Furthermore, the device is mounted on the inner
circumferential face of the washing tank in a state that a
plurality of devices are gathered together and arranged in the
circumferential direction, and each of the devices includes a
blocking member, which blocks an end portion on a same side in the
circumferential direction in the exhaust port.
[0019] In addition, the present disclosure relates to a washing
machine, including the above device.
Effects of the Disclosure
[0020] According to the present disclosure, the device for use in a
vertical washing machine having a cylindrical washing tank with a
bottom which is formed with a laundry access port at an upper end
and is provided with a bottom wall at a lower end includes: a main
body mounted on the inner circumferential face of the washing tank
in a posture along the up-down direction. The device in the main
body can introduce water in the washing tank from the intake port
at a lower end portion, guide the water upward through the
waterway, exhaust the water from the exhaust port of the surface of
the upper end portion of the main body and splash the water onto
laundry inside the washing tank from top.
[0021] The exhaust port is relatively long in a circumferential
direction of the inner circumferential face of the washing tank. It
is difficult for the exhaust port which is relatively long in the
circumferential direction to spread the water risen from the
waterway to the exhaust port to the two ends in the circumferential
direction. However, the top-to-bottom width of the exhaust port in
the middle of the circumferential direction is narrower than that
at both ends in the circumferential direction. In other words, the
width of the exhaust port is increased from the central portion to
the two ends in the circumferential direction. Therefore, even if
the potential of water from the waterway toward the exhaust port is
weak, since the water risen to the exhaust port spreads over the
whole region from the central portion to the two ends in the
exhaust port, the exhaust port can also exhaust the water widely
from the whole region in the circumferential direction.
[0022] Further, a groove on the surface of the main body is
adjacently arranged on two outer sides of the exhaust port in the
circumferential direction. That is to say, there is only a need to
arrange grooves on the two outer sides of the exhaust port on the
surface of the main body, since the exhaust port is bordered into a
substantially arc shape bulged toward the central axis side of the
washing tank, the water exhausted from the exhaust port would not
only diffuse toward the central axis side but also toward the
circumferential direction of the inner circumferential face of the
washing tank into a fan shape, and is completely splashed onto the
laundry. Therefore, difficulty in arranging an exhaust port which
is used as the structure for plashing all the water onto the
laundry and bordered into a substantially arc shape can be
reduced.
[0023] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, in the
case that the device is mounted on the inner circumferential face
of the washing tank in a state that a plurality of devices are
gathered together and arranged in the circumferential direction, in
each of the devices, a guiding member, which is arranged on the
surface of the main body in such a way that the upper end of the
exhaust port is bordered, guides the water exhausted from the
exhaust port in an obliquely downward direction relative to the
horizontal direction. Therefore, compared with the case that the
water is exhausted from each exhaust port in the horizontal
direction or in an obliquely upward direction relative to the
horizontal direction and collides, even if the water exhausted from
each of the exhaust ports of the plurality of devices collides with
each other in the washing tank, a collision position of the water
in the washing tank can be moved from the access port toward a
lower bottom wall side. Therefore, water can be prevented from
being scattered outside the access port after collision, and all
the water can be splashed onto the laundry on the bottom wall
side.
[0024] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, in the
case that the device is mounted on the inner circumferential face
of the washing tank in a state that a plurality of devices are
gathered together and arranged in the circumferential direction, in
each of the devices, an end portion on a same side in the
circumferential direction in the exhaust port is blocked by a
blocking member. Consequently, by making the water exhausted from
each of the exhaust ports of the plurality of devices not collide
with each other to the greatest extent, water can be prevented from
being scattered outside the access port after collision, and all
the water can be especially splashed onto the laundry.
[0025] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, in the
washing machine including the above device, difficulty in arranging
a structure for splashing all the water onto the laundry in the
device can be lowered.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view in section showing part
showing an internal structure in a washing machine 2 having a
device 1 involved in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing a
washing tank 5 in the washing machine 2.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a stereogram showing the device 1 as viewed from
the front.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the device 1.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a front view showing the device 1.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG.
5.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG.
5.
[0033] FIG. 8 is a front view showing a main part of the device 1
involved in a variant embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a schematic top view showing an interior of the
washing tank 5 mounted with the device 1 involved in multiple
variant embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0035] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be specifically
described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view in section showing part
showing an internal structure in a washing machine 2 having a
device 1 involved in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0037] First of all, overview of the washing machine before 2 is
described by taking an up-down direction X in FIG. 1 as a
benchmark. In the up-down direction X, an upward direction is
referred as an upward direction X1, and a downward direction is
referred as a downward direction X2. Furthermore, the washing
machine 2 further includes a laundry dryer having a function of
drying laundry S.
[0038] The washing machine 2 includes a housing 3, a water tank 4,
a washing tank 5 and a motor 6.
[0039] The housing 3 is formed in a box shape. The housing 3 abuts
against a floor 7 from the top via legs 3A provided at a lower end
thereof, so as to be disposed on the floor 7.
[0040] The water tank 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a
bottom. The water tank 4 has: a circumferential wall 4A in a
substantially cylindrical shape and having an opening part 4B at an
upper end, and a bottom wall 4C in a circular plate shape for
blocking a hollow portion of the circumferential wall 4B from the
downward direction X2. The opening part 4A is opened and closed by
a lid 8 connected to the circumferential wall 4B. Water such as tap
water, bath water and a liquid dissolved with detergents and the
like are accumulated in the water tank 4.
[0041] The washing tank 5 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a
bottom and is slightly smaller than the water tank 4. The washing
tank 5 has a circumferential wall 5B in a substantially cylindrical
shape and having an access port 5A at an upper end, and a bottom
wall 4C in a circular plate shape for blocking a hollow portion of
the circumferential wall 5C from the downward direction X2.
Therefore, in the washing tank 5, the access port 5A is formed at
the upper end, and the bottom wall 5C is provided at the lower end.
The washing tank 5 is coaxially housed within the water tank 4. The
washing tank 5 housed within the water tank 4 can rotate with a
central axis 9 as an axis, which the central axis 9 extends in the
up-down direction X and is orthogonal to a horizontal direction H.
Consequently, the washing machine 2 is a vertical washing machine
with a vertically arranged washing tank S.
[0042] The access port 5A is in communication with the opening part
4A from the downward direction X2, and the opening part 4A and the
access port 5A are both opened and closed by the lid 8. A user of
the washing machine 2 can feed/take laundry into/out of the washing
tank 5 via the opened access port 5A. A through hole 5D is formed
in the bottom wall 5C, and water in the water tank 4 can circulate
between the water tank 4 and the washing tank 5 through the through
hole 5D.
[0043] An annular balancer 10 is mounted at an upper end portion of
an inner circumferential face 5E of the circumferential wall 5B.
The balancer 10 is a component for reducing vibration of the
washing tank 5 during rotating, and a liquid for helping to reduce
vibration is housed in a cavity 10A inside the balancer 10.
[0044] The motor 6 is disposed at the downward direction X2 of the
bottom wall 4C of the water tank 4 in the housing 3. An output
shaft 6A of the motor 6 extends toward the upward direction X1, and
sequentially passes through a circle center of the bottom wall 4C
and a circle center of the bottom wall 5C of the washing tank 5.
The output shaft 6A has a flange portion 6B protruding in shape of
a collar between the bottom wall 4C and the bottom wall 5C, and is
fixed to the bottom wall 5C and therefore is joined to the washing
tank 5. The washing tank 5 rotates when driven by the motor 6.
[0045] A rotary wing 11 is mounted on an upper end portion of the
output shaft 6A, which the upper end portion protrudes toward the
upward direction X1 further than the bottom wall 5C. The rotary
wing 11 is a so-called impeller. The rotary wing 11 is formed in a
disk shape, and the upper end portion of the output shaft 6A is
mounted at a circle center thereof. An upper surface of the rotary
wing 39 is provided with a plurality of stirring vanes 11A radially
arranged, and a lower surface of the rotary wing 11 is provided
with a plurality of pumping vanes 11B radially arranged. The rotary
wing 11 rotates when driven by the motor 6, and laundry S in the
washing tank 5 is stirred by the stirring vanes 11A.
[0046] The inner circumferential face 5E of the washing tank 5 is
mounted with the device 1. Hereinafter, a circumferential direction
of the inner circumferential face 5E is referred as a
circumferential direction Y, and a radial direction of the inner
circumferential face 5E is referred as a radial direction Z. In the
radial direction Z, a side toward the central axis 9 side is
referred as a radial inner side Z1, a side away from the central
axis 9 is referred as a radial outer side Z2. The up-down direction
X and the circumferential direction Y are orthogonal to each other
when viewed from either of the radial inner side Z1 and the radial
outer side Z2.
[0047] Number of device 1 used in the washing machine 2 may be
arbitrarily set, i.e. may be either one or more than one. In this
embodiment, the device 1 is mounted on the inner circumferential
face 5E in a state that a plurality of devices with same size and
shape are gathered together and arranged in the circumferential
direction Y. Spacing of adjacent devices 1 in the circumferential
direction Y may be fixed between arbitrary devices 1, but may also
vary depending on the devices 1.
[0048] The device 1 includes a main body 12 made of resin. The main
body 12 is in shape of a relatively long lid in the up-down
direction X and is erected between the balancer 10 and the bottom
wall 5C of the washing tank 5 and is mounted on the inner
circumferential face 5E of the washing tank 5 from the radial inner
side Z1 in a posture along the up-down direction. Therefore, the
main body 12 has a back face 12A which is opposite to the inner
circumferential face 5E of the washing tank 5, and a surface 12B
which is located on an opposite side of the back face 12A and faces
a central axis 9 side.
[0049] An intake port 13 is provided on the end portion 12C of the
main body lower 12, and an exhaust port 14 is provided on the
surface 12B of the upper end portion 12D of the main body upper 12.
A waterway 15 extending in the up-down direction X is provided on
the back face 12A of the main body 12. The waterway 15 is blocked
by the inner circumferential face 5E of the washing tank 5 from the
radial outer side Z2, is in communication with the intake port 13
at a lower end, and is in communication with the exhaust port 14 at
an upper end.
[0050] When the rotary wing 11 rotates, water in the washing tank 5
is pressed into the intake port 13 of each device 1 by the pumping
vanes 11B of the rotary wing 11, and is introduced into the intake
port 13 from a side wall 5C side of the washing tank 5. The water
introduced by the intake port 13 is guided through the waterway 15
to the exhaust port 14 at the upward direction X1, and then is
exhausted from the exhaust port 14, as shown in arrows with bold
dashed lines, and is splashed onto laundry S in the washing tank 5
from the upward direction X1. Consequently, the water in the
washing tank 5 circulates via the waterway 15 of the device 1 and
is repeatedly used for washing, and therefore washing can be
performed with a small amount of water.
[0051] Next, the device 1 is described in detail.
[0052] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing a
washing tank 5 in the washing machine 2.
[0053] Two devices 1 are illustrated in FIG. 2. Among the two
devices 1, one device 1 is illustrated in a front view as viewed
from the radial inner side Z1, and the other device 1 is
illustrated in a longitudinal sectional view. As shown in one
device 1, the exhaust port 14 in each of the devices 1 is a slit
which is relatively long in the circumferential direction Y of the
inner circumferential face 5E of the washing tank 5. The following
description will be made with reference to the gesture of the
device 1 when being mounted on the inner circumferential face 5E of
the washing tank 5; in this case, directions are determined mainly
by using the up-down direction X, the circumferential direction Y
and the radial direction Z.
[0054] FIG. 3 is a stereogram showing the device 1 as viewed from
the front.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 3, in the main body 12 of the device 1, a
portion closer to the upward direction X1 than the lower end
portion 12C extends in the circumferential direction Y with a
substantially same width toward the upward direction X1, and the
lower end portion 12C is slowly widened in the circumferential
direction Y as toward the downward direction X2.
[0056] In FIG. 3, the surface 12B of the main body 12 is exhibited
to the maximum and illustrated. In the main body 12 of FIG. 3, a
face located behind the surface 12B is the back face 12A. The
radial inner side Z1 is a near side of the main body 12 toward the
surface 12B from the back face 12A, and the radial outer side Z2 is
a far side of the main body 12 toward the back face 12A from the
surface 12B.
[0057] The surface 12B may be a flat face, a curved face, and may
also be a face combined by the flat face and the curved face. As
viewed from the radial inner side Z1, an outer peripheral portion
of the surface 12B except substantially whole region of the lower
end portion, constitutes a flange 16 bent from the surface 12B and
extending toward the radial outer side Z2.
[0058] FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the device 1.
[0059] As shown in FIG. 4, as viewed from a back face side of the
device 1, i.e. the radial outer side Z2, an overall shape of the
flange 16 is formed in a substantially inverted U shape. In the
flange 16, an upper flange 16A located at an upper end of the main
body 12 flatly extends in the circumferential direction Y.
[0060] In the upper flange 16A, a central portion in
circumferential direction Y constitutes a first engaging portion 17
in a block shape protruding toward the upward direction X1. In the
main body 12, a pair of second engaging portions 18 in a block
shape protruding from a lower end thereof toward the downward
direction X2 are formed at an interval in the circumferential
direction Y. As described above, in a state that the main body 12
is erected between the balancer 10 and the bottom wall 5C of the
washing tank 5, the first engaging portion 17 is engaged with the
balancer 10 from the downward direction X2, and the second engaging
portion 18 is engaged with the bottom wall 5C from the upward
direction X1, so that the main body 12 are located on the balancer
10 and the bottom wall 5C, respectively.
[0061] On the back face 12A of the main body 12, a pair of ribs 19
extending in the up-down direction X are integrally provided in a
region on an inner side of the substantially U-shaped flange 16.
Upper end portions 19A of the pair of ribs 19 are bent in a
direction in which they approach each other, and are joined and
extend in the circumferential direction Y as a whole. Therefore, an
overall shape of the pair of ribs 19 is slightly smaller than an
overall shape of the flange 16, and is formed in a substantially
inverted U shape. A space sandwiched by the pair of ribs 19 is the
waterway 15. Strictly speaking, the waterway 15 is a space
relatively long in the up-down direction defined by the pair of
ribs 19, the back face 12A of the main body 12, and the region of
the inner circumferential face 5E of the washing tank 5 opposed to
the back face 12A of the main body 12.
[0062] Lower end portions 19B of the pair of ribs 19 extend
obliquely in such a way that an interval therebetween in the
circumferential direction Y slowly expands as toward the downward
direction X2. The intake port 13 is a region sandwiched by lower
end portions 19B of the pair of ribs 19, and is opened toward the
downward direction X2. The exhaust port 14 is located at an upper
end of the waterway 15, adjacent to upper end portions 19A of the
pair of ribs 19 from downward direction X2, and penetrates through
the main body 12 in the radial direction Z.
[0063] Each of the pair of ribs 19 does not have to extend linearly
in the up-down direction X, but can be bent in the middle.
Depending on shapes of the ribs 19, a width of the waterway 15 in
the circumferential direction Y may also change in the middle in
the up-down direction X.
[0064] At the back face 12A, a tubular sleeve 20 protruding toward
the radial outer side Z2 is integrally provided at a position away
from the waterway 15. Number of sleeves 20 can be arbitrarily set,
in this embodiment, every two of the sleeves 20 as a unit are
arranged along a up-down direction in a substantially central
portion of each of the pair of ribs 19 in the up-down direction X.
A plug (not shown in figures) provided on the inner circumferential
face 5E of the washing tank 5 is inserted into each of the sleeves
20, so that the device 1 is positioned in the washing tank 5.
[0065] FIG. 5 is a front view showing the device 1. FIG. 6 is a
sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a
sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 5.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 5, for a top-to-bottom width W of the
exhaust port 14, when a width of the central portion 14A in the
circumferential direction Y is referred as width W1, and a width of
two ends 14B in the circumferential direction is referred as width
W2, and the width W1 is narrower than the width W2, the width W is
formed to be gradually narrower from the two ends 14B toward the
central portion 14A. That is to say, the top-to-bottom width W of
the exhaust port 14 in the central portion 14A is narrower than
that at the two ends 14B.
[0067] In the exhaust port 14 which is just relatively long in the
circumferential direction Y, water risen from the waterway 15 to
the exhaust port 14 is difficult to spread over the two ends 14B in
the circumferential direction Y. However, in the device 1 of this
embodiment, since the top-to-bottom width W of the exhaust port 14
in the central portion 14A is narrower than that at the two ends
14B, the exhaust port 14 is widened from the central portion 14A
toward the two ends 14B. Therefore, even if potential of water from
the waterway 15 toward the exhaust port 14 is weak, water at the
exhaust port 14 can be widely exhausted from a whole region in the
circumferential direction Y since the water risen to the exhaust
port 14 spreads over a whole region from the central portion 14A to
the two ends 14B in the exhaust port 14.
[0068] With reference to FIG. 6, grooves 21 on the surface 12B of
the upper end portion 12D of the main body 12 are arranged
adjacently one by one on two outer sides of exhaust port 14 in the
circumferential direction Y. In the upper end portion 12D of the
main body 12, each groove 21 is formed to be recessed toward a side
of the back face 12A of the main body 12 and extends in the up-down
direction X (also see FIG. 3). Consequently, in the main body 12,
the surface 12B of the upper end portion 12D is pressed toward an
inner side in the circumferential direction Y, and the exhaust port
14 is bordered into a substantially arc shape bulged toward the
radial inner side Z1. Therefore, the exhaust port 14 faces the
radial inner side Z1, and is opened at two ends 14B in a manner of
facing the circumferential direction Y.
[0069] In this case, water exhausted from the exhaust port 14, as
shown in dashed lines in FIG. 6, diffuses in a fan-shaped exhaust
range P expanded from the exhaust port 14 toward the radial inner
side Z1 in a plan view.
[0070] In this embodiment, there is only a need to arrange the
grooves 21 on two outer sides of the exhaust port 14 on the surface
12B of the main body 12, the exhaust port 14 can be bordered into a
substantially arc shape bulged toward a central axis 9 side of the
washing tank 5, i.e. toward the radial inner side Z1. Consequently,
even if there is a small amount of flow of water exhausted from the
exhaust port 14, still not only widely expands toward the radial
inner side Z1 but also toward the circumferential direction Y to
the fan-shaped exhaust range P, and is completely splashed onto
laundry S. Therefore, in the washing machine 2, difficulty in
arranging an exhaust port 14 which is used as a structure for
plashing all the water onto the laundry S and bordered into a
substantially arc shape.
[0071] As for a sequence of arranging the grooves 21 on the main
body 12, when the main body 12 is molded by injection molding or
the like, male parts corresponding to the grooves 21 can be
arranged in a mold in advance, so that the grooves 21 and the main
body 12 are integrally formed. In addition, the grooves 21 can be
arranged in the molded main body 12 by means of a subsequent
cutting process or the like.
[0072] Referring to FIG. 7, the rib 22 and a guiding member 23 are
arranged around the exhaust port 14 in the surface 12B of the main
body 12. The rib 22 extends along the exhaust port 14 in the
circumferential direction Y in such a way that a lower end of the
exhaust port 14 is bordered, and protrudes toward the radial inner
side Z1 to the horizontal direction H. The rib 22 may also slightly
obliquely protrude toward the upward direction X1 with respect to
the horizontal direction H. The guiding member 23 extends on the
surface 12B of the main body 12 along the exhaust port 14 in the
circumferential direction Y in such a way that an upper end of the
exhaust port 14 is bordered, and protrudes toward the radial inner
side Z1 and obliquely toward the downward direction X2 with respect
to the horizontal direction H. A direction along which the guiding
member 23 protrudes obliquely toward the downward direction X2 is
referred as the obliquely downward direction X3.
[0073] The rib 22 and the guiding member 23 extend in parallel in
the circumferential direction Y, and would not be connected at two
end portions in the circumferential direction Y, and therefore the
two ends 14B of the exhaust port 14 remain in a state of facing the
circumferential direction Y (see FIGS. 5 and 6). An interval
between the rib 22 and the guiding member 23 in the up-down
direction X is the width W of the exhaust port 14.
[0074] Water exhausted from the exhaust port 14 is guided by the
ribs 22, so as not to be sprinkled along the surface 12B of the
main body 12, and flow toward the radial inner side Z1. The guiding
member 23 protrudes toward the radial inner side Z1 further than
the rib 22. Therefore, the water exhausted from the exhaust port 14
and flowing toward the radial inner side Z1 is guided by the
guiding member 23 toward the obliquely downward direction X3 with
respect to the horizontal direction H.
[0075] Therefore, compared with a case that water is exhausted from
each exhaust port 14 in the horizontal direction H or in an
obliquely upward direction relative to the horizontal direction H
and collides, even if the water exhausted from each of the exhaust
ports 14 of the plurality of devices 1 collides with each other in
the washing tank 5, a collision position of the water in the
washing tank 5 can be moved from the access port 5A toward a lower
bottom wall 5C side (see arrows with bold dashed lines of FIG. 2).
Therefore, water can be prevented from being scattered outside the
access port 5A after collision, and all the water can be splashed
onto the laundry S on the bottom wall 5C side.
[0076] FIG. 8 is a front view showing a main part of the device 1
involved in a variant embodiment.
[0077] The devices 1 involved in the variant embodiment are as
described above, provided that a plurality of devices are gathered
together. Each of the devices 1 is fully painted black as shown in
FIG. 8, and includes a blocking member 24 for blocking an end
portion on a same side in the circumferential direction Y in the
exhaust port 14. The blocking member 24 is in a shape of a block
erected between the rib 22 and the guiding member 23, and may be
integrally formed with the main body 12 and may also be installed
on the main body 12 latter. When each device 1 is observed from the
radial inner side Z1, in any of the devices 1, the blocking member
24 is only provided at one end portion (the left end portion in
FIG. 8) in the circumferential direction Y in the exhaust port 14
and blocks this one end portion. Consequently, in any of the
devices 1, only one of the two ends 14B of the exhaust port 14
faces the circumferential direction Y, and the other end of the two
ends 14B which is provided with the blocking member 24 does not
face the circumferential direction Y.
[0078] FIG. 9 is a schematic top view showing an interior of the
washing tank 5 mounted with the device 1 involved in multiple
variant embodiments.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 9, when the device 1 involved in the
variant embodiment is used, in each of the devices 1, by comparing
the exhaust range P of water exhausted from the exhaust port 14 in
a plan view with the exhaust range when there is no blocking member
24, only region Q with dashed shadow lines is narrowed. That is to
say, the water exhausted from the exhaust port 14 is hindered by
the blocking member 24, and a exhaust direction is restricted such
that the water will not diffuse to the region Q. Consequently, by
making the water exhausted from each of the exhaust ports 14 of the
plurality of devices 1 not collide with each other to the greatest
extent, water can be prevented from being scattered outside the
access port 5A after collision, and all the water can be especially
splashed onto the laundry S.
[0080] The present disclosure is not restricted to the embodiments
as described above, and various modifications can be made within
the scope of the stated technical solution.
[0081] For example, the main body 12 of the device 1 is in a lid
shape, and the waterway 15 is a space defined by the back face 12A
of the main body 12, the pair of ribs 19 in the back face 12A, and
the inner circumferential face 5E of the washing tank 5.
Alternatively, it may be also provided that the main body 12 is a
hollow body, and the waterway 15 is built into the main body 12 by
making the hollow portion become the waterway 15.
Description of Reference Signs
[0082] 1 Device; [0083] 2 Washing machine; [0084] 5 Washing tank;
[0085] 5A Access port; [0086] 5C Bottom wall; [0087] 5E Inner
circumferential face; [0088] 9 Central axis; [0089] 12 Main body;
[0090] 12A Back face; [0091] 12B Surface; [0092] 12C Lower end
portion; [0093] 12D Upper end portion; [0094] 13 Intake port;
[0095] 14 Exhaust port; [0096] 14A Central portion; [0097] 14B Two
ends; [0098] 15 Waterway; [0099] 21 Groove; [0100] 23 Guiding
member; [0101] 24 Blocking member; [0102] H Horizontal direction;
[0103] S Laundry; [0104] W Width; [0105] X1 Upward direction;
[0106] X3 Obliquely downward direction; [0107] Y Circumferential
direction.
* * * * *