U.S. patent application number 16/976019 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-24 for washing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD., QINGDAO HAIER SMART TECHNOLOGY R&D CO., LTD., QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Xinghui HAO, Chunfeng LAO, Di WU.
Application Number | 20200399812 16/976019 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005085805 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-24 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200399812 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WU; Di ; et al. |
December 24, 2020 |
WASHING MACHINE
Abstract
The present disclosure discloses a washing machine, including a
washing drum, wherein the washing drum is a water accommodating
drum during washing; a balance ring, arranged above the washing
drum; and a sealing structure, configured to prevent water from
overflowing from a space between the washing drum and the balance
ring. The washing drum disclosed by the present disclosure achieves
an expansion effect; at the same time, the sealing structure is
arranged between the washing drum and the balance ring to prevent
that the water overflows out of the washing drum from the space
between the washing drum and the balance ring, and after a long
time, the water may splash to corrode a washing machine case body
or other components, or cause a short circuit.
Inventors: |
WU; Di; (Shandong, CN)
; HAO; Xinghui; (Shandong, CN) ; LAO;
Chunfeng; (Shandong, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
QINGDAO HAIER SMART TECHNOLOGY R&D CO., LTD.
HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD. |
Shandong
Shandong
Shandong |
|
CN
CN
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO.,
LTD.
Shandong
CN
QINGDAO HAIER SMART TECHNOLOGY R&D CO., LTD.
Shandong
CN
HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
Shandong
CN
|
Family ID: |
1000005085805 |
Appl. No.: |
16/976019 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
February 15, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2019/075166 |
371 Date: |
August 27, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/083 20130101;
D06F 37/265 20130101; D06F 37/267 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/26 20060101
D06F037/26; D06F 39/08 20060101 D06F039/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 27, 2018 |
CN |
201810162339.X |
Claims
1. A washing machine, comprising a washing drum, being a water
accommodating drum during washing; a balance ring, being arranged
on an upper end of the washing drum; and a sealing structure, being
arranged between the washing drum and the balance ring, and
configured to prevent water from overflowing from a space between
the washing drum and the balance ring.
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the balance
ring is provided with a mounting part; the upper end of the washing
drum is provided with a fitting part fitted with the mounting part;
and the sealing structure is arranged between the mounting part and
the fitting part.
3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the mounting
part comprises an annular bulge protruding radially from a side
wall of the balance ring; the fitting part comprises an annular
groove matched with the annular bulge; and the sealing structure is
arranged between the annular bulge and the annular groove.
4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the washing
drum comprises a water retaining part arranged below the annular
groove and the water retaining part is configured to narrow a gap
between the washing drum and the balance ring to retain water; a
water collection cavity is formed by the washing drum, the water
retaining part and the balance ring; and the water collection
cavity is configured to collect rising water.
5. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing
machine further comprises a drainage structure; the drainage
structure comprises a dewatering passage which is arranged on an
outer wall of the washing drum, communicated with an inside of the
washing drum and is configured to drain water thrown out by the
washing drum; and a water inlet end of the dewatering passage is
arranged on the upper end of the washing drum.
6. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the water
inlet end is arranged on the water collection cavity below the
water retaining part.
7. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the water
retaining part is a necking part formed by recessed from an outer
side to an inner side of the washing drum.
8. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein an upper end
of the necking part extends towards a periphery to form a
supporting part for supporting the mounting part of the balance
ring; the supporting part extends upwards to form an accommodating
part surrounding the mounting part of the balance ring; an upper
end of the accommodating part is inwards flanged to form a fixing
part for fixing the mounting part of the balance ring.
9. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the supporting
part, the accommodating part and the fixing part together form the
annular groove with an inward opening.
10. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the sealing
structure is an annular sealing ring which is squeezed between the
washing drum and the balance ring and has a deformation.
11. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the washing
machine further comprises a drainage structure; the drainage
structure comprises a dewatering passage which is arranged on an
outer wall of the washing drum, communicated with an inside of the
washing drum and is configured to drain water thrown out by the
washing drum; and a water inlet end of the dewatering passage is
arranged on the upper end of the washing drum.
12. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the washing
machine further comprises a drainage structure; the drainage
structure comprises a dewatering passage which is arranged on an
outer wall of the washing drum, communicated with an inside of the
washing drum and is configured to drain water thrown out by the
washing drum; and a water inlet end of the dewatering passage is
arranged on the upper end of the washing drum.
13. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the sealing
structure is arranged between the fixing part and the annular
bulge.
14. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the sealing
structure is of a flat structure; a friction coefficient of fitting
surfaces between the sealing structure and the annular bulge is
larger than friction coefficients of between other surfaces of the
sealing structure and the annular bulge.
15. The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein all corners
formed by the necking part and the annular groove are rounded
corners.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure belongs to the field of washing
machines, and specifically relates to a washing machine.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A washing machine is designed as an apparatus driven by
electricity to wash clothes. Generally, the washing machine
includes: a drum, used for accommodating washing water; a rotating
drum, rotatably mounted inside the drum; and a pulsator, rotatably
mounted at the bottom of the rotating drum; a motor and a clutch,
configured to rotate the rotating drum and the pulsator; and a
balance ring, arranged on the top of the rotating drum and
configured to supplement the weight and to keep a balance when the
rotating drum rotates. When the rotating drum and the pulsator are
rotated in a state that clothes and a detergent are introduced into
the rotating drum, the pulsator agitates the washing water together
with the clothes introduced into the rotating drum, thereby
removing stains from the clothes.
[0003] In order to increase the washing capacity of the washing
machine, a larger rotating drum is needed. In other words, the
height or diameter of the rotating drum needs to be increased. If
the rotary drum has a larger size, the drum that accommodates the
rotating drum and a housing that accommodates the drum also need to
be enlarged as the size of the rotating drum increases. The
increase of a housing corresponding to the appearance of the
washing machine is limited by a space of a region in which the
washing machine is placed. The space for placing the washing
machine in a general user house is limited, and the purpose of
increasing the capacity of the washing drum through increasing the
size of the housing of the washing machine is not realistic.
Therefore, how to increase the capacity of the rotating drum
without enlarging the size of the housing of the washing machine
becomes a major problem for designers. The invention of a holeless
washing drum solves the problem of capacity expansion. The drum is
eliminated or decreased. The rotating drum is used as a washing
drum accommodating washing water and is configured as the holeless
washing drum.
[0004] When the washing drum rotates at a high speed, water in the
washing drum climbs up along the wall of the washing drum under the
centrifugal force and is discharged until it reaches a drainage
port disposed at an upper end. A part of the water will continue
climbing up to the balance ring connection part and overflow out of
the washing drum from the balance ring connection part. After
long-time of usage, the overflowing washing water may corrode a
case body housing and other structures, and cause a short
circuit.
[0005] In view of this, the present disclosure is provided.
SUMMARY
[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present disclosure
is to overcome the shortcomings in the prior art, and provides a
washing machine.
[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the basic
idea of the technical solution of the present disclosure is
that:
[0008] The present disclosure aims to provide a washing machine,
including:
[0009] a washing drum, wherein the washing drum is a water
accommodating drum during washing;
[0010] a balance ring, arranged on the top of the washing drum;
and
[0011] a sealing structure, configured to prevent water from
overflowing between the washing drum and the balance ring.
[0012] In a further solution, the sealing structure is arranged
between the washing drum and the balance ring.
[0013] In a further solution, the balance ring is provided with a
mounting part; an upper end of the washing drum is provided with a
fitting part fitted with the mounting part; and the sealing
structure is arranged between the mounting part and the fitting
part.
[0014] In a further solution, the mounting part includes an annular
bulge radially protruding from the side wall of the balance ring;
the fitting part includes an annular groove matched with the
annular bulge; and the sealing structure is arranged between the
annular bulge and the annular groove.
[0015] In a further solution, the washing drum further includes a
water retaining part arranged below the annular groove and
configured to narrow a gap between the washing drum and the balance
ring to retain water; a water collection cavity is formed by the
washing drum, the water retaining part and the balance ring; and
the water collection cavity is configured to collect rising
water.
[0016] In a further solution, the washing machine further includes
a drainage structure; the drainage structure includes a dewatering
passage which is arranged on an outer wall of the washing drum,
communicates with the washing drum and is configured to drain water
thrown out by the washing drum; and a water inlet end of the
dewatering passage is arranged at the top of the washing drum.
[0017] In a further solution, the water inlet end is arranged on
the water collection cavity below the water retaining part.
In a further solution, the water retaining part is a necking part
formed by retraction from an outer side to an inner side of the
washing drum. In a further solution, an upper end of the necking
part extends to a periphery to form a supporting part for
supporting the mounting part of the balance ring; the supporting
part extends upwards to form an accommodating part surrounding the
mounting part of the balance ring; and an upper end of the
accommodating part is inwards flanged to form a fixing part for
fixing the mounting part of the balance ring.
[0018] In a further solution, the supporting part, the
accommodating part and the fixing part together form an annular
groove with an inward opening. Preferably, all corners formed by
the necking part and the annular groove are rounded corners.
[0019] In a further solution, the sealing structure is arranged
between the fixing part and the annular bulge.
[0020] In a further solution, the sealing structure is of a flat
sheet structure. Preferably, a friction coefficient of a fitting
surface between the sealing structure and the annular bulge is
larger than friction coefficients of other surfaces.
[0021] In a further solution, the sealing structure is an annular
sealing ring which is squeezed between the washing drum and the
balance ring and has certain deformation, or the sealing structure
is an annular sealant.
[0022] Through application of the above technical solutions, the
present disclosure has the following beneficial effects compared
with the prior art:
[0023] 1. According to the present disclosure, the sealing
structure is arranged between the washing drum and the balance ring
to prevent water from overflowing out of the washing drum between
the washing drum and the balance ring, and, a washing machine case
body or other components corroded by the splashing water after a
long time usage, or a short circuit is avoided.
[0024] 2. The washing machine of the present disclosure further
includes the water retaining part and the water collection cavities
which are configured to stop part of the washing water from
overflowing from the space between the washing drum and the balance
ring, and collect the water and facilitate discharging the water
out of the washing drum from the water inlet end.
[0025] 3. The washing drum is a holeless washing drum, which
provides a space for expansion of the washing machine.
[0026] The specific implementations of the present disclosure are
further described below in detail in combination with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The drawings constitute as a part of the present disclosure,
and are used to provide a further understanding of the present
disclosure. Illustrative embodiments and descriptions thereof of
the present disclosure are used to explain the present disclosure,
and do not constitute an improper limitation to the present
disclosure. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some
embodiments, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings
according to these drawings without paying any creative work. In
the drawings:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a washing
machine of the present disclosure; and
[0029] FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagram of part A of FIG. 1.
[0030] In the drawings: 1, washing drum; 101, fitting part; 102,
water retaining part; 103, water collection cavity; 104, water
inlet end; 2, balance ring; 201, mounting part; and 3, sealing
structure
[0031] It should be noted that these drawings and text descriptions
are not intended to limit the conceptual scope of the present
disclosure in any form, but are to describe the concept of the
present disclosure to those skilled in the art with reference to
the specific embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and
advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure clearer,
the technical solutions in the embodiments will be described
clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings in
the embodiments of the present disclosure. The following
embodiments are used to describe the present disclosure, but not
intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
[0033] In the description of the present disclosure, it should be
noted that orientations or positional relationships indicated by
the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right",
"vertical", "inner", "outer", etc. are based on orientations or
positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only used
for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and
simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying
that a designated apparatus or element must have a specific
orientation or must be constructed and operated in a specific
orientation, so that they cannot be understood as limitations to
the present disclosure.
[0034] In the description of the present disclosure, it should be
noted that unless otherwise explicitly stipulated and defined, the
terms "mounted", "connected", and "coupled" shall be understood
broadly, and may be, for example, fixedly connected, or detachably
connected, or integrally connected, or mechanically connected, or
electrically connected, or directly connected, or indirectly
connected through an intermediate medium. Those of ordinary skill
in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms
in the present disclosure according to specific situations.
Embodiment I
[0035] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the present embodiment
provides a washing machine, including:
[0036] a washing drum 1, wherein the washing drum 1 is a water
accommodating drum during washing;
[0037] a balance ring 2, arranged at the top part the washing drum
1; and
[0038] a sealing structure 3, configured to prevent water from
overflowing between the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2.
[0039] In the above solution, the washing machine of the present
embodiment is not provided with an outer drum. The washing drum 1
is used as a water accommodating drum, and the washing drum 1 is an
inner drum which is provided with dewatering holes only in an upper
part and provided with no holes in a middle part and a lower part.
During dewatering, washing water climbs up to the dewatering holes
along a drum wall under the action of a centrifugal force, and is
then discharged out of the washing drum 1. Generally, the balance
ring 2 is arranged on the top part of the washing drum 1 of the
washing machine. The balance ring 2 and the washing drum 1 are
mounted together in the later stage instead of being integrated, so
that a water flow climbing up along the drum wall under the action
of the centrifugal force may overflow from a mounting gap between
the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2 and splash all over under
the action of high-speed rotation, and after a long time, the water
flow may splash to corrode a washing machine case body or other
components or cause a short circuit.
[0040] The sealing structure 3 is provided in the present
disclosure to prevent water from overflowing from the space between
the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2.
[0041] Further, the sealing structure 3 is arranged between the
washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2.
[0042] In the above solution, the sealing structure 3 is arranged
between the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2 to achieve a
better sealing effect, and is fixed more easily. Compared with a
sealing structure arranged on an outer side of the washing drum 1
or the balance ring 2, the sealing structure 3 of the present
disclosure has a better sealing effect.
[0043] Further, the balance ring 2 is provided with a mounting part
201. An upper end of the washing drum 1 is provided with a fitting
part 101 fitted with the mounting part 201. The sealing structure 3
is arranged between the mounting part 201 and the fitting part
101.
[0044] In the above solution, the balance ring 2 is mounted on the
top part of the washing drum 1 through mutual fitting of the
mounting part 201 and the fitting part 101. The sealing structure 3
is arranged between the mounting part and the fitting part to
achieve the better sealing effect, and the sealing structure 3 is
easily fixed. Therefore, the phenomenon that the sealing structure
cannot continue to achieve the sealing effect because of easy
breakage or separation from an original position under external
force or after long-time use is avoided.
[0045] Further, the mounting part 201 includes an annular bulge
radially protruding from the side wall of the balance ring 2; the
fitting part 101 includes an annular groove matched with the
annular bulge; and the sealing structure 3 is arranged between the
annular bulge and the annular groove.
In the above solution, the annular bulge is provided to facilitate
the installation of the balance ring 2. Of course, an inwards
sunken recess may also be selectively arranged on the side wall of
the balance ring 2 and used as the mounting part 201. However,
arrangement of the recess may affect the size and the intensity of
the balance ring 2 and reduce the balance effect, so that in the
present application, it is preferred that the mounting part 201
includes the annular bulge protruding from the side wall of the
balance ring 2.
[0046] Further, the washing drum 1 further includes a water
retaining part 102 arranged below the annular groove and configured
to narrow a gap between the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2
to retain water; a water collection cavity 103 is formed by the
washing drum 1, the water retaining part 102 and the balance ring
2; and the water collection cavity 103 is configured to collect
rising water.
[0047] In the above solution, the washing drum 1 further includes
the water retaining part 102. The water retaining part 102 narrows
the gap between the washing drum 1 and the balance ring 2, and when
the water flow rises to the water retaining part 102, a part of the
water is blocked from reaching the annular groove and overflowing,
via the inside of the annular groove, out of the washing drum 1.
Thus, a sealing pressure of the sealing structure 3 is reduced. The
water collection cavity 103 narrows the gap between the washing
drum 1 and the balance ring 2 due to the existence of the water
retaining part 102, so that a higher pressure is required when the
water passes through the water retaining part 102, and most of the
water is collected.
[0048] Further, the washing machine further includes a drainage
structure. The drainage structure includes a dewatering passage
which is arranged on an outer wall of the washing drum 1,
communicates with the washing drum 1 and is configured to drain
water thrown out by the washing drum 1; and a water inlet end 104
of the dewatering passage is arranged on the top part of the
washing drum 1.
[0049] Further, the water inlet end 104 is arranged on the water
collection cavity 103 below the water retaining part 102.
In the above solution, the water inlet end 104 is arranged on the
water collection cavity 103, so that boosted water in the water
collection cavity 103 can more easily enter the dewatering passage
from the water inlet end 104 and is then discharged. Further, the
water retaining part 102 is a necking part formed by retraction
from an outer side to an inner side of the washing drum 1.
[0050] Further, an upper end of the necking part extends to a
periphery to form a supporting part for supporting the mounting
part 201 of the balance ring 2; the supporting part extends upwards
to form an accommodating part surrounding the mounting part 201 of
the balance ring 2; and an upper end of the accommodating part is
inwards flanged to form a fixing part for fixing the mounting part
201 of the balance ring 2.
[0051] Further, the supporting part, the accommodating part and the
fixing part together form an annular groove with an inward opening.
Preferably, all corners formed by the necking part and the annular
groove are rounded corners.
[0052] In the above solution, the supporting part is a bottom
surface of the annular groove. The accommodating part is a side
surface of the annular groove. The fixing part is a top surface of
the annular groove. The accommodating part can accommodate the
mounting part 201 and limit a radial movement of the balance ring
2. All the corners formed by the necking part and the annular
groove are rounded corners. The rounded corners can prevent
operators from being cut in a mounting or carrying process and also
prevent damage caused by sharp corners to the balance ring, and can
further avoid damage, in a rotating process, to other pipelines and
elements in the washing machine at the same time.
[0053] Further, the sealing structure 3 is arranged between the
fixing part and the annular bulge.
[0054] In the above solution, the sealing structure 3 can be
arranged between the supporting part and the annular bulge, or can
be arranged between the accommodating part and the annular bulge,
or can be arranged between the fixing part and the annular bulge as
mentioned in the present embodiment. The sealing structure 3
arranged between the supporting part and the annular bulge is
subjected to an extra pressure from the balance ring 2, so that the
sealing structure 3 is easy to break, and is inconvenient to
install below the annular bulge. The sealing structure 3 arranged
between the accommodating part and the annular bulge is subjected
to radial squeezing force provided by the washing drum 1 and the
balance ring 2 during rotation of the washing drum, so that the
sealing structure 3 is easy to break. The sealing structure 3
arranged between the fixing part and the annular bulge is subjected
to a minimum pressure and thus unlikely to break, and is convenient
to install and effective in sealing.
[0055] Further, the sealing structure 3 is of a flat sheet
structure. Preferably, a friction coefficient of a fitting surface
between the sealing structure 3 and the annular bulge is larger
than friction coefficients of other surfaces.
[0056] In the above solution, the sealing structure 3 is of the
flat sheet structure because the flat sheet structure is not prone
to curl, displace or deform during rolling and flanging of the
fixing part. Generally, the sealing structure 3 is of the flat
sheet structure. The friction coefficient of the fitting surface
between the sealing structure 3 and the annular bulge is larger
than friction coefficients of other surfaces, so that the sealing
structure 3 is not prone to motion or curling during rolling and
flanging of the fixing part.
[0057] Further, the sealing structure 3 is an annular sealing ring
which is squeezed between the washing drum and the balance ring and
has certain deformation.
Embodiment II
[0058] In the present embodiment, the difference from Embodiment I
is that the sealing structure 3 is an annular sealant which is
squeezed between the washing drum and the balance ring and has
certain deformation.
Embodiment III
[0059] In the present embodiment, the difference from Embodiment I
is that the water retaining part 102 is an annular convex part
arranged on the inner side of the washing drum 1. The upper surface
of the annular convex part and the top of the washing drum 1
flanged inwards to form an annular groove with an inward opening of
the fitting part 101 of the balance ring 2.
Embodiment IV
[0060] In the present embodiment, the difference from Embodiment I
is that the annular groove is an annular groove outwards sunken
from the inner side of the washing drum 1, and does not include the
water retaining part 102.
A lower surface of the annular groove is a supporting part for
supporting the mounting part 201 of the balance ring 2; the
supporting part extends upwards to form an accommodating part
surrounding the mounting part 201 of the balance ring 2; and an
upper end of the accommodating part is inwards flanged and rolled
to form a fixing part for fixing the mounting part 201 of the
balance ring 2.
[0061] The sealing structure 3 is arranged between the fixing part
and the annular bulge.
[0062] The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the
present disclosure, but are not aimed at limiting the present
disclosure in any forms. Although the present disclosure is
disclosed above by the preferred embodiments, the preferred
embodiments are not aimed at limiting the present disclosure. Any
person skilled in the art can make some changes by using the
above-mentioned technical contents or modify the technical contents
as equivalent embodiments of equivalent changes without departing
from the scope of the technical solution of the present disclosure.
Any simple alterations, equivalent changes and modifications that
are made to the above embodiments according to the technical
essence of the present disclosure without departing from the
contents of the technical solution of the present disclosure should
all fall within the scope of the solution of the present
disclosure.
* * * * *