CN114981495A

CN114981495A - Drainage filter and washing machine

Info

Publication number: CN114981495A
Application number: CN202080090566.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 福井秋陆
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Aqua Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Aqua Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-26
Filing date: 2020-11-25
Publication date: 2022-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2040-11-25
Also published as: JP2021104213A; CN114981495B; JP7497794B2; WO2021129281A1

Abstract

A drain filter capable of improving maintainability and a washing machine including the same. The drain filter (6) includes: a drainage space (46) which constitutes a drainage channel and can store foreign matters contained in drainage; a left wall (42) having an inlet (51) formed as a transverse hole for taking in drain water into the drain space (46); a right wall (43) that laterally sandwiches a drainage space (46) with the left wall (42); and a bottom wall (41) that extends between the lower end of the left wall (42) and the lower end of the right wall (43) and faces the drain space (46) from below (Z2). A receiving surface section (43B) for receiving drain water taken into the drain space (46) from the inlet (51) is provided on the right wall (43) so as to face the inlet (51). An outlet (53) for discharging the drain water from the drain space (46) is formed in at least one of the left wall (42), the right wall (43), and the bottom wall (41).

Description

Drainage filter and washing machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a drain filter and a washing machine including the same.

Background

The integrated washing and drying machine described in patent document 1 includes a filter unit for capturing foreign matters contained in the drain water. The filter unit has a basket (basket) formed with a plurality of filter holes. The drainage water in the washing and drying integrated machine is discharged into the basket and passes through the filtering holes, and at the moment, foreign matters contained in the drainage water are captured by the filtering holes and are left in the basket.

In the filter unit described in patent document 1, drain flows into the basket while running down, and the filter holes of the basket are located at the drain running-down position. Therefore, the drain water passes through the filter holes in a state in which the water potential is enhanced by the falling by its own weight, and thus foreign substances contained in the drain water are easily and firmly entangled on the filter holes. Therefore, it takes time to remove foreign matters entangled in the filter holes during maintenance.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2009-125537

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned background, and an object thereof is to provide a drain filter capable of improving maintenance performance, and a washing machine including the drain filter.

Means for solving the problems

The present invention is a drain filter attached to a washing machine to capture foreign matter contained in drain water of the washing machine, the drain filter including: a drainage space forming a drainage channel for storing foreign matters contained in the drainage; a first vertical wall having an inlet for taking in drain water into the drain space formed in a form of a horizontal hole; a second vertical wall that sandwiches the drainage space from a lateral direction with the first vertical wall, the second vertical wall being provided with a receiving surface portion that receives drainage taken into the drainage space from the inlet so as to face the inlet; a bottom wall that is erected between a lower end portion of the first vertical wall and a lower end portion of the second vertical wall and faces the drainage space from a lower side; and an outlet formed in at least one of the first vertical wall, the second vertical wall, and the bottom wall, for discharging drain water from the drain space.

In the present invention, the bottom wall is elongated in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the inlet and the receiving surface portion face each other, the bottom wall has a downstream portion disposed at a position distant from the inlet and the receiving surface portion in a longitudinal direction of the bottom wall, the downstream portion is located downstream of the inlet in a flow direction of the drain water in the drain space, the first vertical wall and the second vertical wall are provided with a plurality of comb teeth arranged in the longitudinal direction so as to protrude from both end portions of the downstream portion in a short-side direction of the bottom wall, and the outlet is formed by a gap around each of the comb teeth.

Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the downstream portion has: a midway area in the long dimension direction; an upstream region closer to the inlet than the midway region and wider than the midway region in the short-dimension direction; and a downstream area which is farther from the entrance than the midway area and which is wider than the midway area in the short-dimension direction.

Further, the present invention is a washing machine comprising: the drainage filter; a box body; a washing drum which is configured in the box body, contains washing objects and can store water; and a drainage channel for discharging water in the washing cylinder to the outside of the box body as drainage, wherein the drainage filter is detachably mounted.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, the drain filter captures and accumulates foreign matter contained in drain water in the drain space until the drain water is taken into the drain space from the inlet and discharged from the outlet. Since the inlet is a cross hole formed in the first vertical wall, the drain flows into the inlet in a lateral direction without falling down, and is taken into the drain space without increasing the water potential. Further, the receiving surface portion facing the inlet on the second vertical wall, which laterally sandwiches the drain space, receives the drain water taken into the drain space from the inlet between the receiving surface portion and the first vertical wall, thereby reducing the water potential of the drain water. Thereby, the drain water in the drain space flows over the bottom wall in a state of weakened water potential and is discharged from the outlet. Therefore, foreign matter contained in the drain water is accumulated in the drain space so as not to be firmly entangled with the inner surface portion of the drain filter. Therefore, the user can easily take out the foreign matter from the drain space at the time of maintenance, and can improve the maintainability of the drain filter.

Further, according to the present invention, the drain water flowing into the inlet in the lateral direction and taken into the drain space and receiving the water force by the receiving surface portion flows over the downstream portion of the bottom wall on the downstream side of the inlet, and is discharged from the outlet around each comb tooth of the first vertical wall and the second vertical wall. Foreign matters contained in the drainage water weakened in water potential are accumulated in the drainage space in a manner of not being firmly wound on the comb teeth. Therefore, the user can easily take out the foreign matter from the drain space at the time of maintenance, and can improve the maintainability of the drain filter.

Further, according to the present invention, the downstream portion of the bottom wall has, in order from near to far from the inlet, an upstream region, a midway region, and a downstream region, the upstream region and the downstream region being wider than the midway region in the short dimension direction of the bottom wall. Thus, the drain taken into the drain space from the inlet and flowing over the downstream portion can be discharged from the outlet not only immediately in the upstream region but also in the midway region and the downstream region. Therefore, the foreign matter accumulated in the drainage space can be prevented from being unevenly accumulated in the upstream area of the downstream portion of the bottom wall and from being entangled with the comb teeth in the vicinity of the upstream area. Therefore, the user can easily take out the foreign matter from the drain space at the time of maintenance, and can improve the maintainability of the drain filter.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional right side view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a filter unit disposed in the washing machine.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a drain filter constituting the filter unit.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the drain strainer.

Fig. 5 is a left side view of the drain strainer.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the drain strainer.

Fig. 7 is a left side view of the filter unit.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the drain filter during maintenance.

Description of the reference numerals

1: a washing machine; 2: a box body; 5: a water drainage path; 6: a drain filter; 13: a washing drum; 41: a bottom wall; 42: a left wall; 42D: comb teeth; 43: a right wall; 43B: carrying the face; 43C: comb teeth; 46: a drainage space; 48: a downstream portion; 48A: an upstream region; 48B: a midway area; 48C: a downstream region; 51: an inlet; 53: an outlet; f: a foreign matter; x: a left-right direction; y: the front-back direction.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic vertical right side view of a washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A direction perpendicular to the paper plane of fig. 1 is referred to as a left-right direction X of the washing machine 1, a left-right direction in fig. 1 is referred to as a front-rear direction Y of the washing machine 1, and an up-down direction in fig. 1 is referred to as an up-down direction Z of the washing machine 1. The left-right direction X is an example of the lateral direction in the present embodiment. In the left-right direction X, the back side of the drawing sheet of fig. 1 is referred to as a left side X1, and the front side of the drawing sheet of fig. 1 is referred to as a right side X2. Of the front-rear direction Y, the left side in fig. 1 is referred to as a front side Y1, and the right side in fig. 1 is referred to as a rear side Y2. Among the vertical directions Z, the upper side is referred to as an upper side Z1, and the lower side is referred to as a lower side Z2.

The washing machine 1 of the present embodiment is a so-called drum-type washing and drying machine. The washing machine 1 includes: a box body 2; an outer cylinder 3 disposed in the case 2; a water supply path 4 and a water discharge path 5 connected to the outer cylinder 3; a drain filter 6 for capturing foreign matter from drain water discharged from the outer tub 3 through the drain passage 5; an inner cylinder 7 disposed in the outer cylinder 3 and containing the laundry L; a motor 8 for rotating the inner cylinder 7; and a drying part 9 for drying the washings L in the inner cylinder 7.

The case 2 is formed in a box shape. The front surface 2A of the case 2 is, for example, a vertical surface. An opening 2B for communicating the inside and outside of the case 2 is formed in the front surface 2A. A door 10 for opening and closing the opening 2B is provided on the front surface 2A.

The outer cylinder 3 is elastically supported by the case 2 via a damper (not shown). The outer cylinder 3 has: a cylindrical circumferential wall 3A centered on an axis J extending in the front-rear direction Y along the horizontal direction H; a disk-shaped rear wall 3B that closes the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A from the rear side Y2; and a ring-shaped front wall 3C connected to a front end edge of the circumferential wall 3A. A through hole 3D penetrating the back wall 3B in the front-rear direction Y along the axis J is formed in the center of the back wall 3B. The front wall 3C has: an annular first portion 3E protruding from the leading edge of the circumferential wall 3A toward the axis J; a cylindrical second portion 3F protruding from the inner peripheral edge of the first portion 3E toward the front side Y1; and an annular third portion 3G protruding from the distal edge of the second portion 3F toward the axis J. A port 3H communicating from the front side Y1 to the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A is formed inside the third portion 3G. The doorway 3H faces and communicates with the opening 2B of the casing 2 from the rear side Y2.

The water supply path 4 has one end (not shown) connected to a faucet (not shown) and the other end 4A connected to the back wall 3B of the outer tube 3. In the water supply, water from the faucet is supplied from the water supply path 4 into the outer tube 3. The outer cylinder 3 can store therein water such as tap water or detergent water in which detergent is dissolved. A water supply valve 11 that opens and closes to start or stop water supply is provided in the middle of the water supply path 4.

The drainage channel 5 is connected to the lower end of the outer cylinder 3, for example, the lower end of the first portion 3E of the front wall 3C, and extends downward Z2 from the outer cylinder 3. The water in the outer tub 3 is discharged as drain water from the drain passage 5 to the outside of the machine, that is, the outside of the tank 2. A drain valve 12 that opens and closes to start or stop drainage is provided in the middle of the drain passage 5.

The drain filter 6 is provided in the upstream portion of the drain path 5 closer to the outer cylinder 3 than the drain valve 12. Since the front end of the drain filter 6 is exposed to the front surface 2A of the casing 2, the user can grip the front end of the drain filter 6 and attach and detach the drain filter 6 to and from the washing machine 1 (specifically, the drain passage 5). The drain strainer 6 is explained in detail below.

The inner cylinder 7 is one turn smaller than the outer cylinder 3. The outer tub 3 and the inner tub 7 constitute a washing tub 13. The inner cylinder 7 has: a cylindrical circumferential wall 7A disposed coaxially with the circumferential wall 3A of the outer cylinder 3; a disk-shaped rear wall 7B that closes the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 7A from the rear side Y2; and an annular wall 7C projecting from the front end edge of the circumferential wall 7A toward the axis J. The inner cylinder 7 has a plurality of through holes 7D formed at least in the circumferential wall 7A, and water in the outer cylinder 3 can flow between the outer cylinder 3 and the inner cylinder 7 through the through holes 7D. Therefore, the water level in the outer tub 3 coincides with the water level in the inner tub 7. A support shaft 14 extending to the rear side Y2 along the axis J is provided at the center of the back surface wall 7B of the inner cylinder 7. The rear end portion of the support shaft 14 is disposed on the rear side Y2 of the rear wall 3B of the outer cylinder 3 through the through hole 3D of the rear wall 3B.

An inlet/outlet 7E communicating from the front side Y1 to the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 7A is formed inside the annular wall 7C. The inlet 7E faces the inlet 3H of the outer cylinder 3 and the opening 2B of the case 2 from the rear side Y2 and communicates therewith. The doorway 3H and the doorway 7E are opened and closed together with the opening 2B by the door 10. A user of the washing machine 1 puts the laundry L into and out of the inner tub 7 through the opened opening 2B, the entrance 3H, and the entrance 7E.

The motor 8 is disposed on the rear side Y2 of the rear wall 3B of the outer cylinder 3 in the casing 2. The motor 8 is coupled to a support shaft 14 provided on the inner tube 7. The driving force generated by the motor 8 is transmitted to the support shaft 14, and the inner cylinder 7 rotates about the axis J along with the support shaft 14. A clutch mechanism (not shown) that transmits or disconnects the driving force of the motor 8 to the support shaft 14 may be provided between the motor 8 and the support shaft 14.

The drying section 9 includes a circulation path 20, an air blowing section 21, and a heating section 22. The circulation path 20 is a flow path disposed on, for example, an upper side Z1 of the outer tube 3 in the casing 2. An outlet 20A is formed at one end of the circulation passage 20, and a return port 20B is formed at one end of the circulation passage 20. The outlet 20A is connected to a portion of the rear wall 3B of the outer tube 3 which is higher than the upper limit water level in the outer tube 3, and communicates from the rear side Y2 into the outer tube 3. The return port 20B is connected to an upper end portion of the second portion 3F of the front wall 3C of the outer cylinder 3, and communicates from the upper side Z1 into the outer cylinder 3.

The blower 21 is a so-called blower, and includes a rotary blade 23 disposed in the circulation path 20 and a motor (not shown) for rotating the rotary blade 23. When the rotary blade 23 rotates, as indicated by the thick dotted arrow, the air in the washing tub 13, that is, the air in the outer tub 3 and the inner tub 7 is taken out into the circulation path 20 from the take-out port 20A, and then returned into the washing tub 13 from the return port 20B. Thereby, the air in the washing tub 13 circulates so as to flow through the washing tub 13 and the circulation path 20 in this order.

The heating unit 22 is a heat exchanger in a heat pump, a general heater, or the like, and at least a part thereof is provided in the circulation passage 20. The portion of the heating unit 22 provided in the circulation path 20 includes a plurality of fin-shaped heat radiating portions 22A, for example. When the heating unit 22 is operated, the heat radiating unit 22A is heated to a high temperature, and therefore, the air flowing through the circulation passage 20 is heated to become hot air when passing around the heat radiating unit 22A.

The washing machine 1 includes a control section 24 configured as a microcomputer. The control unit 24 controls the operations of the motor 8, the water supply valve 11, the drain valve 12, the air blowing unit 21, and the heating unit 22 to perform the washing operation. The washing operation includes a washing process, a rinsing process, a dehydrating process, and a drying process.

Before the cleaning process begins, detergent is introduced into the inner tub 7. In the washing process, the controller 24 opens the water supply valve 11 for a predetermined time while the drain valve 12 is closed to supply water to the outer cylinder 3 and the inner cylinder 7, and then rotates the inner cylinder 7 by the motor 8. Thereby, the laundry L in the inner tub 7 is beaten and washed. In the beat washing, the laundry L repeats tumbling in which the laundry L is lifted up to some extent and then naturally falls down to the water surface. The detergent components contained in the water accumulated in the inner tub 7 by the impact of the tumbling are used to remove the stains from the laundry L. When the control unit 24 opens the drain valve 12 to drain water after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the tumbling, the washing process is ended.

In the rinsing process, the controller 24 opens the water supply valve 11 for a predetermined time with the drain valve 12 closed to supply water to the outer and

inner cylinders

3 and 7, and then rotates the inner cylinder 7 by the motor 8. Then, since the above-described tumbling is repeated, the laundry L is rinsed by the tap water in the inner tub 7. When the controller 24 drains water after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of tumbling, the rinsing process is ended. The rinsing process may be repeated several times. In the dehydration process, the control unit 24 rotates the inner tube 7 to dehydrate in a state where the drain valve 12 is opened. The laundry L in the inner tub 7 is dehydrated by a centrifugal force generated by the dehydration rotation of the inner tub 7. The water seeped out of the laundry L by the dehydration is discharged to the outside of the machine from the drainage path 5. The dehydration process may be performed not only after the rinsing process but also after the washing process.

In the drying process, the control unit 24 generates hot air by the air blowing unit 21 and the heating unit 22, circulates the hot air between the inner tub 7 and the circulation path 20, and supplies the hot air to the laundry L in the inner tub 7. Thereby, the laundry L is dried. It should be noted that the washing machine 1 may be a washing machine in which the drying part 9 is omitted, and in this case, the drying process is omitted in the washing operation.

The drain strainer 6 will be described in detail below. The washing machine 1 includes a filter unit 30 having a drain filter 6. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the filter unit 30. The filter unit 30 includes a drain filter 6 and a receiving portion 31 for receiving the drain filter 6. The receiving portion 31 is a member that constitutes a part of the drainage path 5 and to which the drainage filter 6 is detachably attached. In the following description, the directions of the drain strainer 6 and the receptacle 31 are designated by using the above-described left-right direction X, front-rear direction Y, and up-down direction Z. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, each member constituting the filter unit 30 is made of resin.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the drain strainer 6. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the drain strainer 6. Fig. 5 is a left side view of the drain strainer 6. Fig. 6 is a rear view of the drain strainer 6. Referring mainly to fig. 3, the drain filter 6 includes an accommodating portion 32 for accommodating the captured foreign matters and an operating portion 33 connected to a front end portion of the accommodating portion 32. The accommodating portion 32 has a box shape long in the front-rear direction Y. The accommodating portion 32 includes: a bottom wall 41; a left wall 42 rising from a left end of the bottom wall 41 as an example of a first vertical wall; and a right wall 43 rising from a right end of the bottom wall 41 as an example of the second vertical wall. The accommodating portion 32 further includes: a rear wall 44 rising from the rear end of the bottom wall 41 and disposed between the rear ends of the left wall 42 and the right wall 43; and a front wall 45 connected to the front end portions of the bottom wall 41, the left wall 42, and the right wall 43.

The storage section 32 is formed with a rectangular parallelepiped drainage space 46 elongated in the front-rear direction Y, and the drainage space 46 is surrounded by the bottom wall 41, the left wall 42, the right wall 43, the rear wall 44, and the front wall 4 and is open to the upper side Z1. The drain space 46 constitutes a drain passage as a part of the drain passage 5, and drain flows to the rear side Y2 in the drain space 46 as described later.

The bottom wall 41 has a plate shape elongated in the front-rear direction Y. Therefore, the long dimension of the bottom wall 41 is the front-rear direction Y, and the short dimension of the bottom wall 41 is the left-right direction X. The bottom wall 41 has an upstream portion 47 on the upstream side and a downstream portion 48 downstream of the upstream portion 47 in the flow direction of the drain water in the drain space 46. The upper surfaces of the upstream portion 47 and the downstream portion 48 are flat surfaces extending in a coplanar manner in the front-rear-right direction, and face the drain space 46 from the lower side Z2.

The upstream portion 47 is a front portion of the bottom wall 41, and the downstream portion 48 is a rear portion of the bottom wall 41. The upstream portion 47 has a substantially rectangular plate shape that is asymmetric to the left and right with respect to a center K (see fig. 4) of the accommodating portion 32 in the left-right direction X in a plan view, and a substantially U-shaped notch 47A is formed at a left end portion thereof.

The downstream portion 48 has a rectangular shape which is symmetrical with respect to the center K and is long in the front-rear direction Y. The downstream portion 48 includes an upstream area 48A, a halfway area 48B, and a downstream area 48C (see fig. 4) arranged in this order from the front side Y1. The upstream area 48A is connected to the rear end of the upstream portion 47, and has an isosceles trapezoidal shape that narrows in the left-right direction X as it approaches the rear side Y2. The middle section 48B has a rectangular shape extending from the rear end of the middle section 48B to the rear side Y2. The downstream region 48C is connected to the rear end of the middle region 48B, and has an isosceles trapezoid shape that widens in the left-right direction X as it approaches the rear side Y2. The upstream area 48A and the downstream area 48C are both wider than the midway area 48B in the left-right direction X. The bottom wall 41 is reinforced by such an upstream region 48A and a downstream region 48C. The downstream portion 48 is provided with a reinforcing rib 48D, and the rib 48D protrudes toward the upper side Z1 and extends in the front-rear direction Y at the center K over the upstream region 48A, the intermediate region 48B, and the downstream region 48C (see fig. 4).

The left wall 42 has a substantially rectangular shape long in the front-rear direction Y, and a lower end portion thereof is bent to the right side X2 and connected to a left end portion of the bottom wall 41. A rectangular inlet 51 long in the front-rear direction Y is formed at the front portion of the left wall 42. The inlet 51 is a lateral hole penetrating the front portion of the left wall 42 in the left-right direction X. The lower end of the inlet 51 is a notch 47A at the upstream portion 47 of the bottom wall 41. The front portion of the left wall 42 has: a rod-shaped rear frame portion 42A protruding upward Z1 from the left end of the upstream portion 47 to bind the rear end of the inlet 51; a rod-shaped front frame portion 42B that protrudes upward Z1 from the left end of the upstream portion 47 and that binds the front end of the inlet 51; and a rod-shaped upper frame portion 42C extending in the front-rear direction Y and bridging between the upper ends of the rear frame portion 42A and the front frame portion 42B, and covering the upper end of the inlet 51. In the downstream portion 48 of the bottom wall 41, the upstream region 48A is closer to the inlet 51 than the intermediate region 48B, and the downstream region 48C is farther from the inlet 51 than the intermediate region 48B (see fig. 4).

The left wall 42 is provided with a plurality of comb teeth 42D constituting a rear portion of the left wall 42 so as to be aligned in the front-rear direction Y. In the present embodiment, the 17 comb teeth 42D each having an elongated bar shape are formed to extend from the left end portion of the downstream portion 48 of the bottom wall 41 to the left side X1, then to be bent and to protrude to the upper side Z1. In the portion of each comb tooth 42D extending from the left end of the downstream portion 48 to the left side X1, the comb tooth 42D connected to the midway region 48B of the downstream portion 48 is longest in the left-right direction X, and the upstream region 48A and the downstream region 48C of the downstream portion 48 are longer in the left-right direction X as the comb tooth 42D is closer to the midway region 48B (see fig. 4). The upper end of each comb tooth 42D is at the same height position in the vertical direction Z as the upper end of the rear frame portion 42A of the front portion of the left wall 42.

The right wall 43 has a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the front-rear direction Y, and a lower end portion thereof is bent toward the left side X1 and connected to a right end portion of the bottom wall 41. As described above, the lower end portion of the left wall 42 is connected to the left end portion of the bottom wall 41, and therefore the bottom wall 41 is bridged between the lower end portions of the left and

right walls

42 and 43. The right wall 43 faces the left wall 42 from the right side X2, and sandwiches the drainage space 46 between the left wall 42 and the right wall from the left-right direction X. A flat plate portion 43A long in the front-rear direction Y is provided at a front portion of the right wall 43. The flat plate portion 43A has a rectangular plate shape having a plate thickness direction coinciding with the left-right direction X. The left surface of the flat plate portion 43A is a receiving surface portion 43B which is flat in the front-rear and upper-lower directions. The receiving surface portion 43B faces the front portion of the drain space 46 from the right side X2, and faces the inlet 51 of the left wall 42 from the right side X2 across the drain space 46. The facing direction of the inlet 51 and the receiving surface portion 43B is the left-right direction X orthogonal to the front-rear direction Y. The downstream portion 48 of the bottom wall 41 is disposed at a position distant from the inlet 51 and the receiving surface portion 43B in the front-rear direction Y, specifically, at a position distant from the receiving surface portion 43B and the inlet 51 toward the rear side Y2.

On the right wall 43, a plurality of comb teeth 43C constituting a rear portion of the right wall 43 are provided in a manner aligned in the front-rear direction Y. In the present embodiment, 17 comb teeth 43C in the shape of an elongated bar extend from the right end of the downstream portion 48 of the bottom wall 41 to the right side X2, are bent, and protrude to the upper side Z1. In the portion of each comb tooth 43C extending from the right end of the downstream portion 48 to the right side X2, the comb tooth 43C connected to the halfway area 48B of the downstream portion 48 is longest in the left-right direction X, and the upstream area 48A and the downstream area 48C of the downstream portion 48 are longer in the left-right direction X as the comb tooth 43C is closer to the halfway area 48B (see fig. 4). The upper end of each comb tooth 43C is at the same height position as the upper end of flat plate portion 43A in vertical direction Z. Comb teeth 43C of right wall 43 and comb teeth 42D of left wall 42 are arranged symmetrically with respect to center K of housing 32 (see fig. 4).

The rear wall 44 includes: a rod-shaped left frame portion 44A protruding upward Z1 from the left end portion of the rear end portion of the downstream portion 48 of the bottom wall 41; a right frame portion 44B in the shape of a rod protruding upward Z1 from the right end of the rear end of the downstream portion 48; and a plurality of comb teeth 44C provided between the left frame portion 44A and the right frame portion 44B so as to be arranged in the left-right direction X. The left frame portion 44A is also a rear end portion of the left wall 42. The right frame portion 44B is also a rear end portion of the right wall 43. The upper ends of left frame portion 44A, right frame portion 44B, and comb teeth 43C are at the same height position in vertical direction Z as the upper ends of left wall 42 and right wall 43.

The front wall 45 is disc-shaped when viewed in the front-rear direction Y, and the bottom wall 41, the left wall 42, the right wall 43, and the rear wall 44 of the housing portion 32 are arranged inside the contour of the front wall 45 (see fig. 6). An annular groove 45A (fig. 8 described later) extending in the circumferential direction is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the front wall 45. A washer 52 made of rubber, for example, and formed in a ring shape is fitted in the groove 45A. The outer peripheral portion of the washer 52 is disposed so as to be exposed from the groove 45A.

An outlet 53 is formed in a region different from the inlet 51 and the receiving surface portion 43B in at least one of the bottom wall 41, the left wall 42, the right wall 43, and the rear wall 44 of the housing portion 32. In the present embodiment, the outlet 53 is formed in each of the left wall 42, the right wall 43, and the rear wall 44. The outlet 53 formed in the left wall 42 is formed by a gap around each comb tooth 42D of the left wall 42, specifically, by slits provided on the front side Y1 and the rear side Y2 of each comb tooth 42D and extending in the vertical direction Z. The outlet 53 formed in the right wall 43 is constituted by a gap around each comb tooth 43C in the right wall 43, specifically, slits provided on the front side Y1 and the rear side Y2 of each comb tooth 43C and extending in the vertical direction Z. The outlet 53 formed in the rear wall 44 is formed by a gap around each comb tooth 44C of the rear wall 44, specifically, by slits provided on the left side X1 and the right side X2 of each comb tooth 44C of the rear wall 44 and extending in the vertical direction Z.

The operation unit 33 includes a disk portion 33A disposed coaxially with the front wall 45 and a handle 33B projecting from the front surface of the disk portion 33A toward the front side Y1. A locking groove 33C extending in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the disk portion 33A. There may be a plurality of the lock grooves 33C, and in this case, the lock grooves 33C are provided so as to be arranged in the circumferential direction of the disc portion 33A. The operation portion 33 is rotatable relative to the housing portion 32 about a rotation shaft (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction Y through the center of the disk portion 33A.

Fig. 7 is a left side view of the filter unit 30. Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 7. The receiving portion 31 of the filter unit 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction Y. The receiving portion 31 is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend as it approaches the rear side Y2. The receiving portion 31 is provided with a stay 31A fixed to a frame (not shown) in the box body 2 by bolts or the like, and a circular pipe-shaped inflow portion 31B protruding to the left side X1 on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion of the receiving portion 31.

The inner space of the inflow portion 31B communicates with the inner space 31C of the socket 31 from the left side X1, and constitutes a part of the inner space 31C of the socket 31. Therefore, the inner space 31C of the receiving portion 31 is formed to be bent in an L shape in a plan view. The receiving portion 31 is disposed in the middle of the drainage channel 5. The inner space 31C of the receiving portion 31 constitutes a middle portion of the drainage passage 5. The upstream drainage channel 5A on the upstream side of the receiving portion 31, that is, on the outer cylinder 3 side in the drainage channel 5 is connected to the inflow portion 31B. The downstream drainage channel 5B on the downstream side of the socket 31 in the drainage channel 5 is connected to the rear end of the socket 31.

The front end of the internal space 31C of the receiving portion 31 is exposed from the front surface 2A of the box body 2 as a circular entrance 31D. An openable and closable door (not shown) is provided on the front surface 2A, and the normal doorway 31D can be covered with the door at the closed position from the front side Y1. An annular first step portion 31E and an annular second step portion 31F are provided in the receiving portion 31 so as to be aligned in the front-rear direction Y in the middle of the inner peripheral surface defining the entrance 31D. The first step portion 31E is smaller in diameter than the second step portion 31F, and is disposed on the rear side Y2 of the second step portion 31F. The diameter of the front region of the inner peripheral surface of the receiving portion 31 on the front side Y1 with respect to the second stepped portion 31F is larger than the second stepped portion 31F. In the front region, a locking claw 31G extending in the circumferential direction thereof is provided. The plurality of locking claws 31G are arranged in the circumferential direction of the inner circumferential surface of the receiving portion 31.

Next, the attachment and detachment of the drain strainer 6 to the receiving portion 31 will be described. In attaching the drain filter 6, first, the user grasps the handle 33B in the operating portion 33 of the accommodating portion 32 of the drain filter 6 to move the accommodating portion 32 to the front side Y1 of the inlet and outlet 31D of the receiving portion 31. Since the marker M1 indicating the posture of the drain filter 6 at the time of attachment is provided in the accommodating portion 32 or the like (see fig. 4), the user corrects the posture of the drain filter 6 as necessary so that the drain space 46 of the accommodating portion 32 is opened to the upper side Z1. Then, the user moves the storage unit 32 to the rear side Y2, and inserts the storage unit 32 into the doorway 31D. Thus, the accommodating portion 32 is accommodated in the internal space 31C of the receiving portion 31 through the access opening 31D.

Then, when the gasket 52 of the front wall 45 of the accommodating portion 32 is brought into contact with the first stepped portion 31E in the inlet and outlet 31D of the accommodating portion 32 from the front side Y1 as shown in fig. 8, the entire accommodating portion 32 is accommodated in the inner space 31C of the receptacle 31, whereby the attachment of the drain filter 6 to the receptacle 31, that is, the washing machine 1 is completed. In this state, the inner space 31C of the receptacle 31 is closed by the front wall 45 from the front side Y1, and the gaps between the first stepped portion 31E and the second stepped portion 31F of the accommodating portion 32 and the front wall 45 are closed by the gasket 52. Next, the user grips the handle 33B of the operation portion 33 and twists the handle to rotate the operation portion 33. Thus, when the locking claws 31G in the inlet/outlet 31D enter the locking grooves 33C of the disk portion 33A of the operating portion 33, the operating portion 33 cannot move in the front-rear direction Y, and therefore the drain filter 6 is locked in a state of being attached to the receiving portion 31. Note that, since the index M2 indicating the rotation direction of the operation unit 33 is provided in the operation unit 33 or the like (see fig. 2), the user rotates the operation unit 33 with reference to the index M2.

In the drain filter 6 attached to the receptacle 31, the accommodating portion 32 is disposed in the internal space 31C of the receptacle 31, that is, the drain path 5. The rear end of the housing 32 may be exposed from the internal space 31C to the rear side Y2 and may be received in the downstream drainage channel 5B of the drainage channel 5. The receiving portion 32 in the drainage channel 5 is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend as approaching the rear side Y2, in accordance with the inclination of the receiving portion 31. The inlet 51 of the left wall 42 of the housing portion 32 faces the inner space of the inflow portion 31B of the receiving portion 31 from the right side X2.

In a state where the drain filter 6 is attached to the receptacle 31, the washing machine 1 performs a washing operation, and when the drain valve 12 is opened at this time, drain flowing from the washing tub 13 to the drain passage 5 flows laterally through the inflow portion 31B of the receptacle 31 and the inlet 51 of the left wall 42 of the receptacle 32 toward the right side X2, is taken into the drain space 46 of the receptacle 32 of the drain filter 6 from the inlet 51, and then collides with the receiving surface portion 43B (see thick dashed arrow W1 of fig. 8) of the right wall 43 of the receptacle 32. That is, the receiving surface portion 43B receives the drain water just taken into the drain space 46 from the inlet 51. Thus, the drain water flowing into the drain space 46 changes its flow direction and flows through the upstream portion 47 and the downstream portion 48 of the bottom wall 41 toward the rear side Y2 in order in the drain space 46 (see the thick dotted arrow W2 of fig. 8). In this way, the drain space 46 constitutes a flow path for drain water. Further, in the bottom wall 41, at least the downstream portion 48 is located on the downstream side, i.e., the rear side Y2, of the inlet 51 in the flow direction of the drain water in the drain space 46.

The drain flowing through the drain space 46 toward the rear side Y2 passes through any one of the outlets 53 and is discharged from the drain space 46 (see thick dashed arrows W3, W4, and W5 in fig. 4), then flows through the internal space 31C of the socket 31 toward the rear side Y2, flows into the downstream drain channel 5B of the drain channel 5, and is finally discharged to the outside of the machine. The drainage water flowing through the drainage space 46 of the drainage filter 6 passes through the outlet 53 and is discharged from the drainage space 46, but the long foreign matters F such as lint and hair contained in the drainage water are caught by the

comb teeth

42D, 43C, and 44C, and thus cannot be accumulated in the drainage space 46 through the outlet 53, and are gathered in a soft block shape at the rear of the drainage space 46 (see fig. 4). In this way, the drain filter 6 captures foreign matter F contained in the drain water.

In the drain filter 6 attached to the socket 31, the handle 33B is exposed from the front surface 2A of the case 2. In the case where the drain filter 6 is detached for maintenance or the like, first, the user grips the handle 33B to rotate the operation portion 33 in the direction opposite to the attaching time. Accordingly, the locking claw 31G in the inlet/outlet 31D is disengaged from the locking groove 33C of the disk portion 33A of the operation portion 33, and therefore the drainage filter 6 is unlocked, and the operation portion 33 can move in the front-rear direction Y. Next, the user grasps the handle 33B and pulls to the front side Y1, thereby moving the accommodating part 32 to the front side Y1. When the entire storage unit 32 is pulled out to the front side Y1 of the inlet/outlet 31D of the receptacle 31, the drain strainer 6 is completely detached from the receptacle 31.

As described above, the drain filter 6 captures and accumulates the foreign matter F contained in the drain water in the drain space 46 until the drain water is taken into the drain space 46 from the inlet 51 and discharged from the outlet 53. The inlet 51 is a cross hole formed in the left wall 42, so that the drain is drawn into the drain space 46 without enhancing the water potential by flowing laterally into the inlet 51 without falling. Further, the receiving surface portion 43B facing the inlet 51 on the right wall 43 that laterally sandwiches the drain space 46 between the left wall 42 receives the drain taken into the drain space 46 from the inlet 51 (see a thick dotted arrow W1 in fig. 8), thereby reducing the water potential of the drain. Thereby, the drain water in the drain space 46 flows over the downstream portion 48 of the bottom wall 41 in a state of reduced water potential and is discharged from the outlet 53 (refer to a thick dotted arrow W2 of fig. 8).

Therefore, the foreign matter F contained in the drain water is formed into the above-described soft block shape so as not to be firmly entangled with the inner surface portion (specifically, the comb teeth 42D, the comb teeth 43C, and the comb teeth 44D) of the drain filter 6 and is accumulated in the drain space 46 (see fig. 4). Therefore, when the user grasps the handle 33B of the operation portion 33 of the detached drain filter 6 and pulls down the drain filter 6 so that the drain space 46 is opened to the lower side Z2 as shown in fig. 9 during maintenance, the clumps of foreign matter F in the drain space 46 can be cleanly dropped by this force. Even if there is foreign matter F remaining in the drain space 46 without dropping, the foreign matter F can be smoothly removed from the drain space 46 by exposing the housing portion 32 to the running water. This makes it possible to easily remove the foreign matter F from the drain space 46, and therefore, the maintainability of the drain filter 6 can be improved. Further, since the user can take out the foreign matter F from the drainage space 46 without touching the

comb teeth

42D, 43C, and 44D, the user can be prevented from applying an excessive force during maintenance and breaking the comb teeth.

The downstream portion of the bottom wall 41 includes an upstream region 48A, a middle region 48B, and a downstream region 48C in order from the inlet 51, and the upstream region 48A and the downstream region 48C are wider than the middle region 48B in the left-right direction X which is the short dimension direction of the bottom wall 41 (see fig. 4). Accordingly, the drain water taken into the drain space 46 from the inlet 51 and flowing above the downstream portion 48 can be discharged from the outlet 53 immediately after the upstream region 48A, and can also be discharged from the outlet 53 while passing through the midway region 48B and the downstream region 48C (see the thick dotted arrow W3 in fig. 4). Therefore, the foreign matter F accumulated in the drainage space 46 is prevented from being unevenly accumulated in the upstream area 48A in the downstream portion 48 of the bottom wall 41 and from being entangled in the

comb teeth

42D and 43C near the upstream area 48A. Therefore, the user can smoothly take out the foreign matter F from the drain space 46 at the time of maintenance, and can improve the maintainability of the drain filter 6.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope described in the claims.

For example, although the left wall 42 is an example of the first vertical wall and the right wall 43 is an example of the second vertical wall in the above-described embodiment, the right wall 43 may be an example of the first vertical wall and the left wall 42 may be an example of the second vertical wall in contrast to this. The left wall 42 and the right wall 43 may be front walls or rear walls depending on the posture of the drain filter 6 in the washing machine 1. In this case, the front-rear direction Y is an example of the lateral direction.

The root portions, i.e., the lower end portions, of the

comb teeth

42D, 43C, and 44D at the outlets 53 of the accommodating portion 32 may be regarded as a part of the bottom wall 41, and in this case, the portions of the outlets 53 around the lower end portions of the

comb teeth

42D, 43C, and 44D may be regarded as outlets 53 formed in the bottom wall 41 (see fig. 4).

In the drum washing machine 1 of the above embodiment, the inner tub 7 may be disposed such that the axis J is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H. Furthermore, the washing machine 1 may be a vertical washing machine with an axis J extending longitudinally.

Claims

A drain filter attached to a washing machine to capture foreign matter contained in drain water of the washing machine, comprising:

a drainage space forming a drainage channel for storing foreign matters contained in the drainage;

a first vertical wall having an inlet for taking in drain water into the drain space formed in a form of a horizontal hole;

a second vertical wall that sandwiches the drainage space from a lateral direction with the first vertical wall, the second vertical wall being provided with a receiving surface portion that receives drainage taken into the drainage space from the inlet so as to face the inlet;

a bottom wall that is erected between a lower end portion of the first vertical wall and a lower end portion of the second vertical wall and faces the drainage space from a lower side; and

and an outlet formed in at least one of the first vertical wall, the second vertical wall, and the bottom wall, and discharging the drain water from the drain space.
The drain filter of claim 1,

the bottom wall is long in a direction orthogonal to an opposing direction of the inlet and the receiving surface portion,

the bottom wall has a downstream portion disposed at a position distant from the inlet and the receiving surface portion in a longitudinal direction of the bottom wall, and located downstream of the inlet in a flow direction of the drain water in the drain space,

the first vertical wall and the second vertical wall are respectively provided with a plurality of comb teeth arranged in the longitudinal direction so as to protrude from both end portions of the downstream portion in the short-dimension direction of the bottom wall,

the outlet is formed by a gap around each of the comb teeth.
The drain filter of claim 2,

the downstream portion has: a midway area in the long dimension direction; an upstream region closer to the inlet than the midway region, wider than the midway region in the short-dimension direction; and a downstream area that is farther from the entrance than the midway area and is wider than the midway area in the short-dimension direction.
A washing machine, characterized by comprising:

a drain filter according to any one of claims 1 to 3;

a box body;

a washing drum which is configured in the box body, contains washings and can store water; and

and a drainage channel for discharging the water in the washing cylinder to the outside of the box body as drainage, wherein the drainage filter is detachably mounted.