US20200217001A1

US20200217001A1 - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: US20200217001A1
Application number: US16/647,532
Authority: US
Inventors: Fei KANG; Yacheng SHI; Wei Zhou
Original assignee: Wuxi Little Swan Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Wuxi Little Swan Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-09-20
Filing date: 2017-11-02
Publication date: 2020-07-09
Also published as: JP2020527403A; JP7026769B2; WO2019056509A1

Abstract

A washing machine includes a cabinet; a rotating tub rotatably provided in the cabinet and having a peripheral wall and/or a bottom wall provided with a water outlet; a water receiving pan provided in the cabinet and having at least a portion located below the rotating tub, the water receiving pan having a side peripheral wall extending upwards and being higher than the water outlet, and a height difference between an upper edge of the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan and an outer bottom face of the rotating tub being less than a half of a height of the rotating tub.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure is a national phase application of International Application No. PCT/CN2017/109165, filed on Nov. 2, 2017, which claims the priorities of Chinese Application No. 201710853500.3 and 201721219453.9, filed in the Chinese Patent Office on Sep. 20, 2017, the entireties of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of electric appliance manufacturing, more particularly to a washing machine.

BACKGROUND

With development of technology of washing machines, a washing machine has a trend of having a large capacity. While the washing machine gradually tends to be of large capacity, an overall size of the washing machine will necessarily increase. Thus it is quite necessary to provide a washing machine with small volume and large capacity. Meanwhile, during washing of an existing washing machine, water is distributed in a rotating tub and a water containing tub, that is, the water is also distributed between the water containing tub and the rotating tub, which has large water consumption and causes waste of water resources. For the existing washing machine, dirt is liable to remain between the water containing tub and the rotating tub, to breed bacteria. Furthermore, since the water is distributed between the water containing tub and the rotating tub, detergent consumption is also large, this causes waste of detergent resources and is not conducive to cost savings.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure seeks to solve at least one of the problems existing in the related art to at least some extent. To this end, the present disclosure proposes a washing machine employing a single tub structure, which is not only capacious, water-saving, dirt-free and cost effective, but also has reduced material consumption, high space utilization rate and good dehydration effect.
Embodiments of the present disclosure propose a washing machine. The washing machine includes a cabinet, a rotating tub, and a water receiving pan. The rotating tub rotatably is provided in the cabinet and has a peripheral wall and/or a bottom wall provided with a water outlet. The water receiving pan is provided in the cabinet and has at least a portion located below the rotating tub. The water receiving pan has a side peripheral wall extending upwards and being higher than the water outlet, and a height difference between an upper edge of the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan and an outer bottom face of the rotating tub is less than a half of a height of the rotating tub.
In the washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the water containing tub is omitted and only the rotating tub is provided to form the single tub structure, to increase capacity, save water, avoid dirt and reduce costs. Furthermore, by setting height relationship between the water receiving pan and the rotating tub, material consumption and space occupation of the water receiving pan can be reduced, and meanwhile the water can be prevented from splashing to an outside of the water receiving pan during spin-drying.
According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the water receiving pan has a water receiving groove therein, and the water receiving groove is provided with a drain port at the lowest area thereof.
Further, a bottom wall face of the water receiving groove is provided with a water storage groove recessed downwards.
Further, a bottom wall face of the water storage groove is provided with a water drain groove further recessed downwards, and the drain port is provided in a bottom wall face of the water drain groove.
Further, the water storage groove is located at an outer periphery of the bottom wall face of the water receiving groove and extends along a circumferential direction of the water receiving groove.
According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the washing machine further includes a water guide cover. The water guide cover is provided to an internal peripheral wall face of the rotating tub and covers the water outlet. The water guide cover is provided with a water inlet and defines a water guide cavity in communication with the water inlet and the water outlet. Liquid in the rotating tub lifted under the action of a centrifugal force enters the water guide cavity through the water inlet and is discharged to the water receiving pan through the water outlet.
Further, the water inlet is provided in an upper portion of the water guide cover, and the water outlet is provided in a lower portion of the peripheral wall of the rotating tub.
Further, the water inlet is provided in an upper end of the water guide cover, and the water outlet is provided adjacent to the bottom wall of the rotating tub.
Further, a plurality of water outlets are provided and arranged in a circumferential direction of the rotating tub and spaced apart from each other; a plurality of water guide covers are provided and arranged in the circumferential direction of the rotating tub and spaced apart from each other; and each water guide cover covers at least one corresponding water outlet.
Embodiments of the present disclosure propose a washing machine. The washing machine includes a cabinet, a rotating tub, a water receiving pan and a pulsator. The rotating tub is rotatably provided in the cabinet, and the rotating tub has a peripheral wall and/or a bottom wall provided with a water outlet. The water receiving pan is provided in the cabinet and has at least a portion located below the rotating tub. The water receiving pan has a side peripheral wall extending upwards and being higher than the water outlet, and a height difference between an upper edge of the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan and an outer bottom face of the rotating tub is less than a half of a height of the rotating tub. The pulsator is rotatably provided in the rotating tub.
The washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure employs the single tub structure, to increase capacity, save water, avoid dirt and reduce costs while ensuring dehydration effect. Furthermore, by setting height relationship between the water receiving pan and the rotating tub, material consumption and space occupation of the water receiving pan can be reduced, and meanwhile the water can be prevented from splashing to an outside of the water receiving pan during spin-drying.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following descriptions made with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a partial structure for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a partial structure for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a water receiving pan for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a water receiving pan for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a rotating tub for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a rotating tub for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

washing machine 1;
cabinet 100;
rotating tub 210; water outlet 211; water guide cover 220; water inlet 221; water guide cavity 240;
pulsator 300;
water receiving pan 400; water receiving groove 410; drain port 420; water storage groove 430; water drain groove 440;
outer bottom face A of rotating tub.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail and examples of the embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings, where same or similar reference numerals are used to indicate same or similar members or members with same or similar functions. The embodiments described herein with reference to drawings are explanatory, illustrative, and used to generally understand the present disclosure. The embodiments shall not be construed to limit the present disclosure.
In the specification, it is to be understood that terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “axial,” “radial,” and “circumferential” should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the present disclosure be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Furthermore, in the description of the present disclosure, the term “a plurality of” means two or more than two, unless specified otherwise.
In the description of the present disclosure, unless specified or limited otherwise, it should be noted that, terms “mounted,” “connected” and “coupled” may be understood broadly, such as permanent connection or detachable connection, electronic connection or mechanical connection, direct connection or indirect connection via intermediary, inner communication or interaction between two elements.
A washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, the washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a cabinet 100, a rotating tub 200 and a water receiving pan 400.
The rotating tub 200 is rotatably provided in the cabinet 100 and has a peripheral wall and/or a bottom wall provided with a water outlet 211. The water receiving pan 400 is provided in the cabinet 100 and has at least a part thereof located below the rotating tub 210. The water receiving pan 400 is used to support the rotating tub 200, and it may be a direct support or an indirect support herein. During spin-drying of the rotating tub 210, liquid in the rotating tub 210 can be discharged to the water receiving pan 400 via the water outlet 21, and then discharged from the water receiving pan 400. A side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan 400 extends upwards and is higher than the water outlet 211, and a height difference h between an upper edge of the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan 400 and an outer bottom face A of the rotating tub 210 is less than a half of a height H of the rotating tub, i.e. h<H/2.
The washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the present disclosure employs the single tub structure, that is, only the rotating tub 200 is provided without providing the water containing tub. In this way, the water is in the rotating tub 200 during washing, and water is further saved, the structure is simplified, the capacity is increased, and the dirt and bacteria breeding is reduced.
Further, the water receiving pan 400 is proved, and the height difference h between the upper edge of the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan 400 and the outer bottom face A of the rotating tub 210 is less than a half of the height H of the rotating tub 210, and the height difference h between the upper edge of the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan 400 and the outer bottom face A of the rotating tub 210 is 1/10-⅓ of the height of the rotating tub 210. In one embodiment, this range is not restrictive, a side peripheral wall with lower height can be provided, or no side peripheral wall is provided, as long as the water discharged from the water outlet 211 can be collected by the water receiving pan 400. Compared to a conventional water containing tub, the water receiving pan 400 has a greatly reduced height, smaller space occupation and omits a tub cover, thus material consumption is significantly reduced, and the costs is decreased. Furthermore, a gap between the rotating tub 210 and the cabinet 100 is promoted, and therefore, for the washing machine with the same volume, the capacity can be made larger by increasing the diameter and the height of the rotating tub 210.
In addition, the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan 400 extends upwards and is higher than the water outlet 211, and the liquid in the water guide cavity 210 totally flows into the water receiving pan 400 after discharged from the water outlet 211 to prevent the water splashing and spilling from the lower end of the rotating tub 210.
Therefore, the washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the present disclosure has advantages of being capacious, water-saving, dirt-free and cost effective, having reduced material consumption, high space utilization rate and good dehydration efficiency, etc.
The washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, the washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a cabinet 100, a rotating tub 200, a water guide cover 220 and a water receiving pan 400.
The rotating tub 210 is rotatably provided in the cabinet 100, the rotating tub 210 has a peripheral wall and/or a bottom wall provided with a water outlet 211. The water guide cover 220 is provided to an internal peripheral wall face of the rotating tub 210 and covers the water outlet 211, and the water guide cover 220 is provided with a water inlet 221 and defines a water guide cavity 240 in communication with the water inlet 221 and the water outlet 211. Liquid in the rotating tub 210 lifted under the action of a centrifugal force enters the water guide cavity 240 through the water inlet 221 and is discharged to the water receiving pan 400 through the water outlet 211.
In one embodiment, during spin-dry of the washing machine 1, the rotating tub 210 rotates, that is, the water guide cover 220 rotates with the rotating tub 210, the liquid in the rotating tub 210 moves upwards under the action of the centrifugal force, and enters the water guide cavity 240 via the water inlet 221. The liquid entering the water guide cavity 240 is guided by the water guide cover 220 to the water outlet 211, and discharged to the water receiving pan 400 through the water outlet 211.
Thus, the washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the present disclosure employs a single tub structure, on this basis, the internal peripheral wall face of the rotating tub 210 is further provided with the water guide cover 220, the water inlet 221 is provided in the water guide cover 220, and the water outlet 211 is provided in the peripheral wall and/or the bottom wall, and the water in the rotating tub 210 is lifted under the action of the centrifugal force during spin-dry, enters the water guide cover 220 via the water inlet 221, flows to the water outlet 211 under guidance of the water guide cover 220, and is discharged through the water outlet 211. Thus, the water containing tub is canceled to simplify the structure, increase the capacity, reduce dirt and bacteria breeding, and save water while improving dehydration effect.
Moreover, the water guide cover 220 is connected to the rotating tub 210, it is unnecessary to provide additional structure to the cabinet 100 or to configure the cabinet 100 to be a structure of inner and outer layers to realize water guidance during spin-dry, and selection for material of the cabinet 100 is not limited, for example, a metal plate or other materials can be used, to promote appearance.
The water outlet 211 may be provided in the peripheral wall of the rotating tub 210, or may be provided in the bottom wall of the rotating tub 210, or may be provided in both of the peripheral wall and the bottom wall. In one embodiment, the water outlet 211 is provided in the peripheral wall of the rotating tub 210, and the water guide cover 220 covers the water outlet 211, and a lower end of the water guide cover 220 is only connected to the peripheral wall of the rotating tub 210, to facilitate sealing of the water guide cover 220 and the peripheral wall of the rotating tub 210. Certainly, the water outlet 211 in the present disclosure may also be provided in the bottom wall of the rotating tub 210, and the water guide cover 220 covers the water outlet 211, to facilitate improvement of dehydration efficiency and dehydration effect during spin-dry, and effective reduction of water splashing from the water outlet 211. The water outlet 211 is provided in both of the peripheral wall and the bottom wall, and the sealing of the water guide cover 220 and the peripheral wall of the rotating tub 210 is facilitated, the dehydration efficiency during spin-dry is improved, and the water is effectively prevented form splashing from the water outlet 211.
Therefore, the washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the present disclosure has advantages of being capacious, water-saving, dirt-free and cost effective, having good dehydration efficiency and aesthetic appearance, and being easy to seal, etc.
The water receiving pan 400 has a water receiving groove 410 therein, and the water receiving groove 410 is provided with a drain port at the lowest area thereof to drain water. The water receiving pan 400 may also not be provided with the drain port, but uses a conduit or the like to extract the water in the water receiving groove 410.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a bottom wall face of the water receiving groove 410 is provided with a water storage groove 430 recessed downwards. Thus, there may be sufficient buffering space for the water coming from clothes during spin-drying, and water level within the water receiving pan 400 is maintained below the rotating tub 210 to prevent the water and foam within the water receiving pan 400 from crossing the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan 400 to spill under driving of the rotation of the rotating tub 210.
Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a bottom wall face of the water storage groove 430 is provided with a water drain groove 440 further recessed downwards, and the drain port 420 is provided in a bottom wall face of the water drain groove 440, and not only the water within the water receiving pan 400 can be further prevented from spilling, but also the drain port 420 can be located at the lowest area of the water receiving groove 410, to facilitate draining of the water to improve drainage effect.
In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the water storage groove 430 is located at an outer periphery of the bottom wall face of the water receiving groove 410 and extends along a circumferential direction of the water receiving groove 410, e.g. to form a ring shape, and the water within the water storage groove 430 can be prevented from forming a rotating water flow which causes that the water cannot be smoothly discharged from the water drain groove 440, and the water level within the water receiving pan 400 can be further prevented from rising which causes that the water spills from the upper edge of the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan 400.
In some examples of the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, 6 and 7, the peripheral wall of the rotating tub 210 is arranged parallel to a central axis of the rotating tub 210, and the water guide cover 220 is arranged parallel to a side wall of the rotating tub 210 and extends in an up-and-down direction. In other words, an inner diameter of the rotating tub 210 is equal everywhere in the up-and-down direction, and an outer diameter of the rotating tub 210 is equal everywhere in the up-and-down direction. It should be understood herein that, the above-described “equal everywhere” means substantially equal, and does not exclude that the rotating tub 210 is provided with some uneven structures thereon. In other words, the rotating tub 210 has a substantially cylindrical shape.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, 6 and 7, the water inlet 221 is provided in an upper portion of the water guide cover 220, and the water outlet 211 is provided in a lower portion of the peripheral wall of the rotating tub 210. It could be understood herein that, the upper portion of the water guide cover 220 refers to a portion above a center of the water guide cover 220 in the up-and-down direction, and the lower portion of the rotating tub 210 refers to a portion below a center of the rotating tub 210 in the up-and-down direction. Thus, during the spin-dry, the rotating tub 210 rotates, the water in the rotating tub 210 is lifted under the action of the centrifugal force, the water inlet 221 located in the upper portion of the water guide cover 220 can better collect the lifted water, this part of water enters the water guide cover 220 via the water inlet 221, and flows to the water outlet 211 in the lower portion of the rotating tub 210 under the guidance of the water guide cover 220, to further improve the dehydration efficiency and the dehydration effect.
Further, the water inlet 221 is provided in the upper end of the water guide cover 220, to facilitate collection of the liquid in the rotating tub 210 lifted to the upper end of the rotating tub 210 under the action of the centrifugal force. The water outlet 211 is provided in the peripheral wall of the rotating tub 210 and arranged adjacent to the bottom wall of the rotating tub 210, and the water outlet 211 is spaced apart from the bottom wall of the rotating tub 210 at a predetermined distance. Thus, the sealing of the water guide cover 220 and the peripheral wall of the rotating tub 210 is facilitated, and a height of the side wall of the water receiving pan 400 can be reduced, to save materials and reducing costs.
Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 6 and 7, in order to promote water drain effect of the washing machine 1, a plurality of water outlets 211 are provided, arranged in a circumferential direction of the rotating tub 210 and equally spaced apart from each other; a plurality of water guide covers 220 are provided, arranged in the circumferential direction of the rotating tub 210 and equally spaced apart from each other, and each water guide cover 220 covers at least one corresponding water outlet 211. By way of example, two water outlets 211 are provided and arranged oppositely in a radial direction of the rotating tub 210, two water guide covers 220 are provided and arranged oppositely in the radial direction of the rotating tub 210, and the two water guide covers cover the two water outlets 211, respectively.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, the washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a cabinet 100, a rotating tub 210, a water receiving pan 400, and a pulsator 300.
The rotating tub 210 is rotatably provided in the cabinet 100, the rotating tub 210 has a peripheral wall and/or a bottom wall provided with a water outlet 211. The water guide cover 220 is provided to an internal peripheral wall face of the rotating tub 210 and covers the water outlet 211, and the water guide cover 220 is provided with a water inlet 221 and defines a water guide cavity 240 in communication with the water inlet 221 and the water outlet 211. Liquid in the rotating tub 210 lifted under the action of a centrifugal force enters the water guide cavity 240 through the water inlet 221 and is discharged to the water receiving pan 400 through the water outlet 211. The pulsator 300 is rotatably provided in the rotating tub 210.
The washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the present disclosure employs the single tub structure, to increase capacity, save water, avoid dirt and reduce costs while ensuring the dehydration effect. Furthermore, material consumption and space occupation of the water receiving pan can be reduced, and meanwhile the water can be prevented from splashing to an outside of the water receiving pan during spin-drying
Other constitutions and operations of the washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the present disclosure are well known by those skilled in the art, which will not be described in detail herein.
Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “an illustrative embodiment”, “an example,” “a specific example,” or “some examples,” means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

Claims

1. A washing machine, comprising:

a cabinet, configured to form the main body of the washing machine;

a rotating tub rotatably provided in the cabinet, configured to receive water and clothes to be washed, wherein the rotating tub comprises a peripheral wall and/or a bottom wall provided with a water outlet; and

a water receiving pan, configured to receive the water comes from the rotating tub through the water outlet, wherein the water receiving part is provided in the cabinet and having at least a portion located below the rotating tub, the water receiving pan having a side peripheral wall extending upwards and being higher than the water outlet, and a height difference between an upper edge of the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan and an outer bottom face of the rotating tub being less than a half of a height of the rotating tub.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the water receiving pan has a water receiving groove therein, and the water receiving groove is provided with a drain port at the lowest area thereof.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein a bottom wall face of the water receiving groove is provided with a water storage groove recessed downwards.

4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein a bottom wall face of a water storage groove is provided with a water drain groove further recessed downwards, and the drain port is provided in a bottom wall face of the water drain groove.

5. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the water storage groove is located at an outer periphery of the bottom wall face of the water receiving groove and extends along a circumferential direction of the water receiving groove.

6. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a water guide cover provided to an internal peripheral wall face of the rotating tub and covering the water outlet, the water guide cover being provided with a water inlet and defining a water guide cavity in communication with the water inlet and the water outlet, liquid in the rotating tub lifted under an action of a centrifugal force entering the water guide cavity through the water inlet and being discharged to the water receiving pan through the water outlet.

7. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the water inlet is provided in an upper portion of the water guide cover, and the water outlet is provided in a lower portion of a peripheral wall of the rotating tub.

8. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the water inlet is provided in an upper end of the water guide cover, and the water outlet is adjacent to the bottom wall of the rotating tub.

9. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of water outlets are provided and arranged in a circumferential direction of the rotating tub and spaced apart from each other; a plurality of water guide covers are provided and arranged in the circumferential direction of the rotating tub and spaced apart from each other; and each water guide cover covers at least one corresponding water outlet.

10. A washing machine, comprising:

a cabinet;

a rotating tub rotatably provided in the cabinet and having a peripheral wall and/or a bottom wall provided with a water outlet;

a water receiving pan provided in the cabinet and having at least a portion located below the rotating tub, the water receiving pan having a side peripheral wall extending upwards and being higher than the water outlet, and a height difference between an upper edge of the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan and an outer bottom face of the rotating tub being less than a half of a height of the rotating tub; and

a pulsator rotatably provided in the rotating tub.