EP1458920B1

EP1458920B1 - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: EP1458920B1
Application number: EP02793509A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jae Chul Lyu
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2001-12-27
Filing date: 2002-12-27
Publication date: 2008-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2022-12-27
Also published as: US20040083770A1; CN100532688C; AU2002359031A1; AU2002359031B2; CN1610776A; EP1458920A1; JP2005512742A; KR20030055973A; WO2003056093A1; DE60226487D1

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly, to a heater assembly in a washing machine for heating washing water.

Background Art

As known, hot water washing enhances a washing efficiency, for which in general hot water is supplied to the washing machine from an outside of the washing machine. However, recently, the heater is provided to the washing machine for direct heating of the washing water.
In most of cases, the heater is mounted on a bottom of an inside of an outer tub which stores the washing water with brackets. In more detail, the heater is annular to fit to the bottom surface of the outer tub for uniform heating of the washing water. The heater generates heat depending on washing conditions, such as kind of laundry, for heating the water stored in the outer tub to a temperature proper for the washing. Then, the washing machine can wash the laundry appropriately by using the heated washing water.
However, as described, since the heater is mounted on the bottom surface of the outer tub, it is required to disassemble, not only a housing of the washing machine, but also an inner tub inside of the outer tub and other related components, for changing or maintenance of the heater. Consequently, the maintenance of the heater is difficult and requires much time.
JP 10 263 284 discloses a washing machine including a heater fixed to a machine drum by a metal fixture. DE 15 85 822 discloses a heater for a washing machine.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is set out in the independent claim. Some optional features are set out in the claims dependent thereto. An object of the present invention devised for solving the related art problem is to provide a washing machine, of which heater is attachable/detachable to/from the washing machine easily.
The objection of the present invention can be achieved by providing a washing machine including a housing, an outer tub mounted in the housing for storage of washing water, and a heater assembly having a heater designed to be detachably inserted to an inside of the outer tub from an outside of the outer tub for heating the washing water.
The heater assembly includes a cavity formed in a bottom surface of the outer tub, and the heater disposed in an inside of the cavity through a side wall of the cavity. Preferably, the heater assembly includes an opening formed in the side wall of the cavity for permitting pass of the heater.
Preferably, the cavity includes a sloped bottom surface, having an angle of 3°~5°. The cavity includes a drain hole formed in a low part of the sloped bottom surface for draining the washing water to an outside of the washing machine. The heater is inserted from a lower part to a higher part of the sloped bottom surface.
The heater includes a heating part in the cavity for generating heat, and a terminal part electrically connected to the heating part for applying power to the heating part.
Preferably, the heating part includes a plurality of bends on the same plane.
Preferably, the heater further includes a closing part for closing the cavity. The closing part includes a finish member between the heating part and the terminal part for closing the cavity from outside of the cavity, and an elastic member between the heating part and the finish plate for being press fit into the opening of the cavity.
Preferably, the closing part further includes a pressure applying mechanism for expanding the elastic member. The pressure applying mechanism includes a pressure applying plate, a screw connected to the pressure applying plate and projected from the elastic member and the finish member, and a nut on the screw for fastening the pressure applying plate so that the pressure applying plate applies pressure to the elastic member.
Preferably, the heater assembly includes bosses on the bottom surface of the cavity, and a bracket fastened to the bosses for supporting the heater to be spaced a distance away from the bottom surface. More preferably, the bosses and the bracket are fastened with an insulating material inserted therebetween for prevention of heat transmission from the heater to the bosses.
Thus, the present invention permits easy attachment/detachment of the heater to/from the outer tub, and smoother drain of the used washing water.

Brief Description of Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention:
In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a section showing a washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a heater assembly of a washing machine of the present invention shown together with an outer tub;
FIG. 3 illustrates a disassembled perspective view of a heater assembly of a washing machine of the present invention seen from a bottom of a washing tub;
FIG. 4 illustrates a partial section of a heater assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a heater in a heater assembly of the present invention; and
FIG. 6 illustrates a section of a heater mounted on an outer tub of a washing machine of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In describing the embodiments of the present invention, same parts will be given the same names and reference symbols, and iterative description of which will be omitted.
FIG. 1 illustrates a section of a washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a heater assembly of a washing machine of the present invention shown together with an outer tub, and FIG. 3 illustrates a disassembled perspective view of a heater assembly of a washing machine of the present invention seen from a bottom of a washing tub, referring to which the washing machine of the present invention will be explained.
Referring to FIG. 1, the washing machine of the present invention includes a housing 10, an outer tub 20 and an inner tub 30, both mounted inside of the housing 10.
The housing 10 is designed for holding different components of the washing machine therein and protecting the components. The housing 10 includes a top cover 12 in a top part of the washing machine, and a door 13 in the top cover 2. The top cover 12 has a control panel and the like for operation of a user, and the door 13 permits introduction of laundry into or taking the laundry out of the washing machine.
The outer tub 20 is elastically fastened to the inside of the cabinet 10, and stores washing water for constant supply of washing water to the inner tub in washing.
More particularly, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner tub 20 has a space 21 for storage of washing water therein, and the outer tub 20 has a pass through hole 23 at a bottom 22 of a central part. A driving shaft is mounted through the pass through hole 23 and connected to the inner tub 30. There are seats 24 fitting dampers along an outer circumference of the outer tub 20 for elastic coupling of the outer tub 20 and the housing 10.
Referring to FIG. 1, the inner tub 30 is rotatably mounted on an inside of the outer tub 20. The inner tub 30 has a system in which washing water flows freely in a space between the outer tub 20 and the inner tub 30. Laundry is introduced into the inner tub 30, and washed as the inner tub 30 rotates. The driving part 40 below both the outer tub 20 and the inner tub 30 provides power to rotating the inner tub 20. In general, the driving part 40 includes a motor and clutch, and, as described, rotatably coupled to the inner tub 30 with the driving shaft.
The washing machine requires warm or hot washing water depending on kinds and states of the laundry during operation of the washing machine, for which the washing machine is provided with a heater assembly 100 for producing hot or warm washing water for itself. As shown in FIG. 2, the heater assembly 100 is mounted on the outer tub 20 for heating washing water in the outer tub 20 to a desired temperature.
Referring to FIG. 2, the heater assembly 100 includes a cavity 110 in the bottom 22 of the outer tub 20, and a heater 120 disposed in the cavity 110. The heater assembly 100 includes an opening 130 in a part of a side wall 112 of the cavity 130. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the opening 130 permits communication between the cavity 110 and an outside of the water storage tub 20, thereby permitting the heater 120 to reach to the outer tub 30, more specifically, to an inside of the cavity 110. Eventually, in the heater assembly 100, the heater 120 is detachably inserted into the outer tub 20 from the outside of the outer tub 20.
The heater assembly 100 will be described in more detail.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cavity 110 has a bottom surface 111 formed lower than the bottom 22 of the outer tub 20, between which the side wall 112 is extended continuously. Preferably, the cavity 110 is formed in a periphery of the bottom surface 22 for avoiding interference with components fitted to the bottom of the outer tub 20, for an example, the driving part. The cavity 110 is extended perpendicular to a radial direction of the outer tub 20 for forming a long cavity. According to this, the cavity has a size suitable for mounting the heater 120 without interference with the components. According to the orientation of the cavity 110, the heater 120 is also inserted in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction of the outer tub 20, and the heater 120 can be inserted in the direction perpendicular to the radial direction more easily compared to other direction.
Referring to FIG. 4, the bottom surface 111 of the cavity 110 is sloped, with a drain hole 113 in a lowest part thereof. In other words, the bottom surface 111 of the cavity 110 is sloped toward the drain hole 113. As shown, the drain hole 113 passes through a lower part of the outer tub 20, i.e., the bottom surface 111, for draining used washing water to an outside of the outer tub 20. According to this, the washing water in the outer tub 30 can be drained more smoothly through the drain hole 113 in a low part of the sloped bottom surface 111. It is preferable that an angle θ of the slope is 3° ~ 5° considering drain of the washing water. Moreover, since the lower part of the sloped bottom surface 111 has a space deeper than a higher part, the heater 120 can be inserted from the lower part of the bottom surface more easily. Accordingly, the opening 130 is also formed in a side wall in the vicinity of the lower part of the bottom surface 111 adjacent to the drain hole.
Referring to FIG. 5, the heater 120 includes a heating part 121, and terminals 122.
Of the different components of the heater 120, the heating part 121 is actually disposed in the cavity 110 and generates heat for heating the washing water. To do this, through the heating part 121 can employ a variety of heating mechanisms, in general, the heating part 121 is form of hot wire. Preferably, the heating part 121 has a plurality of bends on the same plane for generating the greatest heat within a small space.
As shown, the terminals 122 disposed at both ends of the heating part 121 are electrically connected to the heating part 121. The terminals 122 are disposed on the outside of the outer tub 20, and connected to an outside power source for supplying power to the heating part 121.
As described, since the outer tub 20 stores washing water, sealing of the cavity 110 is required for prevention of leakage of the stored washing water. To do this, the heater 120 further includes a closing part for closing the cavity 110, more precisely the opening 130.
The closing part includes a finish member 123 between the heating part 121 inside of the cavity and the terminals 122 outside of the cavity 110, and an elastic member 124 between the finish member 123 and the heating part 121. In more detail, as shown in FIG. 4, the finish member 123 is disposed at an outside of the outer tub 20 together with the terminals 122, to close the opening 130 from an outside of the outer tub 20. The elastic member 124 has a size fit to the opening 130, and formed of an elastic material. Accordingly, the elastic member 124 is press fit into the opening 130 to prevent leakage of the washing water, actually.
For more positive closure of the cavity 110, preferably the closing part further includes a pressure applying mechanism. The pressure applying mechanism includes a pressure applying plate 125a, a screw 125b connected to the pressure applying plate 125b and a nut 125c screwed on the screw 125b. Referring to FIG. 5, the pressure applying plate 125a is disposed to be in contact with one surface of the elastic member 124, and the screw 125b passes through the elastic member 124 and the finish member 123 in succession and projects toward the terminals 122. The nut 125c is screwed to a projected part of the screw 125b. When the nut 125c is screwed, the nut 125c advances toward the finish member 123. After the nut 125c comes into contact with the finish member 123, the advancing of the nut 125c is blocked by the finish member 123, instead, the pressure applying plate 125a connected to the screw 125b moves toward the finish member 123. By the movement of the pressure applying part 125a, the elastic member 124 is pressed, and expanded in a lateral direction, to close the opening 130 more positively.
In the meantime, as described before, the heater 120 is stably supported with the elastic member 124 pressed into the opening 130 to some extent. However, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, for more stable supporting of the heater 120, the heater assembly 100 may has a bracket 140 fastened to the boss 150 for supporting the heater assembly 100, additionally.
Referring to FIG. 5, the bosses are projected from the bottom surface 111 of the cavity 110 to predetermined lengths. The bosses 150 are provided at both sides of the heater 120. As shown, the bracket 140 is extended across the heating part 121 for supporting the heating part 121. The bracket 140, bent a plurality of times in conformity with the bent heating part 121, can support the heating part 121 so that the heating part does not move. The bracket 140 has a pass through hole at each end 141 for fastening the bracket 140 to the bosses 150. Thus, the ends 141 are fastened to the bosses 150 with fastening members 143. According to this, the heater 120 can be supported in the cavity more stably. Moreover, since the heating part 121 is spaced from the cavity bottom surface 111 at a fixed distance by the bracket 140, deformation of the cavity bottom surface 111 of a plastic caused by the heating part 121 is prevented.
In the meantime, though the bracket may be formed of a metal for enduring the heat of the heating part 121, the bosses 150 are in general formed of plastic. Therefore, the heat can be transmitted to the bosses 150 through the bracket 140, and deforms the bosses 150. In order to prevent such a deformation, it is preferable that an insulating material 142 is provided between the ends 141 of the bracket 140 and the bosses 150.
Processes for attaching/detaching the heater to/from the heater assembly in a washing machine of the present invention will be described in detail.
In a case it is intended to attach the heater 120, the heating part 121 of the heater 120 is inserted into the cavity 110 through the opening 130 in the lower part of the outer tub 20 to be in communication with the cavity 110, slowly (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The heater is inserted until the finish member 123 comes in contact with a periphery of the opening 130. During the insertion, the elastic member 124 is press fit into the opening 130, to fix the heater 120 to the cavity 110, i.e., the opening 130. As shown in FIG. 4, according to this, the heating part 121 is positioned in the cavity 110 parallel to the bottom surface 111 sloped at an angle. The heating part 121 is sloped with respect to the bottom surface 22 of the outer tub 20 by the slope angle θ of the cavity bottom surface 111.
When the attachment is finished as such, the finish member 123 is in close contact with an outer periphery of the opening 130, closing the opening 110 primarily. The elastic member 124 is in close contact with an inside surface of the opening 130, to close the opening 110. Accordingly, by the closing part inclusive of the finish member 123 and the elastic member 124, at the same time with the attachment of the heater 10, the cavity 110 is closed such that the stored washing water is not leaked. The closing part also supplements a stable fixation of the heater 120. Meanwhile, when the pressure applying mechanism is provided to the heater 120, as described, by fastening the nut 125c, the pressure applying plate 125a presses the elastic member 124, so that the elastic member 124 expands toward the inside surface of the opening 130. According to this, not only the cavity 110 is closed more positively, but also the heater 110 is fixed more firmly.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, when the heater assembly 100 is provided with the bracket 140 and the bosses 150, the heating part 121 is inserted into the bracket 140 as the heating part 121 comes into the cavity 110. It is preferable that the bracket 140 is fitted to the bosses 150 in advance for convenience of attachment. Thus, the heater 120 becomes stationary and supported stably spaced from the bottom surface 111 by the bracket 140.
In the meantime, the heater 120 may be detached in a process reverse of the foregoing process. That is, by pulling the attached heater 120 strongly, the heater 120 can be pulled out of the cavity 110. When the pressure applying mechanism is used, the elastic member 124 contracts again when the fastening nut 125c is unscrewed, according to which the heater 120 can be pulled out of the cavity 110.
As described, since the heater 120 can be inserted into or pulled out of the cavity 110 from the outside of the outer tub, the heater can be attached/detached easily. Especially, under the same reason, the attachment/detachment of the heater 120 can be made even in a state the inner tub 30 and related components are assembled.
Moreover, the cavity 110 in the heater assembly 100 has a bottom surface 111 lower than the bottom surface 22 of the outer tub 20, in drainage, the washing water flows into the cavity 110 at first. Since the bottom surface 111 is sloped toward the drain hole 113, the washing water can be drained, more smoothly. It is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Industrial Applicability

As described, since the heater assembly of the present invention permits insertion into, or pulling out of the outer tub of the heater from the outside of the outer tub, attachment/detachment of the heater is easy. Moreover, since the attachment/detachment of the heater requires no detachment of other components, the attachment/detachment of the heater is more convenient. Accordingly, the present invention can reduce time required not only for fabrication, but also for maintenance owing to the convenient attachment/detachment of the heater, thereby improving productivity and cost.
In addition to this, the positions of the cavity and the drain hole therein lower than the bottom of the outer tub permit more effective drain of the washing water.

Claims

A washing machine comprising:
a housing (10);

an outer tub (20) mounted in the housing for storage of washing water;

and

a heater assembly (100) including:
a cavity (110) formed in a bottom surface of the outer tub, and

a heater (120) installed in an inside of the cavity through a side wall of the cavity for heating the washing water, characterised in that:

the heater (120) is directly coupled to the side wall of the cavity without using an additional fastening member, and is detachability coupled to the side wall by force.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heater assembly includes an opening (130) formed in the side wall of the cavity for permitting pass of the heater.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity (110) is formed in a periphery of a bottom surface of the outer tub (20).
The washing machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cavity (110) extends perpendicular to a radial direction of the outer tub (20).
The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity (110) includes a sloped bottom surface (111).
The washing machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the slope has an angle of 3° ~ 5°; and/or wherein the cavity (110) includes a drain hole formed in a low part of tile sloped bottom surface for draining the washing water to an outside of the washing machine; and/or wherein the heater (120) is inserted from a lower part to a higher part of the sloped bottom surface; and/or wherein the heating part includes a plurality of bends on the same plane.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heater (120) includes; a heating part in the cavity for generating heat, and
a terminal part (122) electrically connected to the heating part for applying power to the heating part.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 1 or claim 8, wherein the heater (120) further includes a closing part (124) for closing the cavity and being forcedly fitted into the side wall of the cavity to couple the heater thereto.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the closing part includes;
a finish member (123) between the heating part and the terminal part for closing the cavity from outside of the cavity, and

an elastic member (124) disposed between the heating part and the finish plate and forcedly fitted into the opening of the cavity; and preferably wherein the closing part further includes a pressure applying mechanism for expanding the elastic member, and preferably wherein the pressure applying mechanism includes;

a pressure applying plate (125a) being disposed to contact with elastic member,

a screw (125b) connected to the pressure applying plate and projected through the elastic member and the finish member, and

a nut (125c) on the screw for fastening the pressure applying plate so that the pressure applying plate applies pressure to the elastic member.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heater assembly includes;
bosses (150) on the bottom surface of the cavity, and

a bracket (140) fastened to the bosses for supporting the heater to be spaced with a distance away from the bottom surface.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bosses (150) and the bracket (140) are fastened with an insulating material inserted therebetween for prevention of heat transmission from the heater to the bosses.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the heating part (121) includes a plurality of bends on the same plane.