WO2001020071A1

WO2001020071A1 - Drum drive

Info

Publication number: WO2001020071A1
Application number: PCT/EP2000/009048
Authority: WO
Inventors: Friedrich Geiger
Original assignee: Senkingwerk Gmbh
Priority date: 1999-09-15
Filing date: 2000-09-15
Publication date: 2001-03-22
Also published as: DE19944253B4; DE50005592D1; ATE261507T1; EP1129251A1; EP1129251B1; DE19944253A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive device for a rotating drum, especially in washing machines, dryers and the like, having preferably two drive wheels (2) for driving a drum, a drive shaft (3) on which said drive wheels are rotatably fixed, a motor (4) for driving said drive shaft and a gear device (5) for the transmission of the driving torque of the motor (4) to the drive shaft (3). Preferably, the drive device comprises two or more bearing shields (6) in which said drive shaft (3) is rotationally in addition to means (7,8) for mounting said drive device. The motor (4) and the gear device (5) are supported by at least one bearing shield (6).

Description

drum drive

The present invention relates generally to a drive apparatus for rotary drums in particular, and in particular to a drum drive for washing machines, dryers and the like.

In many devices and machines, drums have to be rotated. This also applies in particular to household machines, such as washing machines, dryers and the like. With such devices for private use _* , it is particularly important that these devices are easy to manufacture and maintain. However, this is a problem with known rotary drum devices, since these are usually constructed in such a way that a rotatably arranged drum is provided in a housing and is rotated by drive wheels. The drive wheels are customarily located on a drive shaft which is rotatably arranged on the housing via pillow block bearings and bearing plates. Furthermore, a motor device, for example an electric motor, is provided in the housing for driving the drive shaft and is connected to the drive shaft via a chain drive. Since the usual practice is to keep the housing volume small compared to the drum volume, the various components of the can be installed individually in a very limited space of the housing. This has the consequence that the assembly effort is very high and that maintenance or repair is very expensive.

The present invention therefore has the task of solving the problems described above and, in particular, of providing a drive apparatus for rotary drums which is distinguished by the fact that it is simple to manufacture, install, maintain and repair, requiring little overall space, to allow the best possible ratio of housing volume to drum volume. Furthermore, it is part of the task to provide a corresponding rotary drum device that meets these requirements.

This object is achieved with the features of independent claims 1 and 9, respectively. Advantageous refinements are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a drive apparatus is proposed in a compact structural unit, which combines all the essential elements of the drive and can be stored overall in a simple manner on the housing of a rotary drum device. Accordingly, the drive apparatus comprises at least one, preferably two or more drive wheels which are arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a drive shaft which is driven by a motor, preferably an electric motor and a transmission device, for example a gear transmission, a belt drive or a chain drive. All of these components are combined in one unit of the drum drive. To achieve this compact design, at least one, but preferably two or more bearing plates are also provided, which have a bearing device for rotatably mounting the drive shaft and means for mounting the complete drive apparatus. In addition, means for fastening the motor and the transmission device are provided on at least one of the end shields. In this way it will be beneficial realized self-supporting construction of a drum drive, which can be stored in a simple manner.

The means for storing the entire drive apparatus, which are provided on the end shields, can be of various types. It is conceivable that the one or more end shields are firmly arranged on the housing of the rotary drum device. Known screw connections, welded connections, adhesive connections, plug connections or the like should be mentioned here. The attachment is carried out so that the drive wheels rest on the drum to be driven by the rotary drum device and cause the drum to rotate.

However, it is advantageous to design the means for storing the drive apparatus so that the drive apparatus can be arranged to be movable. Examples of this are plain bearing, ball bearing or roller bearing connections or the like. A movable arrangement of the drum drive has the advantage that for installation and removal or maintenance of the drum drive can be moved away from the drum to be driven and thus the installation and removal can be carried out more easily and the drive wheels on the drum can be adjusted better.

It is advantageous to provide a suspension axis which is rotatably received by the end shields, so that the compact drum drive can be pivoted about the suspension axis. In this way, it is possible to grasp the drum drive on the suspension axis and simply hang it in the provided bearing points on the housing of the rotary drum device. The drive apparatus can then be pivoted into the drive position in which the drive wheels rest against the drum and can be detachably fixed in this position in a suitable manner. However, it is advantageous here to provide a torque arm which is arranged on the bearing plate and holds the bearing plate and thus the entire drum drive in the direction of the drum to be driven. The torque arm is preferably adjustable, so that different contact forces of the drive wheels on the drum can be realized.

In a preferred embodiment, the torque arm is designed in the form of a rod or the like, one end of which is rotatably articulated on a bearing plate and the other end of which is connected to an object which is fixedly related to the rotary drum, eg. B. the housing of the rotary drum device is arranged. An adjustability of the torque arm can be realized in that the length of the torque arm is adjustable. This makes it possible to vary the contact pressure of the drive wheels on the rotating drum. Devices that allow a change in the length of the torque arm are known in many ways to the person skilled in the art, such as, for. B. clamping devices, telescopic devices and the like.

In order to further increase the maintenance and repair friendliness of the drive apparatus, it is advantageous to releasably attach the drive wheels to the drive shaft. This can advantageously be achieved by a tensioning device, in which at least a part of the sleeve region of the drive wheels through which the drive shaft extends is wedged to the drive shaft. Suitable means are also known to the person skilled in the art, such as e.g. B. screw-in elements with conically shaped contact surfaces.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to make the running surface of the drive wheels elastic, so that a good contact of the drive wheels on the cylinder surface of the drum and thus a good transmission of the rotary movement and the torques is ensured. To this elastic tread on the drive To implement wheels, it is advantageous to provide a rubber layer or a rubber covering on the drive wheels.

To accommodate and mount the drum drive according to the invention in a rotary drum device, it is advantageous in a rotary drum device with a housing and a drum rotatably arranged therein to provide two support elements on the side walls of the housing opposite in the axial direction of the drum, which are provided with the means for mounting the drive apparatus, that are provided on the end shields interact. If, for example, a suspension axis is used to support the drum drive, these support elements can represent, for example, support surfaces on which the suspension axis is placed and detachably fastened in a certain way. A particularly simple solution is provided by the use of clamping brackets which enclose the suspension axis and are detachably attached to the support elements.

Further advantages, characteristics and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show in a purely schematic manner in

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a drum drive according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a rotary drum device designed to receive the drum drive according to the invention; FIG. and in

Fig. 3 shows an arrangement according to the invention of the drum drive in a rotary drum device. Fig. 1 shows a drum drive 1 according to the invention, which comprises two drive wheels 2, which are rotatably arranged on a drive shaft 3. The drive shaft 3 is driven by an electric motor 4 via a gear device 5 and is supported by bearings 13, for example slide or ball bearings, in two end plates 6. Alternatively, the drum drive 1 could also be limited to a drive wheel 2 and a bearing plate 6, that is to say essentially to the left part of FIG. 1, so that the drive shaft 3 would only extend from the drive wheel 2 to the gear device 5.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the drum drive 1 also has a suspension axis 7, which is received in the upper region of the end shield 6 by a bearing device 8 such that it can be rotated or pivoted by the end shields 6. The bearing axis 7 preferably extends through the end shields 6, so that the suspension axis 7 protrudes somewhat beyond the end shields 6. This results in the possibility of mounting the suspension axis 7 and thus the entire drive apparatus for rotary drums both in an area between the bearing plates 6 and outside of the bearing plates 6.

Due to the above-described arrangement of the suspension axis 7 and the drive shaft 3 on the end shields 6 and the fact that the electric motor 4 and the gear device 5 are arranged on and supported by one of the end shields 6, the drum drive 1 is a compact unit that can be easily stored on the suspension axis 7 by support in one or more areas or support points. Due to the rotatable or pivotable arrangement of the bearing plates 6 on the suspension axis 7, the drive shaft 3 with the drive wheels 2 as well as the electric motor 4 and the transmission device 5 can be pivoted relative to the suspension axis 7. This is advantageous because the drive wheels 2 can thus be pivoted from a position in which they are in contact with the drum to be driven into a position in which they do not rest against the drum. Around the drive wheels 2 or the entire drum drive 1 in the corresponding positions, z. B. to fix in the drive position, a torque support 9 is provided on each of the end shields, which is articulated with its one end 11 rotatable or pivotable on the end shield 6 and with its other end 12 on an adjacent object, for. B. the housing of the rotary drum device is arranged. The length of the torque support 9 can preferably be changed in order to either simply make the changes in position or / and adjust the contact pressure of the drive wheels 2 to the drum to be moved. The changeable speed of the torque arm length can be achieved, for example, by a clamping device 10, which consists of a sleeve with two threads, are screwed into the rod elements of the torque arm. If the threads in the sleeve are designed in opposite directions, the sleeve elements of the torque arm can be screwed in or unscrewed simultaneously by turning the sleeve, and thus a change in length of the torque arm 9 can be achieved. Alternatively, however, any other device for changing the length of the torque arm 9 can be used, for. B. a step-like adjustment by snap-in locking elements or a continuous adjustment of a rod guided in a sleeve by means of a pressing screw.

The drive wheels 2 are advantageously connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the drive shaft 3 via a tensioning device 14, which allows the drive wheels 2 to be detached from the drive shaft 3 in a simple manner if necessary. On the other hand, the tensioning device 14 must ensure, however, that the torque is transmitted from the drive shaft 3 to the drive wheels 2 without loss. For this purpose, it is advantageous, for example, to provide a recess, preferably with a conical shape, in the area of the feed-through for the drive shaft 3 in a partial area of the thickness of the wheels, into which tensioning elements can be inserted, so that the tensioning elements on the drive shaft 3 can be inserted adjacent area of the drive wheels 2 is pressed onto the drive shaft 3 and braced with it. In a preferred embodiment, the drive wheels 2 furthermore have an elastic tread 15 in the form of a rubber covering or rubber tire, as a result of which a good pressure of the drive wheels 2 against the drum to be driven and thus a safe drive is ensured.

2 shows a rotary drum device with a housing 16 and a drum 17 rotatably arranged therein. For the arrangement of the drum drive 3, two bearing plates 18 and 19 are provided on two opposite sides of the housing 16, which serve to receive the suspension axis 7 of the drum drive 1. The bearing plates 18 and 19 can be attached to the side walls of the housing 16 by screwing, plug arrangement in corresponding recesses provided or by welding.

The arrangement of the drum drive 1 is carried out in a simple manner in the rotary drum device in such a way that the drum drive 1 is gripped on the suspension axis 7 and is suspended in the housing 16 in such a way that the ends of the suspension axis 7 come to rest on the support plates 18 and 19. There they are held in a simple manner by means of tensioning brackets or fastened in another suitable manner. The drive apparatus for rotary drums suspended in this way is now pivoted in the direction of the drum 17 until the drive wheels 2 are in a suitable manner against the drum 17. In this control the drum drive 1 is fixed by the torque supports 9, the free ends 12 of which are arranged in a suitable position on the base plate or on the side walls of the housing 16. The arrangement of the free ends 12 of the torque supports 9 on the housing 16 can be carried out in any known manner, it being advantageous to have a releasable fastening, for. B. by a bolt or screw connection.

If, as in the exemplary embodiment shown, the length of the torque supports 9 can advantageously be changed, the contact pressure can now be adjusted by changing the length of the torque supports 9. with which the drive wheels 2 press against the drum 17. This also has the advantage that the contact pressure can be readjusted after a certain operating time in a simple manner by changing the length of the torque supports 9.

Overall, the above statements show that the compact design of the drum drive 1 in a structural unit enables a very simple and defined arrangement of the drum drive 1 on the drum 17 to be driven.

Fig. 3 shows again in a perspective view the operational arrangement of the drum drive 1 in a rotary drum device. Here it can be clearly seen how one end of the suspension axis 7 rests on the support plate 19 and is secured by a clamping bracket 20. In addition, this illustration shows how the drive wheels 2 with the tread 15 rest on the drum 17 and thereby a rotation, which is generated by the electric motor 4 via the gear device 5 on the drive unit 3, is transmitted to the drum 17.

Otherwise, the shape of the end shields 6 can be clearly seen in this illustration, which are essentially formed by a circular disk on which two extensions are formed, the torque support 9 being articulated on one extension and the devices for storage on the opposite extension 8 of the drum drive 1, here in the form of the suspension axis 7, are added. The bearing plates 6 can of course also take any other suitable shape, in particular the bearing plate or plates 6, which are intended to accommodate the electric motor 4 and the transmission device 5.

Claims

claims

1. Drive apparatus for in particular rotary drums, especially in washing machines, dryers and the like

• one, preferably two, drive wheels (2) for driving a drum (17) or the like;

• a drive shaft (3) on which the drive wheels (2) are arranged in a rotationally fixed manner;

• a motor (4), preferably an electric motor, for driving the drive means (3); and with

• A gear device (5) for transmitting the drive torque from the motor (4) to the drive weHe (3), characterized in that the drive apparatus further comprises at least one, preferably two or more, end plates (6) in which the drive weUe (3 ) is rotatably mounted and has the means (7, 8) for mounting the drive apparatus, the motor (4) and the transmission device (5) being carried by at least one of the bearing plates (6).

2. Drive apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Means (7, 8) for mounting the drive apparatus (1) fixed connections, such as welded, riveted and screwed connections, and means for moving arrangement such as slide bearing, pivot bearing connections or the like.

3. Drive apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (7, 8) for mounting the drive apparatus comprises a suspension axis (7) and a bearing device (8) through which the bearing plate (6) is pivotable on the suspension axis (7 ) is arranged.

4. Drive apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one bearing plate (6) preferably one Has adjustable torque arm (9) by which the bearing plate (6) is held in the direction of the drum (17) to be driven.

5. Drive apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the

Torque support (9) is designed in the form of a rod or the like and has one end (11) rotatably connected to the end shield (6) and the other end (12) to an object adjacent to the drive apparatus (1) (such as a washing machine housing and the like). is arranged and that the torque arm (9) is variable in length.

6. Drive apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive wheels (2) by a clamping device (14) on the drive weUe (3) are attached.

7. Drive apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive wheels (2) have an elastic tread (15), preferably made of rubber.

8. Drive apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gear device (5) is a gear transmission, a belt drive or a chain drive.

9. Rotary drum device with

A housing (16),

• a drum (17) rotatably received in the housing (16) and

• A drive apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive apparatus (1) is mounted as a structural unit on the housing (16) and drives the drum (17) via drive wheels (2).

10. Rotary drum device according to claim 9, characterized in that for mounting the drive apparatus (1) two, on opposite walls of the housing (16) arranged support surfaces (18, 19) for receiving on bearing plates (6) of the drive apparatus (1) provided means (7) for storing the drive apparatus (1) are provided.

11. Rotary drum device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the drive apparatus (1) via a suspension axis (7) is mounted, which is releasably attached to the housing (16) on the one hand with clamping brackets (20) and on the other hand bearing plates (6) are pivotally arranged on the housing (16) so that drive wheels (2) of the drive apparatus (1) can be moved in contact with the drum (17).

12. Rotary drum device according to claim 11, characterized in that the drive apparatus (1) via one or more length-adjustable torque supports (9) which are pivotally arranged on the end plate (6) and releasably on the housing (16), so in the direction of Drum (17) is movable so that the drive wheels (2) are pressed against the drum (17) with a defined and adjustable pressure.