GB2044298A

GB2044298A - Clothes Washing Machine With Ballasted Tub

Info

Publication number: GB2044298A
Application number: GB8005188A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Industrie Zanussi SpA
Current assignee: Industrie Zanussi SpA
Priority date: 1979-03-05
Filing date: 1980-02-15
Publication date: 1980-10-15
Also published as: FR2450896B3; FR2450896A3; GB2044298B; IT7934010V0

Abstract

In front-loading clothes washing machine, a tub has a cement ballast mass (13) mounted by means of a moulded plastics flange in the shape of a continuous hollow ring (11) of U- shaped section, which contains said ballast mass, and a plurality of radial ribs disposed in association with the front open surface of said flange for the purpose of holding said ballast mass in position. The flange is also provided with a peripheral groove (18) into which a ring (19) can be inserted to grip said flange against the edge of the cylindrical body of the tub via a sealing means (21). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clothes Washing Machine with Ballasted Tub The present invention relates to a front-loading clothes washing machine, in particular of domestic type, which is provided with a ballasted tub in order to increase the inertia force.

Various forms of ballasting arrangements are known for clothes washing machines. In one, the ballast is formed by a block of cement or heavy masses of material, which are fixed to the front wall of the tub of the machine by means of removable members such as screws, nuts and washers. In another, a flange of metal or of plastics material is fixed in association with the front wall of the tub, the flange being arranged to contain the counterbalancing weight for compensating for the forces to which the tub is subjected during rotation of the drum in the washing and spin phases. The flange acts as a front wall for the tub and essentially comprises a plurality of members which co-operate with each other and which can be connected to the tub in perse known manner, each of said members being arranged to contain a counterbalancing mass.However the resulting ballast is found to be complicated from the point of view of structure and consequently makes mounting of the tub difficult.

According to the present invention there is provided a front-loading washing machine, having a tub formed by a cylindrical body which can be closed by a front wall provided with an opening for access to the washing drum, and a cement ballast mass, said front wall comprising a moulded plastics flange in the shape of a continuous hollow ring of U-shaped section, which is capable of containing said ballast mass, and a plurality of radial ribs disposed in assodiation with the front open surface of said flange for the purpose of holding said ballast mass in position, said flange also being provided with a peripheral groove into which a ring can be inserted to grip said flange against the edge of the cylindrical body of the tub, with the interposition of a sealing means interposed.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic front view of a clothes washing machine embodying the present invention; and Figure 2 shows a view on an enlarged scale of the machine of Figure 1, in partial section taken along line A-A.

Referring to Figure 1, the illustrated clothes washing machine comprises a casing 5 in the interior of which is housed a tub 6 which is supported at the top by suspension springs 7 and which is provided at the bottom with damping means 8 of per se known type.

From the view shown in Figure 2, it will be seen that the tub 6 comprises a cylindrical body 9 which is joined to the front wall 10 in a manner which will be described hereinafter.

The front wall 10 of the tub 6 essentially comprises a flange of moulded plastics material which is in the form of a hollow continuous ring 1 1 of U-shaped cross-section. A plurality of radial ribs 12 is provided integrally with the flange in association with the outside surface of the abovementioned flange 11.

In this way, the hollow ring 11 is capable of receiving the cement which serves as the ballast mass, as indicated at 13, while the radial ribs 12 serve to hold the ballast mass 13 in the ring 1 1, therefore preventing the ballast mass from coming out of its housing.

In practice, the cement is cast in the interior of the hollow ring 1 1, by filling the ring until the cement reaches the level of the outside surface of the radial ribs 12.

The above-described flange is also provided with a circular opening 14 associated with the opening 15 for access to the drum; the circular opening is provided with a raised edge portion 16 to permit connection of the flexible sleeve 1 7 of the door of the machine.

So that the above-described front wall 10 can be applied to the cylindrical body 9 of the tub 6, a groove 18 is provided all along the outside circumference of the front wall 10. A locking ring 19 is inserted into the groove 18 and is clamped around the peripheral edge 20 of the cylindrical body 9, with the interposition of a sealing means 21. This arrangement thus simplifies the fixing of the ballast to the tub and at the same time provides a ballasted tub which is of simple construction and which is more convenient to use than the conventional ballasted tubs.

Claims

1. A front-loading clothes washing machine, having a tub formed by a cylindrical body which can be closed by a front wall provided with an opening for access to the washing drum, and a cement ballast mass, said front wall comprising a moulded plastic flange in the shape of a continuous hollow ring of U-shaped section, which is capable of containing said ballast mass, and a plurality of radial ribs disposed in association with the front open surface of said flange for the purpose of holding said ballast mass in position, said flange also being provided with a peripheral groove into which a ring can be inserted to grip said flange against the edge of the cylindrical body of the tub, with the interposition of a sealing means interposed.

2. A machine according to cliam 1 wherein said flange is provided with a circular opening associated with said opening for access to the drum, which circular opening has a raised edge for connecting to a flexible sleeve of a door of the machine.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Clothes Washing Machine with Ballasted Tub The present invention relates to a front-loading clothes washing machine, in particular of domestic type, which is provided with a ballasted tub in order to increase the inertia force. Various forms of ballasting arrangements are known for clothes washing machines. In one, the ballast is formed by a block of cement or heavy masses of material, which are fixed to the front wall of the tub of the machine by means of removable members such as screws, nuts and washers. In another, a flange of metal or of plastics material is fixed in association with the front wall of the tub, the flange being arranged to contain the counterbalancing weight for compensating for the forces to which the tub is subjected during rotation of the drum in the washing and spin phases. The flange acts as a front wall for the tub and essentially comprises a plurality of members which co-operate with each other and which can be connected to the tub in perse known manner, each of said members being arranged to contain a counterbalancing mass.However the resulting ballast is found to be complicated from the point of view of structure and consequently makes mounting of the tub difficult. According to the present invention there is provided a front-loading washing machine, having a tub formed by a cylindrical body which can be closed by a front wall provided with an opening for access to the washing drum, and a cement ballast mass, said front wall comprising a moulded plastics flange in the shape of a continuous hollow ring of U-shaped section, which is capable of containing said ballast mass, and a plurality of radial ribs disposed in assodiation with the front open surface of said flange for the purpose of holding said ballast mass in position, said flange also being provided with a peripheral groove into which a ring can be inserted to grip said flange against the edge of the cylindrical body of the tub, with the interposition of a sealing means interposed. The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic front view of a clothes washing machine embodying the present invention; and Figure 2 shows a view on an enlarged scale of the machine of Figure 1, in partial section taken along line A-A. Referring to Figure 1, the illustrated clothes washing machine comprises a casing 5 in the interior of which is housed a tub 6 which is supported at the top by suspension springs 7 and which is provided at the bottom with damping means 8 of per se known type. From the view shown in Figure 2, it will be seen that the tub 6 comprises a cylindrical body 9 which is joined to the front wall 10 in a manner which will be described hereinafter. The front wall 10 of the tub 6 essentially comprises a flange of moulded plastics material which is in the form of a hollow continuous ring 1 1 of U-shaped cross-section. A plurality of radial ribs 12 is provided integrally with the flange in association with the outside surface of the abovementioned flange 11. In this way, the hollow ring 11 is capable of receiving the cement which serves as the ballast mass, as indicated at 13, while the radial ribs 12 serve to hold the ballast mass 13 in the ring 1 1, therefore preventing the ballast mass from coming out of its housing. In practice, the cement is cast in the interior of the hollow ring 1 1, by filling the ring until the cement reaches the level of the outside surface of the radial ribs 12. The above-described flange is also provided with a circular opening 14 associated with the opening 15 for access to the drum; the circular opening is provided with a raised edge portion 16 to permit connection of the flexible sleeve 1 7 of the door of the machine. So that the above-described front wall 10 can be applied to the cylindrical body 9 of the tub 6, a groove 18 is provided all along the outside circumference of the front wall 10. A locking ring 19 is inserted into the groove 18 and is clamped around the peripheral edge 20 of the cylindrical body 9, with the interposition of a sealing means 21. This arrangement thus simplifies the fixing of the ballast to the tub and at the same time provides a ballasted tub which is of simple construction and which is more convenient to use than the conventional ballasted tubs. Claims

3. A clothes washing machine constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.