The present invention relates to a washer-dryer comprising a flange with increased strength.

In washer-dryers, the laundry items to be washed and/or dried are placed in a perforated drum. The drum is driven and rotated by an engine to perform operations such as washing, drying and spinning.

Particularly in horizontal axis washing machines, the unstable load occurring due to the laundry items accumulating in a region in the drum, applies a high force on the drum wall due to high spin speeds. In order for the drum not to be deformed due to said force, it is supported by a flange from its rear, to which the rotational movement is also transmitted. Therefore, the flange is one of the most important parts of a washer-dryer drive (dynamic) group. The flange is connected to the rear wall of a drum, increasing the load applied on the rear wall. The drum diameters are reduced so as to eliminate the risk of deformation arising from a collision due to said load, likely to occur on the rear wall and consequently on the side walls. This leads to production of drums with an internal volume smaller than otherwise possible.

In the state of the art European patent no. EP1070779, a flange s placed on the rear wall and strength is increased by connecting the flange arms by means of a ring.

Another state of the art document is the Great Britain patent application no. GB 138873. This document discloses supporting the rear wall of a drum also from the circumference partly with the arms of a flange.

Another state of the art document, U.S. patent no. US5433091 mentions in disclosing a plastic drum production method, a flange structure to support the plastic up to the half of its circumference.

State of the art international patent application no. WO201511404 discloses a three armed flange, in which tie pieces and cut-outs are provided around the clearance to which a shaft is fixed.

Flanges with“I” shaped cross-sections are used in the state of the art. In this case, one of the most significant problems experienced in flange production is the obligation to work with cored molds. This requires continuous core repairs due to deformations and abrasion on the mold cores over time, increasing production duration as well as costs.

The aim of the present invention is to realize a washer-dryer comprising a flange with increased strength. The washer-dryer realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the first claim and the dependent claims, comprises a drum and a flange fixed on the rear wall of the drum, and the arms extending from the center of the flange to the edges, have bent shape. The flange used in the washer-dryer of the invention, comprises arms connected from one of their ends to each other and to the center of the rear wall. When the flange is placed on the rear wall, the arms extend from the center to the sides, in parallel to the surface of the rear wall. Using male and female mold is sufficient for the production of an arm with such a shape, thereby reducing the labor costs as well as saving production time.

In an embodiment of the invention, the arms are sinusoidal shaped. The wall thickness of a flange is thus reduced by using a coreless mold. By this, less material is used as well as a flange with higher strength is obtained.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the washer-dryer comprises a recess extending on an arm outwards from the center of the flange, along the arm, and two protrusions extending on both sides of the recess, in the same direction as the recess, along an arm. The recess and the protrusions have a sinusoidal, continuous and curvilinear shape.

By means of the invention, by using a coreless mold, the thickness of the flange is reduced, as well as the flange is enabled to have a higher durability. The labor costs as well as the production costs are thus reduced.

A washer-dryer realized to achieve the aims of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a washer-dryer.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the drum with the flange mounted, from behind.

Figure 3 is an overall frontal view of the flange.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the flange from behind.

Figure 5 is a view of the A-A section of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a view of the detail B of Figure 5.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

1. Washer/dryer

2. Drum 3. Shaft

4. Body

5. Rear wall

6. Flange

7. Arm

8. Recess

9. Protrusion

10. Clearance

11. Tie piece

12. Cut-out

The washer-dryer (1) comprises a drum (2) in which the laundry items are placed, having a cylindrical body (4) and a rear wall (5) composing its rear surface, a flange (6) supporting the drum (2) against forces occurring during rotation, by being connected to the rear wall (5) from its center and a plurality of undulated shaped arms (7) provided on the flange (6), extending on the rear wall (5) from the center of the flange (6) to the edge of the rear wall (5). When the flange (6) is placed on the rear wall (5), the arms (7) extend from the center to the sides, in parallel to the surface of the rear wall (5) (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

The undulated structure of the arms (7) enables using coreless molds. The flange (6) has a more rigid structure thanks to this shape obtained by using male-female molds. In addition, a higher strength and durability is obtained by using material of a less thickness, as well as an advantage in mold costs.

In an embodiment of the invention, the washer-dryer (1) comprises arms (7) having sinusoidal shaped cross-sections, a recess (8) extending on the arm (7) from the center to the edge of the arm (7), and two protrusions (9) extending on both sides of the recess (8) in the same direction with the recess (8). The recess (8) and the protrusions (9) have a curvilinear shape (Figure 5 and Figure 6).

In another embodiment of the invention, the washer-dryer (1) comprises arms (7) having“M” shaped cross-sections.

The washer-dryer (1) comprises a clearance (10) provided in the center of the flange (6), to which a shaft (3) connected to the drum is fixed, a plurality of tie pieces (11) extending around the clearance (10), from the clearance (10) towards the edge, and a plurality of cut-outs (12) provided between the tie pieces (11) (Figure 4).

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the washer-dryer (1) comprises at least three arms (7) placed equally spaced on the flange (6). At least three arms (7) are provided on the flange (6), placed equally spaced so as form a star-like structure. The drum (2) is thus enabled to be supported symmetrically from all directions during rotation (Figure 3).

By means of the invention, a flange (6) comprising undulated shaped arms (7), is obtained by using a male and female mold system. A more rigid flange (6) with higher durability is thus obtained. In addition, a flange (6) with higher strength is developed by using material with less thickness thanks to the undulated structure of the arms (7).