Description A WASHING MACHINE

[0001] This invention relates to a washing machine wherein the unbalanced load within the dnm is balanced with a fluid.

[0002] In washing machines, the laundy to be cleaned is placed into a dnm rotating around a horizontal axis. In different steps of the washing cycle, the laundy is washed by water and detergent by rotating the dnm at different speeds. While the dnm is being rotated, the laundy within the dnm is not distributed homogeneously, piling on some regions causing an uneven distribution of the laundy. Particularly in the spinning step where the dnm is being rotated at high speeds, the uneven distribution of the load causes vibration. Those vibrations cause not only user dissatisfaction as a result of the noise created but also wearing out of the machine.

[0003] In the current state of the art, various solutions are developed for balancing the unbalanced load. A widely used solution is adding weights to the machine and increasing its inertia. However, as the immovable weights complicate the transportation of the machine, in the current state of the art, using a liquid, mostly water, is suggested. The water is filled into the compartments fixed on the dnm. In a group of embodiments, the fluid is added to the machine once after the transportation and the same liquid is used forever. In another group of embodiments, the fluid needed for balancing is taken into the machine while the machine is operating, and taken out at the end of the operation.

[0004] In the United States Patent no. US6510715, a description is given of a washing machine comprising chambers into which water is injected. In this machine, after determining the location of the unbalanced load by means of a processor, the required amount of water that can balance this load is injected into the cells. In one of the embodiments, an inclined rib extending towards the inlet of the chamber so as to dain the water is mentioned.

[0005] In the washing machine described in the United States Patent no. US6418758, there is a ring formed water balancing unit which is attached to the dnm. In one of the embodiments, this water balancing unit comprises open ended chambers directed towards the center. In an alternative embodiment, a description is given of a closed balancing unit containing a fixed amount of water.

[0006] In the washing machine described in the United States Patent no. US5893280, there is a ring formed distribution unit attached to the dnm and a balancing unit, attached to

this distribution unit and directed towards the inside within the drum. The water in this balancing unit is d ^r ained away by means of a hole on the distribution unit.

[0007] The object of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine providing the liquid in the balancing unit to be d-ained without contacting the laundies within the drum.

[0008] The washing machine realized in order to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is explicated in the attached claims. In the washing machine of the present invention, a ring shaped balancing unit whose interior volume is divided into a plurality of radial chambers is employed. Each chamber of this balancing unit which is fixed to the drum and rotating together with the drum comprises two holes, one of which is on the inner surface parallel to the central axis of the ctum, and the other is on the side surface perpendicular to this axis. The first hole is used for filling the chamber with the fluid and the second hole for draining the fluid out of the chamber. Oneway lids which are allowed only to be opened towards the inside of the chamber, actuated by the gravitational and centrifugal forces are mounted on each hole so as to control the entrance and exit of the fluid.

[0009] At dnm rotation speeds higher than a specific value, the filling lid opens the filling hole by extending towards inside the drum and the draining lid covers the d ^r aining hole. The fluid is injected into the chamber from the filling holes at these speeds, this fluid, sweeping the side wall heads towards the bottom of the chamber as a result of the centrifugal force, but the fluid does not leak out as the d ^r aining lid on the side wall is closed.

[0010] If the drum is rotating at lower speeds or if it stops, two different lid positions are observed on the upper and the lower chambers of the balancing unit. On the chambers passing through the upper half, the daining lid lays towards inside of the chamber and opens the d ^r aining hole as a result of the gravitational force and the filling lid covers the filling hole. On the chambers passing through the lower half, the draining lid leans to the wall of the chamber and closes the d-aining hole as a result of the gravitational force and the filling lid lays towards inside of the chamber and keeps the filling hole uncovered. At these speeds, the fluid in the upper half chambers of the unit is drained away through the d ^r aining lids, filling holes are kept closed so as to prevent the splattering of the fluid into the dnm, and the laundries inside the dαim which had already been spun are kept unwetted. The fluid in the lower half is collected at the bottom of each chamber and it is kept there by keeping the daining lids closed. After draining the fluid on the upper half, the drum makes a 180° rotation so as to bring the

unctained parts to the top to αrain the fluid there through the ctaining holes. [0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the fluid drained through the draining holes is directed into the tub. [0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, the fluid ctained through the draining holes is transferred out of the tub through another channel. [0013] In the washing machine of the present invention, by preventing the fluid from leaking out by the filling lids located inside the balancing unit when the (him is stopped and providing the exit through the d-aining holes located at the rear, recently died launches within the ctum are prevented from getting wet. Realizing this process only by opening and closing lids without the need for any other equipments such as pumps etc. reduces costs. [0014] The washing machine realized in order to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is shown in the attached figures,

[0015] Figure 1 - Is the side schematic view of a washing machine. [0016] Figure 2 - Is the perspective view of a balancing unit. [0017] Figure 3 - Is the perspective view of a chamber when the rotation speed of the drum is high. [0018] Figure 4 - Is the perspective view of an upper chamber when the rotation speed of the drum is low. [0019] Figure 5 - Is the front schematic view of a balancing unit when the rotation speed of the ctum is high. [0020] Figure 6 - Is the side schematic view of a balancing unit when the rotation speed of the chαm is high. [0021] Figure 7 - Is the front schematic view of a balancing unit when when the rotation speed of the dnm is low. [0022] Figure 8 - Is the side schematic view of a balancing unit when the rotation speed of the drum is low. [0023] Elements shown in figures are numbered as follows :

1. Washing machine

2. Hum

3. Tub

4. Injection nozzle

5. Balancing unit

6. Chamber

7. Filling hole

8. Filling lid

9. D ^r aining hole

10. D ^r aining lid

11. , 21 Hinge

12. Control card

[0024] The washing machine (1) of the present invention comprises,

- a (turn (2) rotating around a horizontal axis into which the laundry to be washed is placed,

- a tub (3) in which the drum (2) rotates,

- a control card (12) which detects the unbalanced load within the dnm (2), and

- a balancing unit (5) fixed to the front or the rear of the drum (2), providing the balancing of the unbalanced load by being filled with a fluid (A) and being emptied (Figure 1).

[0025] The balancing unit (5) is ring-shaped and comprises more than one side by side chambers (6) dividing its inner volume preferably into equal parts and an injection nozzle (4) providing the chambers (6) to be filled with the fluid so as to balance the unbalanced load within the drum (2) by being opened and closed by a control card (12).

[0026] Each of the chambers (6) comprises a filling hole (7) which opens towards the space at the center of the balancing unit (5), through which the balancing unit (5) is filled with the fluid and a draining hole (9) which opens towards the side of the balancing unit (5) facing the tub (3), providing the draining of the fluid. The d ^r aining holes (9) and the filling holes (7) are located on the balancing unit (5) surfaces which are perpendicular to each other.

[0027] The chamber (6) further comprises,

- a filling lid (8) which opens and closes the filling hole (7), which is moved by gravitational and centrifugal forces and which can only be opened towards inside and

- a draining lid (10) which opens and closes the draining hole (9), fixed so as to move only towards inside.

[0028] The filling and the d ^r aining lids (8 and 10) are attached into the chamber (6) from only one of their edges so as to be able to move by gravitational and centrifugal forces. The sides of the filling lids to be attached to the chamber (6) are determined by the direction of the drum (2) rotation. In this embodiment, each filling lid (8) is attached to

the filling hole (7) from the same edge, preferably from the first edge in the direction of the rotation. This edge is also parallel to the rotational axis of the dnm (2). Thus, as the drum (2) rotates in a certain direction (eg. clockwise) at a certain speed, the filling lids (8) may be opened by rotating in the reverse direction (counter-clockwise). The draining lid (10) on the other hand, is attached to the draining hole (9) from its edge which is closer to the center in the radial direction. Thus, the d ^r aining lids (10) cover the draining holes (9) when the rotational speed of the chαm (2) exceeds a certain value. When the rotational speed falls below this value, the draining lids (10) on the upper parts open the draining holes (9) by moving downwards. One of the filling and the draining holes (8, 10) is closed while the other is open.

[0029] The filling and the d ^r aining lids (8 and 10), by being opened and closed by only gravitational and centrifugal forces without the need for any other actuator, provide both the draining of the fluid injected into the chamber (6) through the injection nozzle (4) at a certain time determined by the producer, and the realization of the fluid drainage from the chamber (6) to outside only by means of the draining holes (9) (Figure 3 and Figure 4).

[0030] At dnm (2) speeds higher than a certain value, the filling lid (8) is opened towards the interior volume leaving the wall of the chamber (6) so that it opens the filling hole (7). Simultaneously, the draining lid (10) completely covers the draining hole (9) by being pushed against the inner wall of the chamber (6). At this drum (2) speed, the fluid sprayed out through the injection nozzle (4) enters into the chamber (6) through the filling holes (7). This fluid is directed towards the outer parts of the chamber in the radial direction as a result of the centrifugal force, but cannot flow out as the d ^r aining lid (10) is closed (Figure 5 and Figure 6).

[0031] When the speed of the (him (2) is below a specific value, at a specific instance, the draining lids (10) on the upper chambers (6) of the balancing unit (5) open the d ^r aining holes (9) as a result of the gravitational force and the filling lids (8) are positioned so as to cover the filling holes (7). Meanwhile, in the lower chambers (6) of the balancing unit (5), the daining lids (10) close the daining holes (7) as the filling lids (8) open the filling holes (7) as a result of the gravitational force. At this position, as the filling holes (7) are kept closed during the drainage of the fluid (A) inside the upper chambers (6) of the balancing unit (5) through the d ^r aining holes (9), splattering of the fluid into the drum (2) and onto the launάy inside the drum (2) is prevented. The fluid (A) inside the lower chambers (6) are kept inside, since the draining lids (10) are closed. The control card (12) provides the drainage of the fluid (A) in the lower parts through

the daining holes (9) by rotating the dum (2) a half tour (180°) after the fluid (A) in the upper half chambers (6) is dained out (Figure 7 and Figure 8). The fluid exiting through the daining holes (9) leaves the machine (1) by exiting through the chaining hole on the tub (3). In the balancing unit (5) which is the object of the present invention, preferably water is used as a fluid (A).

[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the chamber (6) comprises hinges (11 and 21) which provide the attachment of the lids (8 and 10) (Figure 3 and Figure 4).

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention the lids (8 and 10) have sizes such that the one which is open prevents the other from being opened. In this embodiment, for example, the daining lid (10) leans onto the back of the filling lid (8) when it is open so as to prevent the filling lid (8) from opening.

[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises a separate channel (not shown in figures) in which the water exiting through the daining holes (9) is accumulated and transferred outside the tub (3). Thus, the probability of water splattering onto the laundy is further decreased.

[0035] In the washing machine (1) which is the object of the present invention, the recently died laundies inside the dum (2) are prevented from getting wet by on-off switching of the daining and filling lids (10 and 8) of the balancing unit (6) in accordance with the timing related to the dum rotation speed and the realization of all exits by means of the daining holes (9) placed on the back of the dum (2). Employing this process by means of opening and closing lids (8 and 10) without the need for equipments such as pump, etc., helps reducing costs.