Drainage structure of a washing machine and a washing machine using the drainage structure

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the technical field of washing machines, and particularly relates to a drainage structure of a washing machine. A rotary inner drum is coaxially provided with an inner drum drive shaft, and an inner drum drainage port is provided at the bottom edge of the rotary inner drum. A drainage valve sealing plug is installed on a switch valve seat, and the center of the switch valve seat is coaxially and fixedly connected with a sliding push rod. A sliding push rod for driving the switch valve seat to switch is coaxially and telescopically penetrated inside the tubular structure of the inner drum drive shaft. The sliding push rod rotates synchronously with the inner drum drive shaft, and the outer end of the sliding push rod protrudes from the bottom of the fixed outer drum. A drainage lever is provided at the bottom of the fixed outer drum. One end of the drainage lever is used for rotationally pressing the sliding push rod, and the other end is connected to a drainage valve motor through a steel wire rope. The drainage lever is connected with a lever return spring, and the sliding push rod is provided with a push rod return spring. This drainage structure is installed on the rotary inner drum of the washing machine and can rotate synchronously, changing the traditional way that the drainage structure can only be installed on the fixed outer drum, and solving the drainage problem of the drum washing machine without water between the drums.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of washing machines, and particularly relates to a drainage structure of a washing machine and a washing machine using the drainage structure. Background Art

[0002] Washing machines play a very important role in household appliances. Common fully automatic washing machines are mainly divided into two categories: drum washing machines and pulsator washing machines. The structural composition of a washing machine generally includes a housing of the washing machine, a washing tub, a power mechanism, a drainage structure, and a control system, etc. The washing tubs of existing fully automatic washing machines are basically composed of an outer tub and an inner tub. The outer tub is fixed and used to hold washing water. The inner and outer tubs are interconnected, and naturally there is also water in the inner tub. During washing, clothes are placed in the inner tub, and the inner tub rotates for washing and dehydration. However, it is easy for dirt and grime to accumulate between the inner and outer tubs of this washing tub structure and it is very difficult to clean. To solve this problem, R & D personnel have designed a washing machine with no water between the tubs. However, the drainage structures of traditional washing machines are fixedly installed on the outer tub. But since the washing water of the washing machine with no water between the tubs is no longer held in the fixed outer tub, but in the rotating inner tub, the existing drainage structures of the washing machine outer tub are no longer applicable, which has also become a technical problem in the development and application of this new type of washing machine. Although there are already relevant targeted drainage structure designs at present, such as the drainage structures of washing machines disclosed in the patent documents CN217127801U and CN217351863U, but both of these two drainage structures are mainly for pulsator washing machines, and their structural designs still need to be further improved and perfected. Especially for drum washing machines, since their washing tubs are generally horizontal, there are great differences in the water holding and drainage methods compared with pulsator washing machines. Therefore, it is very necessary to design a new type of drainage structure and a drum washing machine that can be better applied to drum washing machines. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the above situation, the drainage structure provided by the present invention and the washing machine using the drainage structure solve the technical problems restricting the popularization and application of the drum washing machine with no water between the tubs.

[0004] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a drainage structure for a washing machine, including a fixed outer tub and a rotating inner tub of the washing machine. The rotating inner tub is rotatably arranged inside the fixed outer tub. An inner tub drive shaft is detachably connected coaxially below the rotating inner tub. A plurality of inner tub drainage ports are evenly arranged in a ring shape at the bottom edge of the rotating inner tub. A switchable drainage valve sealing plug is arranged in cooperation with the outside of each inner tub drainage port. Each drainage valve sealing plug is installed on the same switch valve seat. The central part of the switch valve seat is coaxially and fixedly connected with a sliding push rod through a connecting sleeve. The inner tub drive shaft is a hollow tubular structure, and a sliding push rod for driving the switch valve seat to switch is coaxially and telescopically arranged inside it. The inner tub drive shaft is rotatably connected with the fixed outer tub. The sliding push rod rotates synchronously with the inner tub drive shaft. The outer end of the sliding push rod protrudes from the bottom of the fixed outer tub, and a hemispherical pressing end is arranged at the outer end of the sliding push rod. A drainage valve switch device for pushing the sliding push rod to expand and contract is arranged outside the bottom of the fixed outer tub.

[0005] Further, the drainage valve switch device includes a drainage lever arranged outside the bottom of the outer tub and a drainage valve motor fixedly arranged outside the outer tub. The drainage lever is rotatably connected with the fixed outer tub with its middle as the rotation fulcrum. One end of the drainage lever is used for rotating and pressing the outer end of the sliding push rod. The other end of the drainage lever is connected with a steel wire rope through a connecting ring. The drainage valve motor can pull or release the steel wire rope. A spring base is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the fixed outer tub. A lever return spring is arranged between the connecting ring and the spring base. A push rod return spring is arranged between the inner end of the sliding push rod and the bottom of the rotating inner tub.

[0006] Further, an outer tub discharge port for discharging the washing water is arranged at the bottom of the fixed outer tub, which serves as the final water outlet after the washing water drains from the rotating inner tub to the fixed outer tub.

[0007] The present invention also provides a washing machine using the drainage structure. The washing machine is a drum washing machine, including the above drainage structure, the body shell and the control system of the washing machine. The fixed outer tub of the washing machine is fixedly arranged inside the body shell. The rotating inner tub is rotatably arranged inside the fixed outer tub. A pulley is arranged at the outer end of the inner tub drive shaft of the rotating inner tub. The pulley is connected with an inner tub drive motor through a belt drive. The drainage valve switch device and the inner tub drive motor are both electrically connected with the control system of the washing machine. Outer tub door openings and inner tub door openings are respectively arranged at the front sides of the fixed outer tub and the rotating inner tub for the washing clothes to enter and exit. A switchable safety door cover is correspondingly arranged at the front side of the body shell. A door sealing ring is arranged in cooperation between the safety door cover and the outer tub door opening.

[0008] Further, a lint filter for purifying the washing water is also disposed inside the inner drain outlets of the rotary inner drum. The bottom of the lint filter communicates with the inner drain outlet. A filtered water inlet and a filtered water outlet are disposed on the side wall of the lint filter. A one-way valve plate is disposed on the filtered water inlet, and a filter screen is disposed on the filtered water outlet. During the washing process, the lint filter can filter and intercept impurities such as lint in the washing water within the lint filter, realizing the cyclic purification of the washing water. When draining water, the impurities in the lint filter will be flushed out along with the discharge of the washing water, having a reverse flushing self-cleaning function.

[0009] Further, a washing water inlet is disposed between the outer drum door opening and the safety door cover. A detergent box is disposed on the top of the body housing. An inlet for connecting a water inlet pipe is disposed on the top of the detergent box. The bottom of the detergent box is connected to the washing water inlet through a diversion pipe.

[0010] Further, a drying air inlet is also disposed between the outer drum door opening and the safety door cover. A drying fan is disposed above the fixed outer drum. The air outlet of the drying fan is connected to the drying air inlet through an air delivery pipe.

[0011] The present invention further includes other components that enable its normal use, which are all conventional means in the art. In addition, the devices or components not defined in the present invention, such as the control system, water inlet system, drying system, water level detection system, etc. of the washing machine, all adopt the existing technologies in the art.

[0012] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0013] The washing machine drainage structure provided by the present invention is installed on the rotary inner drum of the washing machine and can rotate synchronously with the rotary inner drum, completely changing the installation method that the drainage structure of the traditional washing machine can only be fixedly installed on the water-containing outer drum of the washing machine, and well solving the technical problem of restricting the drainage method of the drum-to-drum waterless washing machine. In addition, the washing machine using the drainage structure provided by the present invention also helps to accelerate the technical development and popularization and application of the drum-to-drum waterless washing machine. Description of the Drawings

[0014] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a washing machine using the drainage structure provided by the present invention in the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2 It is Figure 1 a three-dimensional structural diagram of the rotary inner drum in

[0016] Figure 3 It is Figure 2 a three-dimensional structural diagram of the lint filter in Detailed Embodiments

[0017] Next, the technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in combination with specific embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only partial embodiments of the present invention, rather than all embodiments.

[0018] It should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by terms such as "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the drawings shown, only for the convenience of description.

[0019] Embodiment

[0020] As Figure 1 shown, a drainage structure of a washing machine and a washing machine using the drainage structure. The washing machine is a drum washing machine, including a drainage structure, the body shell 1 of the washing machine and the control system, as well as the fixed outer cylinder 2 and the rotating inner cylinder 3 of the washing machine. The fixed outer cylinder is fixedly arranged in the body shell, and the rotating inner cylinder is rotatably arranged in the fixed outer cylinder. A inner cylinder drive shaft 4 is detachably coaxially arranged below the rotating inner cylinder through screws. A pulley is arranged at the outer end of the inner cylinder drive shaft of the rotating inner cylinder. The pulley is connected to an inner cylinder drive motor 6 through a belt 5. The drain valve switch device and the inner cylinder drive motor are both electrically connected to the control system of the washing machine. An outer cylinder door opening and an inner cylinder door opening are respectively arranged at the front sides of the fixed outer cylinder and the rotating inner cylinder for the entry and exit of the laundry. A switchable safety door cover 7 is correspondingly arranged at the front side of the body shell. A door sealing ring is arranged in cooperation between the safety door cover and the outer cylinder door opening. The safety door cover and the door sealing ring are both prior arts of the drum washing machine and will not be elaborated here.

[0021] A laundry water inlet is arranged between the outer cylinder door opening and the safety door cover. A detergent box 13 is arranged at the top of the body shell. An inlet for connecting a water inlet pipe 14 is arranged at the top of the detergent box. The bottom of the detergent box is connected to the laundry water inlet through a diversion pipe 15. The settings of the detergent inlet and the laundry water system of the washing machine are both prior arts and will not be elaborated here.

[0022] A drying air inlet is also arranged between the outer cylinder door opening and the safety door cover. A drying fan 16 is arranged above the fixed outer cylinder. The air outlet of the drying fan is connected to the drying air inlet through an air supply pipe 17. A water remover 18 is also arranged on the air supply pipe for removing water vapor in the drying air inlet. The setting of the drying system of the washing machine is also a prior art and will not be elaborated here.

[0023] The drainage structure includes three inner cylinder drain openings 19 evenly arranged in a ring at the bottom edge of the rotating inner cylinder. The three inner cylinder drain openings are evenly distributed at the bottom of the rotating inner cylinder at an interval of 120°. A switchable drain valve sealing plug 20 is arranged in cooperation on the outside of each inner cylinder drain opening. The drain valve sealing plug is a circular rubber plug.

[0024] As Figure 2As shown in the figure, a number of diversion grooves 8 are also provided on the side wall of the rotating inner cylinder, an annular water collecting tank 34 is provided at the bottom edge of the rotating inner cylinder, and a lint filter 9 for purifying the washing water is also provided in cooperation with the inner side of each inner cylinder drain outlet of the rotating inner cylinder. The bottom of the lint filter is communicated with the inner cylinder drain outlet, and each drain valve sealing plug is installed on the same switch valve seat 21. The diversion grooves and the annular water collecting tank are both prior arts and will not be elaborated here.

[0025] As Figure 3 shown in the figure, the lint filter is a vertical box body, with a filtered water inlet and a filtered water outlet respectively opened on its two side walls, an installation buckle 10 is provided at its top, a one-way valve plate 11 is provided on the filtered water inlet, and a filter net 12 is provided on the filtered water outlet. During the washing process, the washing water rotates with the rotating inner cylinder, and then enters the lint filter from the filtered water inlet and is discharged from the filtered water outlet. Impurities such as lint in the washing water are filtered and intercepted in the lint filter; during drainage, when the drain valve sealing plug is opened, the impurities intercepted in the lint filter are washed out along with the discharge of the washing water, completing the reverse flushing and self-cleaning of the lint filter.

[0026] The inner cylinder drive shaft is a hollow tubular structure, and a sliding push rod 22 for driving the switch valve seat to switch is coaxially and telescopically penetrated inside it. The central part of the switch valve seat is fixedly connected to the sliding push rod coaxially through a connecting sleeve 23. The connecting sleeve is a Y-shaped structural member with an interval of 120°. The three end parts of the connecting sleeve are respectively connected to the switch valve seat. The three rubber plugs are detachably installed at the outer ends of the switch valve seat through bolts. Three track long holes parallel to its axis are cooperatively opened on the side wall of the inner cylinder drive shaft. The three end parts of the switch valve seat respectively pass through the three track long holes and can reciprocally move in the direction of the track long holes. The inner cylinder drive shaft is rotatably connected to the fixed outer cylinder. The sliding push rod rotates synchronously with the inner cylinder drive shaft. The outer end of the sliding push rod protrudes from the bottom of the fixed outer cylinder, and a hemispherical pressing end 24 is provided at the outer end of the sliding push rod. The pressing end is detachably connected through a threaded structure, which is convenient for wear and replacement of the pressing end. A drain valve switch device for pushing the sliding push rod to expand and contract is provided on the outer side of the bottom of the fixed outer cylinder.

[0027] The drain valve switch device includes a drain lever 25 provided on the outer side of the bottom of the outer cylinder and a drain valve motor 26 fixedly provided on the outer side of the outer cylinder. The drain lever is rotatably connected to the fixed outer cylinder with its middle as the rotation fulcrum. One end of the drain lever is used to rotate and press the outer end of the sliding push rod. The other end of the drain lever is connected with a steel wire rope 28 through a connecting ring 27. The drain valve motor can pull or release the steel wire rope. A winding drum is connected to the motor shaft of the drain motor. The steel wire rope is wound on the winding drum in a retractable manner. A spring base 29 is fixedly provided at the bottom of the fixed outer cylinder. A lever return spring 30 is provided between the connecting ring and the spring base. A push rod return spring 31 is provided between the inner end of the sliding push rod and the bottom of the rotating inner cylinder.

[0028] A central cover plate 32 is coaxially and fixedly connected to the bottom of the rotating inner cylinder. The inner end of the push rod return spring abuts against the outer side surface of the bottom of the rotating inner cylinder. A flange-type detachable connection method is adopted between the inner cylinder drive shaft and the rotating inner cylinder. The central cover plate helps to increase the connection strength between the inner cylinder drive shaft and the rotating inner cylinder.

[0029] An outer cylinder drain port 33 for discharging laundry water is provided at the bottom of the fixed outer cylinder. As the final water outlet after the laundry water drains from the rotating inner cylinder to the fixed outer cylinder, the laundry water is discharged outside the washing machine.

[0030] During laundry, open the safety door cover of the washing machine, put in the clothes to be washed. The drain valve motor releases the steel wire rope. The lever return spring pulls the drain lever. The drain lever pushes the sliding push rod, drives the drain valve sealing plug to block the inner cylinder drain port through the switch valve seat. The water enters the rotating inner cylinder through the water inlet pipe and the detergent box. The inner cylinder drive motor drives the rotating inner cylinder to rotate to perform laundry. During drainage, the drain valve motor pulls the drain lever through the steel wire rope. The sliding push rod, the switch valve seat and the drain valve sealing plug are pushed towards the outside of the rotating inner cylinder under the action of the push rod return spring. The drain valve sealing plug disengages from the inner cylinder drain port and starts to drain. When draining, the rotating inner cylinder rotates slowly. The laundry water is discharged from the inner cylinder to the fixed outer cylinder through the lint filter and the inner cylinder drain port, and then discharged from the outer cylinder drain port, and the impurities trapped in the lint filter are discharged together. When the water level in the rotating inner cylinder drops to the lowest, the inner cylinder starts to accelerate rotation for dehydration and drying. During drying, the inner cylinder drain port is also opened. The rotating inner cylinder rolls slowly. At the same time, the drying fan starts. The drying air is blown into the rotating inner cylinder through the water removal and heating and dries the clothes.

[0031] The technical solution of the present invention is not limited to the limitations of the above specific embodiments. Without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments, many modifications and changes are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art. Any technical deformation made within the spirit and principle of the present invention falls within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A drainage structure of a washing machine, comprising a fixed outer tub and a rotating inner tub of the washing machine, the rotating inner tub being rotatably disposed inside the fixed outer tub, characterized in that: A lower part of the rotating inner cylinder is coaxially provided with an inner cylinder driving shaft. A plurality of inner cylinder drain ports are evenly arranged in a ring shape at the bottom edge of the rotating inner cylinder. A switchable drain valve sealing plug is arranged in cooperation with the outside of each inner cylinder drain port. Each drain valve sealing plug is installed on the same switch valve seat. The inner cylinder driving shaft is a hollow tubular structure, and a sliding push rod for driving the switch valve seat to switch is coaxially and telescopically arranged inside it. The inner cylinder driving shaft is rotatably connected to the fixed outer cylinder. The sliding push rod rotates synchronously with the inner cylinder driving shaft. The outer end of the sliding push rod protrudes from the bottom of the fixed outer cylinder, and a drain valve switch device for pushing the sliding push rod to expand and contract is arranged on the outside of the bottom of the fixed outer cylinder. A lint filter for purifying the washing water is also arranged in cooperation with the inside of each inner cylinder drain port of the rotating inner cylinder. The lint filter is a vertical box body. An installation buckle is arranged at the top of the lint filter. The bottom of the lint filter is communicated with the inner cylinder drain port. A filtered water inlet and a filtered water outlet are arranged on the side wall of the lint filter. A one-way valve plate is arranged on the filtered water inlet, and a filter net is arranged on the filtered water outlet.

2. The drainage structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drain valve switch device includes a drain lever arranged on the outside of the bottom of the outer cylinder and a drain valve motor fixedly arranged on the outside of the outer cylinder. The drain lever is rotatably connected to the fixed outer cylinder with its middle as a rotation fulcrum. One end of the drain lever is used for rotationally pressing the outer end of the sliding push rod. The other end of the drain lever is connected with a steel wire rope through a connecting ring. The drain valve motor can pull or release the steel wire rope. A spring base is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the fixed outer cylinder. A lever return spring is arranged between the connecting ring and the spring base. A push rod return spring is arranged between the inner end of the sliding push rod and the bottom of the rotating inner cylinder.

3. The drainage structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: A hemispherical pressing end is arranged at the outer end of the sliding push rod.

4. The drainage structure according to claim 1, wherein: The central part of the switch valve seat is coaxially and fixedly connected to the sliding push rod through a connecting sleeve.

5. The drainage structure according to claim 1, wherein: An outer cylinder drain port for discharging the washing water is arranged at the bottom of the fixed outer cylinder.

6. A washing machine, characterized in that: The drainage structure according to any one of claims 1-5 is included, and further includes a body shell and a control system of the washing machine. The washing machine is a drum washing machine. The fixed outer cylinder of the washing machine is fixedly arranged inside the body shell. A pulley is arranged at the outer end of the inner cylinder driving shaft of the rotating inner cylinder. The pulley is connected to an inner cylinder driving motor through a belt drive. The drain valve switch device and the inner cylinder driving motor are both electrically connected to the control system of the washing machine. An outer cylinder door opening and an inner cylinder door opening are respectively arranged at the front sides of the fixed outer cylinder and the rotating inner cylinder. A switchable safety door cover is correspondingly arranged at the front side of the body shell. A door sealing ring is arranged in cooperation between the safety door cover and the outer cylinder door opening.

7. The washing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: A washing water inlet is arranged between the outer cylinder door opening and the safety door cover. A laundry detergent box is arranged at the top of the body shell. An inlet for connecting a water inlet pipe is arranged at the top of the laundry detergent box. The bottom of the laundry detergent box is connected to the washing water inlet through a diversion pipe.

8. The washing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: A drying air inlet is also arranged between the outer cylinder door opening and the safety door cover. A drying fan is arranged above the fixed outer cylinder. The air outlet of the drying fan is connected to the drying air inlet through an air supply pipe.

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