Casing structure for hoisting outer barrel and washing machine adopting casing

Abstract

A casing structure with a hoisted outer barrel and a washing machine with the casing are characterized in that the casing structure comprises two front vertical beams which are arranged in parallel at intervals and two rear vertical beams which are arranged in parallel at intervals, and the two front vertical beams and the two rear vertical beams form a frame of the casing structure. The opposite sides of the two rear vertical beams are inwards provided with notches respectively, an installation distance for hoisting an outer barrel of the washing machine from the rear of the machine shell is formed between the notches of the two rear vertical beams, and each notch is provided with a reinforcing piece which is detachably connected and improves the strength of the corresponding rear vertical beam. Compared with the prior art, the machine shell has the advantages that the structure of the machine shell is improved, the rear vertical beam is structurally enhanced through the L-shaped reinforcing piece, the structure is simple, machining and assembling are convenient, on the premise that the front vertical beam does not need to be changed, the outer barrel can be conveniently hoisted forwards from the back of the machine shell, the overall strength of the machine shell can be effectively improved, and the service life of the machine shell is prolonged. And the overall reliability and the use safety of the product are ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a washing machine casing, particularly a casing for outer tub hoisting and a washing machine using the casing mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] In the overall operation of a drum washing machine, the larger the inner drum size, the greater the height difference, the more powerfully the clothes are tumbled, and the better the washing effect. The larger the inner drum size, the greater the centrifugal force generated, and the better the dehydration effect. Increasing the inner drum size also allows for more space for clothes to expand during drying, resulting in better drying effect. Therefore, increasing the inner drum size is a design goal pursued by drum washing machines to improve performance.

[0003] However, most front-loading washing machines are not installed independently and need to be integrated into existing installation environments (such as built-in installations), thus limiting the size of the washing machine. Therefore, given these size constraints, increasing the inner drum diameter and volume has been a long-standing research focus in the industry.

[0004] Therefore, in my earlier invention patent application No. 202211201408.6, entitled "An Outer Tub of a Washing Machine and a Drum Washing Machine Using the Outer Tub", I proposed a washing machine structure that, by opening a notch in the outer tub along the width direction of the washing machine, allows the outer tub to be enlarged to the same width as the casing. Thus, without changing the casing size of the washing machine, the diameter of the inner tub can be increased to the maximum extent, thereby increasing the inner tub volume, achieving a small volume with large capacity, and improving washing and drying effects.

[0005] However, due to the increased diameter of the outer tub in the aforementioned patent, hoisting the tub becomes more difficult given the standard casing width (600mm). Considering that the outer tub is typically hoisted from the front of the casing, using the patented solution to hoist the tub from the front would significantly reduce the width of the side vertical beams, and these beams would not be effectively reinforced after hoisting. This would reduce the overall strength of the casing and potentially compromise the product's safety.

[0006] Therefore, in view of the problems existing in the prior art, further improvements are needed for this type of drum washing machine with cutouts in the outer tub to improve the overall strength of the casing and enhance the safety of the product. Utility Model Content

[0007] The first technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a casing structure with higher strength and easier outer barrel hoisting, in view of the above-mentioned existing technology.

[0008] The second technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a washing machine with the above-mentioned casing structure in view of the current state of the prior art.

[0009] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the first technical problem mentioned above is: a casing structure for hoisting the outer tub, characterized in that the casing structure includes two parallel and spaced-apart front vertical beams and two parallel and spaced-apart rear vertical beams, the two front vertical beams and the two rear vertical beams forming the frame of the casing structure, wherein the opposite sides of the two rear vertical beams are respectively opened inward to form slots, and the slots of the two rear vertical beams form an installation distance for hoisting the outer tub of the washing machine from the rear of the casing, and each slot is provided with a detachable reinforcing member to improve the strength of the rear vertical beam.

[0010] Considering the strength of the rear vertical beam and for ease of processing, it is preferable that the rear vertical beam is an L-shaped profile with a cross-section, and the slot is provided on the side of the L-shaped profile facing the rear of the washing machine, and the slot is a trapezoidal slot that expands outward at both the top and bottom ends.

[0011] To facilitate connection with the rear vertical beam, preferably, the reinforcing member is a first reinforcing member with an L-shaped cross-section. The first reinforcing member is disposed at the slot position, and the L-shaped outer side of the first reinforcing member is respectively attached to and fixedly connected with the L-shaped inner side of the rear vertical beam.

[0012] To achieve rapid positioning and installation adjustment, as a further preferred embodiment, the rear vertical beam is provided with assembly holes on both sides of the L-shape. Correspondingly, the first reinforcing member is also provided with first mounting holes on both sides of the L-shape. Accordingly, the first reinforcing member and the rear vertical beam are connected by fasteners passing through the corresponding first mounting holes and assembly holes.

[0013] To further improve the strength of the profile, preferably, each side of the first reinforcing member is provided with ribs at intervals.

[0014] To facilitate assembly and connection with other accessories, preferably, the first reinforcing member also has a connection hole on the protruding rib located at the slot position, which can be fixed to the back cover of the washing machine.

[0015] To improve installation efficiency and achieve one-time assembly, as another preferred option, the reinforcing member can also be a second reinforcing member with a U-shaped cross-section. The second reinforcing member includes a main board and side plates disposed on both sides of the main board. The side plates of the second reinforcing member are respectively connected to the rear vertical beam on the corresponding side.

[0016] To improve the strength of the second reinforcing member, as a further preferred embodiment, the main plate of the second reinforcing member is provided with main plate reinforcing ribs spaced apart, and the reinforcing ribs are provided with connection holes that can be fixed to the back cover of the washing machine.

[0017] To further improve strength, and as an even better option, the side plate of the second reinforcing member is also provided with side plate reinforcing ribs at intervals.

[0018] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the second technical problem mentioned above is as follows: a washing machine, which adopts an installation method of hanging the outer tub, characterized in that: the washing machine includes a casing as described above, a rotatable inner tub and an outer tub sleeved outside the inner tub are provided inside the casing, and the outer tub has a slot opened along the width direction of the washing machine.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this utility model are as follows: the casing structure has been improved, and the rear vertical beam has been reinforced by reinforcing members. The structure is simple, easy to process and assemble. Without modifying the front vertical beam, the outer barrel can be easily hoisted from the back of the casing to the front. In addition, it can effectively increase the overall strength of the casing and ensure the overall reliability and safety of the product. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the washing machine casing with an outer tub suspended in the prior art.

[0021] Figure 2a This is one of the three-dimensional structural diagrams (inner side) of the reinforcing member in Embodiment 1 of this utility model.

[0022] Figure 2b This is the second three-dimensional structural diagram (outer side) of the reinforcing member in Embodiment 1 of this utility model.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the reinforcing member on the housing according to Embodiment 1 of this utility model.

[0024] Figure 4a This is one of the three-dimensional structural diagrams (outer side) of the reinforcing member in Embodiment 2 of this utility model.

[0025] Figure 4b This is the second schematic diagram (inner side) of the three-dimensional structure of the reinforcing member in Embodiment 2 of this utility model.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the reinforcing member on the housing according to Embodiment 2 of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0028] In the prior art, the casing 1 of a drum washing machine generally includes two front vertical beams 11 arranged in parallel and spaced apart and two rear vertical beams 12 arranged in parallel and spaced apart. The bottom of the casing 1 is surrounded by four baffles 13, which connect the front vertical beams and the rear vertical beams into one piece. The two front vertical beams 11 and the two rear vertical beams 12 form the frame structure of the casing 1.

[0029] Typically, the outer drum is hoisted from the front of the casing 1 towards the rear. Given the current design with cuts at both ends of the outer drum, if the outer drum enters from the front of the casing 1, the two front vertical beams 11 on the left and right sides of the front of the casing 1 need to be cut to conform to the shape of the drum's cut. Figure 1 As shown, the spacing H between the front vertical beams 11 needs to meet the size requirements for the outer barrel hoisting. This will result in the two vertical beams being weaker. Furthermore, since the counterweight of the outer barrel is close to the front vertical beams 11, it is impossible to structurally increase the strength of the two front vertical beams 11 after hoisting. As a result, the reliability of the entire product will be reduced.

[0030] This embodiment adopts an unconventional design approach, considering hoisting the outer cylinder from the rear end of the housing 1 towards the front, and improving the structure of the housing 1 in the following two ways.

[0031] Example 1, as Figure 2a , 2b and Figure 3 As shown:

[0032] In this embodiment, the two rear vertical beams 12 of the casing 1 are L-shaped profiles with different cross-sections. Each of the rear vertical beams 12 has an inwardly formed slot 121 on one of its opposite sides. The slot 121 is located on the side of the L-shaped profile facing the rear of the washing machine. Furthermore, each slot 121 is a trapezoidal groove that expands outwards from both the top and bottom ends. (See [reference]). Figure 1 .

[0033] The slots 121 of the two rear vertical beams 12 form an installation distance for the outer tub of the washing machine to be hoisted from the rear of the casing 1, and each slot 121 is provided with a first reinforcing member 2 that can be detachably connected to and improves the strength of the rear vertical beams 12.

[0034] In order to facilitate the connection with the rear vertical beam 12, the first reinforcing member 2 in this embodiment is a profile with an L-shaped cross section. The first reinforcing member 2 is disposed at the position of the slot 121, and that is, the two outer edges of the L-shape of the first reinforcing member 2 are respectively attached to and fixedly connected with the two inner edges of the L-shape of the rear vertical beam 12.

[0035] To facilitate rapid positioning and installation adjustment, the rear vertical beam 12 has mounting holes on both L-shaped sides. Correspondingly, the first reinforcing member 2 also has first mounting holes 21 on both L-shaped sides. The first reinforcing member 2 and the rear vertical beam 12 are connected by fasteners passing through the corresponding first mounting holes 21 and mounting holes. Multiple mounting holes and first mounting holes 21 are provided for easy adjustment, allowing for appropriate position and height adjustment based on the actual installation situation, facilitating assembly and fixation.

[0036] To further improve strength, this embodiment provides ribs 23 at intervals on each side of the first reinforcing member 2, see [reference]. Figure 2a , 2b To facilitate subsequent disassembly and connection with other accessories, the first reinforcing member 2 also has a first connecting hole 22 on the protruding rib 23 located at the slot 121, which can be fixed to the back cover of the washing machine.

[0037] During assembly, the outer barrel is first inserted through the gap between the rear vertical beams 12 of the housing 1, and then hoisted from back to front. After installation, the outer corner 25 of the L-shaped first reinforcing member 2 is placed into the inner corner of the L-shaped rear vertical beam 12, so that the position of the first reinforcing member 2 exactly seals the slot 121 opened in the rear vertical beam 12, making the two fit together in shape. Then, the two are connected by screws and other fasteners to improve the strength of the rear vertical beam 12 at the slot 121 position. Finally, one side 24 of the first reinforcing member 2 (i.e., the first connecting hole 22 is opened on the rib 23) can also be fixedly connected to the rear cover plate, thereby further increasing the structural strength of the housing 1.

[0038] Example 2, as Figure 4a , 4b and Figure 5 :

[0039] The structure of the housing 1 in this embodiment is the same as that in Embodiment 1. The difference is that the reinforcing member adopts a second reinforcing member 3 with a U-shaped cross-section and integrally formed. This U-shaped second reinforcing member 3 includes a main board 31 and side plates 32 disposed on both sides of the main board 31. The side plates 32 of the second reinforcing member 3 are respectively connected to the rear vertical beam 12 on the corresponding side. During installation, it can be easily assembled in one go, improving installation efficiency.

[0040] To improve strength, main board reinforcing ribs 311 are provided at intervals on the main board 31 of the second reinforcing member 3, and side plate reinforcing ribs 321 are also provided at intervals on the side plate 32 of the second reinforcing member 3.

[0041] In this embodiment, during installation, the outer tub is first hoisted into the rear vertical beam 12 from back to front. After installation, the U-shaped second reinforcing member 3 is installed between the two rear vertical beams 12. During assembly, the L-shaped angle portion 34 formed by the side plate 32 of the second reinforcing member 3 and the main plate 31 is also located on the inner side of the L-shape of the rear vertical beam 12, and the shapes of the two fit together. The side plate 32 of the second reinforcing member 3 also has a second mounting hole 33 corresponding to the mounting hole of the rear vertical beam 12. The second reinforcing member 3 and the rear vertical beam 12 are connected by a fastener passing through the mounting hole and the corresponding second mounting hole 33. In addition, the main plate reinforcing rib 311 also has a second connecting hole 312 that can be fixed to the back cover of the washing machine. The second connecting hole 312 on the main plate reinforcing rib 311 of the second reinforcing member 3 is also connected and fixed to the back cover by a fastener to further enhance the strength of the rear vertical beam 12 at the slot 121.

[0042] This utility model also provides a washing machine solution, wherein the washing machine casing 1 is provided with an inner drum and an outer drum sleeved outside the inner drum, and the outer drum has a cut along the width direction of the washing machine. The washing machine adopts the casing 1 structure of the above embodiments 1 and 2, and the outer drum is installed by a hoisting method from back to front.

[0043] This embodiment proposes a new hoisting sequence and a strength enhancement scheme for the casing 1. Specifically, the outer barrel enters from the rear of the casing 1 and is hoisted from back to front. Since there is ample space at the back of the casing 1, after hoisting, it can be fixed to the left and right rear vertical beams 12 by reinforcing members, thereby enhancing the strength of the rear vertical beams 12 at the slot 121, and thus ensuring the overall reliability and safety of the product.

[0044] In the specification and claims of this utility model, terms indicating direction, such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "side," "top," and "bottom," are used to describe various exemplary structural parts and elements of this utility model. However, the use of these terms is merely for the purpose of explanation and is based on the exemplary orientations shown in the accompanying drawings. Since the embodiments disclosed in this utility model can be arranged in different orientations, these terms indicating direction are for illustrative purposes only and should not be regarded as limitations. For example, "upper" and "lower" are not necessarily limited to directions opposite to or consistent with the direction of gravity.

Claims

1. A casing structure for hoisting an outer barrel, characterized in that, The casing structure includes two parallel and spaced front vertical beams (11) and two parallel and spaced rear vertical beams (12). The two front vertical beams (11) and the two rear vertical beams (12) form the frame of the casing structure. The two rear vertical beams (12) have slots (121) formed on their opposite sides. The slots (121) of the two rear vertical beams (12) form an installation distance for the outer tub of the washing machine to be hoisted from the rear of the casing (1). Each slot (121) is provided with a detachable reinforcing member to improve the strength of the rear vertical beam (12).

2. The casing structure for hoisting the outer barrel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rear vertical beam (12) is an L-shaped profile with a cross-section. The slot (121) is opened on the side of the L-shaped profile facing the rear of the washing machine. The slot (121) is a trapezoidal slot that expands outward at both the top and bottom ends.

3. The casing structure for outer barrel hoisting according to claim 2, characterized in that: The reinforcing member is a first reinforcing member (2) with an L-shaped cross-section. The first reinforcing member (2) is fixedly installed at the slot (121) position, and the L-shaped outer side of the first reinforcing member (2) is attached to and fixedly connected to the L-shaped inner side of the rear vertical beam (12).

4. The casing structure for outer barrel hoisting according to claim 3, characterized in that: The rear vertical beam (12) has assembly holes on both sides of the L-shape. Correspondingly, the first reinforcing member (2) also has first mounting holes (21) on both sides of the L-shape. Correspondingly, the first reinforcing member (2) and the rear vertical beam (12) are connected by fasteners passing through the corresponding first mounting holes (21) and assembly holes.

5. The casing structure for outer barrel hoisting according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first reinforcing member (2) has ribs (23) spaced apart on each side.

6. The casing structure for outer barrel hoisting according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first reinforcing member (2) also has a first connecting hole (22) on the protruding rib (23) located at the slot (121) for fixing to the back cover of the washing machine.

7. The casing structure for outer barrel hoisting according to claim 2, characterized in that: The reinforcing member is a second reinforcing member (3) with a U-shaped cross-section. The second reinforcing member (3) includes a main board (31) and side plates (32) disposed on both sides of the main board (31). The side plates (32) of the second reinforcing member (3) are respectively connected to the rear vertical beam (12) on the corresponding side.

8. The casing structure for outer barrel hoisting according to claim 7, characterized in that: The main board (31) of the second reinforcing member (3) is provided with reinforcing ribs (311) spaced apart, and the reinforcing ribs are provided with connecting holes that can be fixed to the back cover of the washing machine.

9. The casing structure for outer barrel hoisting according to claim 7, characterized in that: Therefore, the side plate (32) of the second reinforcing member (3) is also provided with side plate reinforcing ribs (321) at intervals.

10. A washing machine, characterized by an external tub hoisting installation method: The washing machine includes a casing structure for mounting an outer tub as described in any one of claims 1-9. The casing structure has a rotatable inner tub and an outer tub fitted outside the inner tub. The outer tub has a slot (121) along the width direction of the washing machine.

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