Multi-zone washing machine
The drainage system, which combines an inverted U-shaped structure with a drain pump, solves the problems of complex piping and overflow in multi-zone washing machines, achieving easy installation and efficient three-zone drainage, thus improving the user experience.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NINGBO FOTILE KITCHEN WARE CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing multi-zone washing machines have complex piping systems, are difficult to install, and suffer from overflow and water leakage problems, resulting in poor cleaning performance and a poor user experience.
The drainage system combines an inverted U-shaped drainage channel with a drainage pump, connecting the large and small cylinders respectively. The drainage pump provides power to drain water from the large cylinder, while the inverted U-shaped structure prevents water from flowing between the small cylinders. An integrated venting channel simplifies the structure and facilitates installation and drainage.
The simplified piping structure reduces installation difficulty, avoids overflow and water leakage, and improves the cleaning effect and user experience of the three-zone washing machine.
Smart Images
Figure CN224478271U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of washing machine technology, specifically to a multi-zone washing machine. Background Technology
[0002] As living standards continue to improve, people are demanding more from the details of daily life. For example, when washing clothes, people sort them for washing, and the types of sorting are becoming increasingly diverse. To meet this demand, multi-zone washing machines have emerged on the market.
[0003] CN202310310329.7, "A Multi-Drum Washing Machine," discloses a structure including a first drum, a second drum, and an electric heating system. The electric heating system generates hot airflow, which can be simultaneously or separately delivered to the first drum and / or the second drum. The multi-drum washing machine also includes a first drum and a heat pump system, which generates hot airflow and delivers it to the first drum. This washing machine structure allows for the washing of different types of clothing through multiple drums, meeting users' needs for categorized washing.
[0004] However, for drum washing machines, the addition of functional zones requires additional exhaust and drainage pipes. Existing technology suffers from complex pipework, difficult installation for users, and problems such as overflow and leakage between drainage pipes, leading to water contamination between zones and resulting in poor washing performance and a poor user experience. Utility Model Content
[0005] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a multi-zone washing machine with a simple pipeline structure, easy installation and effective prevention of overflow and water leakage problems, in light of the current state of the technology.
[0006] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows:
[0007] A multi-zone washing machine includes a large drum and a first and a second small drum installed in a frame. The first and second small drums are arranged side by side on the large drum. The machine also includes a drainage module with a drainage channel in an inverted U-shape, wherein the first end of the U-shape is lower than the second end. The first end of the U-shape has a drain outlet, a first water inlet connected to the first small drum, and a second water inlet connected to the second small drum. A drain pump is installed at the bottom of the large drum, and the outlet of the drain pump is connected to the second end of the U-shape.
[0008] With the above structure, when the first and second small cylinders drain water, the water can be directly discharged through the lower first end of the U-shaped structure. When the large cylinder drains water, the drainage power provided by the drainage pump causes the water from the large cylinder to be discharged through the drain outlet after passing over the top of the U-shaped structure. The above structure realizes drainage in three zones through a drainage channel and ensures that the water flow will not overflow when the three zones drain water at the same time.
[0009] Preferably, the drainage module is hollow and equipped with a baffle, which constrains the drainage channel within the hollow cavity. This structure can be integrally injection molded, facilitating the production of the drainage module.
[0010] Preferably, the drainage module has a first water inlet on the first side wall near the first end, a second water inlet on the second side wall, and a drain outlet on the third side wall. The first water inlet is connected to the first small cylinder via a first drain pipe, and the second water inlet is connected to the second small cylinder via a second drain pipe. A first control valve capable of controlling the flow of water is installed at the connection between the first small cylinder and the first drain pipe, and a second control valve capable of controlling the flow of water is installed at the connection between the second small cylinder and the second drain pipe. With the above structure, the drainage of the small sections (first small cylinder and second small cylinder) can be controlled by the first control valve and the second control valve, thus preventing overflow.
[0011] Preferably, the lower edge of the drain outlet is lower than the lower edges of the first and second inlets, the outlet of the first small cylinder is higher than the first drain pipe and the first inlet, and the outlet of the second small cylinder is higher than the second drain pipe and the second inlet, thus forming a gravity-fed drainage structure for the first and second small cylinders. Using this structure, gravity drainage in small sections (the first and second small cylinders) is achieved, further simplifying the structure and reducing costs.
[0012] Preferably, the drainage module has a third inlet on its side wall near the second end, which is connected to the drainage pump at the bottom of the main cylinder via a third drainage pipe. The drainage pump and drainage channel together constitute the main power drainage structure of the main cylinder, and the inverted U-shaped structure of the drainage channel forms an anti-cross-flow structure that prevents cross-flow between the first, second, and third inlets. With the above structure, the main cylinder uses centrifugal main power drainage from the drainage pump, which on the one hand meets the large drainage capacity requirement of the main cylinder, and on the other hand, ensures that the drainage from the main cylinder connects to the drainage outlet after passing through the drainage channel, thus preventing cross-flow between the main cylinder and smaller sections.
[0013] Preferably, the drainage module also includes an exhaust channel that is independent of the drainage channel, and the first and second small cylinders are connected to the exhaust channel via exhaust pipes. This structure, integrating the exhaust channel into the drainage module, simplifies the structure and facilitates installation.
[0014] Preferably, the exhaust channel has an L-shaped structure, with the lateral portion of the L-shaped structure arranged at the top of the drainage channel, and the vertical portion of the L-shaped structure extending downwards and occupying the top of the vertical portion of the corresponding second end of the U-shaped structure. This structure improves structural compactness and space utilization.
[0015] Preferably, the upper part of the drainage channel is thinner than the lower part in the front-to-back direction, and the rear sidewall of the drainage channel smoothly transitions at the junction of the upper and lower parts through an arc-shaped guide surface. This structure improves space utilization and guides fluid, thus enhancing drainage efficiency.
[0016] Preferably, the tops of the first and second small cylinders are provided with drying mechanisms that can provide hot air to each of them. These drying mechanisms are connected to the front sidewalls of the first and second small cylinders, respectively. Airflow outlets are provided on the rear sidewalls of the first and second small cylinders, and these outlets are connected to exhaust pipes. This structure facilitates drying and baking in small sections.
[0017] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this utility model are as follows: This utility model is provided with a drainage module connected to multiple zones respectively. The drainage module is provided with a drainage channel in an inverted U-shape. When the first and second small cylinders drain water, the water can be directly drained away through the lower first end of the U-shape. When the large cylinder drains water, the drainage power provided by the drainage pump is used to make the large cylinder drain water through the drain outlet after it crosses the top of the U-shape. The above structure realizes drainage of three zones by using a drainage channel, which not only simplifies the structure and facilitates installation, but also ensures that the water flow will not overflow when the three zones drain water at the same time, thereby improving the cleaning effect of the three zones and the user experience. Attached Figure Description
[0018] Figure 1 This is a front structural diagram of an embodiment of the present utility model;
[0019] Figure 2 This is a diagram of the drainage structure according to an embodiment of the present utility model;
[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the central drainage module;
[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A sectional view;
[0022] Figure 5 for Figure 3 Another sectional view. Detailed Implementation
[0023] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0024] like Figures 1-5 As shown, the multi-zone washing machine of this embodiment includes a large drum 3 and a first small drum 1 and a second small drum 2 installed in the frame 7. The first small drum 1 and the second small drum 2 are arranged side by side on the large drum 3. It also includes a drainage module 4. The drainage module 4 is provided with a drainage channel 41 in an inverted U-shaped structure. The first end 01 of the U-shaped structure is lower than the second end 02. The first end 01 of the U-shaped structure is provided with a drain outlet 013 and a first water inlet 011 connected to the first small drum 1 and a second water inlet 012 connected to the second small drum 2. A drain pump 5 is installed at the bottom of the large drum 3. The outlet of the drain pump 5 is connected to the second end 02 of the U-shaped structure.
[0025] With the above structure, when the first small cylinder 1 and the second small cylinder 2 drain water, the water can be directly drained away through the lower first end 01 of the U-shaped structure. When the large cylinder 3 drains water, the drainage power provided by the drainage pump 5 enables the large cylinder 3 to drain water through the drain outlet 013 after it passes over the top of the U-shaped structure. The above structure realizes drainage in three zones by using a drainage channel 41, and ensures that the water flow will not overflow when the three zones drain water at the same time.
[0026] The drainage module 4 is hollow inside and equipped with a baffle 43, which constrains the drainage channel 41 within the hollow cavity. This structure can be integrally molded by injection molding, facilitating the production of the drainage module 4.
[0027] The drainage module 4 has a first inlet 011 on the first side wall near the first end 01, a second inlet 012 on the second side wall, and a drain outlet 013 on the third side wall. The first inlet 011 is connected to the first small cylinder 1 through a first drain pipe 001, and the second inlet 012 is connected to the second small cylinder 2 through a second drain pipe 002. A first control valve 10, which controls the flow of water, is installed at the connection between the first small cylinder 1 and the first drain pipe 001, and a second control valve 20, which also controls the flow of water, is installed at the connection between the second small cylinder 2 and the second drain pipe 002. With the above structure, the drainage of the small sections (first small cylinder 1 and second small cylinder 2) can be controlled by the first control valve 10 and the second control valve 20 to avoid overflow.
[0028] The lower edge of the drain outlet 013 is lower than the lower edges of the first inlet 011 and the second inlet 012. The outlet of the first small cylinder 1 is higher than the first drain pipe 001 and the first inlet 011, and the outlet of the second small cylinder 2 is higher than the second drain pipe 002 and the second inlet 012, thus forming a gravity-fed drainage structure for the first small cylinder 1 and the second small cylinder 2. Using this structure, gravity drainage in small sections (first small cylinder 1 and second small cylinder 2) is achieved, further simplifying the structure and reducing costs.
[0029] The drainage module 4 has a third inlet 021 on its side wall near the second end 02. This third inlet 021 is connected to the drainage pump 5 at the bottom of the main cylinder 3 via a third drain pipe 003. The drainage pump 5 and the drainage channel 41 together constitute the main power drainage structure of the main cylinder 3. The inverted U-shaped structure of the drainage channel 41 forms an anti-cross-flow structure that prevents cross-flow between the first inlet 011, the second inlet 012, and the third inlet 021. With the above structure, the main cylinder 3 uses the centrifugal main power drainage of the drainage pump 5, which on the one hand meets the large drainage capacity requirement of the main cylinder 3, and on the other hand, ensures that the drainage of the main cylinder 3 connects to the drain outlet 013 after passing through the drainage channel 41, thus preventing cross-flow between the main cylinder 3 and the smaller sections.
[0030] The drainage module 4 also includes an exhaust channel 42, which is independent of the drainage channel 41. The first small cylinder 1 and the second small cylinder 2 are connected to the exhaust channel 42 via exhaust pipes 61. This structure, which integrates the exhaust channel 42 into the drainage module 4, simplifies the structure and facilitates installation.
[0031] The exhaust channel 42 has an L-shaped structure. The horizontal portion of this L-shaped structure is arranged at the top of the drainage channel 41, and the vertical portion of this L-shaped structure extends downward and occupies the top of the vertical portion of the corresponding second end 02 of the U-shaped structure. This structure is adopted to improve structural compactness and space utilization.
[0032] The upper part of the drainage channel 41 is thinner than the lower part in the front-to-back direction, and the rear sidewall of the drainage channel 41 smoothly transitions at the junction of the upper and lower parts through an arc-shaped guide surface 411. This structure improves space utilization and guides the fluid, which is beneficial to improving drainage efficiency.
[0033] The tops of the first small cylinder 1 and the second small cylinder 2 are equipped with drying mechanisms 6 that provide hot air to each of them. The drying mechanisms 6 are connected to the side walls of the first small cylinder 1 and the second small cylinder 2 near the front end, respectively. Airflow outlets are opened on the side walls of the first small cylinder 1 and the second small cylinder 2 near the rear end, and these airflow outlets are connected to exhaust pipes 61. This structure facilitates the drying and baking of small sections.
[0034] This embodiment includes a drainage module 4 connected to each of the three zones. The drainage module 4 has a drainage channel 41 with an inverted U-shaped structure. When the first small cylinder 1 and the second small cylinder 2 drain water, the water can be directly drained away through the lower first end 01 of the U-shaped structure. When the large cylinder 3 drains water, the drainage power provided by the drainage pump 5 causes the water from the large cylinder 3 to be drained away through the drain outlet 013 after it passes over the top of the U-shaped structure. The above structure realizes drainage for the three zones using a drainage channel 41, which not only simplifies the structure and facilitates installation, but also ensures that the water flow will not overflow when the three zones drain water at the same time, thereby improving the cleaning effect of the three zones and the user experience.
[0035] 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 multi-zone washing machine, comprising a large drum (3) and a first small drum (1) and a second small drum (2) installed in a frame (7), wherein the first small drum (1) and the second small drum (2) are arranged side by side on the large drum (3), characterized in that: It also includes a drainage module (4), which has a drainage channel (41) in an inverted U-shape, and the first end (01) of the U-shape is lower than the second end (02). The first end (01) of the U-shape has a drainage port (013) and a first inlet (011) connected to the first small cylinder (1) and a second inlet (012) connected to the second small cylinder (2). A drainage pump (5) is installed at the bottom of the large cylinder (3), and the outlet of the drainage pump (5) is connected to the second end (02) of the U-shape.
2. The multi-zone washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drainage module (4) is hollow inside and is provided with a baffle (43), which constrains the drainage channel (41) in the hollow cavity.
3. The multi-zone washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drainage module (4) has a first water inlet (011) on the first side wall near the first end (01), a second water inlet (012) on the second side wall, and a drain outlet (013) on the third side wall. The first water inlet (011) is connected to the first small cylinder (1) through the first drain pipe (001), and the second water inlet (012) is connected to the second small cylinder (2) through the second drain pipe (002). A first control valve (10) capable of controlling the flow of water is provided at the connection between the first small cylinder (1) and the first drain pipe (001), and a second control valve (20) capable of controlling the flow of water is provided at the connection between the second small cylinder (2) and the second drain pipe (002).
4. The multi-zone washing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The lower edge of the drain outlet (013) is lower than the lower edges of the first inlet (011) and the second inlet (012). The outlet of the first small cylinder (1) is higher than the first drain pipe (001) and the first inlet (011). The outlet of the second small cylinder (2) is higher than the second drain pipe (002) and the second inlet (012), thereby forming a gravity-driven drainage structure of the first small cylinder (1) and the second small cylinder (2).
5. The multi-zone washing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The drainage module has a third water inlet (021) on the side wall near the second end (02), and the third water inlet (021) is connected to the drainage pump (5) at the bottom of the large cylinder (3) through the third drainage pipe (003).
6. The multi-zone washing machine according to claim 5, characterized in that: The drainage pump (5) and the drainage channel (41) together constitute the main power drainage structure of the large cylinder (3). The inverted U-shaped structure of the drainage channel (41) constitutes an anti-flow structure that can prevent the first inlet (011), the second inlet (012) and the third inlet (021) from flowing together.
7. The multi-zone washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The drainage module (4) is also provided with an exhaust channel (42) that is independent of the drainage channel (41). The first small cylinder (1) and the second small cylinder (2) are connected to the exhaust channel (42) through exhaust pipes (61).
8. The multi-zone washing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: The exhaust channel (42) has an L-shaped structure. The horizontal part of the L-shaped structure is arranged at the top of the drainage channel (41), and the vertical part of the L-shaped structure extends downward and occupies the top of the vertical part of the corresponding second end (02) of the U-shaped structure.
9. The multi-zone washing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: The upper part of the drainage channel (41) is thinner than the lower part in the front-back direction, and the rear sidewall of the drainage channel (41) is smoothly transitioned at the junction of the upper and lower parts by an arc-shaped guide surface (411).
10. The multi-zone washing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: The top of the first small cylinder (1) and the second small cylinder (2) are provided with drying mechanisms (6) that can provide hot air to each of them respectively. The drying mechanism (6) is connected to the side wall near the front end of the first small cylinder (1) and the second small cylinder (2) respectively. The side wall near the rear end of the first small cylinder (1) and the second small cylinder (2) are provided with airflow outlets, which are connected to exhaust pipes (61) respectively.