Cleaning spray device for inner drum of washing machine and washing machine

Abstract

The application provides a cleaning spraying device for a washing machine inner drum and a washing machine. The cleaning spraying device comprises a spraying pipe for being fixed between the inner drum and the outer drum of the washing machine, and the spraying pipe is provided with a plurality of spraying holes on one side of the inner drum; wherein the opening direction of the spraying hole is obliquely arranged, so that the water flow sprayed from the spraying hole is sprayed to the outer surface of the inner drum at a preset oblique angle. In the implementation, the spraying pipe comprises a vertical spraying pipe; the vertical spraying pipe is vertically fixed in the vertical gap between the outer bottom of the inner drum and the inner bottom of the outer drum; wherein the lower end of the vertical spraying pipe serves as a water inlet, and the lower part of the vertical spraying pipe is provided with a plurality of spraying holes. The application solves the technical problem of complex structure of the cleaning device for the traditional washing machine inner drum.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of washing machine technology, specifically to a cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine and a washing machine. Background Technology

[0002] A washing machine is a household appliance that uses mechanical energy to drive water flow to wash clothes and other fabrics. Based on the rotation method, they are divided into top-loading washing machines and front-loading washing machines. The inner drum is the core component of a fully automatic washing machine, and its outer surface easily accumulates dirt over time, making it difficult to clean. Current methods for cleaning the inner drum typically involve disassembling the drum, dissolving a small amount of special cleaning agent in warm water, and then manually scrubbing the back of the top-loading impeller and the lower part of the inner drum. This cleaning method is highly manual and time-consuming.

[0003] Therefore, ultrasonic cleaning devices for washing machine drums have appeared on the market. See patent application number CN116511193A, patent title: An Automated Cleaning Device for Washing Machine Drums. It mainly consists of an ultrasonic transducer, a waterproof sealing box, and a control box. The ultrasonic transducer is fixed inside the waterproof sealing box, which is placed inside the washing machine drum. The control box is placed outside the water surface to control the transducer. It cleans the washing machine drum using ultrasonic waves. However, this cleaning device can only be placed inside the washing machine drum. While it cleans the inner wall of the drum through ultrasonic vibrations, the numerous drain holes on the drum, although transmitting some vibrational force during cleaning, become extremely weak after reaching the outer wall of the drum. Therefore, it is difficult to clean the outer wall of the washing machine drum.

[0004] Top-loading washing machines consist of an inner drum and an outer drum. The inner drum rotates the clothes, while the outer drum holds water for washing. During use, limescale easily accumulates on the outer wall of the inner drum and the inner wall of the outer drum. If not cleaned regularly, bacteria can grow and infect people through clothing, causing illness. Therefore, regular cleaning of the washing machine is necessary. However, most washing machines do not have an automatic cleaning function and require manual cleaning. Manual cleaning requires disassembling the washing machine, which is very troublesome. Therefore, those skilled in the art have provided an automatic inner drum cleaning device for washing machines. See patent application: Application No.: CN110685116A Patent Title: An Automatic Inner Drum Cleaning Device for Washing Machines. This device uses a gear and slider transmission system to drive a cleaning brush to clean the inner and outer drum walls. However, it has many components, resulting in a complex structure and high cost. The installation process is also cumbersome and requires more manpower.

[0005] Traditional washing machine drum cleaning devices have complex technical problems.

[0006] The information disclosed in the background section is only intended to enhance the understanding of the background of this application, and therefore may contain information that is not part of the prior art known to those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0007] This application provides a cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine and a washing machine, to solve the technical problem of the complex structure of traditional cleaning devices for the inner drum of washing machines.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the embodiments of this application, a cleaning spray device for a washing machine drum is provided, comprising:

[0009] A spray pipe is used to fix the inner and outer drums of a washing machine, and the spray pipe has multiple spray holes on the side facing the inner drum.

[0010] The spray holes are inclined so that the water jets from the spray holes spray onto the outer surface of the inner cylinder at a preset angle.

[0011] In practice, the spray pipe includes a vertical spray pipe; the vertical spray pipe is vertically fixed within the vertical gap between the outer bottom of the inner cylinder and the inner bottom of the outer cylinder;

[0012] The lower end of the vertical spray pipe serves as a water inlet, and the lower part of the vertical spray pipe has multiple spray holes.

[0013] In practice, the washing machine is a drum washing machine;

[0014] The vertical spray pipe is located in the upper part of the vertical gap between the outer bottom of the inner cylinder and the inner bottom of the outer cylinder, and the spray range of the spray holes of the vertical spray pipe covers half of the vertical length of the outer bottom of the entire inner cylinder.

[0015] In practice, the length of the vertical spray pipe is greater than or equal to one-third and less than or equal to one-half of the outer bottom diameter of the inner cylinder.

[0016] In practice, the spray pipe also includes a horizontal spray pipe with both ends sealed, connected to the upper end of the vertical spray pipe, and the upper ends of the horizontal spray pipe and the vertical spray pipe are connected.

[0017] The horizontal spray pipe is fixed horizontally within the horizontal gap between the inner and outer drums of the washing machine, and the end of the horizontal spray pipe away from the vertical spray pipe has a plurality of spray holes.

[0018] In practice, the spray range of the spray holes of the transverse spray pipe covers the entire outer wall of the inner cylinder along its transverse length.

[0019] In practice, the lower part of the vertical spray pipe has fasteners for fixing to the casing of the washing machine;

[0020] The portion of the horizontal spray pipe away from the vertical spray pipe has fasteners for securing it to the casing of the washing machine.

[0021] In practice, the spray pipe is an EPDM rubber spray pipe.

[0022] In practice, the diameter of the spray hole is greater than or equal to 0.8 mm and less than or equal to 1.5 mm.

[0023] According to a second aspect of the embodiments of this application, a washing machine is provided, comprising:

[0024] Inner and outer cylinders;

[0025] The aforementioned cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine; wherein the cleaning spray device for the inner drum of the washing machine is fixed between the inner drum and the outer drum of the washing machine;

[0026] The water inlet valve, the distributor guide chamber, and the main water inlet pipe are connected in sequence; wherein, the main water inlet pipe provides water to the cleaning spray device of the inner drum and the outer drum of the washing machine.

[0027] The embodiments of this application, by adopting the above technical solutions, have the following technical effects:

[0028] By cleverly setting a spray pipe in the annular gap between the inner and outer cylinders, the spray pipe has multiple inclined spray holes, achieving efficient, directional, and full-coverage spray cleaning of the outer surface of the inner cylinder. The spray pipe has multiple carefully designed inclined spray holes, and the opening direction of each spray hole is arranged according to a preset inclination angle, so that the sprayed water can accurately impact the outer surface of the inner cylinder at a specific incident angle.

[0029] The directional spray structure of the spray nozzles not only significantly enhances the scouring force of the water flow but also effectively expands the spray coverage area, avoiding cleaning blind spots caused by traditional vertical or random spraying methods. During actual operation, the high-speed water jets from the spray nozzles can penetrate deep into the tiny gaps and pores on the outer surface of the inner drum, efficiently stripping and washing away long-accumulated dirt, detergent residue, fiber debris, and hard-to-detect but health-hazardous biofilms (such as mold, bacteria, and other microbial communities), thereby greatly improving the thoroughness and hygiene of the inner drum's self-cleaning process.

[0030] Furthermore, the spray pipe features a simple and compact overall structure with no complex moving parts, resulting in low manufacturing costs, easy installation, and convenient maintenance or replacement. It is securely integrated into the limited space between the inner and outer drums, requiring no additional internal volume occupation of the washing machine and no substantial modifications to the existing washing machine's overall structure, control system, or assembly process. Therefore, it boasts strong compatibility and adaptability, suitable for various models and capacities of drum washing machines, facilitating large-scale deployment and application.

[0031] In summary, the washing machine drum cleaning spray device of this application significantly improves the self-cleaning ability and overall hygiene performance of the washing machine by scientifically optimizing the tilt angle, layout density, and water flow direction of the spray holes, without introducing complex mechanisms, increasing energy consumption, or sacrificing original functions. It effectively solves the "dirty drum" problem that users have long been concerned about, not only enhancing the user experience and health protection level of the product, but also conforming to the current technological trend of intelligent, healthy, and green development in the home appliance industry. It has outstanding technical advantages, good practical value, and broad market application prospects. Attached Figure Description

[0032] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0033] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a washing machine equipped with a cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine according to an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine according to an embodiment of this application.

[0035] Figure label:

[0036] Inner cylinder 1,

[0037] Vertical spray pipe 21, horizontal spray pipe 22, spray hole 23,

[0038] Outer cylinder 3. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the exemplary embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not an exhaustive list of all embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other.

[0040] Example 1

[0041] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine according to an embodiment of this application includes:

[0042] A spray pipe is used to fix the inner drum 1 and the outer drum 3 of the washing machine. The spray pipe has a plurality of spray holes 23 on the side facing the inner drum.

[0043] The spray hole 23 is inclined so that the water jet from the spray hole 23 sprays onto the outer surface of the inner cylinder 1 at a preset angle.

[0044] This application provides a cleaning spray device for a washing machine inner drum. By cleverly placing a spray pipe in the annular gap between the inner and outer drums, the spray pipe, equipped with multiple inclined spray holes, achieves efficient, directional, and full-coverage spray cleaning of the outer surface of the inner drum. The spray pipe has multiple carefully designed inclined spray holes, each with its opening direction arranged at a preset inclination angle, allowing the sprayed water to precisely impact the outer surface of the inner drum at a specific incident angle.

[0045] The directional spray structure of the spray nozzles not only significantly enhances the scouring force of the water flow but also effectively expands the spray coverage area, avoiding cleaning blind spots caused by traditional vertical or random spraying methods. During actual operation, the high-speed water jets from the spray nozzles can penetrate deep into the tiny gaps and pores on the outer surface of the inner drum, efficiently stripping and washing away long-accumulated dirt, detergent residue, fiber debris, and hard-to-detect but health-hazardous biofilms (such as mold, bacteria, and other microbial communities), thereby greatly improving the thoroughness and hygiene of the inner drum's self-cleaning process.

[0046] Furthermore, the spray pipe features a simple and compact overall structure with no complex moving parts, resulting in low manufacturing costs, easy installation, and convenient maintenance or replacement. It is securely integrated into the limited space between the inner and outer drums, requiring no additional internal volume occupation of the washing machine and no substantial modifications to the existing washing machine's overall structure, control system, or assembly process. Therefore, it boasts strong compatibility and adaptability, suitable for various models and capacities of drum washing machines, facilitating large-scale deployment and application.

[0047] In summary, the washing machine drum cleaning spray device of this application significantly improves the self-cleaning ability and overall hygiene performance of the washing machine by scientifically optimizing the tilt angle, layout density, and water flow direction of the spray holes, without introducing complex mechanisms, increasing energy consumption, or sacrificing original functions. It effectively solves the "dirty drum" problem that users have long been concerned about, not only enhancing the user experience and health protection level of the product, but also conforming to the current technological trend of intelligent, healthy, and green development in the home appliance industry. It has outstanding technical advantages, good practical value, and broad market application prospects.

[0048] Specifically, the water jet from the spray hole 23 is not sprayed vertically onto the outer surface of the inner cylinder, but rather sprayed onto the outer surface of the inner cylinder 3 at a preset angle.

[0049] The water jets from the spray nozzles do not impact the outer surface of the inner cylinder perpendicularly, but are sprayed obliquely at a preset angle onto the outer surface of the inner cylinder, thereby producing the following technical effects:

[0050] The inclined spray creates a tangential scouring force when the water flows into the outer surface of the inner drum, which helps to more effectively remove dirt, detergent residue, and microbial film adhering to the outer surface of the outer drum, and has a stronger cleaning ability compared to vertical spray.

[0051] Because the sprayed water is sprayed at a certain angle, it can form a longer rinsing path and a larger coverage area on the outer surface of the inner cylinder, reducing cleaning dead corners and improving the overall cleaning uniformity.

[0052] Vertical spraying is prone to water flow rebound, splashing, or energy waste due to high impact force; while inclined incident water flow can make the water flow more closely follow the tank wall, reducing the risk of rebound and improving water energy utilization efficiency.

[0053] In summary, by adopting a non-vertical spraying method with a preset tilt angle, the self-cleaning ability of the washing machine drum is significantly enhanced, while also taking into account water conservation, noise reduction, and structural compactness, demonstrating good practicality and technological advancement.

[0054] During implementation, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the spray pipe includes a vertical spray pipe 21; the vertical spray pipe 21 is vertically fixed within the vertical gap between the outer bottom of the inner cylinder 1 and the inner bottom of the outer cylinder 3;

[0055] The lower end of the vertical spray pipe 21 serves as a water inlet, and the lower part of the vertical spray pipe 21 has a plurality of spray holes 23.

[0056] The spray holes of the vertical spray pipe can spray and clean the outer bottom of the inner cylinder.

[0057] Make full use of vertical gaps and have a compact structure: The spray pipes are arranged along the vertical gap between the outer bottom of the inner drum and the inner bottom of the outer drum, making effective use of the limited annular space inside the washing machine.

[0058] Water supply from bottom to top facilitates air venting and stable water intake: using the lower end of the vertical spray pipe as the water inlet avoids air accumulation in the pipeline, ensures smooth water flow and even distribution to each spray hole, and improves spray stability and response speed.

[0059] Stable inlet flow field: Water enters from the lower end of the vertical spray pipe, ensuring a smooth flow path and effectively reducing or avoiding eddies and turbulence at the inlet. This creates favorable initial conditions for the smooth rise of the liquid within the pipe.

[0060] Promoting pressure equalization: Water enters from the bottom under gravity and fills the entire pipe upwards. This process helps to establish a relatively stable and uniform pressure distribution inside the spray pipe, ensuring that when the liquid reaches the top and is distributed to each nozzle, the pressure and flow rate at the nozzle outlet are more consistent, thereby obtaining a uniform spray pattern and avoiding "dry zones" or "overspray zones".

[0061] During implementation, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the washing machine is a drum washing machine;

[0062] The vertical spray pipe 21 is located in the upper part of the vertical gap between the outer bottom of the inner cylinder and the inner bottom of the outer cylinder, and the spray range of the spray holes of the vertical spray pipe 21 covers half of the vertical length of the outer bottom of the inner cylinder 1.

[0063] During washing in a front-loading washing machine, both the inner and outer drums rotate. The cleaning spray system within the inner drum does not rotate with it. Therefore, even though the vertical spray pipes are only located in the upper part of the vertical gap between the outer bottom of the inner drum and the inner bottom of the outer drum, and not in the lower part of the gap, the vertical spray pipes can still effectively clean the entire outer bottom of the inner drum as it rotates.

[0064] Full coverage is achieved by utilizing the rotation of the inner drum: Although the vertical spray pipes are only located in the upper part of the vertical gap between the outer bottom of the inner drum and the inner bottom of the outer drum, the outer bottom of the inner drum will periodically pass through the spray range of the spray holes of the vertical spray pipes due to the continuous rotation of the inner drum during washing or self-cleaning. Through the synergistic mechanism of "fixed-point spraying + dynamic sweeping", even with localized spray holes, the entire outer bottom of the inner drum can be evenly and completely rinsed, effectively eliminating cleaning dead corners.

[0065] Simplified structure and high reliability: The spray device does not require follow-up design, which makes the structure simple and the stability high.

[0066] Precisely targeting the highly contaminated bottom area: The outer bottom of the inner drum is where dirt, fibers, soap scum, and microorganisms most easily accumulate, especially during drainage and dehydration, where stubborn residues can form. By concentrating the spray pipes above the bottom gaps, this critical area can be efficiently and directionally rinsed, maximizing cleaning benefits with limited water consumption.

[0067] During implementation, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the length of the vertical spray pipe 21 is greater than or equal to one-third and less than or equal to one-half of the outer bottom diameter of the inner cylinder 1.

[0068] Balancing coverage with structural adaptability:

[0069] The length of the vertical spray pipe is controlled between 1 / 3 and 1 / 2 of the outer bottom diameter of the inner cylinder. This ensures that the spray holes form a sufficient coverage area along the height direction (especially when the inner cylinder rotates, it can effectively sweep a larger area) while avoiding interference with the inner wall of the outer cylinder, the shock absorption device, or the bottom drainage structure due to excessive pipe length. This ensures reliable installation within the limited annular gap between the inner and outer cylinders.

[0070] Optimize water flow distribution and impact efficiency:

[0071] This length range allows the spray holes to be reasonably distributed in the key contamination zone on the outer bottom of the inner cylinder. Under a certain water supply pressure, it maintains a balance of water pressure between each spray hole, avoiding the problem of excessively high pressure in the lower holes and weak water output in the upper holes due to excessively long pipelines, thereby improving the overall rinsing uniformity and decontamination efficiency.

[0072] Matching the bottom space layout of a front-loading washing machine:

[0073] The bottom space of a drum washing machine is compact, needing to accommodate components such as the motor, pulleys, shock absorbers, and drain pump. Limiting the length of the spray pipe to 1 / 3–1 / 2 of the inner drum diameter allows for precise insertion into the available area of ​​the bottom annular gap, making full use of space while avoiding conflicts with surrounding mechanical structures and improving the overall integration of the machine.

[0074] Reduce manufacturing costs and failure risk:

[0075] Compared to full-height spray pipes, this moderate length reduces material usage and processing complexity; at the same time, the shorter pipe has better rigidity and is less prone to deformation or loosening due to vibration or water flow impact, thus improving long-term stability and reliability.

[0076] In summary, limiting the length of the vertical spray pipe to between 1 / 3 and 1 / 2 of the outer bottom diameter of the inner drum is an optimal balance between space constraints, cleaning efficiency, structural reliability, and manufacturing cost, fully demonstrating the engineering rationality and practical value of this design in the self-cleaning system of drum washing machines.

[0077] During implementation, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the spray pipe also includes a horizontal spray pipe 22 with both ends sealed, which is connected to the upper end of the vertical spray pipe 21, and the upper ends of the horizontal spray pipe 22 and the vertical spray pipe 21 are connected.

[0078] The horizontal spray pipe 22 is fixed horizontally within the horizontal gap between the inner drum 1 and the outer drum 3 of the washing machine, and the end of the horizontal spray pipe 22 away from the vertical spray pipe has a plurality of spray holes.

[0079] Vertical and horizontal spray pipes form an "L"-shaped composite spray structure. This provides the following technical advantages:

[0080] Expand the cleaning area to achieve multi-dimensional coverage:

[0081] The introduction of horizontal spray pipes allows the spray cleaning to be applied to the outer wall of the inner cylinder. The combination of vertical and horizontal spray pipes enables three-dimensional cleaning of the outer bottom and outer wall of the inner cylinder (i.e., the entire outer surface of the inner cylinder).

[0082] Compact structure and efficient space utilization:

[0083] The horizontal spray pipes are arranged by making full use of the annular horizontal gap between the inner and outer cylinders, without taking up extra internal space of the whole machine; they are integrated with the vertical spray pipes and share the same water inlet path, eliminating the need for additional independent water supply pipelines, simplifying the system structure and facilitating assembly and maintenance.

[0084] The water flow distribution is reasonable and the pressure loss is controllable.

[0085] Because the horizontal spray pipe only has spray holes at its far end and is closed at both ends, the resistance is small when the water flows along the pipe body, which can effectively maintain the water pressure at the end spray hole and ensure the rinsing force; at the same time, it avoids pressure attenuation caused by multiple holes and improves spraying efficiency.

[0086] Enhance the adaptability and integrity of the self-cleaning system:

[0087] During the operation of a drum washing machine, the horizontal spray pipes can periodically rinse the outer wall of the inner drum by combining the rotation of the inner drum with fixed-point spraying.

[0088] During implementation, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the spray range of the spray holes of the transverse spray pipe 22 covers the entire outer wall of the inner cylinder 1 along its transverse length.

[0089] The horizontal spray pipe adopts a fixed installation structure, firmly set in the annular gap between the inner and outer drums of the washing machine. It does not rotate with the inner drum during operation, completely avoiding the introduction of dynamic seals, rotary joints, or complex transmission mechanisms. By scientifically optimizing the number, spacing, diameter, and spray angle of the spray holes, and combining this with hydrodynamic design, the horizontal spray pipe can achieve efficient, uniform, and seamless coverage of the entire horizontal area of ​​the outer wall of the inner drum in a static state.

[0090] This static spraying solution not only significantly simplifies the overall structure and improves the stability and reliability of system operation, but also significantly reduces the number of parts and assembly complexity. Simultaneously, since it eliminates the need for additional drive components such as motors, gears, and rotating bearings, it saves internal space and effectively controls the overall manufacturing cost. Furthermore, this horizontal spray pipe can seamlessly connect to the washing machine's existing water inlet or self-cleaning water system, with a high degree of interface standardization, facilitating mass production and subsequent maintenance. From a user perspective, it also reduces the repair risks caused by wear or failure of moving parts, improving product durability and user experience. In summary, this fixed horizontal spray pipe design ensures cleaning efficiency while also considering structural simplicity, system compatibility, and economic practicality, possessing outstanding engineering application value and advantages for industrialization.

[0091] In practice, the lower part of the vertical spray pipe has fasteners for fixing to the casing of the washing machine;

[0092] The portion of the horizontal spray pipe away from the vertical spray pipe has fasteners for securing it to the casing of the washing machine.

[0093] Fasteners are installed on both the vertical and horizontal spray pipes, securing both the vertical and horizontal spray pipes to the washing machine's casing. This prevents the cleaning spray system inside the washing machine drum from rotating with the inner and outer drums. This achieves the following technical advantages:

[0094] Dual positioning enhances installation stability:

[0095] By setting fasteners at the lower part of the vertical spray pipe and the far end of the horizontal spray pipe, multi-point fixation is formed, which effectively constrains the displacement of the cleaning spray device in the inner drum of the washing machine in three-dimensional space, avoiding loosening, displacement or resonance caused by water flow impact, inner drum vibration or transportation bumps, and significantly enhancing the rigidity and reliability of the overall structure.

[0096] Adapting to high vibration conditions in drum washing machines:

[0097] Drum washing machines generate significant vibrations during the high-speed spin-drying phase. If the cleaning spray device inside the drum is only fixed at a single point, it is prone to breakage or connection failure due to fatigue stress. The cleaning spray device inside the drum adopts a distributed fastening design, distributing the load to multiple support points on the casing, improving vibration resistance and ensuring long-term operational safety.

[0098] Ensure spray angle and coverage accuracy:

[0099] The cleaning effect of the spray nozzles is highly dependent on their spatial orientation and positional accuracy. By installing fasteners at key locations, the preset posture of the vertical and horizontal spray pipes can be firmly maintained, preventing twisting or sagging during use. This ensures that the spray water flow always acts precisely on the target area (such as the outer bottom or outer wall of the inner cylinder), maintaining high-efficiency cleaning performance.

[0100] Facilitates assembly and modular integration:

[0101] Fasteners (such as clips, screws, or brackets) are directly connected to the housing, allowing the spray pipe assembly to be pre-assembled and tested as an independent module, simplifying the overall assembly process; at the same time, it is easy to disassemble and replace during maintenance, improving production efficiency and after-sales service convenience.

[0102] In summary, by setting fasteners at key locations on the vertical and horizontal spray pipes to connect with the casing, not only is the cleaning spray device of the washing machine drum securely installed and precisely positioned, but the reliability, maintainability, and cleaning consistency of the entire machine under high vibration and long-term operating conditions are also significantly improved, demonstrating outstanding engineering practical value.

[0103] In practice, the spray pipes are EPDM rubber spray pipes. That is, both the vertical and horizontal spray pipes are made of EPDM rubber.

[0104] The spray pipes (including vertical and horizontal spray pipes) are all made of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber material, which brings several significant technical benefits:

[0105] First, EPDM rubber has excellent weather resistance, ozone resistance and UV aging resistance. Even when exposed to the complex environment of high temperature and humidity and frequent hot and cold alternation inside the washing machine for a long time, it can still maintain structural stability and is not easy to crack, harden or deform, thus ensuring the long-term reliable operation of the spray system.

[0106] Secondly, EPDM material has good heat resistance and can withstand the high temperature water (usually 60–90℃) or even steam washing commonly used in the self-cleaning program of washing machines. It will not affect the positioning accuracy of the spray holes and the direction of water flow due to thermal expansion or softening.

[0107] Furthermore, EPDM rubber has a smooth surface, low coefficient of friction, and excellent chemical inertness to water, weak acid and alkaline detergents, and common household cleaning ingredients. This effectively prevents dirt buildup and microbial adhesion, helps maintain unobstructed spray nozzles, and ensures continuous and stable spray pressure and coverage.

[0108] Furthermore, EPDM rubber possesses excellent flexibility and elasticity, allowing the vertical and horizontal spray pipes to bend appropriately during installation to accommodate the narrow assembly space between the inner and outer drums, reducing assembly difficulty. Simultaneously, it effectively absorbs vibration during high-speed spin-drying operation, reducing noise and wear caused by rigid collisions. This material also exhibits good electrical insulation and low water absorption, further enhancing the overall safety and durability of the machine. In summary, the use of one-piece molded EPDM rubber vertical and horizontal spray pipes not only improves the environmental adaptability, service life, and cleaning efficiency of the cleaning spray device but also simplifies structural design and maintenance processes, providing reliable technical support for achieving efficient, quiet, and hygienic self-cleaning functions in washing machines.

[0109] In practice, the diameter of the spray hole is greater than or equal to 0.8 mm and less than or equal to 1.5 mm.

[0110] It can output water stably under the water pressure of ordinary household washing machines (0.03–0.6MPa); it balances spray strength and anti-clogging performance, and is suitable for daily self-cleaning of the outer surface of the inner drum; it can form a continuous jet to effectively remove common residues such as fibers and soap scum.

[0111] Example 2

[0112] like Figure 1 As shown, the washing machine of this application embodiment includes:

[0113] Inner cylinder 1 and outer cylinder 3;

[0114] The cleaning spray device for the inner drum of the washing machine described in Embodiment 1; wherein the cleaning spray device is fixed between the inner drum and the outer drum of the washing machine.

[0115] In practice, the washing machine also includes:

[0116] The inlet valve, distributor guide chamber, and main inlet pipe are connected in sequence.

[0117] The main water inlet pipe provides water to the cleaning spray device of the inner drum and the outer drum of the washing machine.

[0118] The water inlet for the cleaning spray device inside the washing machine drum shares the existing water inlet system of the washing machine (i.e., the water inlet valve, the distributor guide chamber, and the main water inlet pipe connected in sequence).

[0119] No need to add a separate waterway, reducing system complexity:

[0120] The cleaning spray device in the inner drum of the washing machine is directly connected to the existing water inlet passage (water inlet valve → distributor guide chamber → main water inlet pipe), eliminating the need for additional dedicated water inlet valves, pipes or water pumps. This significantly simplifies the overall water circuit structure, reduces the number of parts, and improves system integration.

[0121] In the description of this application and its embodiments, it should be understood that the terms "top", "bottom", "height", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0122] In this application and its embodiments, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," "link," "fix," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a communication connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0123] In this application and its embodiments, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0124] The foregoing disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different structures of this application. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described above. Of course, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples; such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. In addition, examples of various specific processes and materials are provided in this application, but those skilled in the art will recognize the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0125] Although preferred embodiments of this application have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and modifications falling within the scope of this application.

[0126] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine, characterized in that, include: A spray pipe is used to fix the inner and outer drums of a washing machine, and the spray pipe has a plurality of spray holes on the side facing the inner drum; The spray holes are inclined so that the water jets from the spray holes spray onto the outer surface of the inner cylinder at a preset angle.

2. The cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spray pipe includes a vertical spray pipe; the vertical spray pipe is vertically fixed within the vertical gap between the outer bottom of the inner cylinder and the inner bottom of the outer cylinder; The lower end of the vertical spray pipe serves as a water inlet, and the lower part of the vertical spray pipe has multiple spray holes.

3. The cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The washing machine is a drum washing machine; The vertical spray pipe is located in the upper part of the vertical gap between the outer bottom of the inner cylinder and the inner bottom of the outer cylinder, and the spray range of the spray holes of the vertical spray pipe covers half of the vertical length of the outer bottom of the entire inner cylinder.

4. The cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The length of the vertical spray pipe is greater than or equal to one-third and less than or equal to one-half of the outer bottom diameter of the inner cylinder.

5. The cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The spray pipe also includes a horizontal spray pipe with both ends sealed, connected to the upper end of the vertical spray pipe, and the upper ends of the horizontal spray pipe and the vertical spray pipe are connected. The horizontal spray pipe is fixed horizontally within the horizontal gap between the inner and outer drums of the washing machine, and the end of the horizontal spray pipe away from the vertical spray pipe has a plurality of spray holes.

6. The cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine according to claim 5, characterized in that, The spray range of the spray holes of the transverse spray pipe covers the entire outer wall of the inner cylinder along its transverse length.

7. The cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, The lower portion of the vertical spray pipe has fasteners for securing it to the housing of the washing machine; The portion of the horizontal spray pipe away from the vertical spray pipe has fasteners for securing it to the casing of the washing machine.

8. The cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spray pipe is an EPDM rubber spray pipe.

9. The cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The diameter of the spray nozzle is greater than or equal to 0.8 mm and less than or equal to 1.5 mm.

10. A washing machine, characterized in that, include: Inner and outer cylinders; The cleaning spray device for the inner drum of a washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9; wherein the cleaning spray device for the inner drum of the washing machine is fixed between the inner drum and the outer drum of the washing machine; The water inlet valve, the distributor guide chamber, and the main water inlet pipe are connected in sequence; wherein, the main water inlet pipe provides water to the cleaning spray device of the inner drum and the outer drum of the washing machine.

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