Drum, washing machine and method of manufacturing a drum for a washing machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a drum comprising a sacrificial anode (2) made of a less noble material in the electrochemical series than the drum material and embedded in a flanged area (3) of the drum (1). The invention further relates to a washing machine with the drum (1). The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a drum (1) for a washing machine, comprising flanged a sacrificial anode (2) into the drum (1), wherein the sacrificial anode (2) is made of a less noble material in the electrochemical series than the drum material.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a drum for a washing machine, a washing machine with such a drum for holding laundry and a method for manufacturing the drum.

[0002] Washing machine drums are subject to particularly high levels of chemical attack. While using a suitable drum material like stainless steel can achieve high corrosion resistance, under certain conditions, such as high chloride content, corrosion can still occur, even in visible areas of the drum. The chemical stress on components that come into contact with the wash water during operation is significant and is constantly increasing as energy efficiency measures lead to less water being used during the wash cycle. These corrosion effects can be prevented or at least reduced by installing an aluminum drum flange. This acts as a sacrificial anode and is also a load-bearing component for the drum. By using die-cast aluminum for the drum flange, the sacrificial anode is directly bolted to the drum.The aluminum drum flange acts as a sacrificial anode due to the electrochemical series compared to the stainless steel drum and partially dissolves during the washing process. This reduces the strength of the aluminum component, thus weakening the supporting structure. If no aluminum drum flange is used, the likelihood of red rust formation in the user's visible area increases. Such a drum is known, for example, from DE 10 2017 200 954 A1.

[0003] German patent DE 1132083 B discloses a drum equipped with a rubber band in the bonding seam. The rubber material serves to prevent washing liquid from penetrating the cavity of the bonding seam.

[0004] EP2185057 B1 discloses a treatment container for a dishwasher. This container uses sheets of different materials that are firmly joined together. To prevent contact corrosion, the sheets are coated with plastic at the contact points.

[0005] The invention thus addresses the problem of providing a drum for a washing machine, a washing machine and a method for manufacturing a drum, wherein a

[0006] The sacrificial anode is or will be located at a point where the function of the component integrating it is not impaired.

[0007] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a drum with the features of claim 1, a washing machine with the features of claim 6, and a method with the features of claim 7. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the following dependent claims.

[0008] The advantages achievable with the invention, besides the placement of the sacrificial anode in a location within the drum and washing machine where its function is not impaired, lie in the fact that this location is not within the user's field of vision. Because its function is not impaired, the service life of the drum is extended and premature failures are reduced. The sacrificial anode is not a load-bearing component and is located outside the user's field of vision. Furthermore, it can be easily manufactured using existing, standard edge banding tools and requires no fasteners.

[0009] The invention relates to a drum having a sacrificial anode made of a less noble material in the electrochemical series than the drum material and embedded in a flanged area of ​​the drum.

[0010] By embedding the sacrificial anode made of a less noble material in the electrochemical series compared to the drum material, the service life of the washing machine in which it is installed is extended in a technically simple and cost-effective way.

[0011] The sacrificial anode is embedded in the drum, which is a rotating body during the washing process. The term "embedded" means that the sacrificial anode is enclosed within the rimmed area, so that it at least partially occupies an edge of the drum.

[0012] The sacrificial anode is preferably ribbon-shaped. It preferably forms a solid rim with and within the flanged area, so that it is attached as a solid rim around a portion of the drum. Preferably, the flanged area extends along the circumference of the drum on an outer shell of the drum. This means that the sacrificial anode is not visible to the user when the drum is installed in the washing machine.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the drum has several flanged areas, each with a sacrificial anode flanged into it. This further enhances the effect of the sacrificial anode. Preferably, the flanged area, or for example two flanged areas, extend around the circumference of the drum on the outer shell and each has a sacrificial anode flanged into it.

[0014] Preferably, the flanged area is arranged on the beveled sides of the drum. This allows the sacrificial anode to be flanged into the drum in a serial flanged process using a flanged attachment, since the beveled sides of the drum are usually flanged during drum manufacturing.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the sacrificial anode comprises aluminum, the less noble material in the electrochemical series. Preferably, it is made of aluminum. Preferably, the sacrificial anode is embedded in the drum in the form of an aluminum adhesive strip.

[0016] The preferred drum material is stainless steel. A ferritic stainless steel is preferred.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention relates to a washing machine with a drum according to one or more of the embodiments described above. The washing machine preferably has a tub for receiving washing liquid, in which the drum for receiving laundry is rotatably mounted.

[0018] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a drum for a washing machine, comprising incorporating a sacrificial anode into the drum, wherein the sacrificial anode is made of a less noble material in the electrochemical series than a drum material.

[0019] Preferably, the sacrificial anode, in the form of an aluminum adhesive strip, is embedded in a drum made of stainless steel. Embedding can be carried out using a commercially available embedding machine or tool.

[0020] An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It is shown schematically and not to scale. Fig. 1 a perspective partial view of a drum according to the invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the Fig. 1 drum shown; Fig. 3 an enlarged partial view of the Fig. 2 shown drum; and Fig. 4 a partial cross-sectional view of the in Fig. 1 shown drum.

[0021] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a perspective partial view of a drum according to the invention. The drum 1 has an inner shell 4 and an outer shell 5. A sacrificial anode 2 is embedded in a flanged area 3 at a bend. The sacrificial anode 2 is made of a less noble material in the electrochemical series than the drum material.

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the in Fig. 1 The drum shown. The drum 1 has two bordered areas 3 that extend around the circumference of the drum 1 on the outer shell 5.

[0023] Fig. 3 shows an enlarged partial view of the in Fig. 2 The drum shown. The partial view shows the in Fig. 2 Part marked III. The sacrificial anode 2 is embedded in the bordered area 3.

[0024] Fig. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the in Fig. 1 The drum shown. Shown is the bordered area 3, into which the ribbon-shaped sacrificial anode is bordered. Reference symbol list

[0025] 1 Drum 2 Sacrificial anode 3 Bordered area 4 Inner mantle 5 Outer mantle

Claims

1. Drum (1) for a washing machine, comprising a sacrificial anode (2) which is formed from a less noble material in the electrochemical series than a drum material and is edged in in an edged region (3) of the drum (1).

2. Drum (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the sacrificial anode (2) is tape-like.

3. Drum (1) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the edged region (3) is arranged on chamfered sides of the drum (1).

4. Drum (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sacrificial anode (2) has aluminium as the less noble material in the electrochemical series or is made of aluminium.

5. Drum (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drum material is stainless steel.

6. Washing machine comprising a drum (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

7. Method for producing a drum (1) for a washing machine, comprising edging a sacrificial anode (2) into the drum (1), wherein the sacrificial anode (2) is formed from a less noble material in the electrochemical series than a drum material.

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