A drum for household appliances

Abstract

The present invention discloses a drum (T) suitable for use in washing and / or drying household appliances. The drum (T) comprises at least one side wall (1) in a cylindrical form; at least two protrusions (4) located on the side wall (1); and at least two holes (5) located on the side wall (1). Here, said protrusions (4) extend towards the interior of the side wall (1) and are in the form of a twisted truncated pyramid.

Description

[0001] A DRUM FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a drum used in household appliances, especially washing and / or drying appliances.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Electronic devices such as washing machines and drying machines are household appliances used for washing and / or drying laundry. Said household appliances comprise at least one body and at least one drum located in the body, which is suitable for receiving the laundry to be washed and / or dried. The drum is generally located in a tub to make a rotational movement. Here, efficiency of the washing and / or drying process is increased by rotating the drum during the washing and / or drying process. The drums generally have a cylindrical shape so as to make a rotational movement. Since the cylindrical shape does not have sharp edges, friction of the drum against the tub is prevented during the rotational movement.

[0006] During the washing and / or drying process, items such as laundry in the drum are expected to rub against each other in order to increase efficiency. Such a rub provided by the rotational movement provides better cleaning of the stains on the laundry during the washing process, and enables hot air to be transmitted to the different surfaces of the laundry during the drying process. In conventional applications, protrusions called agitators are used in the drum to provide the rub. According to these applications, when the drum rotates, the agitators contact laundry to make the laundry move. In addition to the agitators, smaller protrusion forms on a side wall of the drum can also be used in the drum. However, the protrusion forms in the known art cannot fulfill the functions of both providing the required rub and providing the washing liquid or air flow in the drum correctly.

[0007] Brief Description of the Invention The present invention discloses a drum suitable for use in household appliances, especially washing and / or drying appliances. The drum comprises at least one side wall in a cylindrical form; at least two protrusions located on the side wall; and at least two holes located on the side wall. Here, said protrusions extend towards the interior of the side wall and are in the form of a twisted truncated pyramid.

[0008] The drum according to the present invention provides better agitation of items, such as laundry, placed in the drum during washing and / or drying processes so as to increase the efficiency of the related process, thanks to the protrusions on the side wall. Twisted truncated pyramid form of the protrusions allows for better distribution of the air or washing liquid circulated in the drum during washing and / or drying processes. These protrusions also increase the physical strength of the drum.

[0009] Object of the Invention

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a drum for washing and / or drying household appliances.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a drum with protrusions on its inner surface.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a durable and reliable drum.

[0013] Description of the Drawings

[0014] Exemplary embodiments of the drum according to the present invention is illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the drum according to the invention.

[0016] Figure 2 is a top view of the drum according to the invention.

[0017] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a side wall used in the drum according to the invention. Figure 4 is a detailed view of the protrusion provided on the side wall of the drum according to the invention. All the parts in the figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed as follows:

[0018] Drum (T)

[0019] Side wall (1)

[0020] Front wall (2)

[0021] Rear wall (3)

[0022] Protrusion (4)

[0023] Base (4a)

[0024] Upper surface (4b)

[0025] Side surface (4c)

[0026] Side (4d)

[0027] Hole (5)

[0028] A set of protrusions (6)

[0029] Description of the Invention

[0030] Household appliances such as washing machines or drying machines are used for washing and / or drying textile products such as laundry. Said household appliances comprise at least one drum for receiving the product to be washed and / or dried. Here, various structures can be used for rubbing the products placed in the drum during the washing or drying process. The present invention discloses a structure that provides correct adjustment of the washing liquid or air flow in the drum while rubbing the items placed in the drum against each other.

[0031] The drum (T) according to the present invention, which is illustrated in Figures 1-4, comprises at least one side wall (1) in a cylindrical form; at least two (preferably a higher number of) protrusions (4) located on the side wall (1); and at least two holes (5) located on the side wall (1). Here, said protrusions (4) extend towards the interior of the side wall (1) and are in the form of a twisted truncated pyramid.

[0032] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the drum (T) is used in a household appliance, i.e. a washing machine. The sidewall (1) of the drum (T) is, for example, made of a sheet material. The sheet material is shaped by using a method such as cold pressing, so that the protrusions (4) are obtained on the side wall (1). Here, twisted truncated pyramid form of the protrusions (4) are obtained by cutting an upper part of a pyramid that is twisted to a certain degree around the perpendicular descending from the apex to the center of the base. This form provides agitation (therefore, rubbing against each other) of items, such as laundry in the drum (T), while the drum (T) rotates, as well as directing a washing liquid or air in the drum (T). More specifically, the specific form of the protrusions (4) provides an increase in the inner surface area of the drum (T), such that the laundry contacting this surface can be agitated better. In addition, the inclined surfaces in the form of a twisted truncated pyramid ensure that the washing liquid or air inside the drum (T) is directed in different directions from the rotational direction of the drum (T). Thus, for example, during the washing process, the washing liquid (which may be a water containing detergent or a fresh water used in the rinsing step) can be directed to different directions in the drum (T) so that it can be better contacted with different points of the laundry. The holes (5) on the side wall (1) can, for example, ensure that the washing liquid in the drum (T) is discharged out of the drum (T) during a spinning process or that hot air is sent into the drum (T) during the drying process.

[0033] According to various exemplary embodiments of the invention, the twisted truncated pyramid may be either in the form of a square or a triangle. In case the twisted truncated pyramid has a square form, the protrusion (4) comprises a base (4a) in a square form; at least one upper surface (4b) which is located on the base (4a) with a side length thereof being lower than the base (4a), wherein center of the upper surface (4b) is aligned with the center of the base (4a), wherein corners of the upper surface (4b) are in different alignment with the corner of the base (4a); four side surfaces (4c) in an inclined form, each extending from the sides of the base (4a) towards the sides of the upper surface (4b). Here, the side (4d) where each side surface (4c) joins with the base (4a), the upper surface (4b) or another side surface (4c) is preferably rounded. Thus, the items contacting the sides (4d) are prevented from being damaged. In the case where the twisted truncated pyramid is in the form of a triangle, the base (4a) and the upper surface (4b) are in the form of triangles, and three side surfaces (4c) are provided in the protrusion (4).

[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drum (T) comprises at least two sets of protrusions (6), each located between a front side and a rear side of the side wall (1) (e.g. located parallel to the central axis of the cylindrical side wall (1)), and each having at least two protrusions (4). Here, the protrusions (4) provided in two adjacent sets of protrusions (6) are in different alignment from each other. For example, a side of a protrusion (4) provided in a set of protrusions (6) reaches a middle part of a protrusion (4) provided in the adjacent set of protrusions (6). Thus, better distribution of the air and / or washing liquid in the drum (T) can be achieved.

[0035] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the holes (5) is located in proximity to a corner of the protrusion (4). Thus, for example, during a spinning step covered by the washing process, the washing liquid directed by the protrusion (4) is easily discharged out of the drum (T) through the holes (5).

[0036] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the drum (T) comprises at least one front wall (2) located on a front side of the side wall (1); and at least one rear wall (3) located on a rear side of the side wall. Thus, a partially closed drum (T) form is obtained.

[0037] The present invention also provides a household appliance comprising said drum (T). The household appliance may be a washing machine or a drying machine.

[0038] The drum (T) according to the present invention provides better agitation of items, such as laundry, placed in the drum (T) during washing and / or drying processes so as to increase the efficiency of the related process, thanks to the protrusions (4) on the side wall (1). Twisted truncated pyramid form of the protrusions (4) allows for better distribution of the air or washing liquid circulated in the drum (T) during washing and / or drying processes. These protrusions (4) also increase the physical strength of the drum (T).

Claims

CLAIMS1. A drum (T) suitable for use in a household appliance and comprising at least one side wall (1) in a cylindrical form; at least two protrusions (4) located on the side wall (1); and at least two holes (5) located on the side wall (1), characterized in that said protrusions (4) extend towards the interior of the side wall (1) and are in the form of a twisted truncated pyramid.

2. A drum (T) according to claim 1, characterized in that the twisted truncated pyramid is in the form of a square.

3. A drum (T) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the protrusion (4) comprises a base (4a) in a square form; at least one upper surface (4b) which is located on the base (4a) with a side length thereof being lower than the base (4a), wherein center of the upper surface (4b) is aligned with the center of the base (4a), wherein corners of the upper surface (4b) are in different alignment with the corner of the base (4a); four side surfaces (4c) in an inclined form, each extending from the sides of the base (4a) towards the sides of the upper surface (4b).

4. A drum (T) according to claim 3, characterized in that the side (4d) where each side surface (4c) joins with the base (4a), the upper surface (4b) or another side surface (4c) is rounded.

5. A drum (T) according to claim 1, characterized in that the twisted truncated pyramid is in the form of a triangle.

6. A drum (T) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two sets of protrusions (6), each located between a front side and a rear side of the side wall (1), and each having at least two protrusions (4).

7. A drum (T) according to claim 6, characterized in that the protrusions (4) provided in two adjacent sets of protrusions (6) are in different alignment from each other.

8. A drum (T) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the holes (5) is located in proximity to a corner of the protrusion (4).

9. A drum (T) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one front wall (2) located on a front side of the side wall (1); and at least one rear wall (3) located on a rear side of the side wall.

10. A household appliance comprising a drum (T) according to any of the preceding claims.

11. A household appliance according to claim 10, characterized in that the household appliance is a washing machine.

12. A household appliance according to claim 10, characterized in that the household appliance is a drying machine.

Images