Ballasted tub for a washing machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a lye container (1) for a drum washing machine (8) with at least one ballast weight (10, 11) which is attached to the container wall (2, 6), wherein the ballast weight (10, 11) comprises ballast material (110, 111) which includes a proportion of bulk material (110) with a specific weight which is fixed with a curable or cured binder (111), and wherein the binder (111) is regenerable.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lye container for a drum washing machine with at least one ballast weight attached to the container wall, wherein the ballast weight comprises ballast material comprising a proportion of bulk material with a specific weight, which is fixed with a curable or cured binder.

[0002] Such a lye container is known from DE 42 38 686 C1. In this case, ballast weights are screwed onto the end walls, with domes molded onto the end walls that project into openings in the ballast weight.

[0003] EP 0 623 436 A1 discloses a ballast weight for a washing machine, comprising a hollow body filled with bulk material such as sand or gravel. The bulk material is compacted with cement.

[0004] The known ballast weights have the disadvantage that, at the end of their service life, they can only be recycled in a complex and energy-intensive way.

[0005] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a lye container with an improved ballast weight.

[0006] According to the invention, the problem is solved with a washing container having the features of claim 1 and with a washing machine according to claim 10. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the respective dependent claims that follow.

[0007] According to the invention, it is proposed that the ballast material used for the ballast weight comprises a proportion of bulk material with a specific gravity, which is fixed with a curable or cured binder, thus providing the ballast weight, in particular, as a self-contained, stable molded body. It is important that the binder is regenerable.

[0008] Regenerable means that the binder or the molded body can be returned to its original state before hardening through regeneration, for example, it is granulatable, and the binder can be reused.

[0009] The bulk material can be separated from the binder or it can adhere to the individual particles of the binder, so that in both cases a new molded body can be produced with low energy input. The bulk material preferably has a higher specific gravity than the binder. The proportion of bulk material is preferably 80% to 99% of the volume of the ballast weight body.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment, the ballast weight comprises a hollow body filled with ballast material, in particular with the bulk material and the binder. The binder is hardened in the operational state of the lye container or washing machine, so that the individual particles of the granules are fixed in place within the hollow space.

[0011] In another version, the ballast weight is designed as a molded body. The molded body is held in shape by means of the bulk material stabilized by the hardened binder.

[0012] In a practical design, the ballast weight is pressed onto contact areas on the container wall and attached to the container wall by means of a screw connection, adhesive bonding or a positive locking connection.

[0013] In an overall suitable embodiment, the bulk material is formed as granules made of a material with a density of 1.0 kg / l to 20.0 kg / l, preferably 1.5 kg / l to 10 kg / l, and a grain size in the range of 0.01 mm to 10.0 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

[0014] Grain size refers to the diameter of the individual particles. The particles can be spherical or polygonal, symmetrical or chaotically shaped.

[0015] A mixture of different particle sizes can also be used. The diameters are chosen so that small particles fit into the spaces between larger particles. This results in minimal voids and maximizes density.

[0016] In a more advantageous further development, the bulk material comprises or consists of iron, iron oxide, ferrous material, or mineral material. This can be recycled gravel, scrap metal, or granulated waste products from steel production.

[0017] In a generally suitable design, the binding agent includes gypsum.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment or further development, the binder comprises polymers or fibrous materials, particularly of inorganic or organic origin. These materials can be added to the gypsum or used on their own without gypsum. This allows for slower reaction times and makes processing more economical.

[0019] In another, overall advantageous embodiment, the binder is designed in such a way that it can be converted into a non-solid state by means of mechanical and / or thermal treatment in order to separate the binder from the bulk material.

[0020] Thermal treatment for separation means that the hardened binder transitions into a soft state, allowing for the separation of individual particles of the bulk material or a reshaping of the ballast weight.

[0021] Mechanical treatment means that the solid ballast body is granulated, for example by shredding, grinding, or vibrating to separate the particles. Overall, however, it should be emphasized that the energy required for separation and reshaping with hardening is only a fraction of that required for conventional ballast weights made of concrete or cast iron.

[0022] The invention also relates to a washing machine with a tub, as described above. The tub consists of at least one cylindrical shell surrounding a drum. The cylindrical shell is closed by at least one bottom wall. A hub is integrated into the bottom wall, which receives and supports the drive shaft for the drum, which is rotatably driven by a motor. The tub and the drum are provided with a closable access opening for loading and unloading the laundry.

[0023] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures, which show: Fig. 1: a sketch of a drum washing machine; Fig. 2: the tub in a perspective front view; Figs. 3, 4: a ballast weight in various designs and Fig. 5: a schematic detail view of the ballast.

[0024] In Fig. 1 A washing machine 8 with a tub 1 is sketched in a side view as a section. The tub 1 consists of at least a cylindrical shell 2 that surrounds a drum 3. The cylindrical shell 2 is closed by at least one bottom wall 6a. A hub 4 is integrated into the bottom wall 6a, which accommodates the drive shaft 5 for the drum 3, driven by a motor 12. The front end wall 6 is provided with a loading opening 7, which can be closed by a door 9. Ballast weights 10, 11 are attached to the shell 2 and / or to the end wall 6.

[0025] In Fig. 2 The lye container 1 is shown in a perspective view from the front. The ballast weights 11 are arranged on the outside of the front end wall 6, forming a partial circular ring. On the outside, they roughly follow the contour of the shell 2, while on the inside, they keep the loading opening 7 clear. The weights 11 are attached to the end wall 6 with screws 13, which are fastened to mounting tabs 14 that are molded onto the end wall 6 and / or the shell 2.

[0026] In Fig. 3 The ballast weight 11 is shown in a first embodiment. Here, the weight 11 is attached to the container wall 6 by means of screws 13. The ballast weight 11 comprises a hollow body 120, which can be made of a plastic material. Inside the hollow body 120 is the ballast material, which consists of bulk material 110 and the binding agent 111. The binding agent 111 fixes the individual particles of the bulk material together, so that a solid state is achieved for the bulk material within the hollow space.

[0027] In Fig. 4 The ballast weight 11 is shown in a second embodiment. Here, the weight 11 is attached to the container wall 6 by means of screws 13. The weight 11 is designed as a molded body formed from the ballast material itself. Inside the molded body is the ballast material, which consists of bulk material 110 and the binder 111. The binder 111 fixes the individual particles of the bulk material together, so that a solid state is formed for the bulk material, i.e., a solid body.

[0028] The bulk material 110 and binder 111 are placed in a flowable state, with at least the binder being flowable, into a cavity of the casting tool. The material hardens, for example, by drying, chemical reaction, temporary heating, or cooling, resulting in a solid molded body 11.

[0029] Fig. 5 Figure 1 schematically shows the ballast material comprising particles 110 from the weight-forming bulk material. It can be seen that the particles 110 can have different sizes. The binder 111 is located in the spaces between the particles 110. The binder 111 is in a fluid state so that it can penetrate the spaces of the bulk material 110. After hardening, for example by drying, chemical reaction, or temporary heating, the particles are fixed in place, resulting in a solid and stable ballast body 11. Fig. 2 , 3, 4) is formed. Overall, the bulk material is dimensioned such that it comprises 80% to 99% of the volume for the body of the ballast weight. The individual particles 110 preferably have a size in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm. The binder 111 can be provided with fibers to increase or improve the strength of the overall body 11. This is particularly relevant for the design according to Fig. 4 This is advantageous because, when the outer hollow body is omitted, the ballast body 11 thus created must be stable in itself.

Claims

1. Lye container (1) for a drum washing machine (8) with at least one ballast weight (10, 11) attached to the container wall (2, 6), wherein the ballast weight (10, 11) comprises ballast material (110, 111) comprising a proportion of bulk material (110) with a specific gravity, which is fixed with a curable or cured binder (111), characterized by that the binder (111) is renewable.

2. Lye container (1) according to claim 1, wherein the ballast weight (10, 11) comprises a hollow body (120) which is filled with ballast material (110, 111), in particular with the bulk material (110) and the binder (111).

3. Lye container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ballast weight (10, 11) is designed as a molded body which is held in shape stable from the bulk material (110) stabilized by means of the hardened binder (111).

4. Lye container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ballast weight (10, 11) is pressed onto support areas (17) on the container wall (2, 6) and is attached to the container wall (2, 6) by means of a screw connection, bonding or a positive locking connection.

5. Lye container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bulk material (110) is formed as granules of a material with a density of 1.0 kg / l to 20.0 kg / l, preferably 1.5 kg / l to 10 kg / l, and a grain size in the range of 0.01 mm to 10.0 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

6. Lye container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bulk material (110) comprises or consists of iron, iron oxide, ferrous material or mineral material.

7. Lye container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the binder (111) comprises gypsum.

8. Lye container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the binder (111) comprises polymers or fibrous materials, in particular of inorganic or organic origin.

9. Lye container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the binder (111) is designed such that it can be converted into a non-solid state by means of mechanical and / or thermal treatment for the purpose of separating the binder (111) from the bulk material (110).

10. Washing machine (8) with a tub (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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