washing machine

Abstract

We provide washing machines. [Solution] The washing machine comprises an outer cylinder (100) and an inner cylinder (200) fitted inside the outer cylinder (100). A watertight ring (1) protruding inward is provided at the outer cylinder opening (102), and the inwardly protruding end of the watertight ring (1) extends to a position at least close to the outer wall of the inner cylinder (200) and is used to prevent water between the inner and outer cylinders from flowing into the outer cylinder opening (102). By additionally installing a watertight ring at the outer cylinder opening of the washing machine, the gap between the outer cylinder opening and the inner cylinder opening can be blocked by the watertight ring, effectively preventing splashing water generated in the gap between the inner and outer cylinders from flowing out through the gap at the cylinder opening, and eradicating the phenomenon of residual water accumulating at the outer cylinder opening during use of a drum-type washing machine without holes. This achieves the avoidance of problems such as washing machine overflow and the generation of unpleasant odors.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of household electrical appliances, particularly relates to washing machines, and specifically relates to a drum washing machine that does not require cleaning and has an inner cylinder without holes.

Background Art

[0002] Conventional drum washing machines generally include structures such as an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, a housing, a vibration damping system, a window packing, and a door. The outer cylinder is supported and mounted in the washing machine housing via a vibration damping system so as to be vibratable, and the inner cylinder is coaxially fitted inside the outer cylinder. A driving device such as a motor is mounted on the outer cylinder, and the motor output shaft is connected to the inner cylinder and used for driving the inner cylinder to rotate about the axis, thereby achieving the effect of pounding the clothes placed inside to wash them. One end of the outer cylinder is sealed as the bottom of the outer cylinder, and an opening is provided at the other end to form the outer cylinder mouth. The inner cylinder mouth of the inner cylinder mounted inside the outer cylinder is provided on the same side facing the outer cylinder mouth and communicates with each other. The bottom of the inner cylinder is provided on the same side as the bottom of the outer cylinder, and the bottom of the inner cylinder is connected to the motor shaft penetrating the bottom of the outer cylinder. Thereby, the purpose of taking in and out clothes from the inner cylinder through the cylinder mouth and driving the inner cylinder to rotate by the motor via the motor shaft is achieved.

[0003] In the aforementioned drum washing machine, a dehydration port that is always open is generally drilled on the inner cylinder. When washing clothes, the washing water inside the inner cylinder flows crosswise inside and outside the inner cylinder, so that the clothes inside the inner cylinder can be washed by the washing water flowing into the outer cylinder. On the other hand, during dehydration, the inner cylinder is rotated at high speed to separate the moisture of the clothes inside the inner cylinder, and then it is discharged out through the dehydration port to the outer cylinder. However, since the washing water flows crosswise between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, the dirt in the gap between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder flows back into the inner cylinder together with the crosswise flowing washing water, resulting in secondary contamination of the clothes washed inside the inner cylinder, which greatly affects the washing effect of the clothes.

[0004] To overcome the aforementioned problems, the applicant proposes a washing machine that requires no special cleaning. This washing machine does not have a normally open spin-drying port on the inner cylinder of a drum-type washing machine, but only a spin-drying port whose valve core opens when the inner cylinder rotates at high speed, and the inner cylinder simultaneously has the function of filling with water when the washing machine is running and draining it when it is spinning.

[0005] However, during the spin cycle of the washing machine, the inner cylinder rotates at high speed, causing the drain water flow between the inner and outer cylinders to splash due to the action of the rapidly rotating inner cylinder. Some of the splashed water flows to the outer cylinder opening, and the water present at the outer cylinder opening flows out when the user opens the inner cylinder lid, significantly impacting the user's experience. Furthermore, if a sealing structure is not installed at the outer cylinder opening, the splashed water at the outer cylinder opening may overflow from the gap between the outer cylinder opening and the washing machine casing, spreading onto the floor where the washing machine is placed and potentially contaminating the floorboards in the user's home. In addition, after the washing cycle is complete, the splashed water at the outer cylinder opening may remain there, potentially leading to the growth of bacteria or unpleasant odors inside the outer cylinder.

[0006] In view of the above, the present invention is particularly proposed. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] The technical problem that this invention aims to solve is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and solve the problem of residual washing water existing at the outer cylinder opening of a drum-type washing machine that does not have holes, thereby providing a washing machine that prevents the spin-drying water flow from overflowing from the outer cylinder opening. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the aforementioned technical problems, the basic concepts of the technical ideas adopted by this invention are as follows.

[0009] The washing machine comprises an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder fitted inside the outer cylinder. A watertight ring protruding inward is provided at the opening of the outer cylinder, and the inwardly protruding end of the watertight ring extends to a position at least close to the outer wall of the inner cylinder and is used to prevent water between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder from flowing to the opening of the outer cylinder.

[0010] Furthermore, one side of the outer cylinder is an outer cylinder opening flange, forming the outer cylinder opening. One side of the inner cylinder is an inner cylinder opening flange, forming the inner cylinder opening. The outer cylinder opening flange and the inner cylinder opening flange are located on the same side, and there is a gap between the inner wall of the outer cylinder opening flange and the outer wall of the inner cylinder opening flange. The waterproof ring is provided in the gap between the inner cylinder opening flange and the outer cylinder opening flange. The outer circumference of the waterproof ring is fixed and connected to the inner wall of the outer cylinder opening flange, and the inner circumference is provided in a position close to the outer wall of the inner cylinder opening flange.

[0011] Furthermore, a window packing is attached to the outer cylinder opening flange, enclosing at least one full circle around the outer cylinder opening, and the outer circumference of the watertight ring is fixed and connected to the window packing.

[0012] Alternatively, the outer circumference of the waterproofing ring is connected to the inner wall of the outer cylinder opening flange.

[0013] Preferably, the watertight ring is installed integrally with the window packing or integrally with the outer cylinder opening flange.

[0014] Furthermore, the window packing is annular in shape, with its inner circumference enclosing the outer cylinder opening, and its outer circumference positioned on the outer wall of the outer cylinder opening flange, extending at least to the outer circumference of the outer cylinder opening flange. The outer circumference of the watertight ring is fixedly connected to the inner fixed end of the window packing.

[0015] Preferably, the waterproofing ring is annular in shape and installed coaxially with the outer cylinder opening. The radial dimension of the outer circumference of the annular waterproofing ring is greater than the radial dimension of the outer cylinder opening. The radial dimension of the inner circumference of the annular waterproofing ring is smaller than the radial dimension of the outer cylinder opening and larger than the radial dimension of the inner cylinder opening.

[0016] Furthermore, the central part of the outer cylinder opening flange is provided with a ring-shaped folded portion that extends outward, the inner circumferential wall of the ring-shaped folded portion forming the outer cylinder opening, and the inner circumferential side of the window packing encloses the inner circumferential wall of the ring-shaped folded portion. Preferably, the central part of the ring-shaped folded portion is provided with at least one stepped portion that changes the radial dimension of the outer cylinder opening, and the stepped portion is provided with a ring-shaped fixing rib that protrudes into the interior of the outer cylinder, and the inner circumferential fixing end of the window packing is inserted correspondingly into the gap between the ring-shaped fixing rib and the ring-shaped folded portion.

[0017] More preferably, the protruding end of the annular folded portion is provided with an engaging projection that protrudes radially outward. The window packing is provided with an engaging groove into which the engaging projection is inserted.

[0018] Furthermore, a circular annular waterproofing ring is provided at the inner circumferential fixed end of the window packing, projecting radially inward from the outer cylinder opening. The waterproofing ring extends vertically, and its outer circumference is integrated with the window packing or fixed to the inner circumferential fixed end of the window packing. The side wall surface on the inner circumferential side facing the inside of the outer cylinder is installed in close proximity to the outer wall of the inner cylinder opening flange. Preferably, the annular waterproofing ring has an arc shape that gradually bends from the inner circumference to the outer circumference towards the bottom of the outer cylinder, and is used to guide the water flow toward the outer cylinder wall.

[0019] Furthermore, the inner circumference fixing end of the window packing is provided with a mounting groove that opens toward the inside of the outer cylinder. The outer circumference side of the water-blocking ring facing outwards from the outer cylinder is provided with a mounting projection that protrudes and is inserted into the mounting groove. Preferably, the aforementioned mounting groove is a concave groove with a triangular cross-section, and inwardly recessed locking grooves are drilled on both side walls of the triangular concave groove, and the mounting projection is a similarly shaped triangular projection that is inserted into the mounting groove, and a locking projection that is inserted into the locking groove is provided on the corresponding side wall of the triangular projection.

[0020] Furthermore, an inner cylinder opening is provided in the center of the inner cylinder opening flange, which is formed by an annular folded portion. An annular flat portion is provided around the outer circumference of the inner cylinder opening of the inner cylinder opening flange. The annular flat portion is flush with the inside of the outer cylinder opening flange. At least the inner circumference of the side wall surface facing the inside of the outer cylinder of the water-blocking ring is installed in close proximity to the annular flat portion.

[0021] Furthermore, an inner cylinder lid is attached to the inner cylinder, which can open and close the inner cylinder opening outward, and the outer circumference of the inner cylinder lid protrudes from the inner cylinder opening. At least a portion of the annular window packing overlaps with the projection of the outer circumference of the inner cylinder lid onto the outer cylinder opening flange. Preferably, the outer cushioning end of the window packing protrudes radially from the outer circumference of the inner cylinder lid in the direction of the outer cylinder opening, and a hollow cushioning cavity is formed between the outer cushioning end of the window packing and the outer cylinder opening flange, which is used to reduce the contact stress between the outer cylinder opening flange and the washing machine housing.

[0022] Furthermore, a water reservoir is provided on the outside of the outer cylinder opening flange, projecting forward toward the outer cylinder and opening radially toward the outer cylinder opening. The water reservoir covers at least the area below the outer cylinder opening. Preferably, the water reservoir is installed integrally with the window packing. Preferably, the water reservoir is located in the outer peripheral region of the inner cylinder lid. More preferably, a residual water outlet is provided at the lowest point of the water reservoir, and the residual water outlet communicates with the lower part of the outer cylinder, with the point of communication between the residual water outlet and the outer cylinder located below the watertight ring. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] By employing the aforementioned technical solutions, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared to the prior art.

[0024] By additionally installing a water-blocking ring at the position of the outer tub opening of the washing machine, the water-blocking ring can block the gap between the outer tub opening and the inner tub opening, effectively avoiding the occurrence of the situation where the scattered water flow generated in the gap between the inner tub and the outer tub flows out from the gap of the tub opening, and eradicating the occurrence of the phenomenon that residual water accumulates at the position of the outer tub opening during the use of the drum-type washing machine without holes. Thereby, it is achieved to avoid the occurrence of problems such as water overflow and strange odors in the washing machine.

[0025] Moreover, the structure of the present invention is simple, the effect is remarkable, and it is suitable for widespread use.

[0026] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail.

Brief Explanation of the Drawings

[0027] The drawings constituting a part of the present invention are for providing a further understanding of the present invention, and the exemplary embodiments and their descriptions of the present invention are for interpreting the present invention and do not unduly limit the present invention. Needless to say, the drawings in the following description are only several embodiments, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative effort. The drawings are as follows.

[0028] [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram of the partial structure of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a front schematic diagram showing the partial structure of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a schematic diagram showing the partial structure of the washing machine with an inner tub lid according to the present invention in the A-A cross-sectional view of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is an enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at part B of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is an enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at part B of FIG. 3 according to another embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that these drawings and the descriptions in characters are not for limiting the scope of the concept of the present invention in any form, but for explaining the concept of the present invention to those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0029] To further clarify the purpose, technical concept, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention, the technical concept of the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings of the embodiments. The following embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0030] In describing the present invention, the directions or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "up," "down," "front," "back," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inside," and "outside" are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings and are merely for the purpose of facilitating the description and simplification of the present invention. They do not indicate or imply that the shown devices or components necessarily have a specific direction or are configured and operated in a specific direction, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0031] In describing this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined or limited, the terms "attach," "connect," and "connect" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, this could mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, an integral connection, a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, a direct connection, or an indirect connection via an intermediate intermediary. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand the specific meaning of these terms in this invention depending on the specific circumstances.

[0032] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples.

[0033] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, this is a washing machine, which comprises an outer cylinder 100 and an inner cylinder 200.

[0034] The outer cylinder 100 is vibrably mounted inside the washing machine housing via a vibration damping assembly. The aforementioned vibration damping assembly may be an existing vibration damping rod, a hook spring, or the like. A drive motor is mounted on the underside of the bottom of the outer cylinder, and the motor shaft of the drive motor can be connected to the inner cylinder 200 directly or via a reduction clutch, and is used to rotationally drive the inner cylinder 200 to perform washing or other processing on the clothes inside the inner cylinder 200.

[0035] The inner cylinder 200 is fitted inside the outer cylinder 100, with the openings and bottoms of the inner cylinder 200 and the outer cylinder 100 on the same side, and generally the inner cylinder 200 and the outer cylinder 100 are installed coaxially. An inner cylinder lid 300 is attached to the inner cylinder 200, and the inner cylinder lid 300 can open and close the inner cylinder opening 202, and there is no normally open spin-drying port on the inner cylinder 200. As a result, after the inner cylinder lid 300 closes the inner cylinder opening 202, the inner cylinder 200 is formed as a sealed water receiving container and used for washing in a washing machine. On the other hand, when the washing machine performs spin-drying, the centrifugal force generated by the high-speed rotation of the inner cylinder 200 is used to open the valve plug that is blocking the spin-drying port and drain the water, thereby preventing cross-flow of wash water inside and outside the inner cylinder during washing. This effectively prevents dirt between the inner and outer cylinders from entering the inner cylinder and secondarily contaminating the clothes. The inner cylinder 200 has a valve plug that opens at the drain port, which allows the inside of the inner cylinder to communicate with the inside of the outer cylinder 100. The lower part of the outer cylinder 100 is also in communication with the drain pipe. Therefore, the water discharged from the inner cylinder 200 flows out of the washing machine through the space between the inner and outer cylinders and then through the drain pipe.

[0036] However, during the spin cycle of the washing machine, the inner cylinder 200 rotates at high speed, causing the drain water flow between the inner and outer cylinders to splash due to the action of the rapidly rotating inner cylinder 200. Some of the splashed water flows to the outer cylinder opening 102, and the water present at the outer cylinder opening 102 flows out when the user opens the inner cylinder lid 300, significantly impacting the user's experience. Furthermore, if a sealing structure is not installed at the outer cylinder opening 102, the water splashed at the outer cylinder opening 102 may overflow from the gap between the outer cylinder opening 102 and the washing machine casing, spreading onto the floor where the washing machine is placed and potentially contaminating the floorboards of the user's home. In addition, after the washing cycle is complete, the water splashed at the outer cylinder opening 102 may remain there, potentially leading to the growth of bacteria or unpleasant odors inside the outer cylinder.

[0037] In order to solve the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

[0038] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, in the embodiment of the present invention, a water-blocking ring 1 protruding inward is provided at the outer cylinder opening 102 of the washing machine. The inwardly protruding end of the water-blocking ring 1 extends to a position at least close to the outer wall of the inner cylinder 200 and is used to prevent water between the inner and outer cylinders from flowing to the outer cylinder opening 102. By additionally installing the water-blocking ring 1 at the outer cylinder opening 102 of the washing machine, the gap between the outer cylinder opening 102 and the inner cylinder opening 202 can be blocked by the water-blocking ring 1, effectively preventing splashing water generated in the gap between the inner and outer cylinders from flowing out through the gap at the cylinder opening, and eliminating the phenomenon of residual water accumulating at the outer cylinder opening during use of a drum-type washing machine without holes. This achieves the avoidance of problems such as washing machine overflow and the generation of unpleasant odors.

[0039] In an embodiment of the present invention, the outer cylinder 100 is cylindrical and comprises an outer cylinder wall with an axis extending horizontally. An outer cylinder opening flange 101 is provided at one end of the cylinder wall, and an outer cylinder bottom is provided at the other end. The outer circumference of the outer cylinder opening flange 101 is sealed to the corresponding end of the outer cylinder wall, and an outer cylinder opening 102 is drilled in the center. The outer cylinder bottom closes corresponding to the corresponding end of the outer cylinder wall, and a motor shaft is attached to the center. A dynamic seal ring is provided at the point where the motor shaft penetrates the outer cylinder bottom. The inner cylinder 200 is cylindrical and comprises an inner cylinder wall with an axis extending horizontally. An inner cylinder opening flange 201 is provided at one end of the inner cylinder wall, and an inner cylinder bottom is provided at the other end. The outer circumference of the inner cylinder opening flange 201 is sealed to the corresponding end of the inner cylinder wall, and an inner cylinder opening 202 is drilled in the center. The bottom of the inner cylinder closes the corresponding ends of the inner cylinder walls, and the center is coaxially connected to one end of a motor shaft that penetrates the outer cylinder, and the other end of the motor shaft that penetrates the outer cylinder is connected to the rotor of the motor and used to rotate the inner cylinder. The inner cylinder opening flange 201 is located inside the outer cylinder 100 and is positioned closer to the inside of the outer cylinder 100 than the outer cylinder opening flange 101, and there is a gap between the inside of the outer cylinder opening flange 101 and the outside of the inner cylinder opening flange 201 to ensure that the inner cylinder opening flange 201 does not come into contact with the outer cylinder opening flange 101 when the inner cylinder 200 rotates.

[0040] In an embodiment of the present invention, the watertight ring 1 is provided in the gap between the inner cylinder opening flange 201 and the outer cylinder opening flange 101, and the watertight ring 1 has an annular shape and is installed coaxially with the outer cylinder opening. The outer circumference of the annular watertight ring 1 is fixed and sealed to the inner wall of the outer cylinder opening flange 101, and the inner circumference is installed close to the outer wall of the inner cylinder opening flange 201. This allows the annular watertight ring 1 to maintain the smallest possible gap between itself and the inner cylinder opening flange 201 during the rotation of the inner cylinder 200, and furthermore, effectively prevents the drain water flow in the gap between the inner and outer cylinders from entering the outer cylinder opening 102 position. Naturally, in order to prevent the watertight ring 1 from wearing down due to the outer wall of the inner cylinder during the rotation of the inner cylinder 200, it is preferable to maintain a certain gap between the inner circumference of the watertight ring 1 and the outer wall of the inner cylinder 200. Preferably, in order to ensure waterproofing performance, the minimum gap distance between the waterproofing ring 1 and the outer wall of the inner cylinder can be set to be less than or equal to the thickness of the waterproofing ring, thereby reducing the gap as much as possible and enhancing the waterproofing effect.

[0041] However, in this invention, in order to enhance the water-blocking effect, the inner circumference of the water-blocking ring 1 may be sealed to the outer wall of the inner cylinder 200 and brought into close contact with each other, without considering the problem of wear (not shown in the drawings).

[0042] Furthermore, to enhance the sealing effect, a sealing rib that protrudes from the outer wall of the inner cylinder 200 may be installed. The sealing rib is arranged to intersect with the waterproof ring 1 and is used to form a curved channel in the gap between them, further enhancing the waterproof effect (not shown in the drawing).

[0043] In an embodiment of the present invention, the water-blocking ring 1 is annular in shape, encircling the outer cylinder opening 102, and is installed coaxially with the outer cylinder opening 102. The radial dimension of the outer circumference of the annular water-blocking ring 1 is larger than the radial dimension of the outer cylinder opening 102, and the radial dimension of the inner circumference of the annular water-blocking ring 1 is smaller than the radial dimension of the outer cylinder opening 102, larger than the radial dimension of the inner cylinder opening 202, and smaller than the outer radial dimension of the inner cylinder opening flange 201. This ensures that the inner circumference of the water-blocking ring 1 is installed in close proximity to the inner cylinder opening flange 201, thereby preventing the passage of drainage water flow between the cylinders, and that the outer circumference of the water-blocking ring 1 can be assembled in a sealed and fixed manner with the outer cylinder opening flange 101, thus guaranteeing the intended use. Preferably, a certain gap is maintained between the inner circumference of the water-blocking ring 1 and the outer wall of the inner cylinder 200 to avoid wear between the water-blocking ring 1 and the inner cylinder 200 when the inner cylinder 200 rotates.

[0044] In the embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned water-blocking ring 1 is made of a material that can undergo elastic deformation, such as rubber. This ensures that the water-blocking ring 1 is in contact with the outer wall of the inner cylinder 200 in a sealed state, and the elastic deformation of the water-blocking ring 1 itself is used to effectively dampen vibrations of the inner cylinder 200, preventing the vibrations of the inner cylinder 200 from damaging the water-blocking ring 1. Furthermore, since the inner circumference of the water-blocking ring 1 is installed in close proximity to the inner cylinder opening flange 201, the water-blocking ring 1 can be used to restrict and support the position of one end of the inner cylinder opening. If large vibrations occur in the inner cylinder 200, the water-blocking ring can be used to correct and support the eccentricity of the inner cylinder 200, thereby significantly improving the operating stability of the drum-type washing machine and reducing the operating noise of the washing machine.

[0045] Preferably, the waterproof ring 1 is configured as follows to ensure the efficiency of blocking the water flow and to more effectively prevent the water flow between the inner and outer cylinders from passing through the waterproof ring 1.

[0046] The watertight ring 1 is a ring-shaped structure that is provided on the outer circumference of the inner cylinder opening 202. The ring-shaped watertight ring 1 is curved in an arc shape, gradually inclined from the inner circumference towards the bottom of the outer cylinder. As a result, the water flow blocked by the watertight ring 1 can move towards the outer circumference due to centrifugal force, and the blocked water flow flows into the cylindrical wall of the outer cylinder 100, and further flows out through the drainage port opened on the cylindrical wall of the outer cylinder 100.

[0047] In an embodiment of the present invention, a window packing 2 is attached around the outer cylinder opening 102, and the window packing 2 is mounted on the outer cylinder opening flange 101. The outer circumference of the water-blocking ring 1 is fixedly attached on the window packing 2. Preferably, the water-blocking ring 1 may be installed integrally with the window packing 2, or it may be fixedly attached on the window packing 2. Of course, in the present invention, the water-blocking ring 1 may also be directly fixedly attached on the outer cylinder opening flange 101.

[0048] In the embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned window packing 2 is also made of a material that can undergo elastic deformation, such as rubber. This ensures that when the inner cylinder 200 vibrates and displaces itself and comes into contact with the outer cylinder 100 during washing machine operation, the contact surface becomes the window packing 2, and at the same time, when the outer cylinder 100 vibrates and displaces itself and comes into contact with the washing machine casing, the contact surface also becomes the window packing 2. Furthermore, it significantly reduces the contact stress caused by vibration-induced collisions and effectively avoids vibration noise from the inner cylinder 200 and outer cylinder 100.

[0049] In this embodiment of the present invention, the window packing 2 attached to the outer cylinder opening 102 is annular in shape, and the inner circumference of the annular window packing 2 encloses the outer cylinder opening 102. The outer circumference of the annular window packing 2 extends to the outer circumference of the outer cylinder opening flange 101 and is fixed to the outer wall surface of the outer cylinder opening flange 101. An inner cylinder cover 300 is attached to the inner cylinder opening flange 201, and at least the outer circumference of the inner cylinder cover 300 protrudes from the outer cylinder opening flange 101 in the axial direction of the outer cylinder 100, and overlaps with the region of the outer cylinder opening flange 101 that is close to the outer cylinder opening 102 in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 100. As a result, the closed inner cylinder cover 300 can block the annular gap between the inner cylinder opening and the outer cylinder opening. Preferably, the annular window packing 2 covers at least the area of ​​the outer circumference of the inner cylinder lid 300 projected onto the outer cylinder opening flange 101, so that when the inner cylinder 200 rotates and generates vibrations after the inner cylinder lid 300 is closed, the outer circumference of the inner cylinder lid 300 comes into contact with the window packing 2. This reduces the vibration impact force during rotational operation of the inner cylinder 200, achieving a significant technological advancement in reducing the operating noise of the washing machine.

[0050] In an embodiment of the present invention, the central part of the outer cylinder opening flange 101 is provided with a ring-shaped folded portion 10 that extends outward, the inner circumference of the ring-shaped folded portion 10 constitutes the outer cylinder opening 102, and the inner circumference of the ring-shaped window packing 2 encloses the inner circumference of the ring-shaped folded portion 10. Preferably, the central part of the ring-shaped folded portion 10 is provided with at least one stepped portion 11 that gradually reduces in the radial direction toward the outside, so that the outer cylinder opening 102 formed by being surrounded by the ring-shaped folded portion 10 has a two-stage communication hole configuration with different radial dimensions, thereby increasing the structural strength of the outer cylinder opening 102. At the same time, the side of the stepped portion 11 facing the inside of the outer cylinder 100 is provided with a ring-shaped fixing rib 12 that protrudes toward the inside of the outer cylinder 100. The inner circumference of the annular window packing 2 encloses the inner wall of the annular fixing rib 12, and the inner end of the annular window packing 2 is inserted into the gap between the annular fixing rib 12 and the annular folded portion 10, thereby achieving a fixed assembly between the inner circumference of the annular window packing 2 and the outer cylinder opening flange 101 in the outer cylinder radial direction. More preferably, the protruding end of the annular folded portion 10 is provided with an engaging projection 13 that protrudes radially outward, and the window packing 2 is provided with an engaging groove 14 into which the engaging projection 13 is inserted, thereby achieving a fixed assembly between the inner circumference of the annular window packing 2 and the outer cylinder opening flange 101 in the outer cylinder axial direction.

[0051] In an embodiment of the present invention, the inner circumference end of the window packing 2 is an inner circumference fixed end 4, which penetrates the outer cylinder opening 102 and extends to the inner wall of the outer cylinder opening flange 101, and is inserted correspondingly into the gap between the annular fixing rib 12 and the annular folded portion 10. The inner circumference fixed end 4 of the window packing 2 encloses at least the annular fixing rib 12, and a circular annular waterproof ring 1 is provided at the position of the inner circumference fixed end 4 of the window packing 2, projecting inward along the radial direction of the outer cylinder opening 102. The annular waterproof ring 1 extends vertically, its outer circumference is integral with or fixed to the window packing 2 and in contact with it, and at least a portion of the inner circumference wall surface facing the inside of the outer cylinder 100 is in close contact with the outer wall of the inner cylinder opening flange 201.

[0052] In an embodiment of the present invention, the inner circumferential fixing end 4 of the window packing 2 is provided with a mounting groove 7 that opens toward the inside of the outer cylinder 100, and the outer circumferential side of the water-blocking ring 1 facing outwards from the outer cylinder 100 is provided with a protruding mounting projection 8 that is inserted into the mounting groove 7. Preferably, the aforementioned mounting groove 7 is a recessed groove having a triangular cross-section, and inwardly recessed locking grooves are drilled on both side walls of the triangular recessed groove. The mounting projection 8 is a similarly shaped triangular projection that is inserted toward the mounting groove 7, and a locking projection that is inserted into the locking groove is provided on the corresponding side wall of the triangular projection. As a result, the water-blocking ring 1 is fixedly attached to the window packing 2 via the mounting projection 8 and mounting groove 7, which are inserted and connected and assembled.

[0053] In an embodiment of the present invention, an inner cylinder opening 202, formed by an annular folded portion, is provided in the central part of the inner cylinder opening flange 201. An annular flat portion 9 is provided around the outer circumference of the inner cylinder opening 202 of the inner cylinder opening flange 201, and the annular flat portion 9 is flush with the inner wall of the outer cylinder opening flange 101. At least the inner circumference portion of the waterproofing ring 1 facing the inside of the outer cylinder 100 overlaps and intersects with the annular flat portion 9, and is installed with a gap between them, so that the waterproofing ring 1 and the inner cylinder opening flange 201 form a large overlapping region. This significantly improves the waterproofing between the waterproofing ring 1 and the rotating inner cylinder 200.

[0054] In an embodiment of the present invention, an inner cylinder lid 300 is attached to the inner cylinder 200, which can open and close the inner cylinder opening 202 outward, and the outer circumference of the inner cylinder lid 300 protrudes from the inner cylinder opening 202. The outer circumference end of the annular window packing 2 is an outer circumference buffer end 5, which is installed at a distance from the outer cylinder opening flange 101, or fixed to the outer cylinder opening flange 101. The outer circumference buffer end 5 protrudes radially from at least the inner cylinder lid 300, and when the outer cylinder vibrates during the operation of the washing machine, the outer circumference buffer end of the outer cylinder opening flange 101 collides with the washing machine housing before other parts. This significantly reduces collision stress and clearly reduces the operating noise of the washing machine. Preferably, in order to further reduce stress caused by collision contact between the outer cylinder opening flange and the washing machine housing, the outer peripheral buffer end 5 of the annular window packing 2 may be installed as a hollow structure that protrudes inward towards the inside of the outer cylinder. This forms a hollow buffer cavity 6 that surrounds the outer peripheral buffer end 5 of the annular window packing 2 and the outer cylinder opening flange 101. The buffer cavity 6 covers at least the outer peripheral region of the inner cylinder lid 300.

[0055] In an embodiment of the present invention, a water reservoir 3 is provided at the outer peripheral end of the annular window packing 2, protruding forward from the outer cylinder 100 and opening radially toward the outer cylinder opening 102. The water reservoir 3 covers at least the area below the outer cylinder opening 102. The water reservoir 3 is used to receive residual water that overflows from the outer cylinder opening 102, flows downward when the inner cylinder lid 300 is opened, or flows down during the process of loading and unloading clothes from the inner cylinder opening 202, thereby preventing residual water from flowing into the gap between the outer cylinder opening flange 101 and the washing machine housing. Preferably, the water reservoir 3 is located in the outer peripheral region of the inner cylinder lid 300. More preferably, a residual water outlet 15 is provided at the lowest point of the water reservoir 3. The residual water outlet 15 communicates with the bottom of the washing machine's outer cylinder 100 via a pipeline and is used to discharge the received residual water to the outside through the washing machine drain pipe via the outer cylinder 100. This effectively prevents residual water from overflowing downwards from the gap between the outer cylinder opening 102 and the washing machine housing, flowing out to the outside of the washing machine, and spreading onto the floor surface on which the washing machine is mounted. More preferably, the point of communication between the residual water outlet 15 and the outer cylinder 100 is located below the water-blocking ring 1.

[0056] As shown in Figure 5, in an embodiment of the present invention, the water-blocking ring 1 may also be directly mounted on the outer cylinder opening flange 101 and comprise a rib integrally mounted on the outer cylinder opening flange 101. The aforementioned rib may project radially inward from the inner wall of the outer cylinder opening flange 101, with its projecting end positioned close to the outer wall of the inner cylinder 200, and similarly used to prevent the drain water flow between the inner and outer cylinders from flowing outward toward the outer cylinder opening. Preferably, the outer circumference of the rib may be wrapped in a layer of rubber to reduce impact force. Similarly, to guide the water flow outward, the inner wall of the rib facing the inside of the outer cylinder 100 may be provided as an arc-shaped surface that gradually bends toward the bottom of the outer cylinder from the inner circumference toward the outer circumference.

[0057] It should be noted that the waterproofing ring 1 may be installed as a separate component, and the outer circumference of the waterproofing ring 1 may be fixed to the outer cylinder opening flange 101, but this will not be repeated here (and will not be clearly shown in the drawings).

[0058] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the present invention in any way. The present invention has already been disclosed as described above by preferred embodiments, but this is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make equivalent embodiments by making minor changes or modifications to the technical content described above, without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. However, any simple modifications, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention, without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention, still remain within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] Explanation of the main components in the diagram: 100 Outer cylinder, 200 Inner cylinder, 300 Inner cylinder lid, 101 Outer cylinder opening flange, 102 Outer cylinder opening, 201 Inner cylinder opening flange, 202 Inner cylinder opening, 1 Water-blocking ring, 2 Window packing, 3 Water reservoir groove, 4 Inner circumference fixing end, 5 Outer circumference buffer end, 6 Buffer cavity, 7 Mounting groove, 8 Mounting projection, 9 Ring-shaped flat section, 10 Ring-shaped folded section, 11 Step section, 12 Fixing rib, 13 Engagement projection, 14 Engagement groove, 15 Residual water outlet.

Claims

1. Outer cylinder and A washing machine comprising an inner cylinder fitted inside an outer cylinder, A washing machine characterized by having a watertight ring that protrudes inward at the outer cylinder opening, the inwardly protruding end of the watertight ring extending to a position at least close to the outer wall of the inner cylinder, and being used to prevent water between the inner and outer cylinders from flowing to the outer cylinder opening.

2. One side of the outer cylinder is the outer cylinder opening flange, and the same side of the inner cylinder is the inner cylinder opening flange, with a gap between the outer cylinder opening flange and the inner cylinder opening flange. The washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the waterproof ring is provided in the gap between the inner cylinder opening flange and the outer cylinder opening flange, the outer circumference of the waterproof ring is fixed and connected to the inner wall of the outer cylinder opening flange, and the inner circumference is provided in a position close to the outer wall of the inner cylinder opening flange.

3. A window packing is attached to the outer cylinder opening flange, enclosing at least one full circle around the outer cylinder opening, and the outer circumference of the watertight ring is fixed and connected to the window packing. Alternatively, the outer circumference of the waterproof ring is connected to the inner wall of the outer cylinder opening flange. Preferably, the water-blocking ring is installed integrally with the window packing or integrally with the outer cylinder opening flange, as described in claim 2.

4. The window gasket is annular in shape, and the inner circumference of the annular window gasket encloses the outer cylinder opening. The outer circumference of the annular window packing is located at the outer wall position of the outer cylinder opening flange and extends at least to the outer circumference of the outer cylinder opening flange. The outer circumference of the waterproof ring is fixed and connected to the inner circumference fixing end of the window gasket. Preferably, the watertight ring is annular in shape and installed coaxially with the outer cylinder opening, the radial dimension of the outer circumference of the annular watertight ring is larger than the radial dimension of the outer cylinder opening, the radial dimension of the inner circumference of the annular watertight ring is smaller than the radial dimension of the outer cylinder opening and larger than the radial dimension of the inner cylinder opening, as described in claim 3.

5. The outer cylinder opening flange has a ring-shaped folded portion that extends outward in the center, the inner circumferential wall of the ring-shaped folded portion forms the outer cylinder opening, and the inner circumferential side of the window packing encloses the inner circumferential wall of the ring-shaped folded portion. Preferably, the central part of the annular folded portion is provided with at least one stepped portion that changes the radial dimension of the outer cylinder opening, and the stepped portion is provided with an annular fixing rib that protrudes into the inside of the outer cylinder, and the inner circumferential fixing end of the window packing is inserted correspondingly into the gap between the annular fixing rib and the annular folded portion. More preferably, the protruding end of the ring-shaped folded portion is provided with an engaging projection that protrudes radially outward, and the window packing is provided with an engaging groove into which the engaging projection is inserted, as described in claim 4.

6. The inner circumferential fixed end of the window packing is provided with a circular annular waterproofing ring that protrudes radially inward from the outer cylinder opening. The waterproofing ring extends vertically, and its outer circumference is integrated with the window packing or fixed to the inner circumferential fixed end of the window packing. The side wall surface on the inner circumferential side facing the inside of the outer cylinder is installed in close proximity to the outer wall of the inner cylinder opening flange. Preferably, the annular water-blocking ring has an arc shape that gradually bends from the inner circumference towards the bottom of the outer cylinder, and is used to guide the water flow toward the wall of the outer cylinder, as described in claim 5.

7. The inner circumference fixing end of the window packing is provided with a mounting groove that opens toward the inside of the outer cylinder, and the outer circumference side of the water-blocking ring, facing outwards from the outer cylinder, is provided with a protruding mounting projection that is inserted and fitted into the mounting groove. Preferably, the mounting groove is a recessed groove having a triangular cross-section, inwardly recessed locking grooves are drilled on both side walls of the triangular recessed groove, the mounting projection is a similarly shaped triangular projection that is inserted corresponding to the mounting groove, and a locking projection that is inserted correspondingly into the locking groove is provided on the corresponding side wall of the triangular projection, characterized in that the washing machine is as described in claim 6.

8. The washing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that an inner cylinder opening is provided in the central part of the inner cylinder opening flange, an inner cylinder opening formed by an annular folded portion is provided around the outer peripheral region of the inner cylinder opening of the inner cylinder opening flange, the annular flat portion is flush with the inside of the outer cylinder opening flange, and at least the inner peripheral portion of the side wall surface facing the inside of the outer cylinder of the water-blocking ring is installed in close proximity to the annular flat portion.

9. An inner cylinder lid is attached to the inner cylinder, which can open and close the inner cylinder opening outwards. The outer circumference of the inner cylinder lid protrudes from the inner cylinder opening, and at least a portion of the annular window packing overlaps with the projection of the outer circumference of the inner cylinder lid onto the outer cylinder opening flange. Preferably, the outer cushioning end of the window packing protrudes radially from the outer circumference of the inner cylinder lid in the radial direction of the outer cylinder opening, and a hollow cushioning cavity is formed between the outer cushioning end of the window packing and the outer cylinder opening flange, and is used to reduce the mutual contact stress between the outer cylinder opening flange and the washing machine housing, as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A water reservoir is provided on the outside of the outer cylinder opening flange, protruding forward from the outer cylinder and opening radially toward the outer cylinder opening. The water reservoir covers at least the area below the outer cylinder opening. Preferably, the water reservoir is installed integrally with the window packing. Preferably, the water reservoir is located in the outer peripheral region of the inner cylinder cover. More preferably, a residual water outlet is provided at the lowest point of the water reservoir, the residual water outlet communicates with the lower part of the outer cylinder, and the position of mutual communication between the residual water outlet and the outer cylinder is located below the water-blocking ring, as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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