Filter unit and washing machine equipped therewith

Abstract

To provide a filter unit capable of improving sealability and a washing machine having the same.SOLUTION: A filter unit has a filter 3 and a filter case 4 having a storage part 40 for storing the filter 3 so as to be insertable or removable. A flange surface 305 extending in a direction intersecting with an inserting direction D1 of the filter 3 is formed on the filter 3. An annular seal member 5 is provided on the flange surface 305. A receiving surface 403 is formed on the storage part 40 of the filter case 4. The seal member 5 has a first seal part 51 including a facing surface 510 and a first annular rib 511 (annular rib), a second seal part 52 capable of abutting against an inner peripheral surface 406 of the storage part 40, and a connection part 53 for connecting the first seal part 51 and the second seal part 52.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a filter unit and a washing machine provided with the same same same filter unit and a washing machine equipped with the same.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a washing machine, there is known one equipped with a filter for collecting lint (garbage) in washing water (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The filter is provided with a seal member for preventing washing water from leaking to the outside of the washing machine.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the conventional filter, there is still room for improving the sealing performance of the seal member.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a filter unit capable of improving the sealing performance and a washing machine equipped with the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, The following first and second embodiments of a filter unit and a washing machine are provided. (1) Filter unit according to the first embodiment Disclosed in this specification First aspectThe filter unit comprises a filter having a collection section for collecting lint, and a filter case having a housing section for removably housing the filter, wherein the filter has a flange surface extending in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the filter, and an annular sealing member is provided on the flange surface, and the housing section of the filter case has a receiving surface extending in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the filter, which receives the flange surface of the filter inserted into the housing section via the sealing member, and the sealing member faces the receiving surface 1 Opposite on formed The aforementioned A surface that can contact the receiving surface 1 Annular ribs and , a second annular rib formed on a second opposing surface facing the flange surface and capable of contacting the flange surface A first sealing portion including, before A second sealing portion that can contact the inner circumferential surface of the storage portion, It has, The first sealing portion and the second sealing portion they connection So ru 、 It is. (2) Filter unit according to the second embodiment A second embodiment of the filter unit disclosed herein comprises a filter having a collection section for collecting lint, and a filter case having a housing section for removably housing the filter, wherein the filter has a flange surface extending in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the filter, and an annular sealing member is provided on the flange surface, and the housing section of the filter case has a receiving surface extending in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the filter, which receives the flange surface of the filter inserted into the housing section via the sealing member, and the sealing member has a first sealing portion including an annular rib formed on an opposing surface facing the receiving surface and capable of contacting the receiving surface, and a second sealing portion capable of contacting the inner circumferential surface of the housing section, the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion are connected to each other, and the inner diameter of the sealing member is smaller on the second sealing portion side than on the first sealing portion side.

[0007] Furthermore, in the filter unit, the tip of the second seal portion may be formed to face the insertion direction of the filter with respect to the outer peripheral direction of the seal member.

[0008] Furthermore, in the filter unit, The inner diameter of the sealing member is smaller on the second sealing portion side than on the first sealing portion side. That's fine. Furthermore, in the filter unit, the filter may have a recess that accommodates a part of the second sealing portion.

[0009] The washing machine disclosed herein is the same as A filter unit according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment It is characterized by being equipped with a filter unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to this disclosure, sealing performance can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] It is a side view schematically showing the internal structure of a drum washing machine to which the filter unit in Embodiment 1 can be applied. [Figure 2] It is an exploded perspective view of the filter unit in Embodiment 1 viewed from the front. [Figure 3] It is an exploded perspective view of the filter unit in FIG. 2 viewed from the rear. [Figure 4] It is a rear perspective view of the filter in Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] It is a longitudinal sectional view of the filter in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view of the seal member in Embodiment 1. [Figure 7] It is a schematic sectional view showing the seal member and its periphery in FIG. 6. [Figure 8A] It is an explanatory diagram (1) for explaining the behavior of the seal member when the filter in Embodiment 1 is inserted into the accommodation portion of the filter case. [Figure 8B] It is an explanatory diagram (2) for explaining the behavior of the seal member when the filter in Embodiment 1 is inserted into the accommodation portion of the filter case. [Figure 8C] It is an explanatory diagram (3) for explaining the behavior of the seal member when the filter in Embodiment 1 is inserted into the accommodation portion of the filter case. [Figure 9] It is a schematic sectional view showing the seal member and its periphery in Embodiment 2. [Figure 10] It is an explanatory diagram for explaining the behavior of the seal member when the filter in Embodiment 2 is pulled out from the accommodation portion of the filter case. [Figure 11] It is a schematic side view showing a part of the filter in Embodiment 3. [Figure 12] It is a schematic side view showing a part of the filter in a modification of Embodiment 3.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. The same reference numerals will be used for identical components in each embodiment described below, and redundant descriptions of those components will be omitted.

[0013] (Embodiment 1) Figure 1 is a schematic side view showing the internal structure of a drum-type washing machine 10 (washing machine) to which the filter unit 20 in Embodiment 1 can be applied. The drum-type washing machine 10 comprises a main body 100 and a door 120 (see Figure 1). Inside the main body 100 is a washing tub 110 having a rotating drum 111. The washing tub 110 is open on the front side of the main body 100, and its interior is watertight when the door 120 is closed.

[0014] A filter unit 20 is connected to the washing tub 110 via a first pipe 131 and a second pipe 132. A circulation pump 140 is provided in the middle of the second pipe 132. The first pipe 131 and the second pipe 132 form a circulation path C through which water can circulate between the washing tub 110 and the filter unit 20.

[0015] A third drainage pipe 133 is also connected to the filter unit 20. A shut-off valve 151 is provided in the middle of the third drainage pipe 133.

[0016] During washing, the shut-off valve 151 on the third pipe 133 side is closed and the circulation pump 140 on the second pipe 132 side is operated, allowing the wash water to be circulated through the circulation path C. At this time, the wash water flows from the washing tub 110 through the first pipe 131 to the filter unit 20, and from the filter unit 20 back to the washing tub 110 through the second pipe 132. Lint (debris) such as lint generated during washing is collected by the filter unit 20, and the wash water from which the lint has been removed returns to the washing tub 110.

[0017] During drainage, the circulation pump 140 is stopped and the shut-off valve 151 is opened to drain water from the washing tub 110. The drained wash water also passes through the filter unit 20, just like the circulating wash water described above. Therefore, lint contained in the drained wash water is collected by the filter unit 20, and the wash water from which the lint has been removed is drained.

[0018] In Figure 1, the second pipe 132 is connected to the back of the washing tub 110, but the connection point of the second pipe 132 to the washing tub 110 is not particularly limited.

[0019] Next, the configuration of the filter unit 20 in Embodiment 1 will be described.

[0020] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the filter unit 20 in Embodiment 1, viewed from the front. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the filter unit 20 in Figure 2, viewed from the rear. Note that the sealing member 5 is not shown in Figures 2 and 3. Note that the outlet 42 and drain 43 are not shown in Figure 2. In the following figures, arrow D1 conceptually indicates the insertion direction D1 of the filter 3, and arrow D2 conceptually indicates the withdrawal direction D2 of the filter 3.

[0021] The filter unit 20 comprises a filter 3 and a filter case 4 (see Figures 2 and 3).

[0022] Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the filter 3 in Embodiment 1. Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the filter 3 in Figure 4.

[0023] The filter 3 has a collection unit 30 for collecting lint and an operating unit 31 connected to the front end of the collection unit 30 and operable by the user (see Figures 2 to 4).

[0024] The collection section 30 is composed of a base 300 which is substantially cylindrical, a pair of side wall sections 301 and 302 which extend rearward from the back surface of the base 300, a rear wall section 303 which is connected to the rear end edges of the side wall sections 301 and 302, and a bottom section 304 which is connected to the lower end edges of the side wall sections 301 and 302 and the rear wall section 303 (see Figure 4).

[0025] A flange surface 305 is formed on the back surface of the base 300, extending in a direction intersecting the insertion direction D1 of the filter 3 (see Figures 4 and 5). An annular sealing member 5 is provided on the flange surface 305. Details of the sealing member 5 will be described later.

[0026] The left side wall 302 and the rear wall 303 each have multiple slits 306 extending vertically from their respective upper edges, and comb teeth 307 are formed between the slits 306. Lint that becomes entangled in the comb teeth 307 can be easily removed by sliding it along the comb teeth 307 to the upper edge of the side wall 302 (or rear wall 303).

[0027] The bottom portion 304 is provided with multiple through-holes 308 that allow the passage of washing water while preventing the passage of lint. Note that the shape of the collection portion 30 shown in Figures 4 and 5 is merely an example, and the shape of the collection portion 30 in the filter 3 is not particularly limited.

[0028] The operating section 31 is composed of a threaded section 311 which is roughly cylindrical and has a threaded groove 310 formed on its outer surface, and a gripping section 312 which protrudes forward from the threaded section 311 and can be gripped by the user (see Figures 2 to 5).

[0029] The filter case 4 has a housing section 40 for removably housing the filter 3, an inlet 41 for allowing wash water to flow into the housing section 40, an outlet 42 for allowing wash water to flow out to the washing tub 110, and a drain port 43 for draining the wash water (see Figures 2 and 3).

[0030] The housing section 40 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with an opening 400 into which the filter 3 is inserted. It consists of a front cylindrical section 401 and a rear cylindrical section 402 which is narrower than the front cylindrical section 401, in that order from the side of the opening 400. Between the front cylindrical section 401 and the rear cylindrical section 402, there is a receiving surface 403 that extends in a direction intersecting the insertion direction D1 of the filter 3 and receives the flange surface 305 of the filter 3 inserted into the housing section 40 from the opening 400 via the sealing member 5.

[0031] The inner circumferential surface 404 of the front cylinder portion 401 has a screw groove 405 that can be screwed into the screw groove 310 of the filter 3.

[0032] The inlet 41 is connected to the first pipe 131 and is located on the upper side of the housing section 40. The outlet 42 is connected to the second pipe 132 and is located on the lower side of the housing section 40. The drain outlet 43 is connected to the third pipe 133 and is located on the lower side of the housing section 40 and behind the outlet 42.

[0033] The filter 3 described above can be inserted into or removed from the filter case 4 by the user grasping the gripping portion 312 of the operating portion 31 and rotating it around the insertion direction D1, thereby engaging with or disengaging from the screw groove 405 in the filter case 4.

[0034] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the sealing member 5 in Embodiment 1. Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the sealing member 5 and its surroundings in Figure 6. In the following figures, arrow P1 conceptually indicates the inner circumferential direction P1 of the sealing member 5, and arrow P2 conceptually indicates the outer circumferential direction P2 of the sealing member 5.

[0035] Incidentally, the sealing member 5 in the filter 3 described above prevents the washing water passing through the collection section 30 of the filter 3 from leaking out of the filter case 4 to the outside of the drum-type washing machine 10, and has structural features to improve the sealing performance to the filter case 4. The details of the sealing member 5 will be described below.

[0036] The sealing member 5 has a first sealing portion 51, a second sealing portion 52, and a connecting portion 53 that connects the first sealing portion 51 and the second sealing portion 52 (see Figures 6 and 7).

[0037] The first sealing portion 51 is composed of an opposing surface 510 that faces the receiving surface 403 of the filter case 4, a first annular rib 511 (annular rib) formed on the opposing surface 510 and capable of contacting the receiving surface 403, and a second annular rib 513 formed on the back surface 512 of the back side of the opposing surface 510 and capable of contacting the flange surface 305 of the filter 3 (see Figure 7). In this embodiment, the first annular rib 511 includes two concentric first annular ribs 511a, 511b, and the second annular rib 513 includes three concentric second annular ribs 513a to 513c.

[0038] The second sealing portion 52 is formed to protrude outward in the circumferential direction P2 of the sealing member 5 and to be able to contact the inner circumferential surface 406 of the rear cylindrical portion 402 of the housing portion 40. The tip portion 520 of the second sealing portion 52 is formed to face outward in the circumferential direction P2 of the sealing member 5.

[0039] The connecting portion 53 is formed recessed in the inner circumferential direction P1 of the sealing member 5 relative to the second sealing portion 52.

[0040] Figures 8A to 8C are explanatory diagrams illustrating the behavior of the sealing member 5 when the filter 3 in Embodiment 1 is inserted into the housing portion 40 of the filter case 4.

[0041] The sealing member 5 described above behaves as follows when the filter 3 is inserted into the housing 40 of the filter case 4.

[0042] First, as shown in Figure 8A, the second sealing portion 52 of the sealing member 5 comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface 406 of the housing portion 40. Due to the contact with the inner circumferential surface 406 of the housing portion 40, the second sealing portion 52 receives a force in the inner circumferential direction P1 of the sealing member 5, as indicated by arrow F1.

[0043] Next, as shown in Figure 8B, when the filter 3 is further inserted into the housing 40, the second seal portion 52 receives a force from the inner circumferential surface 406 of the housing 40 in the pulling direction D2, which is opposite to the insertion direction D1, as indicated by arrow F2. As the second seal portion 52 receives forces in the directions indicated by arrows F1 and F2, a stress is generated inside the second seal portion 52 as indicated by arrow S1.

[0044] As shown in Figure 8B, the internal stress indicated by arrow S1 causes the connecting portion 53 to bend toward the inner circumferential direction P1 of the sealing member 5, as indicated by arrow S2. Due to the bending of the connecting portion 53, the first sealing portion 51 tilts toward the inner circumferential direction P1 of the sealing member 5, as indicated by arrow S3.

[0045] Then, as shown in Figure 8C, when the filter 3 is further inserted into the housing 40, the first annular rib 511 of the first seal portion 51 contacts the receiving surface 403 of the filter case 4 while tilted in the inward circumferential direction P1 of the seal member 5. In other words, the connecting portion 53 flexes when the filter 3 is inserted into the housing 40, causing the first annular rib 511 of the first seal portion 51 to contact the receiving surface 403 while tilted in the inward circumferential direction P1 of the seal member 5.

[0046] The first annular rib 511, which is inclined in the inward circumferential direction P1 of the sealing member 5 and in contact with the receiving surface 403, attempts to return to its original position in the outward circumferential direction P2 of the sealing member 5. As a result, stress (restoring force) is generated inside the first annular rib 511 in the outward circumferential direction P2 of the sealing member 5, as indicated by arrow S4. This restoring force increases the frictional force between the sealing member 5 and the receiving surface 403 of the filter case 4, thereby improving the sealing performance of the sealing member 5 against the filter case 4.

[0047] As described above, when the filter 3 is inserted into the housing 40, the connection portion 53 causes the first annular rib 511 of the first sealing portion 51 to abut against the receiving surface 403 with the sealing member 5 tilted in the inward circumferential direction P1. This increases the frictional force between the sealing member 5 and the receiving surface 403 in the filter case 4, thereby improving the sealing performance of the sealing member 5 against the filter case 4.

[0048] (Embodiment 2) The following description of Embodiment 2 will focus only on the differences between it and Embodiment 1.

[0049] Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the sealing member 5 and its surroundings in Embodiment 2. Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the behavior of the sealing member 5 when the filter 3 is pulled out of the housing portion 40 of the filter case 4 in Embodiment 2. In Figure 9, the arrow PT conceptually indicates the orientation of the tip portion 520 of the second sealing portion 52.

[0050] In Embodiment 2, the tip 520 of the second seal portion 52 is formed to face the insertion direction D1 of the filter 3 with respect to the outer peripheral direction P2 of the seal member 5, as indicated by the arrow PT (see Figure 9). Compared to the tip 520 of the second seal portion 52 in Embodiment 2, the tip 520 of the second seal portion 52 in Embodiment 1 is less likely to face the withdrawal direction D2. Therefore, even if the second seal portion 52 is subjected to a force in the withdrawal direction D2 from the inner circumferential surface 406 of the housing portion 40 when the filter 3 is inserted, the tip 520 of the second seal portion 52 resists the force received from the inner circumferential surface 406 more effectively, making it less likely for the shape of the tip 520 to change as shown in Figure 8B, and consequently reducing energy loss due to the shape change of the tip 520. As a result of the reduced energy loss due to the shape change of the tip 520, the bending deformation of the connecting portion 53 becomes more likely, and as a result, the amount of inclination of the first seal portion 51 in the process shown in Figure 8B also increases. As a result, the restoring force of the first annular rib 511 attempting to return to its original position in the outer peripheral direction P2 of the sealing member 5 increases, thereby improving the sealing performance of the sealing member 5 to the filter case 4.

[0051] On the other hand, the tip portion 520 of the second seal portion 52 in Embodiment 2 has a shape that is more easily oriented toward the insertion direction D1 compared to the tip portion 520 of the second seal portion 52 in Embodiment 1. Therefore, when the filter 3 is pulled out, as indicated by arrow F3 in Figure 10, the second seal portion 52 receives a force in the insertion direction D1 from the inner circumferential surface 406 of the housing portion 40, the tip portion 520 of the second seal portion 52 easily deforms to face toward the insertion direction D1. As a result, the frictional force between the tip portion 520 and the inner circumferential surface 406 of the housing portion 40 is reduced, making it possible to easily pull the filter 3 out of the housing portion 40.

[0052] As described above, by forming the tip 520 of the second sealing portion 52 so that it faces the insertion direction D1 of the filter 3 with respect to the outer peripheral direction P2 of the sealing member 5, the sealing performance of the sealing member 5 to the filter case 4 can be improved, and the filter 3 can be easily removed from the housing portion 40.

[0053] (Embodiment 3) The following description of Embodiment 3 will focus only on the differences between it and Embodiment 1.

[0054] Figure 11 is a schematic side view showing a portion of the filter 3 in Embodiment 3. Figure 12 is a schematic side view showing a portion of the filter 3 in a modified example of Embodiment 3. In Figures 11 and 12, the dashed line schematically shows the contour of the filter net 6.

[0055] In Embodiment 3, the filter 3 is provided with a mounting hook portion 32 on the same side as the collection portion 30 relative to the sealing member 5, to which a filter net 6 covering the collection portion 30 can be attached (see Figure 11). The filter net 6 is formed in the shape of a bag with an opening, and an elastic annular member (not shown), such as a rubber band, is provided at the opening end 60, which can expand or contract the size of the opening.

[0056] The mounting hook portion 32 is formed in a concave shape that is recessed into the inside of the filter 3. The presence of the mounting hook portion 32 allows the filter net 6 to be easily attached to the filter 3 by hooking the open end 60 of the filter net 6 onto the mounting hook portion 32.

[0057] The mounting hook portion 32 is not limited to the shape described above. For example, it may be formed in a keyhole shape with a narrower width in part, as shown in Figure 12, so that the filter net 6 is less likely to come off the mounting hook portion 32.

[0058] The embodiments and examples described above are illustrative in all respects and are not intended to be restrictive. Therefore, the technical scope of this disclosure is not construed solely by the embodiments and examples described above, but is defined by the claims. This includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0059] 10. Drum-type washing machine (washing machine) 20 filter units 3 filters 30 Collection section 305 Guard surface 31 Operation section 32 Mounting hook section 4 Filter Case 40 Storage Units 403 Receiving surface 404,406 Inner surface 5. Sealing member 51 First seal section 510 Opposing surface 511 First annular rib (annular rib) 52 Second seal section 520 Tip 53 Connection part 6 FilterNet D1 Insertion direction D2 Pull-out direction P1 Inner Circumferential Direction P2 outer circumferential direction

Claims

1. A filter unit comprising a filter having a collection section for collecting lint, and a filter case having a housing section for removably housing the filter, The filter has a flange surface formed thereon that extends in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the filter. An annular sealing member is provided on the flange surface. The housing portion of the filter case has a receiving surface that extends in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the filter and receives the flange surface of the filter inserted into the housing portion via the sealing member. The sealing member is A first seal portion including a first annular rib formed on a first opposing surface facing the receiving surface and capable of contacting the receiving surface, and a second annular rib formed on a second opposing surface facing the flange surface and capable of contacting the flange surface, A second sealing portion that can contact the inner circumferential surface of the housing portion, It has, A filter unit in which the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion are connected to each other.

2. A filter unit according to claim 1, The filter unit is characterized in that the tip of the second sealing portion is formed to face the insertion direction of the filter with respect to the outer peripheral direction of the sealing member.

3. A filter unit according to claim 1, The filter unit is characterized in that the inner diameter of the sealing member is smaller on the second sealing portion side than on the first sealing portion side.

4. The filter unit according to claim 3, The filter unit is characterized in that the filter has a recess that accommodates a part of the second sealing portion.

5. A filter unit comprising a filter having a collection section for collecting lint, and a filter case having a housing section for removably housing the filter, The filter has a flange surface formed thereon that extends in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the filter. An annular sealing member is provided on the flange surface. The housing portion of the filter case has a receiving surface that extends in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the filter and receives the flange surface of the filter inserted into the housing portion via the sealing member. The sealing member is A first sealing portion including an annular rib formed on an opposing surface facing the receiving surface and capable of contacting the receiving surface, A second sealing portion that can contact the inner circumferential surface of the housing portion, It has, The first sealing portion and the second sealing portion are connected to each other. The filter unit is characterized in that the inner diameter of the sealing member is smaller on the second sealing portion side than on the first sealing portion side.

6. A washing machine characterized by comprising a filter unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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