Abstract:
A suds container for a washing machine includes plastic and is disposed so as to vibrate inside the machine housing, and includes first and second joint pieces. The first joint piece has a first bore therethrough and the second joint piece has a second bore therethrough aligned with the first bore. The first and second joint pieces are configured to fasten a vibration absorber with a fastening eye of the vibration absorber disposed between the joint pieces. A fastening element is at least partially received in the first and second bores and configured to fasten the vibration absorber. An S-shaped molded part is disposed on the joint pieces and includes third and fourth aligned bores and a first and a second arched area. The first arched area has a U-shape and is disposed between the joint pieces. The second arched area extends so as to overlap a free end of the first joint piece at an outer portion thereof.

Description:
[0001]    Priority is claimed to German patent application DE 10 2006 038 960.3, filed Aug. 21, 2006, and which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a suds container made of plastic for a washing machine in whose horizontal axis a driven washing drum is mounted so as to rotate and the suds container made of plastic is arranged so as to vibrate inside the machine housing, whereby two joint pieces through which flush bores run are provided to fasten at least one vibration absorber to the suds container made of plastic, whereby a fastening eye of the vibration absorber is arranged between the joint pieces, and for purposes of affixing the vibration absorber, a fastening element that traverses the bores as well as the fastening eye is arranged on the joint pieces. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Vibration absorbers on vibrating aggregates of automatic washers have the function of absorbing movement in their direction of action in case of unbalance caused by the laundry as well as the function of preventing thumping or “walking” by the device. Torsional movements of the suds container around the drum axis, however, are only introduced into the shock absorbers by the associated shifting of the fastening point. The fastening points of the absorber on the suds container and on the fastening element on the housing side can also transmit torques. In the case of steel aggregates and floor tubs, the transmission capability is provided by a firmly screwed-on connection that creates a non-positive connection via the prestressing force. This is not feasible in this manner with plastic elements since the requisite force would damage the plastic and its relaxation would cause a rapid drop in the prestressing. 
         [0004]    In order to obtain a pivot axis that is as vibration-damped as possible, German patent application DE 197 25 706 A1 describes a fastening device in which the fastening element consists of two spreadable sleeve segments arranged perpendicular to the pivot axis. Even though the spreading of the fastening element provides a certain stiffening of the pivot axis, this prior-art spreading sleeve cannot be used for suds containers made of plastic and here especially for the joint pieces that are shaped onto the suds container made of plastic. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Therefore, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an improved a suds container made of plastic in terms of the fastening of the vibration absorber. 
         [0006]    In an embodiment, the present invention provides a suds container for a washing machine having a driven washing drum disposed so as to rotate about a horizontal axis of the washing machine. The suds includes plastic and is disposed so as to vibrate inside the machine housing, and includes first and second joint pieces. The first joint piece has a first bore therethrough and the second joint piece has a second bore therethrough aligned with the first bore. The first and second joint pieces are configured to fasten a vibration absorber with a fastening eye of the vibration absorber disposed between the joint pieces. A fastening element is at least partially received in the first and second bores and configured to fasten the vibration absorber. An S-shaped molded part is disposed on the joint pieces and includes third and fourth aligned bores and a first and a second arched area. The first arched area has a U-shape and is disposed between the joint pieces. The second arched area extends so as to overlap a free end of the first joint piece at an outer portion thereof. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    An embodiment of the invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5  below. The following are shown: 
           [0008]    FIG.  1 —a schematic view of the housing of a washing machine with a washing aggregate inside it that is vibration-damped; 
           [0009]    FIG.  2 —a detailed view of a bearing block shaped onto a suds container made of plastic; 
           [0010]    FIG.  3 —a sectional view of the fastening element of a fastening eye of a shock absorber between the joint pieces of a bearing block, in a side view; 
           [0011]    FIG.  4 —another perspective view of the holding device; 
           [0012]    FIG.  5 —another sectional view through the fastening eye of a shock absorber; and 
           [0013]    FIG.  6 —a sectional view of the fastening element, in a top view. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The embodiment according to the invention allows transmission of the torque into the fastening points of the shock absorbers in order to attain the high level of absorption of the unbalance. The stress on the plastic and ultimately the magnitude of the transmittable torque can be adjusted precisely and reliably by means of the sleeve or by the collar of the screw or nuts. The forces are absorbed or transmitted via frictional grip to the insides of the joint pieces shaped onto the suds container. This is done via the prestressing force of the screw. As a result of this defined prestressing, the plastic is stressed only to the extent that it can withstand while experiencing little or no lasting deformation, and additionally a torque can be transmitted over the surface. 
         [0015]    It is advantageous in the case of the so-called cage solution that the use of this type of connection accounts for a reduction of parts and installation time since no washers are needed between the fastening eye of the vibration absorber and the inner surfaces of the joint pieces. For this purpose, an S-shaped molded part with flush bores is integrated into the area of the adjacent joint pieces in order to transmit the shock absorber torque. In this context, the first arched area is configured to be U-shaped and is arranged between the joint pieces or between the inner plastic surfaces of the joint pieces, whereby the second arched area is arranged so as to overlap one of the free joint pieces. Owing to this design, the molded part can be easily inserted and positioned. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment, a holding device is arranged on the second arched area that extends beyond one of the flush leg bores and it serves to hold the nuts of a screw shaft that traverses the bores of the joint pieces as well as the molded part. As a result, the nuts are secured against turning when the fastening element is tightened via the screw shaft. Here, the holding device is configured for a square nut. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the joint pieces form a bearing block that essentially has a U-shape. This results in a particularly stable and reliable fastening of the vibration absorber. 
         [0018]    Especially in order to absorb the torque forces in the area of the bearing block, the flush bores of the first arched area—which fits into the U-shape of the bearing block between the joint pieces—each have a diameter that matches the inner diameter of the fastening eye. This is particularly advantageous if the fastening eye contains an elastically mounted articulated bushing, thus preventing that this bushing can press or eat into the plastic of the joint pieces. Consequently, a firm contact surface is created that can also be tightened accordingly with the screw bolt. 
         [0019]    In an embodiment, the flush bore of the second arched area—which overlaps one of the flush bores of the one joint piece end—has a correspondingly larger diameter than the bores in the joint piece. This is employed to position a flanged sleeve in the bores of the molded part and legs on the nut side that serves to bridge the diameter difference in the screw shaft. 
         [0020]    In order to be able to exert sufficient force onto the bearing block, the screw head of the screw shaft has an enlarged contact surface. 
         [0021]    The screw shaft as such is configured in such a way that the screw head is followed by an area that corresponds to the diameter of the bore in the joint piece that is followed by the shaft whose diameter corresponds to the inner diameter of the fastening eye or of the articulated sleeve, to the diameters of the bores of the first arched area as well as to the diameter of the flanged sleeve. 
         [0022]    In an embodiment, the screw shaft is fitted on the area with the larger diameter with a channel or else provided with a channel at the transition area to the area with the larger diameter. 
         [0023]    In an embodiment, the molded part is made of a single piece of bent metal, so that, as a result of the insertion of the molded part, the nut is secured and the bearing block is also tightened. Then all that is necessary is for the screw shaft to be inserted in order to tighten the entire fastening system by means of the screw head. 
         [0024]    In an embodiment, the molded part is resilient so that it is held in position in the U-shaped area due to the clamping effect against the inside of the joint pieces. As a result, it cannot be lost during the installation after it has been inserted into the bearing block. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, the second arched area of the molded part is resilient so that it overlaps the outside of the free joint piece end with a clamping effect. As a result, during the installation, the predefined position of the molded part in the bearing block is retained and the molded part is securely held. 
         [0026]    In an embodiment, the sides of the joint pieces facing the inside each have a guide projection by means of which the first arched area of the S-shaped molded part can be positioned. Consequently, the molded part is reliably secured against turning. The insertion of the molded part is likewise facilitated by this guide. 
         [0027]    In an embodiment, the free edges of the joint pieces have an insertion slant on their insides. This makes it easier to insert the shock absorber eye into the first arched area of the molded part. 
         [0028]    In an embodiment, external guide webs are installed on the joint piece that is enclosed by the second arched area, and the holding device and/or the nut can be inserted and positioned between said guide webs. In this context, the cage-like holding device is guided into the correct position for the nuts while it is being inserted, whereby the webs prevent the nuts from turning along during the screwing procedure. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment, an indentation into which the crown area of the second arched area can be inserted is arranged as a coding means on the free end of the joint piece for the second arched area. This indentation is only situated on this one joint piece and it is configured in such a way that the nut only comes to lie flush with the bore once the crown area has been completely inserted into the indentation. This prevents the molded part from being installed backwards. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic diagram of a suds container  1  made of plastic for a washing machine  2  in whose horizontal axis  3  a driven washing drum  4  is mounted so as to rotate. The suds container  1  made of plastic is arranged so as to vibrate inside the machine housing  5 , whereby at least one vibration absorber  6  is provided on a bearing block  7  on the suds container  1  made of plastic. As can be clearly seen in the schematic diagram, the bearing block  7  essentially has a U-shape through whose joint pieces  8  and  9  flush bores  10  and  11  run, which can be better viewed in the detailed view in  FIG. 2 . According to  FIG. 3 , the fastening eye  13  or an articulated bushing  12  elastically mounted therein is arranged between the joint pieces  8  and  9 . Owing to the elastically mounted articulated bushing  12 , a vibration-damped pivot axis is formed inside the fastening eye  13 . For purposes of affixing the vibration absorber  6 , a fastening element  14  that traverses the bores  10  and  11  ( FIG. 2 ) as well as the articulated bushing  12  is arranged on the bearing block  7 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows that, for purposes of force transmission or in order to transmit a high shock-absorber torque onto the inner plastic surfaces of the joint pieces  8  and  9  in the area of the bearing block  7 , an S-shaped molded part  15  with flush bores  16  and  17  is integrated into the bearing block  7 , and the first arched area  18  of this S-shaped molded part, which matches the U-shape of the bearing block  7 , is arranged between the insides of the joint pieces  8  and  9 , whereby the second arched area  19  extends so as to overlap—on the outside—one of the free joint piece ends, here  8 . This yields a molded part  15  that, on the one hand, fits positively between the joint pieces  8  and  9  and that, on the other hand, is secured against turning by the overlapping second arched area  19 , whereby it is also ensured that this design also achieves a self-holding of the molded part  15  in the shaped-on bearing block  7 , thus allowing easy installation of the parts needed to complete the fastening element. In this context, the molded part  15  is made of a single piece of bent metal, whereby the resilient property of the metal provides a clamping effect of the first arched area  18  between the joint pieces  8  and  9  and/or of the second arched area  19  on the outside around the free end of the one joint piece  8 . 
         [0032]    Here, a holding device  20  configured as a cage for a nut  21  is arranged on the second arched area  19  that especially protrudes beyond one of the bores in the flush joint piece. The screw shaft  22  that traverses the bores  10  and  11  of the joint pieces  8  and  9  is screwed into this nut  21 . The holding device  20 , especially as shown in  FIG. 4 , is configured to accommodate a square nut  21 . As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , an elastically mounted articulated bushing  12  is situated in the fastening eye  13 , whereby here, an elastomer ring  23  is pressed around the articulated bushing  12  around which the fastening eye  13  of the shock absorber  6  then lies. This gives rise to an enclosed articulated bushing  12  which especially transmits a torque in a vibration-damped manner to the joint pieces  8  and  9 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  depicts a side view of the outside of the joint piece  8 , showing that the second arched area  19  at least partially overlaps the joint piece on the outside. The cage-like holding device  20  is arranged on or shaped in one piece onto this second arched area  19 . The square nut  21 , into whose threaded opening the free shaft end  29  protrudes or is screwed in, is placed into this holding device and it is fastened or supported via the fastening eye  13  ( FIG. 3 ) of the shock absorber  6  located behind the joint piece  8 . On the free end of this joint piece  8 , there is also an indentation  32  as a coding means that is situated in the crown area of the second arched area  19 . The indentation  32  is only placed on this one joint piece  8  and it is configured in such a way that the nut  21  only comes to lie flush with the bore once the crown area has been completely inserted into the indentation  32 . If the molded part is mounted backwards, then the crown area lies on the free end of the joint piece  9  without an indentation. In this case, the nut  21  is not positioned so as to be flush with the bore  11  ( FIG. 2 ) in the joint piece  9 . With this incorrect positioning of the molded part  15 , the screwing operation is not possible. 
         [0034]    Particularly in order to be able to systematically transmit the tightening forces onto the articulated bushing  12  or onto the inner surfaces of the plastic joint pieces  8  and  9 , the flush bores  16  and  17  of the first arched area  18 , which fits into the U-shape of the bearing block  7  between the legs  8  and  9 , each have diameters D 1  that correspond to the inner diameter D 2  of the articulated bushing  12 . This can be clearly seen in  FIG. 3 , whereby essentially a flush alignment exists between the inner diameter D 2  and the diameter D 1 . The flush bore  24  of the second arched area  19 , which extends so as to overlap one of the flush bores, here  10 , of the joint piece  8 , has a correspondingly larger diameter D 3  than the bores D 4  in the joint piece. It can be seen in  FIG. 3  that a flanged sleeve  25  is arranged in the bore  24  on the nut side and in the bore  10  of the joint piece, here  8 , said flanged sleeve bridging the diameter difference between D 1 , D 2  and D 3 , D 4  relative to the screw shaft  22 . 
         [0035]    As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the screw head  26  of the screw shaft  22  has an enlarged contact surface  27  that brings about sufficient screwing or tightening force onto the outer surface of the joint piece  9 . Here, the screw head  26  is followed by an area  28  that corresponds to the diameter area D 4  of the bore in the joint piece which is followed by the shaft  22  whose diameter corresponds to the inner diameter D 2  of the articulated bushing  12 , to the diameters D 1  of the bores  16  and  17  of the first arched area  18  as well as to that of the flanged sleeve  25 . 
         [0036]    As can also be seen in  FIG. 3 , the screw shaft  22  is provided with a channel  30  at the transition area to the area  28  of the screw head  26 , whereby the shaft  22  has a larger diameter D 2  as it continues towards the end. 
         [0037]    It goes without saying that, prior to the fastening, first the molded part  15  is inserted into the bearing block  7 . Then the flanged sleeve  25  is fitted onto the joint piece  8 , before the fastening eye  13  with its elastically mounted articulated bushing  12  is inserted between the joint pieces  8 ,  9  in such a way that the screw shaft  22  can be put through the flush bores  10  and  11 . Once this has been done, all that is left is to insert a nut  21  into the cage-like holding device  20  that self-tightens when the screw head  26  is tightened. The holding device  20  is configured in such a way that the nut  21  can be first inserted in a pre-latching position and positioned together with the molded part  15  in or on the bearing block  7 . The tightening of the parts ensures a vibration-damped torque. Here, the forces are transmitted by the articulated bushing  12  directly onto the molded part  15  which, in turn, transfers the forces over a large surface onto the inner surfaces of the joint pieces  8 ,  9 . Therefore, this molded part  15  especially has the advantage that high tightening forces can be transmitted to a bearing block  7  made of plastic or to the joint pieces  8  and  9 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  once again shows an isolated sectional view of the fastening eye  13  of the vibration absorber  6  in which the elastic ring  23  lies into which, in turn, the articulated bushing  12  is integrated which is traversed by the screw shaft  22 . Behind the fastening eye  13 , part of the first arched area  18  of the molded part  15  ( FIG. 3 ) can be seen that provides the lateral contact surface of the fastening eye  13  or of the articulated bushing  12  on the joint piece  8 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  shows a top view of the bearing block  7  in the form of a sectional view. All information on direction relates to the normal operating position of the washing machine. Guide projections  30  are arranged on the free edge on the inner surfaces of each of the joint pieces  8  and  9 . Behind the guide projections is the first arched area  18  of the molded part  15  ( FIG. 3 ). Moreover, insertion slants  33  that make it easier to insert the fastening eye  13  or the articulated bushing  12  are arranged on the free ends of the joint pieces  8  and  9 . In addition, the first arched area  18  is prevented from turning around the screw shaft  22  that acts like an axis. On the outside of the joint piece  8 , which is enclosed by the second arched area  19  ( FIG. 3 ), there are two guide webs  31  that run essentially parallel. The holding device  20  with the nut  21  is inserted between these guide webs  31 . In addition to providing good guidance, this approach also secures the nut  21  against turning when the screw shaft  22  is being screwed in. 
         [0040]    The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.