Method for assembling and making a basin assembly for washing machines and basin assembly made thereby

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for assembling and making a basin assembly for washing machines, which has been specifically designed for reducing the component elements of said assembly. More specifically, the assembling and making method provides that the componente elements of the basin assembly are mutually coupled by seam­ ing and riveting operations. The mentioned component elements, in parti­ cular, substantially comprise a tubular element (1) to which there are affixed a rear wall (2) as well as a rear flange (8) and a front flange (3). With these flanges coupling top and bottom elements (10, 11) and a closure ring element (14) cooperate.

Description: The present invention relates to a method for assembling and making a basin assembly for washing machines, and also relates to the basin assembly made thereby. As is known, washing machines usually comprise a basin assembly for holding washing water and supporting the rotary basket, which is substantially made by coupling its component elements by using screws or bolts. This making method, as it should be apparent, requires comparatively long operating times and in addition to greatly increasing the cost of the finished product, is susceptible to provide scarcely reliable washing machines. That same method more-over, requires that a plurality of fitting and coupling additional elements be used, in order to connect the several operating elements (such as bearing springs; motor and the like) to the thus assembled basin. The document GB 2096649 discloses a method for making and assembling a basin for washing machines in which the tubular element forming the basin body is closed at the front by a front wall which is perimetrically clamped with the corresponding axial end of the tubular element and at the rear by a rear wall, a sealing gasket being arranged between the tubular element and front wall near the clamping zone; the tubular element further comprises a rear flange and a front flange therethrough there is defined the linen loading opening of the washing machine, the bottom flange being affixed to the rear wall and front flange being affixed by longitudinal tie plates to the front wall. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a basin assembly, for washing machines, which comprises a very reduced number of multi-functional component elements. Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a basin assembly for washing machines, which can be easily and quickly assembled. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a basin assembling method which affords the possibility of mutually coupling the several basin component elements without using bolts or screws. According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a method for assembling and making a basin assembly, for washing machines, having the features of the characterizing portion of the main claim. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantages of the method for making a basin assembly according to the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments thereof which are illustrated, by way of a merely indicative example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the basin assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 is a detail view clearly showing a preferred procedure for coupling the top portions of rear and front flange members by means of a related coupling element or casing; Figure 3 shows another possible coupling procedure for coupling the above mentioned component elements; and Figure 4 illustrates, in a disassembled condition, a closure ring member, a rear flange member and two coupling top and bottom elements respectively. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, the method for assembling a basin assembly or unit, for washing machines, according to the invention, provides that the tubular element 1 and rear wall 2 jointly forming, together with an annular element or front flange 3, the basin for the washing water, which basin has been generally indicated at the reference number 4, are mutually coupled by seaming, at 5, their corresponding perimetrical portions. The above mentioned rear wall is moreover provided, as shown, with a perimetrical recess, in which is engaged a peripheral portion 7, of like shape, of a rear flange 8 including bearing members for supporting the shaft of a rotary basket 9. The rear flange is perimetrically fixed by a pair of coupling elements, that is a top coupling element 10 and a bottom coupling element 11 which encompass the corresponding end portions of said flange. On the front of said coupling elements and tubular element 1 there is affixed, through the interposition of an O-ring gasket 12, the mentioned front flange 3, of annular shape, which defines the front loading opening 13 of the washing machine. The above mentioned coupled elements, in particular, are tightly locked to one another by a suitable closure ring member 14. In this connection it should be moreover be pointed out that the rear flange 8 is coupled to said coupling elements 10 and 11 by means of a plurality of rivets 15 which are applied at an end portion of said flange (figure 2) or at corresponding end portions of said coupling elements (figure 3) which, in this case, are suitably extended on the flat surface of said flange. The disclosed coupling elements, in particular, are so designed and arranged as to support corresponding weight members 16 which operate to properly balance and weigh the basin assembly. These weight members preferably consist of a sheet metal plate embedded in a concrete block and are provided with suitable projecting perimetrical lugs for anchoring the plate to the corresponding coupling elements. The top coupling element 10, moreover, is so designed as to lock bearing spring members 17 and, as it is used in drying-washing machines, it will be also provided with an attachment or fitting for the heating and fan assembly (without the need of using bracket members). The bottom coupling element 11, in turn, is so designed and arranged as to support, without the use of bracket members, the electrical motor 18, the bottom balancing weight 16 and the plates of the dampers. The disclosed coupling elements, in particular, operate to structurally bind the rear flange, basin and front flange by means of the closure ring member 14 thereby providing an integral and very rigid and strong unit.

Claims: A method for making and assembling a basin assembly for washing machine, said method providing that the component elements of said basin assembly are mutually coupled by seaming and riveting operations, said component elements including a tubular element (1), to which there is affixed a rear wall (2), as well as a rear flange (8), and a front flange (3) therethrough there is defined a front loading opening (13) of said washing machine, said rear wall (2) being perimetrically seamed to said tubular element (1), characterized in that said component elements further include a top coupling element (10) and a bottom coupling element (11) extending between said rear (8) and front (3) flanges, and a closure ring (14), said coupling elements (10, 11) being coupled to said rear flange (8) by riveting and to said front flange (3) by said closure ring (14) locking the front ends of said coupling elements (10, 11) with said tubular element (1) and said tubular element (1) with said front flange through the interposition of an O-ring gasket (12). A method for making and assembling a basin assembly, according to Claim 1, characterized in that said method provides that said tubular element (1) and rear wall (2) forming, together with said front flange (3) said basin, are mutually coupled by seaming corresponding perimetrical portions thereof. A method for making and assembling a basin assembly, according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said rear wall (2) comprises a perimetrical recess, in which there is engaged a mating peripheral portion (7) of said rear flange (8), which is provided with bearing members for supporting the shaft of a rotary basket (9) of the washing machine, said rear flange (8) being perimetrically fixed by said top and bottom coupling elements (10, 11), encompassing corresponding end portions of said rear flange (8). A method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said method comprises the step of fixing said rear flange (8) to said coupling elements (10, 11) by a plurality of rivets (15) applied at the end portion of said rear flange (8). A method according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said method comprises the step of fixing said rear flange (8) to said coupling elements (10, 11) by a plurality of rivets (15) applied at the end portions of said coupling elements (10, 11) extending on a flat surface of said rear flange (8). A basin assembly made by a method according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a tubular element (1) closed at the front by a front flange (3) and at the rear by a rear flange (8) facing the outer side of a rear wall (2), said rear wall (2) being perimetrically seamed to said tubular element (1), characterized in that said front flange (3) and said rear flange (8) are connected by a top coupling element (10) and a bottom coupling element (11) arranged outside of said tubular element (1), said coupling elements (10, 11) being riveted to said rear flange (8), the front ends of said coupling elements (10, 11) being locked with said front flange (3) and said tubular element (1) by a closure ring (14), between said front flange (3) and said tubular element (1) an O-ring gasket (12) being arranged, through said front flange (3) a front linen loading opening (13) being formed. A basin assembly according to Claim 6, characterized in that said coupling elements (10, 11) are provided with balancing weight members (16) comprising sheet metal plates embedded in a concrete block and having perimetrical lugs which can be anchored to said coupling elements (10, 11). A basin assembly according to Claims 6 and 7, characterized in that said top coupling element (10) is associated with spring members (17), said top coupling element (10) supporting a top said weight member and including an attachment for a heating and fan assmebly, said bottom coupling element (11) being designed for supporting the electric motor (18) of the washing machine, a bottom said weight member (16) and the plates of dampers.

Inventors: FUMAGALLI NISO, FUMAGALLI, NISO
Applicants: CANDY IND SPA, INDUSTRIE CANDY S.P.A.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: D06F37
IPC codes: D06F37