Dishwasher with U-shaped support frame

Abstract: The invention relates to a dishwasher with two support frames, which are U-shaped, have respective vertical rods and a horizontal rod, and to which the rinse container is attached. by specific alignment and design of the support frames, in conjunction with vertical spars, a forward base member and a rear cross-piece, a distortion-resistant support construction is achieved which absorbs laterally-acting horizontal loads without additional reinforcement means.

Description: The invention relates to a dishwasher with two support frames which are U-shaped and respectively have two vertical rods and a horizontal rod, and to which the rinse container is secured, as defined in the first part of claim 1; such a dishwasher is known from US-A-4 940 298. From DE-GM 75 39 337 is known a dishwasher with a support construction in which the support frames are located laterally of the rinse container, the horizontal bars being located in the bottom region of the machine. This latter known support construction of a dishwasher, in the case of horizontal lateral stress, has insufficient stability. However such stress is unavoidable during transport. Therefore additional wood strips are often required for packing the dishwasher in order to absorb these forces. The purpose of the invention is to provide a dishwasher of the latter type with a support construction which has high rigidity for horizontal stress and in which a large support surface is achieved for transmitting forces, without additional parts. This purpose is fulfilled according to the invention in that the ends of the vertical rods of the first-mentioned dishwasher are respectively interconnected laterally by means of a horizontal spar, and that the ends of the vertical rods of the forward support frame are interconnected by means of a base element, and the ends of the vertical rods of the rear support frame are interconnected by means of a cross-piece also forming a base member. This box-like construction of the support means, principally by means of the alignment of the support frames, involves high rigidity for horizontal load and in addition enables a large support surface when the dishwasher is laterally grasped by a fork-lift truck. According to one development, the rigidity of the support frames is increased in that the free ends of the lateral arms of the rods merge into lateral terminal portions which are bent outwards at right angles. A substantial increase in torsion resistance in the support frames results, according to a further development, from the fact that the base portions of the rods of the U-shaped support frames are stamped out from the corner areas of the support frames, and form bent-over and interconnected corner reinforcing lugs. If the end portions of the rods on the support frames are turned outwards, then attachment of further parts to the support frame is simplified. If, in a particularly simple way, the corner reinforcing lugs are interconnected by pressure jointing (clinching), then no additional attachment means are necessary. According to one development, the cross-piece in the base area is bent in as a floor strip, and is connected with laterally bent-over portions to the outer sides of the vertical rods of the rear support frame. A rear wall may be attached to the cross-piece. In a further development relating to mounting the hinged door of the dishwasher, bearing elements in connection with the base members are attached to the vertical rods of the forward support frame in order to provide tilt mounting for a hinged door. The problem of attachment of the bearing members is solved in that the bearing members are located on the outer sides of the vertical rods of the forward support frame, and engage around them in the manner of a clamp. If in this case the base legs of the vertical rods of the forward support frame have in the region of the bearing members openings for receiving brake blocks for weight compensation of the hinged door, then the bearing members reinforce the vertical rods precisely at the weakened areas. Attachment of the bearing members is simplified in that the bearing members are attached to the vertical rods of the forward support frame by pressure joints (clinching). The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment given by way of example and shown in the drawings, which show: Figure 1: a perspective view of the box-like support construction for a dishwasher; Figure 2: a perspective view of the two support frames with the two horizontal spars and the rear cross-piece; Figure 3: a partial view of a corner region of a support frame, and Figure 4: a partial view of a vertical rod of a forward support frame with an attached bearing member for a hinged door. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the structure of the box-like support construction for a dishwasher is illustrated. The base is formed by two U-shaped support frames 10 and 20. The support frames 10 and 20 are of a one-piece construction, the vertical rods 11 and 13 or 21 and 23 being interconnected by a horizontal rod 12 or 22. The support frames 10 and 20 are open in a downward direction, so that the horizontal rods 12 and 22 form the upper side of the support construction. Laterally, the ends of the vertical rods 11 and 21 or 13 and 23 are interconnected by means of a horizontal spar 14 or 15. Attached to the rear support frame 20 is a cross-piece 17, which is bent in at the lower edge as a floor strip 16. Laterally bent-over portions 26 and 27 of the cross-piece 17 serve for attachments to the vertical rods 21 and 23. The projecting cross-piece 17 is used for attachment of a rear wall. Attached to the vertical rods 11 and 13 of the forward support frame 10 are bearing members 18 and 19 for tilt mounting a hinged door, said members being provided with attachment lugs for a base element 25. The box construction is laterally closed by side walls 26. Connection of the base element 25 is effected at the projecting end of the horizontal spars 14 and 15 and to the rods 11 and 13 of the forward support frame 10. The box-like support construction may be laterally horizontally loaded without distortion, and affords a large support surface for the dishwasher. As Figure 3 shows, the distortion resistance of the support frames 10 and 20 may be improved by reinforcement in the corner regions. The cross-sectional shape also contributes to an increase in rigidity, as the lateral arms 11b and 11d or 12b and 12d have at the free ends terminal portions 11a or 11e and 12a and 12e which are bent over vertically outwards. Stamped out of the base legs 11c and 12c of the rods 11 and 12 in the corner regions are corner reinforcement lugs 11f and 12f; said lugs are bent out and superimposed one on the other, and are connected together, which may for example be effected by pressure jointing (clinching). These interconnected corner reinforcement lugs form a type of cross spars, which substantially increase the distortion resistance of the support frames 10 and 20. This reinforcement is undertaken at all the corners of the support frames 10 and 20, as shown by the corner reinforcement lugs 12f and 13f or 21f and 22f or 22f and 23f (Figure 2). Figure 4 shows the attachment of bearing members 19 for the hinged door and a vertical rod 13 of the forward support frame 10. The bearing member 19 engages with clamp-like projections 19a and 19b around the rod 13 precisely in the area with an opening for the brake block 24 of the hinged door. Thus the weakened region of the rod 13 is reinforced without additional members. The bearing lug 19c has the bearing bolt 19f, and angled portions 19d may be utilised as further opportunities for attachment. In the case of support frames 10 and 20 the lateral arms 11b and 11d or 12b and 12d are cut in a mitred fashion and interconnected along the contacting edges 11g and 12g, e.g. by clinching. This type of connection is used wherever possible in order to reduce outlay on assembly.

Claims: Dishwasher with two support frames which are U-shaped and respectively have two vertical rods and a horizontal rod, and to which the rinse container is secured, wherein the support frames (10, 20) are located in the region of the front and of the rear side of the machine, and are open in a downward direction, in that the ends of the vertical rods (11, 21; 13, 23) are laterally interconnected by means of a respective horizontal spar (14, 15), and characterised in that the ends of the vertical rods (11, 13) of the forward support frame (10) are interconnected by means of a base member (25), and the ends of the vertical rods (21, 23) of the rear support frame (20) are interconnected by means of a cross-piece (17) also forming a base member. Dishwasher according to Claim 1, characterised in that the free ends of the lateral legs (11b, 11d; 12b, 12d) of the rods (11, 12, 13; 21, 22, 23) merge into lateral terminal portions (11a, 11e; 12a, 12e) which are bent over at right angles outwards. Dishwasher according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the base portions (11c, 12c) of the rods (11, 12, 13) of the U-shaped support frames (10, 20) are stamped out from the corner areas of the support frames (10, 20) and form bent-over, interconnected corner reinforcement lugs (11f, 12f; 21f, 22f). Dishwasher according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the terminal portions (11a, 11e; 12a, 12e) of the rods (11, 12, 13; 21, 22, 23) are turned outwards on the support frames (10, 20). Dishwasher according to Claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the corner reinforcement lugs (11f, 12f; 21f, 22f) are interconnected by pressure jointing (clinching). Dishwasher according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the cross-piece (17) is bent inwards in the base region as a floor strip (16), and is connected by laterally bent-over portions (26, 27) to the outer side of the vertical rods (21, 23) of the rear support frame (20). Dishwasher according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a rear wall may be attached to the cross-piece (17). Dishwasher according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that there are attached to the vertical rods (11, 13) of the forward support frame (10) in connection with the base element (25), bearing members (18, 19) for tilt bearing of a hinged door. Dishwasher according to Claim 8, characterised in that the bearing members (18, 19) are located on the outer sides of the vertical rods (11, 13) of the forward support frame (10), and engage around them in the form of a clamp (19a, 19b). Dishwasher according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the bearing elements (18, 19) are attached to the vertical rods (11, 13) of the forward support frame (10) by pressure jointing (clinching). Dishwasher according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the base legs (11c) of the vertical rods (11, 13) of the forward support frame (10) have, in the region of the bearing members (18, 19), openings for receiving brake blocks (24) for weight compensation of the hinged door.

Inventors: FUCHS KARL-HEINZ, KOGLIN GUENTER, FUCHS, KARL-HEINZ, KOGLIN, GUENTER, Fuchs, Karl-Heinz, c/o Whirlpool Italia S.p.A., Koglin, Günter, c/o Whirlpool Italia S.p.A.
Applicants: BAUKNECHT HAUSGERAETE, WHIRLPOOL EUROP, BAUKNECHT HAUSGERAETE GMBH, WHIRLPOOL EUROPE B.V.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A47L15
IPC codes: A47L15