Lint-retaining filter for laundry washing machines and laundry washing machine

Abstract

A lint filter for a laundry washing machine and a laundry washing machine comprising the same. The lint-retaining filter has at least one filtering surface defining filter walls and a plurality of washing liquid intake openings, the intake openings being oriented toward at least one of the directions of rotation of the mechanical agitator. A laundry washing machine with this filter is also provided with the filter located in a mechanical agitator concentrically mounted on a washing basket of the laundry washing machine.

Claims

1. A lint-retaining filter for laundry washing machines, the lint-retaining filter being mountable on the inside of a mechanical agitator and comprising: at least one filtering surface defining filtering walls; and at least one intake opening for the washing liquid, wherein the lint-retaining filter is oriented, when mounted on the inside of the mechanical agitator, with the at least one intake opening oriented to face a rotational direction of a rotating motion of the mechanical agitator; wherein the at least one intake opening lies in a plane that intersects at least two edge areas of the intake opening forming an angle, in relation to a tangential velocity vector of the rotational movement of the agitator starting from said opening.

2. The lint-retaining filter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the angle is defined between 15° and 90°.

3. The lint-retaining filter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the angle is defined between 30° and 90°.

4. The lint-retaining filter according to claim 1, wherein the lint-retaining filter comprises a split body having a first part and a second part which are associated with each other.

5. The lint-retaining filter according to claim 1, further comprising a retaining vane placed immediately behind each of one or more of the intake openings, defining pairs of retaining vanes along the length of the filter.

6. The lint-retaining filter in accordance with claim 5, wherein each of the retaining vanes comprises a flat portion that is parallel with a plane of the respective one of the one or more intake openings, and two deflecting portions extending from respective ends of the flat portion.

7. The lint-retaining filter in accordance with claim 6, wherein the deflecting portions are oriented towards the inner area of the filter.

8. The lint-retaining filter according to claim 4, wherein the first part and the second part of the filter are mounted by hinges to each other, and further comprising a locking member configured to secure the first part to the second part in a closed position.

9. The lint-retaining filter according to claim 1, further comprising a handle.

10. The lint-retaining filter according to claim 1, wherein the filtering surface comprises portions with openings of different sizes, defining multiple levels of filtration.

11. The lint-retaining filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a hollow body elongated along a longitudinal axis.

12. The lint-retaining filter according to claim 1, wherein the intake openings are placed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter.

13. The lint-retaining filter according to claim 1, wherein the intake openings and the filtering surfaces are placed in an interleaved manner along the surface of the lint-retainer filter.

14. The lint-retaining filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter comprises guide elements for mounting inside the agitator.

15. The lint-retaining filter in accordance with claim 14, wherein the guiding elements are defined by pairs of projections placed along the length of the filter, a groove defined between the pair of projections being engageable with projections of the inner area of the agitator.

16. The laundry washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a split body having a first part and a second part which are associated with each other; and a retaining vane placed immediately behind the at least one intake opening.

17. A laundry washing machine comprising: a washing basket; a feed lid; a mechanical agitator mounted concentrically in the washing basket; and a lint-retaining filter mounted inside the mechanical agitator, the lint-retaining filter comprising: at least one filtering surface defining filtering walls, and at least one intake opening for the washing liquid, wherein the lint-retaining filter is oriented, when mounted inside of the mechanical agitator, with the at least one intake opening oriented to face a rotational direction of a rotating motion of the mechanical agitator; wherein at least one intake opening lies in a plane that intersects at least two areas of an edge of the at least one intake opening that form an angle, relative to a tangential velocity vector of a rotational movement of the mechanical agitator starting from the at least one intake opening.

18. The laundry washing machine according to claim 17, wherein the angle is defined between 30° and 90°.

19. The laundry washing machine according to claim 17, wherein the angle is defined between 15° and 90°, and wherein the lint-retaining filter is configured to be positioned inside the mechanical agitator at a location adjacent to the at least one intake opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The objectives, technical effects and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying Figures, which illustrate exemplary but not limiting embodiments of the invention.

(2) FIG. 1A shows a Prior Art filter assembly 10, comprising a rod 21 provided with a filtration element 11 mounted at its lower end and a handle 31 mounted at its upper end.

(3) FIG. 1B is a partial cross-sectional view of a mechanical agitator 41, comprising a base 51, of a laundry washing machine comprising a Prior Art filter assembly mounted therein.

(4) FIG. 2A shows the filter assembly 20 in one embodiment of this invention, comprising a filter 12 provided with a plurality of openings 44, filter surfaces 47 and a handle.

(5) FIG. 2B is a partial cross-sectional view of a mechanical agitator 42, comprising a base 52, of a laundry washing machine comprising a filter assembly of one embodiment of this invention.

(6) FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a mechanical agitator 42 comprising a filter 12 mounted therein in accordance with one embodiment of this invention.

(7) FIG. 4 shows a filter 12, in one embodiment of this invention, comprising a first portion 61 and a second portion 62 pivotally mounted to each other by a hinge 46, being lockable in the closed position by means of a locking member 45.

(8) FIG. 5 shows a view in perspective of an embodiment of the filter of this invention, as shown in FIG. 4, however representing the first portion 61 of the filter, in a cleaning or pre-assembly condition of the filter 12.

(9) FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a lower area of the filter 12, according to one embodiment of this invention, showing the flow lines of the washing liquid from its intake through the openings 44, to its outlet in the filter areas 47 of the filter 12.

(10) FIG. 7 shows a view of the interior of a filter 12 according to an embodiment of this invention in which the movement and filtering space of the washing liquid is represented as well as the placement of the retaining vanes 43 and filter surfaces 47.

(11) FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of a retaining vane 43, in accordance with an embodiment of this invention.

(12) FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment in which the lint filter 12 of this invention is inserted into a mechanical agitator 41 with radial openings 53.

(13) FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment in which the lint filter 12 of this invention is inserted into a mechanical agitator with openings 52 oriented in accordance with the openings 44 of the filter.

(14) FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate one embodiment of the filter 12 mounted inside an agitator 42 shown in cross-section, in the condition in which the agitator 42 performs a rotary motion M, FIG. 11A depicting this effect as long as the rotary motion is clockwise, and FIG. 11B representing this effect when the rotational movement is counterclockwise.

(15) FIG. 12 shows a schematic representation of the relationship between the plane formed by the intersection of at least two edge areas of an opening 44 of the filter 12 with the tangential velocity vector v.sub.tan relating to the rotational movement performed by the agitator during its operation, defining the angle β.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(16) Initially, it should be pointed out that the laundry washing machine, object of this invention, will be described below according to particular but not limiting embodiments, since its embodiment may be realized in different shapes and variations and according to the desired application by the technician in the art.

(17) The laundry washing machine of this invention is of the type that is loaded at the upper area and is provided with a cabinet and at least one opening placed at its top, where the opening gives access to a washing basket comprising a mechanical agitator assembly concentrically mounted to the washing basket.

(18) As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3, in one embodiment of this invention, the lint-retaining filter 12 of the laundry washing machine is of the type that is mountable inside a mechanical agitator 42 and comprises at least one filtering surface 47 defining filter walls, i.e., filter walls comprising openings dimensioned so as to allow the washing liquid to pass through and retain bodies suspended in the liquid, such as lint and other bodies foreign to the washing process.

(19) The lint filter 12 further comprises at least one washing liquid intake port 44 placed along its length, oriented in accordance with the directions of rotation of the mechanical agitator 42.

(20) More precisely, the intake openings 44 have the functionality of increasing the intake of the washing liquid into the internal area of the filter 12 as a consequence of the rotational movement of the mechanical agitator, i.e., the opening is placed so that the liquid automatically passes through the intake openings 44 when the filter moves.

(21) In particular, the position of the opening 44 of the filter 12 is delimited by a plane P defined by the intersection of at least two areas of the edge of the intake opening 44, forming an angle β with respect to a tangential velocity vector v.sub.tan of the rotational movement M of the agitator 42, starting from said opening 44. In this way, the opening 44 is placed offset at an angle β defined between 1° and 90°, preferably 30° to 90°, and more preferably 90°. Such a slope has a direct influence on the volume of washing liquid that is admitted to the filter 12, therefore, although the expected effect is obtained from an angle of 1°, the ideal is that the angle β be as close as possible to 90°.

(22) In an embodiment of the invention, the filter 12 comprises a split body having a first portion 61 and a second portion 62 that are associable with each other, as shown in FIG. 4, wherein the filter 12 is shown in the open condition, with a first part 61 and a second part 62 associated with each other by means of a hinge 46. It should be noted, however, that any other form of movable association of components (e.g., fittings, tabs, rails, or the like) could be adopted without this altering the inventive concept of this invention.

(23) Further, to ensure that the filter 12 remains in the closed position during its operation, in one embodiment of the invention, the first portion 61 and the second portion 62 of the filter 12 are held locked together by a locking member 45, which may be any one defined in the Prior Art, such as straps, fittings or correlated items, as long as it enables the opening and closing of the filter 12 repeatedly, enabling cleaning by the user.

(24) In one embodiment of this invention, in order to optimize the retention of the washing liquid within the filter 12, the retaining vanes 43 are used and located immediately behind each of the intake openings 44, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

(25) FIG. 6 further shows a detailed cross-sectional view of a portion of the filter 12, indicating the path of movement of the washing liquid through the interior of the filter 12, thanks to the use of the vanes 43, by means of arrows indicative of the direction of the liquid.

(26) More precisely, the openings 44 absorb an intake flow FE which is encountered immediately upon entering the filter 12 with a surface of the vane 43. The vane 43, in turn, directs the washing liquid into the filter 12, defining an internal flow FI that moves within the filter and, upon moving into the intake port 44, generates a return flow FR directed back into the internal flow FI by means of the vanes 43.

(27) In this way, the internal flow FI finds it easy to leave the inner area of the filter 12 solely by means of the filtering surfaces 47, generating the filtration flows FF, conditioning the washing liquid to the external area to the filter 12, returning to the washing basket, and holds the particles suspended in the washing liquid on the filtering surface 47, inside the filter 12.

(28) Additionally, in one embodiment of this invention, the vanes 43 comprise a geometry optimized to enable/facilitate the input stream FE and to bar the return flow FR. An example of geometry of this invention, as shown in FIG. 8, consists of retaining vanes 43 with geometry provided with a flat portion 431 and two deflecting portions 432, the flat portion 431 being placed in the area more to the center of the length of the vane 43 and the deflecting portions 432 placed at the ends of the blade 43.

(29) Further, as shown in FIG. 8, and as can also be seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, the retaining vanes 43 comprise the deflecting portions 432 defined by an arch directed toward the inner area of the filter 12, generating a rounding that conducts the flow of the intake stream FE into the filter 12, and a kind of shell for holding liquid which tends to leave the inner area of the filter 12 by means of the intake openings 44, forming a return flow FR.

(30) In order to facilitate the removal of the filter 12, in one embodiment of this invention, the filter 12 is associated with a handle 32, which makes it possible to attach a handle for the user so as to facilitate removal of the filter assembly 20 as a whole from the interior of the mechanical agitator 42.

(31) In still another embodiment of this invention, the filter comprises portions with through openings of different sizes, defining multiple levels of filtration, i.e., enabling different levels of filtration to be performed in each area of the filter surface 47, depending on the desired design characteristics.

(32) A further object of this invention is a laundry washing machine having a washing basket, a feed lid, a mechanical agitator 42 concentrically mounted with the washing basket and a lint-retaining filter 12 mounted on the interior of the mechanical agitator 42.

(33) Such a laundry washing machine comprising a lint filter 12 provided with a plurality of washing liquid intake openings 44 oriented toward at least one of the rotational directions of the mechanical agitator 42, the filter 12 being also defined by a bipartite body provided with a first portion 61 and a second portion 62 associable with each other, and comprising a retaining vane 43 placed immediately behind each of the intake openings 44.

(34) In particular, the laundry washing machine of this invention comprises the lint-retainer filter with a position of opening 44 delimited by a plane P that is defined by the intersection of at least two edge areas of the intake opening 44, forming an angle β with respect to a tangential velocity vector v.sub.tan of the rotational motion M of the agitator 42 starting from said opening 44, as can be seen schematically in FIG. 12 and in one embodiment of the invention, in FIG. 6. The angle β being defined as between 1° and 90°, preferably between 30° and 90°.

(35) Further, as can be seen in FIG. 9, the lint filter 12 of this invention may be inserted into a mechanical agitator 41 with radial openings 53, as commonly found in the Prior Art, or a mechanical agitator provided with openings 52 oriented according to the filter openings 44, as shown in FIG. 10.

(36) In further reference to FIG. 10, the mounting guide elements 13 inside the agitator 42 are noted, which have the function of facilitating the correct fit of the filter 12 inside the agitator 42 and that still maintain it in an ideal operational position throughout the laundry washing machine's function in particular by ensuring that the filter 12 remains with its openings aligned with intake openings 52 of the agitator 42.

(37) In this regard, it is a preferred embodiment of this invention in that the intake openings 52 are oriented in accordance with the directions of rotation of a rotary movement M of the mechanical agitator 42, as proposed for the intake openings 44 of the filter 12.

(38) Notwithstanding the description of the particular embodiments above, this invention may be embodied differently and may exhibit modifications in its form of implementation, so that the scope of protection of the invention is limited only by the content of the appended Claims, including all possible equivalent variations.