LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE

Abstract

A laundry washing machine contains a rotatable drum (210) configured to hold laundry (240) during washing thereof. The rotatable drum (210), in turn, contains at least one flexible body (215) configured to alter its volume in response to a fluid medium (F) being fed into or extracted out from an interior of the at least one flexible body (215). As a result, the at least one flexible body (215) varies a volume available for washing fluids (W) and the laundry (240) in the rotatable drum (210), so that for example gentle and yet highly efficient kneading washing actions can be performed.

Claims

1. A laundry washing machine, comprising: a rotatable drum configured to hold laundry during washing thereof, the rotatable drum comprising at least one flexible body configured to alter its volume in response to a fluid medium being fed into or extracted out from an interior of the at least one flexible body, and as a result, varying a volume available for washing fluids and the laundry in the rotatable drum, and a rotating shaft driving the rotatable drum, which rotating shaft comprises a passage configured to feed the fluid medium into and extract the fluid medium out from the at least one flexible body, wherein at least one of the at least one flexible body is non-axially arranged relative to the rotating shaft in the rotatable drum.

2. The laundry washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible body is configured to receive the fluid medium so as to expand its/their volume until the laundry is fixated against an inside surface of the rotatable drum.

3. The laundry washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible body comprises one central flexible body arranged symmetrically around the rotating shaft in the rotatable drum, the central flexible body being configured to expand in an expansion direction away from the passage, which expansion direction is parallel to a symmetry axis of the rotatable drum.

4. The laundry washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the rotatable drum comprises a set of openings configured to allow the washing fluids to be discharged into a receiving chamber surrounding the rotatable drum.

5. The laundry washing machine according to claim 4, wherein: the set of openings comprises first and second zones; in the first zone a ratio between a total opening area and a total non-opening area is higher than the ratio between the total opening area and the total non-opening area in the second zone; and the first zone is located closer to the passage than the second zone.

6. The laundry washing machine according to claim 4, wherein an exterior side surface of the central flexible body is exposed to the washing fluids when the central flexible body has been expanded to less than a maximal volume, the exterior side surface comprising at least one fluid conveying pattern configured to transport the washing fluids from the exterior side surface towards the set of openings the rotatable drum.

7. The laundry washing machine according to claim 1 wherein the at least one flexible body is configured to receive the fluid medium so as to expand its/their volume to create at least one delimited space for washing fluids and the laundry inside the rotatable drum.

8. The laundry washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable drum is configured to execute washing actions comprising rotation of the rotatable drum to cause the laundry therein to tumble.

9. The laundry washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable drum is configured to execute washing actions comprising rotation of the rotatable drum while the at least one flexible body causes the laundry to be kneaded against an inside surface of the rotatable drum.

10. The laundry washing machine according to claim 1, comprising at least one pressure generator configured to force the washing liquids to pass through the laundry while the at least one flexible body causes the laundry to be fixated against an inside surface of the rotatable drum, and the rotatable drum is stationary.

11. The laundry washing machine according to claim 1, comprising at least one pressure generator configured to force the washing liquids to pass through the laundry while the at least one flexible body causes the laundry to be kneaded against an inside surface of the rotatable drum, and the rotatable drum is stationary.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention is now to be explained more closely by means of preferred embodiments, which are disclosed as examples, and with reference to the attached drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a highly schematic perspective view of a laundry washing machine according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0023] FIGS. 2a-c show cross-section views of a rotatable drum and a receiving chamber according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section view of the rotatable drum and the receiving chamber according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0025] FIGS. 4a-b show front views of the rotatable drum and the receiving chamber according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[0026] FIGS. 5a-b show front views of the rotatable drum and the receiving chamber according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; and

[0027] FIGS. 6a-b show front views of the rotatable drum and the receiving chamber according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a highly schematic perspective view of a laundry washing machine 100 according to one embodiment of the invention. The laundry washing machine 100 has a drum door 125 that provides access to a rotatable drum 210 for holding laundry to be washed.

[0029] FIG. 2a shows cross-section view of the rotatable drum 210 and a surrounding receiving chamber 220 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The rotatable drum 210 contains at least one flexible body, which here is exemplified by a central flexible body 215 configured to alter its volume in response to a fluid medium F being fed into or extracted out from an interior of the central flexible body 215. As a result, a volume available for washing fluids W and the laundry 240 in the rotatable drum 210 varies. The fluid medium F may be represented by any type of gas, preferably air, and/or any type of liquid, preferably water. The washing fluids W typically contain water and various types of detergents, softeners and/or rinsing substances. The drum door 125 is surrounded by a watertight seal 227 to the receiving chamber 220 so that the washing fluids W remain inside the rotatable drum 210 and the surrounding receiving chamber 220 until being emptied via a pipe 270 controlled by an associated valve (not shown), and possibly a pump (not shown).

[0030] A rotating shaft 230 drives the rotatable drum 210 inside the receiving chamber 220. Preferably, the rotating shaft 230 includes a passage 235 that is configured to feed the fluid medium F into the central flexible body 215, and extract the fluid medium F out there from. This arrangement is beneficial because it allows the central flexible body 215 to be controlled to alter its shape and volume in an efficient and convenient manner via a pump mechanism (not shown) outside the rotatable drum 210 regardless of whether the drum 210 rotates or is stationary.

[0031] The main purpose of the rotatable drum 210 is to execute washing actions involving rotation of the rotatable drum 210 to cause the laundry 240 therein to tumble and be rearranged.

[0032] According to embodiments of the invention, the rotatable drum 210 may also execute washing actions involving rotation of the rotatable drum 210 while the at least one flexible body therein causes the laundry 240 to be kneaded against an inside surface of the rotatable drum 210.

[0033] In FIG. 2b, we see a cross-section view of the rotatable drum 210 and the surrounding receiving chamber 220 according to the first embodiment of the invention when the central flexible body 215 has attained a maximal volume, i.e. has expanded all the way up against the drum door 225. Specifically, in this embodiment, the central flexible body 215 is configured to expand in an expansion direction D.sub.exp away from the passage 235. The expansion direction D.sub.exp is parallel to, or at least essentially parallel to, a symmetry axis A of the rotatable drum 210. Preferably, the central flexible body 215 covers the full diameter of the rotatable drum 210 so that it fills essentially the entire volume of the rotatable drum 210 when maximally expanded. Namely, this provides a highest degree of freedom as how to vary the volume available for the washing fluids W and the laundry 240 in the rotatable drum 210. Such a design of the central flexible body 215 also renders it possible to fixate pieces of laundry 240 against an inside surface of the rotatable drum 210 as illustrated in FIG. 2c. Consequently, the laundry 240 can be held stationary either during an entire washing program, or during one or more periods thereof. It is often beneficial if the laundry washing machine 100 operates in an alternating manner, wherein, in one phase, the rotatable drum 210 is controlled to rotate a few revolutions to turn around the pieces of laundry while the central flexible body 215 is contracted, and in another phase, the central flexible body 215 is expanded to knead the pieces of laundry while the rotatable drum 210 is stationary. Thereby, the washing liquids W can be systematically passed through different combinations of layers of fabric in the laundry 240. This, in turn, accomplishes a very efficient cleaning. Moreover, such a process means that the laundry 240 is pressed in a large number of angles, which leads to relatively few wrinkles and creases in the cleaned laundry 240.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the invention, the laundry washing machine 100 contains at least one pressure generator, schematically indicated by reference number 260 in FIG. 2c, which is configured to force the washing liquids W to pass through the laundry 240 while the at least one flexible body, exemplified by the central flexible body 215 in FIGS. 2a to 2c, causes the laundry 240 to be fixated against an inside surface of the rotatable drum 210, for instance the drum door 225, and the rotatable drum 210 is stationary.

[0035] In FIG. 2c, the at least one pressure generator is symbolized by reference number 260. In an actual implementation, the at least one pressure generator is typically represented by one or more pumps, for example a first pump configured to create a vacuum pressure for extracting the washing liquids W from the rotatable drum 210 by suction, and/or a second pump configured to create an overpressure for pushing the washing liquids W into the rotatable drum 210. Further, it is advantageous if these pumps operate in cooperation with a pump system for handling the fluid medium F. For example, the first pump may be assisted by one or more flexible bodies being expanded, and the second pump may be assisted by one or more flexible bodies being contracted.

[0036] Preferably, the laundry washing machine 100 contains a reservoir tank (not shown), which is configured to temporarily store washing liquids W that have been forced through the laundry 240 and been emptied from the rotatable drum 210. Thus, both water and detergents can be economized.

[0037] Moreover, alternatively, or additionally, the rotatable drum 210 may execute washing actions that involve rotating the rotatable drum 210 while the central flexible body 215 causes the laundry 240 to be kneaded against an inside surface of the rotatable drum, e.g. the drum door 225. This kneading is effected by pulsating the fluid medium F so that it is repeatedly fed into and out from the interior of the central flexible body 215. Thereby, the central flexible body 215 expands and contracts in a cyclic manner that causes the laundry 240 to be kneaded and rubbed while the washing liquids W are passed there though, thus providing efficient washing of delicate clothing being severely soiled. Analogous the expansion direction D.sub.exp, the central flexible body 215 contracts towards the fluid-medium passage 235 in parallel with, or at least essentially in parallel with, the symmetry axis A of the rotatable drum 210.

[0038] Naturally, the pressure generator 260 may also be configured to force the washing liquids W to pass through the laundry 240 while the central flexible body 215 causes the laundry 240 to be kneaded against an inside surface of the rotatable drum 210, and while the rotatable drum 210 is either stationary or rotates. Generally, if the laundry 240 is severely soiled by dirt and/or particles, more rotation and kneading is necessary to attain a satisfying washing result; and if the laundry 240 contains delicate fabrics, it is advantageous to reduce such mechanical actions and instead force the washing liquids W through the laundry 240 in multiple passes.

[0039] For convenient discharge of the washing fluids W from the rotatable drum 210, it preferably contains a set of openings 213 configured to allow the washing fluids W to be discharged into the receiving chamber 220 that surrounds the rotatable drum 210.

[0040] Further preferably, the set of openings 213 contains first and second zones 211 and 212 respectively. In the first zone 211 a ratio between a total opening area and a total non-opening area is higher than the ratio between the total opening area and the total non-opening area in the second zone 212. It is advantageous if all the openings have a relatively small diameter, for example of equal size as shown in FIG. 2a, and the density of openings is higher in the first zone 211 than in the second zone 212. However, alternatively, the openings may instead be larger in the in the first zone 211 than in the second zone 212, and/or the shape of the openings may vary. Moreover, the set of openings 213 in the rotatable drum 210 may contain one or more zones in addition to the first and second zones of openings 211 and 212. In any case, the first zone 211 is located closer to the fluid-medium passage 235 than the second zone 212. This means that also if the central flexible body 215 has been expanded so that the washing volume in the rotatable drum 210 is reduced, the washing liquids W can exit efficiently from the rotatable drum 210.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section view of the rotatable drum 210 and the receiving chamber 220 according to a second embodiment of the invention. Also here, the at least one flexible body is represented by a central flexible body 315 that is arranged symmetrically around the rotating shaft 230 in the rotatable drum 210, which central flexible body 315 is configured to expand and contract in expansion and contraction directions D.sub.exp and D.sub.contr respectively being parallel to the symmetry axis A of the rotatable drum 210, or at least essentially parallel to the symmetry axis A. An exterior side surface of the central flexible body 315 is exposed to the washing fluids W when the central flexible body 315 has been expanded to less than its maximal volume. The exterior side surface contains a number of fluid conveying patterns 317a, 317b, 317c, 317d, 317e, 317f and 317g configured to transport the washing fluids W from the exterior side surface towards the set of openings in the rotatable drum 210. This facilitates the emission of the washing liquids W from the rotatable drum 210 in phases of a washing program when the amount of washing liquids W is to be reduced. For further enhanced discharge efficiency, the central flexible body 315, or any multiple non-axial counterparts thereto, can be arranged with an angle to the rotatable drum 210 so that the exterior side surface leans towards the set of openings 213 in the contracted state.

[0042] FIG. 4a shows a front view of the rotatable drum 210 and the receiving chamber 220 as seen from the drum door 225 according to a third embodiment of the invention. Here, a number of flexible bodies 415a, 415b and 415c respectively are arranged non-axially relative to the rotating shaft 230 in the rotatable drum 210.

[0043] The fluid-medium passage 235 is comprised in the rotating shaft 230, so that the fluid medium F can be fed into and extracted out from flexible bodies 415a, 415b and 415c in an efficient manner regardless of whether the drum 210 rotates or is stationary. Specifically, a set of conduits 401, 402 and 403 interconnects the fluid-medium passage 235 and the flexible bodies 415a, 415b and 415c via openings 411, 412 and 413 respectively in a short side of the rotatable drum 210 located opposite to the drum door 225.

[0044] Analogous to what has been described above, the flexible bodies 415a, 415b and 415c are configured to receive the fluid medium F, so as to expand their volumes, and thus reduce the volume available for the washing fluids W and the laundry 240 in the rotatable drum 210. The flexible bodies 415a, 415b and 415c may also create delimited spaces for the washing fluids W and the laundry 240 inside the rotatable drum 210 as illustrated in FIG. 4b.

[0045] In FIG. 4b, we see the flexible bodies 415a, 415b and 415c in a respective maximally expanded states, where they connect with the rotating shaft 230 in the center of the rotatable drum 210. Consequently, the flexible bodies 415a, 415b and 415c create delimited spaces for the washing fluids W and the laundry 240 inside the rotatable drum 210. For example, here, a piece of laundry 240 is held in a such a delimited space between the flexible bodies 415b and 415c.

[0046] FIGS. 5a and 5b show front views of the rotatable drum 210 and the receiving chamber 220 as seen from the drum door 225 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, which essentially constitutes a design being structurally opposite to the design shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. In FIGS. 5a and 5b a number of flexible bodies 515a, 515b and 515c respectively are likewise arranged non-axially relative to the rotating shaft 230 in the rotatable drum 210. Here, however, the flexible bodies 515a, 515b and 515c are directly connected to the rotating shaft 230 and the fluid-medium passage 235 comprised therein. Hence, in this embodiment, the flexible bodies 515a, 515b and 515c are configured to receive the fluid medium F, so as to expand their volumes towards the side wall of the rotatable drum 210, and thus reduce the volume available for the washing fluids W and the laundry 240 in the rotatable drum 210.

[0047] FIGS. 6a and 6b show front views of the rotatable drum 210 and receiving chamber 220 as seen from the drum door 225 according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. Here, one flexible body 615 is arranged non-axially relative to the rotating shaft 230 in the rotatable drum 210. Analogous to the third embodiment described above, the one flexible body 615 is connected to the fluid-medium passage 235 comprised in the rotating shaft 230 via a conduit 601. In a deflated state, as illustrated in FIG. 6a, the flexible body 615 is smoothed out along essentially half the interior side wall of the rotatable drum 210. In an maximally expanded state, as illustrated in FIG. 6b, the flexible body 615 occupies almost the entire volume inside the rotatable drum 210. As a result, depending on how much the flexible body 615 is expanded various amounts of laundry 240 can be kneaded and/or fixated against the side wall of the rotatable drum 210 when rotating or being stationary.

[0048] The term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components. However, the term does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more additional features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof.

[0049] The invention is not restricted to the described embodiments in the figures; however it may be varied freely within the scope of the claims.