Infusor with floating system interface washing machine

Abstract

An infuser with an integral coupler for use in automatic washing machines is described, wherein thanks to the outer geometry thereof, that is to say, thanks to the combination of the curvature of the blades on its front face and the concavity on its side faces, there is no need for the water to completely cover the textile clothes load, because it is in constant motion due to the generation of a strong stream going from the bottom to the top, resulting in a homogeneity in cleansing with a much less amount of water.

Claims

1. An infuser for use in an automatic washing machine, comprising: a hollow main body with an integral coupler that interact with a floating clutch, the said hollow main body comprising a shoulder (2), middle section (3) and a rim (4), the middle section extending upwardly from the rim (4) up to the shoulder (2) forming a bell shape, and opened on its shoulder (2), the hollow main body comprises the external phase; wherein the shoulder is closable by a cap (10) and a seal (8) to close the open shoulder of the main body to form a dry chamber where a screw secures the infuser to a shaft of the transmission system of the washing machine; wherein the integral coupler (11) is integrally formed and located in the inner portion of the hollow main body comprising a first ring extending downwardly from the shoulder, defining a skirt, defining a first dry sealed chamber in communication with the dry chamber of the infuser shoulder for reception of the upper section or head of the movable body of a float-type clutch system; wherein the integral coupler comprises a central body (13), with a plurality of U-shaped reinforcing elements located on the inner face of the integral coupler where a central body (13) is integrated to the integral coupler, Wherein the central body allows coupling the infuser to the shaft of the transmission system through a plurality of reinforcing ribs integrated to the integral coupler, wherein the spacing between each of said reinforcing ribs forms chambers to receive the upper portion of the movable body or float of the floating clutch, the reinforcing ribs and the U-shaped reinforcing elements configured to resist and transmit the torque from the shaft of the transmission system; wherein the integral coupler comprises a second ring integrated to the inner portion of the main body, extending downwardly forming a second skirt, arranged underneath the central body, and spaced apart from the first ring, forming a second sealable and dry cavity to receive the main part of the movable body of the floating clutch system while the upper portion is inserted in the first chamber and allowing its vertical displacement; and a plurality of integral radially extending blades (5) located on the entire contour of the hollow main body integrally formed with the main body; wherein each blade (5) extends upward from the outer peripheral edge of rim (4) along the middle section up to the shoulder (2), and extends radially from the edge of the rim (4) and along the middle section up to the shoulder (2); wherein each blade (5) comprises a triangular shape with a first peripheral face adjacent to the peripheral edge of the rim (4) and two side faces (7) extending from the rim (4), the middle section up to the shoulder (2) forming a closed wall all the way and defining an apex in close proximity to the shoulder and a curved front face (6); wherein each blade (5) comprises a circumferential dimension at the first peripheral face greater than a second, reduced, circumferential dimension closer to the shoulder (2) at the apex; wherein each blade (5) comprises a radial dimension at the peripheral face smaller than a second greater, radial dimension closer to the shoulder (2) at the apex, the radial dimension being substantially constant along the middle section; wherein each blade (5) comprises a concave cavity in each side face (7) which extends from the peripheral edge of the rim (4) up to the shoulder (2) forming a channel of water between opposite side faces (7) of two adjacent blades (5), which extends from the edge of the rim (4) to the shoulder (2) to produce in combination with the curved front face (6), a water stream in an axial manner to create a flow in the load going from the rim (4) to the shoulder (2); and wherein the shoulder is closable by a cap (10) and a seal (8) to close the open shoulder of the main body to form a dry chamber where a screw secures the infuser to a shaft of the transmission system of the washing machine.

2. The infuser for use in the automatic washing machine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of blades is comprised of three blades, spaced apart and equidistantly distributed from each other, preferably extending from the proximity of the shoulder and extending down to the rim so as to form a part of the same.

3. The infuser for use in the automatic washing machine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of U-shaped reinforcing elements is comprised of four reinforcing elements, spaced apart and arranged 90 from each other.

4. The infuser for use in the automatic washing machine of claim 1, wherein the central body comprises internally, a plurality of grooves.

5. The infuser for use in the automatic washing machine of claim 1 where the plurality of reinforcing ribs is comprised of four reinforcing ribs, spaced apart and arranged 90 from each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The novel aspects that are considered a characteristic of the present invention are particularly set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of a particularly preferred embodiment when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front and upper perspective view of the infuser with an integral coupler, constructed according to the principles of a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the infuser shown in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a plant view of the infuser shown in FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 is a lower perspective view of the infuser shown in FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 2.

(7) FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the encircled section of FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 7 is a side exploded schematic view showing both the infuser of the particularly preferred embodiment and the components of the float-type clutch, which in conjunction embodies the novel part of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(9) As discussed above in the Background of the Invention part, there is a great variety of washing machines, which include different types of washing systems, as well as different types of clutches. However, all of them has disadvantages regarding to a high consumption of water, or, a premature deterioration of textile clothes when friction occurs between them so as to remove dirt particles. Also, it was set forth that the friendliest washing system for textile clothes is the washing system using an infuser.

(10) Therefore a infuser (100) having an integral coupler applicable to an automatic washing machine (not shown in the figures) for home use has been developed including a clutch system preferably of the float-type, which is described in a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention and is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, wherein said infuser (100) has both an outer and inner structural geometry, which ensure the axial motion of clothes in the washing cycles, as well as a perfect assembling to the movable body of the float-type clutch, respectively.

(11) The infuser (100) with an integral coupler of the present invention generally comprises: a main body (1) having preferably a bell shape and being hollow in its inner portion and opened on its upper portion, comprising an upper section or shoulder (2), a middle section (3) and a lower section or rim (4). Said body (1) integrally includes on its entire contour a plurality of blades (5), wherein said plurality comprise three blades (5) which are spaced apart and equidistantly distributed from each other, preferably extending from the proximity of the shoulder (2) and extending down to the rim (4) so as to form a part of the same, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

(12) Each of said blades (5) has on its front face (6) a curvature and on its side faces (7) a concavity, such that the space formed between each of said blades (5) in combination with the curvature of its frontal faces (6) generates a water stream in an axial manner which is strong enough to create a flow in the load going from the bottom to the top, where said flow allows the textile clothes load to be washed more efficiently with a much less amount of water.

(13) As already mentioned several times in the foregoing, thanks to the outer geometry of the infuser (100), that is to say, to the combination of the curvature of the blades (5) on its front face (6) and the concavity on its side faces (7), there is no need for the water to completely cover the textile clothes load, because it is in constant motion due to the generation of a strong stream going from the bottom to the top, resulting in homogeneity in cleansing with a much less amount of water. In addition to the above, and unlike the other washing systems found in the state of the art, the washing cycle is not based on the friction of the clothes, because, as already mentioned above, the infuser (100) as described in the particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention provides the necessary force to generate the stream where the load moves from the bottom to the top and is in constant motion without requiring the scrubbing or direct contact with the infuser (100), thus achieving more care, and at the same time, less deterioration of the textile clothes.

(14) In order to close the main body (1) on its upper portion, said body (1) further comprises a seal (8), allowing to form a dry chamber so as to receive a movable body (210) or float of the float-type clutch system, a screw (9) allowing to secure the infuser (100) to a shaft (220) of the transmission system of the washing machine, a cap (10) located on the upper end of the movable body and a crown (24) clamped or fixed to said cap (10).

(15) It has already been said that both the outer and inner structural geometry, are some of the novel technical features of the infuser (100) of the present invention. Now, reference to said inner geometry will be made based on FIGS. 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, which show lower views of said infuser (100), as well as a cross-sectional view, including an integral coupler (11) located in the internal portion of the main body (1) and is in the form of a ring comprising on its inner face a plurality of U-shaped reinforcing elements (12), which are spaced apart and equidistantly distributed from each other, wherein said plurality is preferably comprised of four reinforcing members (12) spaced apart and arranged at 90 from each other; additionally, the coupler includes a central body (13) allowing to couple the infuser (100) to the shaft (220) of the transmission system, wherein said central body includes therein a plurality of grooves (14), as well as a plurality of reinforcing ribs (15), spaced apart and equidistantly distributed from each other, wherein said plurality is preferably comprised of four reinforcing ribs (14) spaced apart and arranged at 90 from each other, and the spacing between each of said reinforcing ribs (14) allows to form chambers (16) to receive the upper portion of the movable body (210) or float of the float-type clutch system.

(16) As can be seen from the above, the integral coupler (11) is structurally reinforced so as to support stresses due to the torque exerted by the transmission during the agitation or centrifugation in the interference zone with the shaft (220).

(17) Additionally, integral to its inner wall the infuser (100) includes a second ring (15) arranged underneath the central body (13), allowing to form a cavity to receive the movable body (210) of the float-type clutch system and allowing for its vertical displacement, wherein said movable body (210) has a double purpose, in the initial or resting position engages in a centrifugal mode; while in the floating position engages the infuser (100) in the agitation mode, but said integral coupler (11) of the infuser (100) contributes in both positions.

(18) As already mentioned above, the infuser (100) of the present invention and as described in the particularly preferred embodiment, is designed to be used in washing systems including a clutch system preferably of the float-type, as can be seen in FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawings, wherein the set (200) of the infuser (100) combined with the float-type clutch system provides a totally novel washing system with an infuser.

(19) A stress analysis on the interaction zone of the infuser (100) of the present invention with the movable body (220) of the float-type clutch system was carried out, and the results are shown in Table I:

(20) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I Stresses Agita- Centrifu- Yield Compo- tion gation Strength nents (psi) (psi) Material (psi) F.S. Base- Agitator 1056** Formosa 4800 4.5 line Ens. Agitator 428 111 Formosa 13000 30 coupler Infuser 293 Formosa 4800 16 New Infuser 494 123 Braskem 5511 11 Concepts

(21) Based on the obtained FEA results and comparing them with the baseline, it was concluded that the infuser is reliable in terms of stress.

(22) While the foregoing description has made reference to some embodiments of the infuser with an integral coupler of the present invention, emphasis should be made to a number of possible modifications to said embodiments, without departing from the true scope of the invention, such as modification of the reinforcing ribs disposition, the outer and inner geometry of the blades, among many other modifications. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited except by what is established in the state of the art as well as by the appended claims