WO2009153186A1 - Household appliance with device for door weight compensation - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a household appliance in which is located a lock backstop (522) that closes the hinge joint (52) when the surface of rotation (526) that facilitates the rotation of the hinge joint (52) exceeds the free angle of rotation (a) of the hinge (20), wherein during the rotational motion the front door (30) opens up to the predetermined free angle of rotation (a) of said hinge (20). In order to compensate for the weight of the front door (30), a return (60) that comprises both an intermediate connection element (50) with a hinge joint (52) and a spring connection (54) ensures that motion is transferred between the hinge (20) and the return spring (60).

Description

 HOME DEVICE WITH DEVICE FOR DOOR WEIGHT COMPENSATION

The present invention relates to a domestic appliance with a balancing device, wherein a return spring is attached to the balancing device and the said return spring is mounted with a connecting element to the hinge of the front door to compensate for the weight of the front door attached to the x-axis of the frame.

The front door of the inner chamber of a frame in the dishwasher is opened in the horizontal rotation angle towards the ground by means of a handle attached to the upper part of the front door by pulling, the door being fixed to the floor area with mutually fixed hinges. Due to the weight of the front door creates a moment in the opening direction of the hinges, which leads without countermeasures to unwanted door opening and consequently door damage.

The stated problem is solved by means of a device for door weight balance. The device includes a return spring which is connected to the frame from one side to the frame and from the other side by means of a hinge in the opposite direction of the opening, a train is connected to the front door. The connection between the return spring and the hinge via an intermediate connecting element, which contains a respective connecting shaft relative to the return spring and the hinges, so that the ends of the return spring and hinge can be protected and at the same time easily disassembled. At each end of the intermediate connection element, a connection extension in the form of hooks is provided on the shafts positioned parallel to each other. These each form a connection bearing for the opposite hinges and the return spring, wherein the waves have cylinder-like joints.

In order to compensate for the moment formed by the weight of the door, the return spring pulls the front door by means of a hinge in the opposite direction to the door opening, whereby the force of the spring constant produces the effect of the counter-torque. This force increases by the voltage range of the return spring at each opening angle of the front door in a linear relationship. Due to the momentary effect caused by the weight of the door, the door has a progressive character as soon as the opening angle of the door increases and thereby approaches the x-axis. This ensures that, with the moment balanced by the spring constant, the door is compensated and locked only up to the predetermined opening angle by its weight (see moment diagram in Fig. 1a). The increasing moment of the front door exceeds the balancing moment of the weight, which arises due to the spring constant due to the tensile force, thereby preventing the door from locking at a desired point. Larger opening angles at which the door locks are achieved by increasing the spring constant of the return spring. For the operator, however, this makes it more difficult to open the closed door.

Purpose of the present invention is the compensation of the opening of the front door of a household appliance in the x-axis using a compensating progressive moment, which is caused by the weight of the door.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a progressive balancing torque without modifying a parameter from the return spring by means of an interconnecting member.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects of the present invention, the novelty is to provide a domestic appliance comprising a frame with a chamber, a hinge for resting on the frame of the front door closing and opening horizontally and a return spring for balancing the front door weight, a spring connection for transmitting movement between the said hinge and the return spring, an intermediate connection element with a spring connection and a hinge joint.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the turning surface, which in the stated manner of opening the front door up to a predetermined free rotation angle in the direction of rotation of the door, allows the hinge joint to pivot during opening, is characterized by a stopper which, as soon as the said hinge indicates the free rotation angle passes, the hinge joint closes.

In some embodiments of this invention, the cited stopper is shown in the form of an extension of the rotational surface of the hinge joint, whereby a rotational and locking function can be ensured on the joint member.

In some embodiments, the invention is characterized by a lever carrying at one end the hinge joint and at the other end the spring connection. The lever is a distance granted by the locking of the joint element, the moment will increase the spring distance. In some embodiments of the invention, the rotating surface is basically a circular spring, whereby the joint element allows a rotation after the free rotation angle.

In some embodiments of the invention, a lever arm is characterized extending to the frame via a hinge and with which the return spring is connected to increase the pulling distance of the return spring during the door opening. The lever arm increases the tension of the spring by moving the front door in the direction of the door opening.

In some embodiments, the invention is characterized at least with a bearing on which the hinge element of the hinge is mounted, whereby the hinge element can be easily attached to the hinge.

In some embodiments of the invention, a joint surface is shown on the bearing, which carries the surface of revolution.

In some embodiments of the invention, at least one locking surface is attached to the bearing to block the extension form.

In some embodiments of the invention, a cylinder-type joint is deformed which deforms the spring connection, whereby the spring is e.g. reached at the tip of the hook without rotation a free rotation.

In some embodiments of the invention, the hinge joint is generally shown in bolt form, whereby the hinge joint includes a hinge surface and a locking surface with a lateral edge.

The other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be understood by those skilled in the art through detailed explanations and drawings in the following paragraphs.

The details and some advantages of the present invention will be described in detail by the explanations and drawings. The drawings serve to explain the present invention by way of example without any limitation. Figure 1 a shows the perspective view of a domestic appliance with an attached interconnecting element.

Figure 1 b shows the state of the art of the applied method, the moment-angle diagram.

Figure 2 shows the door opening and weight balance device without side panel in Figure 1 below.

Figure 3a shows the present invention with attached

Interconnecting element, wherein the Rückholfeder- and hinge ratio is displayed from the front. The door is closed here.

Figure 3b shows the state of the interconnect element of Figure 3a from the front with the door open.

Figure 4a shows the intermediate element shown in Figure 3a without spring in perspective view.

Figure 4b shows the intermediate connector without spring shown in Figure 3b in perspective view.

Figure 5a shows the interconnecting element from the front in cross section.

Figure 5b shows the scheme of the door weight balance device with the door in the free rotation angle and the position of the interconnecting element.

Figure 5c shows the mechanism shown in Figure 5b with the front door in the locking angle.

Before the structures of the present invention are explained in detail, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the implementation of component arrangements and design details as described and defined in the following paragraphs.

10 frame 50 interconnecting element

12 sliding spring 52 hinge joint 14 chamber 522 locking stop

20 Hinge 524 Parking stopper

22 door connecting element 526 rotating surface

24 lever arm 528 rotation angle

242 Bearing 54 spring connection

244 Locking surface 56 Lever

246 Stand surface 60 Return spring

248 Articular surface 62 Articulated hooks

26 door bearings 64 frame hooks

30 Front door L1 Free spring length

40 x-axis L2 Free lever α Free rotation angle r1 Spring distance with locking ß Locking angle r2 Lever arm with lock

In Figure 1 a, a dishwasher is shown, at the bottom of which a frame (10) with a chamber (14) and with a hinge (20) in the direction x-axis (40) an articulated door to be opened (30) is mounted , The operator-pulled front door (30), which is fastened by means of a hinge (20), rotates and opens in the direction of the x-axis (40).

Figure 2 shows the dishwasher with no side wall to show the mechanism of the weight-balancing device of the front door (30), the front door (30) being seen in the closed state. The front door (30) is fastened to the short side of the L-shaped hinge (20) from below by means of door connecting elements (22) similar to rivets. The long arm of the hinge (20) has a lever arm (24) and extends horizontally in the direction of the frame (10). The short side of the hinge hits the lever arm (24) in the corner. At this point, located at the bottom in reverse U-shape, a door bearing (26) to which a x-axis (40) performing shaft is attached. As a result, the hinge (20) carrying the front door (30) is seated in the frame (10). At the end of the lever arm (24) a bearing (242) is arranged in a U-shape, wherein in the bearing (242), an intermediate connection element (50) is positioned. To balance the weight of the front door (30), a return spring (60) with an end hinged hook (62) is mounted to the intermediate connector (50) and a frame hook (64) is attached to the rear bottom frame (10). Between the hinge and frame hooks (62, 64) of the return spring (60) is a spiral body, which extends over extending to the frame (10) inclined sliding spring (14) from below towards the front door (30).

Figure 3a shows the interconnecting element (50) in the closed position (0 °) of the front door (30). When the front door (30) is closed, the lever arm (24) extends in the direction of the frame (10). Due to the weight of the return spring (60) and the inclination of the frame (10) in the free spring length (L1), the intermediate connecting element (50) in a cylindrical joint structure at the lower tip to the spring connection (54) in the direction of frame (10) hung.

The hinge joint (52), which connects in the form of a cam structure to the intermediate connection element (50), rests on the locking surface (244) and is at the same time set in park position, this locking surface of the bearing (242) being located near the edge of the lever arm (24). 24) is arranged.

Figure 3b shows the interconnect element (50) at full open position (90 °) of the front door (30). When the front door (30) is open, the lever arm (24) looks up, and during the rotation in the direction of the x-axis (40), a spring is shown in the opening direction of the front door (30). Due to the return spring (60), the intermediate connection element (50) is influenced by the force of the spring connection (54) and rests with the hinge joint (52) on the locking surface (244).

Figure 4a shows the locking surface (244) in more detail with the front door (30) closed. Figure 4b shows the opened front door (30). In this open position one sees the lever (56), which encloses the hinge joints and the spring (52, 54) of the intermediate connection element (50) from both sides and forms a certain distance between these hinge elements.

Figure 5a shows the interconnecting element (50) on a longitudinal plane in cross-section. The lever (56) is shown in a rectangular plate shape with two rounded ends and on the right side with a spring connection (54) in the form of a circular shaft. The spring assembly (54) is circular and made of plastic with a small coefficient of friction. These characteristics allow the articulated hook (62) to rotate easily over the spring connection. On the left side of the lever (56) is the hinge joint (52), wherein on the side of the hinge joint (52) with the spring connection (54) in the parallel axis to the spring connection (54) a rotating surface (526) is arranged as a circular spring , Figure 5a shows the fully opened front door (30) and the position of the bearing (242) with broken lines. Up to one free rotation axis of 180 ° (α), the rotation surface (526) forms a missing spring, and during the opening and closing of the front door (30) is at a joint surface (248) which forms the bottom of the U-shaped bearing (242) , performed a limited rotational movement.

The rotational movement is restricted by a parking stopper (524) which, with the front door (30) closed, forms the edge of the rotating surface (526) which is simultaneously positioned in the direction of the parking surface (246). When the front door (30) is fully opened, the rotary movement is a locking stop (522) which forms the edge of the rotating surface in the direction of the locking surface (244) and a free axis of rotation (α) with the parking stop (524). In the hinge joint (52) Parkstopper and locking stop (524.522) are shown circular at the junction to fix the sharpness.

When tension of the return spring (60) during the opening of the front door (30) is due to the resulting tensile force of the hinge joint (52) carried out only a limited rotation. Because of these factors, the movement affecting the weight balance device is illustrated in more detail in Figures 5b and 5c by mechanism schemes.

Figure 5b shows an open front door (30) with a maximum of 30 ° defined free rotation angle and the corresponding position of the weight compensation device. In a front door movement (30) between 0 ° - 30 °, the hinged to the front door (30) hinge (20) also rotates. During this rotational movement, the intermediate connector (50) has two degrees of freedom. In connection with the rotational movement of the front door (30) between 0 ° - 30 ° and the rotation of the hinge joint (52) and the spring connection (54), the intermediate connecting element (50) moves in rotation. In this case, the return spring (60) fastened to the frame hook (64) is tensioned by the hook of the joint element (62) and the spring connection (54) is pulled by means of force at the level of the tension produced by the delay line and its own weight. Due to the freedom of rotation of the hinge joint (52), the lever of the intermediate connecting element (56) extends in the direction of the return spring (60). Upon rotation of the hinge joint (52) by the movement of the lever arm (24) about an axis of rotation (528) from 0 ° to 30 °, the rotating surface (526) moves over the articulation surface (248), which is adjacent to the parking surface (52). 526) from its position, the front door (30) remaining closed. If the free axis of rotation is reached (α), the locking stop (522) is supported on the locking surface (244). Up to the free axis of rotation (α) the resulting moment in the x-axis (40) is compensated during the rotational movement of the front door (30) due to the weight of the front door (30) by the resulting from the force of the spring coefficient of the return spring (60) compensation torque , If the balancing torque with closed front door (30) up to the free rotation angle (α) between a certain angle value corresponds to the lever arm (24) perpendicular force component between interconnecting element (50) and lever arm (24) corresponds to the value resulting from the multiplication the lever arm length (24) and a free spring length (r1) of the return spring (60) results.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the front door (30) is shown with a mechanism on Figure 5c, wherein the free rotation angle (α) is exceeded 30 °. This position shows one up to a locking angle (β) e.g. 70 ° rotated front door (30) relative to the frame (10). In a movement of the front door (30) between 30 ° - 90 ° or above the locking angle (ß), the locking stop (522) of the intermediate connection element (50) (see Fig. 5a) on the locking surface (244). Therefore, the hinge joint (52) will close in the rotation axis (528) against the clockwise rotation, whereby the door bearing (242) of the front door (30) to transmit the rotational movement to the lever (56) without bearing on the joint surface (248) , Subsequently, the front door (30), lever arm (24) and intermediate connecting element (50) rotate like a single component on the door bearing (26) in a horizontal axis (40). The return spring (60) rotates during the rotational movement within the spring connection (54) with the cylinder-like joint element and simultaneously stretches further.

In the locking angle (ß), the normal angle increases in relation to the ground plane of the front door weight (30) and thereby leads to the progressive increase of the moment. On the other hand, by increasing the distance of the lever arm (24) due to the fixation of the intermediate link lever (50), the structure of the mechanism constituting the balance torque is longer than the resulting free lever arm (r1). The momentary effect of this structure corresponds to the value resulting from the multiplication of spring length with closure (L2) of the lifting alarm with closure (r2) in the new position of the return spring (60) which is between x-axis (40) and spring connection (54 ) is measured.

When closing the front door (30), the lever arm with lock (r2) in the locking angle (ß) and from the free rotation angle (α) to the closed position determines the free lever arm (r1) for the counterbalancing torque. Figure 5c shows that Resulting from the compensation effect on the progressive moment caused by the free lever arm and the lever arm with lock (M, r2) and the angle of the return spring (60). When the free rotation angle (α) on the locking angle (ß) and 90 ° - convergence of the angle between the lever arm with closure (r2) and the return spring (60) increases the force component, which affects the compensation torque. This case is also supported by the parallel position of the frame hook (64) to the x-axis (40).

Claims

1. Domestic appliance with a frame (10) and a chamber (14), wherein the chamber (14) with a front door (30) is closed, wherein the door (30) with an opening possibility on the x-axis (40) of the frame ( 10) is connected by means of a hinge (20), wherein for balancing the weight of the front door (30) is a return spring (60) and between the said hinge (20) and the return spring (60) for transmitting movement, a spring connection (54) and an intermediate connection element ( 50) with a hinged hinge (52) are attached, where the said hinge (20) up to a predetermined free rotation angle (α) in the opening direction of the front door (30) during rotation of a rotation of the hinge joint (52) serving rotating surface (526) characterized the said hinge (20) is characterized, when the free rotation angle (α) is exceeded, by a locking stop (522) which closes the hinge joint (52). Domestic appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the said stop (522) is characterized as an extension of the rotating surface (526). 3. Household appliance according to one of the above claims, characterized in that it is characterized by a lever (56) which carries at one end the hinge joint (52) and at the other end the spring connection (54). 4. Domestic appliance according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the said rotating surface (526) is basically a circular spring. 5. domestic appliance according to one of the above claims, characterized in that during the opening of the front door (30) for the enlargement of the draw path of the return spring (60) a lever arm (24) is characterized, which extends to the mentioned frame (10) via the hinge (20) towards which the return spring (60) is connected. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hinge (20) is characterized by at least one bearing (242) on which the hinge joint (52) is mounted. The domestic appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that said bearing (242) includes a hinge surface (248) supporting a rotating surface (526). Household appliance according to claims 2 and 6, characterized in that said bearing (242) includes at least one locking surface (244) which blocks the extension of the locking stop (522). 9. domestic appliance according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the said spring connection (54) is formed by a cylinder-like joint element. 10. domestic appliance according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the hinge joint (52) is basically a cam shape.