Household-Type Washing Machine with Compact Drive Motor

Abstract

Household clothes washing machine comprising: a rotating drum ( 1 ), a washing tub ( 3 ) mounted on to the outer casing of said washing machine, a synchronous motor comprising a stator ( 6 ) and a rotor ( 7 ), arranged coaxial with the axis of rotation (X) of said drum, and mounted externally to said tub on the rear side thereof, said rotor being shrink-fitted on to the rotary drive shaft ( 8 ) of said drum, a hub ( 9 ) supported by a central rear portion of said tub and accommodating said rotary drive shaft of the drum thereinside, two bearings ( 10, 11 ) arranged coaxial with said rotary drive shaft, at least one of which being accommodated between said huh and said rotary drive shaft in respective positions situated at a different distance from said drum, and adapted to rotatably support said rotary drive shaft, wherein said motor is mounted in a recessed arrangement included within the outer rear contour of said tub.

1 . Household clothes washing machine, either of the front-loading or the top-loading type, comprising:
 a perforated rotating drum ( 1 ),   a loading door ( 2 ) ensuring access into said drum,   a washing tub ( 3 ) mounted on to the outer casing of said washing machine and accommodating said drum ( 1 ), which is therefore housed rotatably thereinside,   a synchronous motor comprising a stator ( 6 ) and a rotor ( 7 ), arranged coaxially with the axis of rotation (X) of said drum, and mounted externally to said tub on the rear side thereof, said rotor ( 7 ) being shrink-fitted on to the rotary drive shaft ( 8 ) of said drum,   a hub ( 9 ) supported by a central rear portion of said tub and accommodating said rotary drive shaft of the drum thereinside,   two bearings ( 10 ,  11 ) arranged coaxially with said rotary drive shaft ( 8 ), which are accommodated between said hub ( 9 ) and said rotary drive shaft in respective positions situated at a different distance from said drum, and are adapted to rotatably support said rotary drive shaft ( 8 ), characterized in that said motor is mounted in a recessed arrangement included within the outer rear contour of said tub in an appropriate accommodation ( 13 ) provided substantially within the body of the rear wall ( 14 ) of the tub.   
   
   
       2 . Clothes washing machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said rotor ( 7 ), or said stator ( 6 ), or even both of them, are mounted so that the median plane (m) thereof passes substantially through the median plane of the outer bearing ( 11 ), which lies orthogonal to the axis of rotation (X). 
   
   
       3 . Clothes washing machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said rotor ( 7 ) is mounted either externally or internally relative to said stator ( 6 ). 
   
   
       4 . Household clothes washing machine, either of the front-loading or the top-loading type, comprising:
 a perforated rotating drum ( 1 ) provided to hold and agitate the clothes to be washed,   a loading door ( 2 ) ensuring access into said drum;   a washing tub ( 3 ) mounted on to the outer casing of said washing machine and accommodating said drum ( 1 ), which is therefore housed rotatably thereinside,   a synchronous motor comprising a stator, ( 6 ) and a rotor ( 7 ), arranged coaxially with the axis of rotation (X) of said drum, and mounted externally to said tub on the rear side thereof, said rotor ( 7 ) being shrink-fitted on to the rotary drive shaft ( 8 ) of said drum,   a hub ( 9 ) supported by a central rear portion of said tub and accommodating said rotary drive shaft of the drum thereinside,   an inner bearing ( 10 ) and an outer bearing ( 11 ) arranged coaxially with said rotary drive shaft ( 8 ) and adapted to rotatably support said rotary drive shaft ( 8 ), characterized in that   said motor is mounted in a recessed arrangement included within the outer rear contour of said tub in an appropriate accommodation ( 13 ) provided substantially within the body of the rear wall ( 14 ) of the tub,   said rotor ( 7 ), or said stator ( 6 ), or even both of them, are mounted so that the median plane (m) thereof passes substantially through the median plane of the outer bearing ( 11 ), which lies orthogonal to the axis of rotation (X),   the inner bearing ( 10 ) is supported by the inner surface of said hub ( 9 ),   the outer bearing ( 11 ) is supported by the inner surface of said stator ( 6 ).   
   
   
       5 . Clothes washing machine according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said rotor ( 7 ) is arranged on the radially outer surface of said stator ( 6 ). 
   
   
       6 . Clothes washing machine according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said stator ( 6 ) is secured to the rear wall ( 14 ) of the tub with the help of removable fastening means ( 17 ) applied axially through the stator and adapted to engage said rear wall ( 14 ) or even the annular rear wall ( 18 ) of said hub ( 9 ). 
   
   
       7 . Clothes washing machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said tub, or said rear wall ( 14 ) thereof, is made of plastics.