A laundry washing machine

Abstract

A laundry washing machine having a cabinet, a washing tub, a washing drum rotatable within the tub and having a tubular mantle that is closed, at least partially, by a flange facing a closed end of the tub. A shaft protrudes from the flange through the closed wall. A driving system comprising an operating module is mounted on the tub, and an operated module is fixed to the free shaft end, the operating module rotates the operated module relative to the washing tub. One or more electric loads are mounted in/on the washing drum. A wireless power transmitter unit is mounted to the tub and arranged for wireless transmitting electric power to a wireless power receiver unit configured to supply electric power to the one or more electric loads. The wireless power receiver unit is mounted in/on the operated module.

1 . A laundry washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet;   a washing tub housed inside said cabinet and comprising a tubular wall closed at one end by an end wall;   a washing drum, rotatably housed within said washing tub, comprising a tubular mantle rotatable with respect to a rotation axis, a first end of said tubular mantle being closed, at least partially, by a flange facing said end wall of said washing tub;   a shaft protruding from said flange towards said end wall and passing through the end wall, so that a free end of the shaft protrudes and/or is accessible from an external face of said end wall facing away from said flange;   a driving system comprising an operating module, mounted on said washing tub, and an operated module fixed to said free end of said shaft, said operating module being configured to rotate said operated module with respect to said washing tub;   one or more electric loads mounted in/on said washing drum;   a wireless power transmitting system comprising a wireless power transmitter unit, mounted in/on said washing tub, electrically connected to an electrical system of said laundry washing machine and configured to wirelessly transmit electric power to a wireless power receiver unit configured to supply electric power to said one or more electric loads,   wherein said wireless power receiver unit is mounted in/on said operated module.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry washing machine, according to  claim 1 , wherein said wireless power transmitter unit is mounted on, or embedded, partially or totally, or recessed within, said external face of said end wall of said washing tub facing away from said flange. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry washing machine, according to  claim 1 , wherein said wireless power receiver unit is electrically connected to said one or more electric loads by a wiring. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry washing machine, according to  claim 3 , wherein said wiring passes through a passage passing through said shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry washing machine, according to  claim 1 , comprising a seal arranged for preventing liquid from passing from the internal of said tub to the external thereof through said passage. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry washing machine, according to  claim 1 , wherein said operated module comprises a pulley fixed to said free end of said shaft protruding and/or accessible from said external face of said end wall, and said operating module comprises a rotary electric motor, mounted on an external surface of said washing tub, and a belt connecting said rotary electric motor to said pulley and configured to transmit rotation from said rotary electric motor to said pulley, wherein said wireless power receiver unit is mounted in/on said pulley. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said operated module comprises a pulley fixed to said free end of said shaft protruding and/or accessible from said external face of said end wall, and said operating module comprises a rotary electric motor, mounted on an external surface of said washing tub, and a belt connecting said rotary electric motor to said pulley and configured to transmit rotation from said rotary electric motor to said pulley, wherein said wireless power receiver unit is mounted in/on said pulley; and   said pulley comprises an inner face facing said external face of said end wall of said washing tub, and wherein said wireless power receiver unit is mounted in/on said inner face of said pulley in such a way to face said wireless power transmitter unit.   
     
     
         8 . The laundry washing machine, according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said operated module comprises a pulley fixed to said free end of said shaft protruding and/or accessible from said external face of said end wall, and said operating module comprises a rotary electric motor, mounted on an external surface of said washing tub, and a belt connecting said rotary electric motor to said pulley and configured to transmit rotation from said rotary electric motor to said pulley, wherein said wireless power receiver unit is mounted in/on said pulley; and   said operated module comprises an electric motor rotor fixed to said free end of said shaft, and said operating module comprises an electric motor stator mounted on said external face of said end wall of said washing tub, wherein said wireless power receiver unit is mounted in/on said electric motor rotor.   
     
     
         9 . The laundry washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said wireless power transmitter unit comprises a transmission coil configured to generate a variable magnetic field, and said wireless power receiver unit comprises a reception coil configured to generate electric power from said variable magnetic field generated by said transmission coil. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry washing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein both said transmission coil and said reception coil are centred on said rotation axis of said tubular mantle. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein said transmission coil is mounted on, or embedded, partially or totally, or recessed, within said external face of said end wall, and wherein said reception coil is mounted in/on said inner face of said pulley, said reception coil facing said transmission coil. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein said inner face of said pulley and said external face of said end wall of said washing tub facing the latter are truncated-cone shaped, or substantially truncated-cone shaped, at least in their regions where said reception coil and said transmission coil are respectively positioned. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more electric loads comprise one or more of the following electric loads:
 an electric heater, an electric pump, an electric fan, an electric steam/mist/aerosol generator, an electric washing/rinsing additive dispenser, an electric light source, and an electric sensor.   
     
     
         14 . The laundry washing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein said transmission coil is mounted on, or embedded, partially or totally, or recessed, within said external face of said end wall, and wherein said reception coil is mounted in/on said inner face of said pulley, said reception coil facing said transmission coil. 
     
     
         15 . The A laundry washing machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said inner face of said pulley and said external face of said end wall of said washing tub facing the latter are truncated-cone shaped, or substantially truncated-cone shaped, at least in their regions where said reception coil and said transmission coil are respectively positioned. 
     
     
         16 . The laundry washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein said transmission coil is mounted on, or embedded, partially or totally, or recessed, within said external face of said end wall, and wherein said reception coil is mounted in/on said inner face of said pulley, said reception coil facing said transmission coil. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry washing machine according to  claim 16 , wherein said inner face of said pulley and said external face of said end wall of said washing tub facing the latter are truncated-cone shaped, or substantially truncated-cone shaped, at least in their regions where said reception coil and said transmission coil are respectively positioned.