US Patent 11136704 Flange shaft device and washing machine

A flanged-shaft apparatus (1) is configured for rotatably supporting a drum (4) in a washing machine having such a flanged-shaft apparatus (1). The flanged-shaft apparatus (1) has a connecting flange (2) configured to be arranged against a drum base (41) of the drum (4) and attached to the drum (4), and a drive shaft (3) arranged in the center of the connecting flange (2) and connected thereto for connection to a drive motor. The connecting flange (2) has a main element (21) formed from a steel sheet and a supporting element (22) formed from a further steel sheet. The main element (21) and the supporting element (22) are arranged one on top of the other along a longitudinal axis (L) of the drive shaft (3).